Hacker News Reader

Comment by jrflowers | Hacker News Reader

I was once asked “why do you want to work here?” while interviewing at a Hardee’s as a teenager.

That's a legit question for a throw-away fast food job. Since most of these jobs are fungible, it can be useful to know why someone picked your greasy burger joint over the one down the road.

"It's close to where I live / I can walk here" = You probably don't have to worry about their "car breaking down" or general issues getting to work.

"My friends work here" = You're going to have a bunch of teenagers dicking off if you're not running a tight ship.

And there are a whole bunch of neutral responses too. "I need a job and you all are hiring" is a perfectly acceptable, accurate answer to this question that literally every applicant can provide.

> general issues getting to work

When I was applying for jobs like this as a teen, applications specifically asked about my transportation situation.

> You're going to have a bunch of teenagers dicking off if you're not running a tight ship

Just run a tight ship, then. People who didn't know each other beforehand will also dick around. I've made plenty of friends out of work colleagues.

> "I need a job and you all are hiring" is a perfectly acceptable, accurate answer to this question that literally every applicant can provide

Then I'd argue it's the opposite of legit: it's completely superfluous.

The question would successfully filter you.

I love the idea that fast food managers are using gotcha questions to select for the very best teenagers and not just reading off questions from some PDF they downloaded online.

For sure. I worked at dozens of restaurants between the ages of 15 and 23, and was never asked anything like that. From the lowest common denominator chains, to ma and pa diners that turned into nightclubs on the weekend, to haute cuisine. They care about results and whether you know what you’re doing. I aced every interview I walked into because I know food –the one exception was an interview for a bartending position where each candidate was asked to demo a drink they invented, and, well, I didn’t know what I was doing there! Total bomb, mega embarrassing, but a good experience looking back.

GP must never have worked in that industry, or they only worked that one job at Outback Steakhouse for a manager thinking they were changing the world. It’s a familiar mindset to those in tech…

When I quit working at McDonald's, the manager said "well, some people don't have what it takes to work this job". i told him I had to quit because I was leaving to go to college.

"You are offering currency in exchange for labor. I can provide labor, and desire currency."

I figure that at the level of fast food, the "why do you want to work here" and similar questions are really just to filter out someone that cares so little they can't even make up an answer. It doesn't have to be a good answer, even a "I like cooking food" is usually fine enough. But a decent amount of people will just shrug.

Standard question.

If that's a red flag, the whole world is red.

Yes. After establishing work history, skills, availability and references one would be derelict in their duties to not establish the Philosophical Why before handing a kid the Sacred Mop.

Is there any way to "correctly" answer that question that isn't just made up bullshit, especially for a fast food restaurant?

I think it's hilarious being asked this question when I'm in early discussions with a company that reached out to me.

The team, the environment, the flexible hours, the pay.

Even for fast-food service jobs, there is always some differentiator.

People who can't answer this question are more likely to turn over. That's why it is asked.

Honestly. If your first reaction to a question like that is how to trick them, what subterfuge to use - you're the red flag! Not everything is a trick. You shouldn't try to fake aligned interests if they're not aligned.

"I am truly ecstatic about the unparalleled opportunity to become a part of the Hardee's family, a prospect that aligns seamlessly with my life's passion and professional aspirations.

From the moment I first savored the delectable aroma of your signature charbroiled burgers, I knew that my destiny was intertwined with your esteemed establishment. The synergistic blend of your brand's values and my personal ethos is a match made in culinary heaven, a union that promises to revolutionize the gastronomic landscape.

The prospect of contributing to Hardee's renowned legacy of taste innovation and unparalleled customer satisfaction resonates deeply with my quest for self-actualization in the fast-food industry.

Each meal served, every customer smile elicited—these are the very keystones that embolden my commitment to fulfilling my dream of championing a new era of succulent satisfaction. With utmost fervor, I implore you to consider my application, for it is not just a role I seek, but a calling I am destined to embrace with zest and zeal."

Ha! I remember having to "draw my thoughts" when applying for Whole Foods circa ~2004.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com