“Why do you want this job?” is a common interview question.
“Why do you want this job?” is one of the most-asked interview questions. How well you answer this question can make a big difference in how your interviewer thinks of you. If you want to know how to answer this question best, you should think about both what the company needs and what you want to do with your career. In this article, we’ll talk about why employers ask this question and give you four steps for giving a good answer to it.
Why do employers want to know why you want the job?
This is a question that hiring managers often ask to figure out if a job candidate is right for a certain position. Interviewers want to know if a candidate cares about the company’s values, if they are serious about doing well in the job, and if they can see themselves doing well in the job. All of these things should be included in a good answer to this particular question.
You will need to get ready to answer this question well. If the interviewer can see that you have already thought about how to answer this question, it can be a good sign. This is often one of the last questions asked during an interview, so it can also help you end the interview well.
How to answer the question “Why do you want this job?”
Taking some time to practice answering this question out loud before your interview will help you be more confident and clear. Here are four steps that will help you come up with a good answer to this common question:
1. Do a self-evaluation.
The best way to get ready for a good answer to this question is to answer it yourself. Put aside any ideas you already have about what your answer should look like and write a truthful statement that explains why you want this job.
Sitting down with a pen and paper and making a list of what you want to do if you get the job is a good way to do this. Write down your goals, what you hope to achieve, and what you think this job could do for your career. Think about how getting this job would change your schedule or how it would affect your family. By writing this down in a private place, you are getting ready to explain your reasons to someone else. You can also use this list to figure out what questions you need to ask the interviewer or what concerns you have about the job.
2. Find out what you can.
The next step in coming up with a good answer to this question is to get the details you need. If you can add unique details to your answer that are directly related to the company you are interviewing with, the interviewer will likely be impressed by your thoroughness and attention to detail.
The company’s core values and mission can be found on its website or in its publications. If you know what the company’s goals and priorities are, you can tell the interviewer how your own goals match up with those of the company.
3. Talk about yourself
The next step in giving a good answer to this question is to sell the interviewer on your skills and experience. When someone asks you this, they are giving you a chance to tell them why they should add you to their team. Take the time to read the job description and requirements, and then use specific terms and keywords in your answer.
If the job posting says that you need “excellent teamwork skills,” be sure to tell the interviewer how much you like working with a team and give an example of a time when you did well in a team setting. If the interviewer says that the job will require a lot of travel, talk about how you think you’ll do well working from home. When you answer this question, one of your goals is to show the interviewer that you want this job because you have the right skills and experience for the role.
4. Talk about your plans
Your career goals are the next thing you could talk about when answering this question. This question gives you a chance to tell the interviewer how this job would help you move forward in your career and grow as a professional. If it’s an entry-level job, you can talk about how excited you would be to start your career in this field. If you want to switch careers, you can talk about why you think this new job will be better and more challenging than your last one.
You can convince the interviewer that hiring you would be a good investment if you can show that you think you could grow and get better in the job. If the company and you both benefit from hiring you, you are more likely to stay with the company for a long time.
Answers to the question, “Why do you want this job?”
Example 1
“I’m impressed by how committed Goodwin Manufacturer is to quality and customer service. I think it’s great when a company puts the customer first, and I’d love to work with a group that cares more about making good products than just making money. I read that last year, Goodwin’s Customer Relations department won an award for their exceptional performance. That commitment to service struck a chord with me, and I’m looking forward to working for a company that shares my values.
Why this is a good answer: The job seeker talks about what they like about the company. It shows that the job seeker took the time to learn about the company and that they are serious about the job.
Example 2:
“I’m interested in this job because I think it would let me use both my technical skills and my ability to work with people. As the Design Manager for Ellis Software, I would be able to use both my computer programming skills and my customer service skills. I’m proud of how well I can work with both computers and people, so this job seems perfect for me. I think I would be a valuable member of the team because I can help with both making and selling Ellis Software’s products.
Why this is a good answer: It’s clear that the job seeker knows a lot about the job and has thought about how their experience can help the company.
Example 3:
“I want to teach at Lilypad Elementary because I think it will help me become a better teacher, which is my professional goal. I’m really impressed by how high the school’s standards are, and I think working here would really push me to get better and help me keep growing. I know that this school has had a lot of award-winning teachers, and that really pushes me to do my best and meet the high standards set by the administration. This school has a great reputation, and it would be a real honor to work with these teachers.
Why this is a good answer: The job seeker shows how the organization fits into their professional goals. This shows a company that you want to work for them for a long time and that they fit with your career goals.
Common mistakes to avoid
When answering questions like “Why do you want to work here? “, there are a few things you shouldn’t do:
- Learning your answer by heart. Even though it’s a good idea to study, you shouldn’t memorize your answer word for word. This can make you seem like a robot or not like yourself during the interview.
- Talking about the good things Many job seekers are interested in great benefits, but for this question, you should stick to the professional reasons why you want to work at the company. Don’t talk about salary, paid time off, or hours.
- Too long of a talk. Keep your answer short—no more than two minutes is best. If your answer takes more than two minutes, you might lose the interviewer’s attention.
