1 min lesson
Why Cursor, why this role
Use "Why Cursor, why this role" to explain each part and the role it plays.
Step 1 of 3
"Why Cursor" is where generic candidates expose themselves. "I love your product" is no reason to take an IT job, and the hiring manager has heard it. The credible answer ties your motivation to what you'd own here, which is unusual for IT.
The honest draw is the charter. Cursor is building its IT platform near-greenfield for an AI-native, hypergrowth company, and the posting asks this role to lead systems integration and modernization as it scales. That's on top of owning identity, access and automation end-to-end. If that energizes you, say so and back it with what you'd build.
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Full explanation
Want the autonomy, not a big-company IT org
Want the autonomy, not a big-company IT org
This role is the opposite of a structured enterprise IT department with tiers, tickets and a change board. Make clear you're running toward the flat, many-hats reality and that you chose it.
- Big-company IT
- Tiered escalation, you own a slice
- Cursor IT, this role
- You own the function end-to-end
- Big-company IT
- Process and CABChange Advisory Board. A group that reviews and signs off on higher-risk production changes before they ship. Press Enter for the full definition. approvals gate change
- Cursor IT, this role
- You self-prioritize and ship
- Big-company IT
- Tickets are the unit of work
- Cursor IT, this role
- Eliminating the ticket is the work
- Big-company IT
- Code is a special project
- Cursor IT, this role
- Code is the default tool
| Big-company IT | Cursor IT, this role |
|---|---|
| Tiered escalation, you own a slice | You own the function end-to-end |
| Process and CABChange Advisory Board. A group that reviews and signs off on higher-risk production changes before they ship. Press Enter for the full definition. approvals gate change | You self-prioritize and ship |
| Tickets are the unit of work | Eliminating the ticket is the work |
| Code is a special project | Code is the default tool |
Your "why" should make obvious which column you're drawn to.