Was this question not originally intended as a nudge to drop some of the implicit formality of an interview -- where even if the atmosphere is colloquial, the p

Was this question not originally intended as a nudge to drop some of the implicit formality of an interview -- where even if the atmosphere is colloquial, the power balance tilts in favor of the company -- and prompt the candidate to plainly speak about their thoughts? Some might propose that it's advantageous to play the mind games and construct an answer tailored to the culture fit of the company. I question the wisdom of this: this is akin to lying on a dating site, where the truth, irrespective of its subtlety, will come out in a relationship sooner or later. In my opinion, the point is to find a good employer-to-employee match, and you won't know what answer the interviewer is looking for -- so it's best to drop all pretenses and fall back to primal emotions: excitement, desire, etc. I want this. I want the challenge of working here. I think I'd be a great fit because <short but authentic personal anecdote>. I don't think this is akin to a retail employee reluctantly feeling pressured to pledge their allegiance to the brand, but rather a plain assessment of why you felt to apply there. Perhaps they're looking for a little reassurance that they're not an interchangeable cog in your plan, just like you want to feel like you're valued as a person, not just the sum of all your skills.