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Public Works Mock Interview

Question 4 of 30 for our Public Works Mock Interview

Public Works was updated by on January 27th, 2024. Learn more here.

Question 4 of 30

Why should we hire you?

"Well, I graduated with a degree in engineering, and have worked for my current company, and I've learned a lot with them, and am pleased with my career progression. But, with the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I suddenly found myself inspired by my great-grandfather, grandfather, and great-uncle. Not since the New Deal, created by FDR in the great depression, have we seen something like this. And my grandad told me stories when I was a kid about how the Works Progress Administration helped him get back on his feet during the great depression. My uncle and great-granddad actually worked for the Public Works Administration, and they often joked about their rivalry. Then, about ten years ago, I read this book by Nick Taylor, called American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA. In it, he says, 'These ordinary men and women proved to be extraordinary beyond all expectation. They were golden threads woven in the national fabric. In this, they shamed the political philosophy that discounted their value and rewarded the one that placed its faith in them, thus fulfilling the founding vision of a government by and for its people. All its people.' Suddenly I had this yearning, of how I wanted my career to have more meaning, more purpose. It inspired me to take my career in a new direction. And that led me here."

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How to Answer: Why should we hire you?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Public Works job interview.

  • 4. Why should we hire you?

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      By asking "Why should we hire you," your interviewer is looking for insights into how your skills and experience would directly address their specific needs and challenges and contribute to their goals. This question isn't about your own aspirations, it's about demonstrating your understanding of their needs and your ability to be a valuable asset in achieving them. How you answer will inform them of your attention to detail, your communication skills, your work ethic (how well you've prepared for your interview), and how well you articulate how you fit their mold.

      Written by Kevin Downey on January 9th, 2024

      What You Need to Know

      Your answer should go beyond the hard skills you've already listed on your resume or CV. Instead, align yourself with their organization's culture. Showcase those less quantifiable soft skills that set you apart, aligning their current priorities, and the specific problems they're trying to solve. Focus on how you can apply your unique strengths to deliver tangible results for them. Your goal is to get them to imagine you working in this role for them. The more they are invested in hiring you, the greater your professional worth will be.

      Written by Kevin Downey on January 9th, 2024

      Experienced Example

      "Well, I graduated with a degree in engineering, and have worked for my current company, and I've learned a lot with them, and am pleased with my career progression. But, with the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I suddenly found myself inspired by my great-grandfather, grandfather, and great-uncle. Not since the New Deal, created by FDR in the great depression, have we seen something like this. And my grandad told me stories when I was a kid about how the Works Progress Administration helped him get back on his feet during the great depression. My uncle and great-granddad actually worked for the Public Works Administration, and they often joked about their rivalry. Then, about ten years ago, I read this book by Nick Taylor, called American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA. In it, he says, 'These ordinary men and women proved to be extraordinary beyond all expectation. They were golden threads woven in the national fabric. In this, they shamed the political philosophy that discounted their value and rewarded the one that placed its faith in them, thus fulfilling the founding vision of a government by and for its people. All its people.' Suddenly I had this yearning, of how I wanted my career to have more meaning, more purpose. It inspired me to take my career in a new direction. And that led me here."

      Written by Kevin Downey on January 7th, 2024

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