When a job application asks "What do you know about [small town that I'm applying for work in,]" what on earth are they looking for?

“The town is within a reasonable commuting distance from me, and the Double R Diner on Main and Falls makes a damn fine cup of coffee.”

Anything really.
They are just trying to find out how committed you are to getting the job.

Maybe they just want to see if they can detect any issues or good points, based on whether you know what their customers are like, or whether you’ll want to flee when you find out about the town, or whether you’ll “fit in” according to whatever notions they have about that. I have overheard and read several small town people talking about some businesspeople not understanding the town and having problems.

What is the town known for? Mention that. Mention the services the town has. Does it have a hospital? Saying that you used to work there is good. Can you say that the people are very nice or something else positive about them?

Just blow smoke up their ass, say things like how you want to relocate to a nicer venue, this town meets the bill, you like small town ambiance, blah blah blah. Ten minutes after they hire you, your resume will probably be filed away on someone’s hard drive to collect dust anyway.

Go to their Chamber of Commerce site or Town website for ideas.

I don’t want to relocate @NomoreY_A. I’m only 12 miles away. I could say that town B has the same qualities that attracted me to town A when I first visited here for a Blue grass festival. I liked town A so much I moved there.

I liked the quietness of the town, I liked the feeling of local community and events, and town B shares many of those traits.

I know what you mean, @Dutchess_III Wish my town was a bit smaller too. I’d be happy in a hole in the road with nothing but a store, community center, and a few houses.

And the obligatory volunteer fire station.

Well, they aren’t volunteers!

You must live in something larger than a hole in the road, I guess.

Well population about 13,000.

I just said I liked the feeling the town has of small community closeness and involvement. Which is true for my town but utter bullshit for that other town. We have comparable populations but the crime rate there is the highest in the county.
The schools are undisciplined. It reminded me of teaching in inner city schools in Wichita. That was the only town in the whole county that was like that.

And you want to work there? Cant you find a job in your own community? Seems like relocating from Mayberry to Hell’s Kitchen.

She’s not relocating; just commuting 12 miles.

Nice place to visit 5 days a week during the day but I wouldn’t want live there.

This is probably a job where you will interface with the locals and they may just want to know if you are one or if you even know where the town is.

They want to know if you are interested enough in the job to do research about where you’d be living. As a former hirer, that would tell me a lot about what kind of employer you’d be.

@Pachy: You mean “employee” not “employer.”

In the little town where I was born, Dad knew where the cat house was.

I think your answer is fine, that you’ve worked there before and liked it. Liked tgevpeople, thecplace, etc. Mention that it’s a close commute to where you live, and very similar to your hometown, which you love. They probably ask the question to everyone, whether they are relocating or not, but it’s probably aimed at people who need to relocate.

@Pachy…I’m not relocating. It’s only 12 miles away.

Nonetheless, I stand by my comment.

But I don’t need to research. I’m very familiar with the town.

I just put that I’d taught there, and I enjoy the feel of community in the town.

I must have answered it right. They called me today to set up an interview.