In an interview, you might be asked, “Why do you want this job?”
Employers usually ask several questions during an interview, and many of them need more than a yes or no answer. Employers can see if you can answer these kinds of questions quickly and honestly. “Why do you want this job?” is a question that doesn’t have a right answer. Your answer will help the employer figure out how excited you are about the chance and why you wanted to apply for the job. “Why do you want this job?”
Think about the job you’re applying for to answer this question. Instead of talking about how bad your current job or company is, talk about how great the new job will be. By making the conversation sound good, you will show that you are confident and professional. “Why do you want this job?”
This question can also be asked by employers in the following ways:
“Why do you want to play this role?”
“What about this job made you want to apply for it?”
“Tell me about yourself and why you want this job,” he said.
“Why did you choose this job?”
All varieties of this question require a similar response. In this article, we show you the best way to answer this question.
Why do employers ask job applicants why they want the job?
Interviewers usually want to know the answers to four main questions when they ask, “Why do you want this job?”
- Do you know what kind of job you’re looking for?
- Are you excited about the job?
- Do you have the right goals and experience for the job?
- Will you do good things for the company?
Many people answer the first three questions, but the fourth one is easy to miss. Keep in mind that employers like to hire people who want to help the company reach its goals while also moving up in their own careers.
What to say when asked, “Why do you want this job?”
Even though you should answer this question in a way that shows how your unique skills and qualities match the job, there are a few general things you can do to prepare for the interview:
1. Get to know the job
If you think about this question before the interview, you’ll be able to give the hiring manager a quick answer that shows you’re professional and ready. Before you can answer, you need to know what the job is all about. It’s a good idea to read the job description carefully before the interview. Are you going to talk to customers? Will you need to do things related to accounting? This information is important if you want to explain why you want the job and figure out which of your qualifications are the most important.
For example, if you’re looking for a job in accounting, you might have to:
- Counting and managing inventory
- Ordering supplies
- Adding stock invoices
- Counting the bills
- How to get in touch with suppliers
This tells you which of your work skills you should highlight in your answer. You could answer the question above by saying:
“I want this job because I’m looking for a place where I can use my math skills and pay attention to detail. I think I’ll do well at this job because I’m good with people and can build good relationships with vendors. I’ve also used accounting software before and can confidently manage invoices and inventory databases.
By using words from the job description in your answer, you can show why you want the job and what you can do for it.
2. Learn about the business
In addition to reading the job description, learn as much as you can about the company you’re interviewing with. If you did research on the company and how it does business, you can show the interviewer that you are interested in the job.
Here are a few good places to start:
- The site of the business: Look for press releases, blogs, or social media accounts for the company on the “About Us” page.
- Find recent news stories or press releases about the organization that were published in the outside media.
- Personal networks: You could talk to people you already know to find out more about the company’s culture and how it works.
3. Plan out how you will answer.
You can shorten and organize your answer once you know more about the company and the job based on what you know about yourself. You can write down your answer to help you get ready, but you should also be ready to answer without the information in front of you. Instead of trying to remember everything, just focus on a few important points.
You might want to think about how to talk about the following three things as you plan your answer:
- How will this job help your career move forward?
- How does this job fit into your long-term plans?
- What’s different about this job?
- Why do you think this company or this role is a good fit for you?
Your answer should show that you read the job description carefully and thought about whether or not it would be a good fit for you now and in the future. Lastly, it shows that you want that job instead of similar jobs.
4. At the end of your answer, ask a question.
Putting a related question at the end of your answer is a great way to make yourself stand out from other job applicants. When you end your answer with a question, you start a two-way conversation, which makes the interview feel more like a chat. It also shows that you’re willing to ask questions when you don’t understand something.
“What makes you want to work here?” how to answer
Here are some answers that follow the steps above to give you ideas for your own:
The person in charge of marketing
“I’ve enjoyed working for my current employer for the past 15 years, but I’m ready for a job that requires more leadership. I’m used to managing five teams of ten people each, but I saw that this job required me to manage five teams of twenty people each. I’m really looking forward to this challenge. Could you tell me more about the kinds of teams you need help putting together?”
Example 2: A business analyst
“I had a lot of fun at my old job, but I can’t grow there anymore in a way that fits with my career goals. This job is a great match for my skills and how I want my career to grow. I’m also looking for work at a company like yours that helps people in underserved areas, which is something I’m very interested in. Can you tell me more about the ways the company helps its employees grow?”
Example 3: Builder
“At my current job, I like working on small residential projects, but this job gives me the chance to use my technical skills on bigger projects with a bigger impact. I’m excited to use both my artistic and technical skills to make designs for Cloud Clearwater, a leader in its field. Can you tell me more about what you’re looking for in the best person for this job?”
If you know how to answer the question “Why do you want this job?” you can go into the interview with confidence. If you prepare well, you’ll also be ready for questions like “What do you know about our company?” and “What do you hope to get out of this?”
