Answering The Question: How Many People Work Here?

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

As a small business owner, you might have anywhere from 1-3 people working for you. Sometimes, it's just yourself. When someone comes into the office for an interview, it's usually just the business owner and the candidate.

Towards the end of the interview, the interviewer sometimes get the question, "How many people work here?"

Now, I realize they might be asking just to know. Or, they might be asking to get an idea if the company can afford them. Perhaps, they are just trying to assess the size of the company. My impression is that some just candidates want to work for a big company.

How would you answer this question in a way that builds credibility for the company?

Note: When you tell them that you have 2 employees, many candidates (especially millennials) look disenchanted and uninterested. I'm looking for ways to articulate to them that shows legitimacy and opportunity. Obviously, you should be honest and tell the truth.

manpreet 3 years ago

How would you answer this question in a way that builds credibility for the company?

The truth always builds credibility.

Simply state the current number of employees. If you are in an expansion phase, you might also indicate the size being projected along with the timeframe.

If you are curious, you could always ask the candidate why they are asking. Then you can reply to any concerns in a productive way.

I can't think of any positives that could come out of being less than honest. If some candidates look disenchanted when you tell them the truth, then that's a signal you wouldn't want to hire them anyway.