“Why do you want to work here”, ANSWERED!

Even though certain interview questions are so common that it’s practically a given you’ll come across them at your next interview, they can still leave us scratching our heads.

One of the most common, yet challenging interview questions is the dreaded “why do you want to work here?”

It can be rephrased in different ways, like:

“What makes you want to work for us?”
“Why are you excited about working for this company?”
“What drew you to apply to Company ABC?”

But at its core, the question is the same.

So now you’re probably wondering, “how do I answer that question?” Well, we’ve got the answer to that question, too! Read on to find out how you can ace your answer to “why do you want to work here?”

Why do they ask “why?”

Recruiters love this question because it combines several smaller questions into one.

When asking “why do you want to work here”, recruiters are really asking:

“How does this job fit into your career goals?”
“How much do you know about our company and what we do?”
“What motivates you as an employee?”
“What value will you provide?”

And while you don’t need to actually answer these questions individually, you should definitely keep them in mind when you craft your overall answer. Make sure your reply speaks to each of these key points.

Next, we’ll talk about each angle and how it adds to your answer!

Align Your Answer With Your Career Goals

No one is going to hire you “just because”. So if you’re only applying to this job “just because”, then recruiters aren’t going to be impressed.

Your interview is an opportunity to talk about your past career, but it’s also a chance to talk about where you see your career going in the future! Sharing insights into your goals and aspirations not only helps you build rapport with your recruiter, it shows them that you are determined, ambitious, and lets them see that your goals align with theirs.

Think about your priorities for what makes a job great. Then speak to how you see the employer making those a priority too!

Show Off Your Knowledge of the Company

Recruiters want to make an informed decision when they hire someone. And they appreciate it when an applicant does the same!

Prior to your interview (or even applying) you should take time to research and learn about the business. Not only will this show recruiters that you have a genuine interest in their business, it’ll prove you’re on the same page when it comes to the expectations they have for employees.

Mention What Motivates You

When it comes to this aspect of your answer, you should be focusing on what you value in a company culture.

Are you passionate about the good their company does for its clients? Are you excited to work with a team that values professionalism as much as you? Do you love working for a company that always stays cutting-edge with its ideas?

Think about what motivates YOU as a worker, not just what might be a good motivator for anyone. So no, don’t just mention money and benefits! If money was not an issue, what would make you want to get out of bed and go to work every day?

Reveal Your Value

This angle is perhaps a subtle part of every interview question. You should always speak to the value you will bring to the table, but it can be particularly important when explaining why you want to work for an employer.

That’s because this is where you can speak to how you feel like your skills will be put to good use with this employer in particular!

Describe what your unique value is, and how you feel that working with them would offer a unique way to apply your skills and experience.

This is your chance to tell them you’re a great worker, but an even greater match for the work they do!

Put It All Together

Keep your answer short and sweet. Working out how to hit all the points we mentioned in just a few sentences can be tricky, but practice will make it perfect!

Write out your answer in advance — write it out right now, even! — and read it out loud to yourself. Try summarizing it, and find the phrasing that seems most natural to you.

META can help you practice to perfection, too! We offer free interview prep, including mock interviews. We can also help you reword your response to suit a specific employer. Let us get you ready to reply to any interview question — book a free appointment today!

BONUS: Bad Answers

You should give an honest reply to any interview question. But that doesn’t mean you should be blunt.

Use your answer to prove you’re a good match for the job, and don’t waste your words discussing things that only matter to you, such as:

“I want money.”
“This will look good on my resume.”
“The job I really wanted wasn’t hiring.”

And definitely don’t say “just because!” 😉

Conclusion

You’ve just mastered one of the most common interview questions!

For more help with interviews and everything else you need for your job search, talk to META today!

“Why do you want to work here”, ANSWERED!