Playbook: How to answer the common application question: "what excites you about this role?"

You’ve found a job that interests you. You’re uploading your resume, adding your Linkedin Profile, and then you get to a long answer input with a deceivingly simple question: what excites you about the role?

The first thought that comes to your mind: the paycheck, but you know you can’t say that.

The next thought that comes to mind: I don’t want to do this, but you know that, in this employer’s market, it could be the thing that can help you stand out among hundreds of similarly qualified applicants.

So you try, and this one question becomes incredibly difficult to answer. You have to be the most eager and professional version of yourself, but not too desperate, and not too false.

This question is demanding a performance from you, yes. But not for performance’s sake. Tech roles are getting hundreds of applications, and hiring teams are looking for someone who cares, even just a little.

But moreso, a performance isn’t a lie. Like a resume, this answer is a presentation of your most relevant skills and experiences. You share what matters, and you do it in a way that intrigues them.

You can hate the game and still play it well. Give yourself permission to answer this question without feeling like a sellout.

When I was hiring, I went to these questions first. I found answers that intrigued me, that I connect with, and that demonstrated care and effort for the role. Then I looked at resumes, Linkedins and other parts of the application.

Every hiring manager is different. But much like a resume, a cover letter, Linkedin, they are all pieces of the application, used to help qualify someone in, or rule them out.

And: if you are someone with a non-traditional background, this is your opportunity to put yourself ahead of others with the right numbers and experience. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you can do this job, even if you haven’t done it before.

You don’t have to wait for a role to pop up to get started. In fact, I insist that you don’t!

A strong answer to “what excites you about this role?” does two things: it pitches you quickly and clearly, and it connects you to their core problem.