Being offered pay (and benefits) below market would tell me that a potential employer does not value or respect my work, but beyond that I was not looking to make lots of money. I wanted a place that offered a good variety of challenging work and a healthy cooperative atmosphere.

That is exactly what this question is posing. What direction are you going. I appreciate Julie Walraven’s comment above, that is a great purpose driven question. If someone asked you for directions to the local convenient and you started rattling off random directions and streets and cities, turn left at the second light and then cross the bridge, blah, blah, blah…it would not be insightful or helpful whatsoever. In fact, right before you put the pedal to the metal you might ask the person to grab that mysterious $100 bill in front of your car. I am doing a fun series of how to answer interview questions on my blog, this question would be a good one to highlight in the future.

Good model that you unconsciously demonstrated above, make a list of the reason and whatever you choose be clear and concise in your response. If it is in an interview, then why not tailor the response somewhat to the position you are applying for. That is what we see in the “objectives” line of the resume right?

Thanks

At one time, I worked for a company which was the #2 computer company in the world with world’s largest private computer network. Our marketing slogan was “the network at work” – ironical when you look at the Internet today!

But when the market “zigged” top management wasn’t paying attention. So we zagged, away from the market, gradually losing customers and major accounts, and the company disappeared before the end of the 1990′s, probably shedding nearly 100,000 employees (world-wide) by the time what was left was bought by HP. It was both sad and frustrating to watch and know that the company was going to disappear. I was happy to leave to get away from the destruction.