It's often a "well, I need a job, you're hiring, and what you guys are doing looks at least marginally interesting to me" - I ought not need to find whatever product/service/market they're doing/in inspiring - I should just want to do it for the pay offered.
... so the reality is that I need to lie at the interview to get the job, this is so sad.
Given two candidates for a Phd, which do you accept:
- the one who needs a Phd because that earns more money (duh!) - the one who has been obsessed with X for years, did research into X, has burning questions and wants to dedicate some years to answering them, and found your place to have the researchers who publish the most relevant, interesting and insightful papers over the last few years.
I ought not need to find whatever product/service/market they're doing/in inspiring - I should just want to do it for the pay offered.
You don't need to find it interesting. But if another candidate will do it for the pay offered, /and also/ likes the product and has a clear plan for their life, expect them to get the job instead of you.
And, expect you'd do better if you /did/ find a job offering where you were also interested and motivated.
"Well, your construction firm is well-established and routinely delivers projects on time and under budget, but for this job, we need to know that you believe in our mission -- that deeply impacts your ability to frame walls and pour concrete!"
Why can't I just be a professional tradesman?