Why do you want to work here?
Companies ask this because they want to understand have you done your homework, are you actually interested in working at the company, or is this just another interview that you’re taking?
It can be tough to prepare for a job interview. You want to stand out from all the other candidates, you want to make it to the next round of interviews and you want to get that job. Before we tackle one of the most popular interview questions, “why do you want to work here?”, there are a few things you need to do.
Evaluate your intentions.
Make a quick list of why you want to work for the company and what inspires you most about the position and then second do your research. Find out everything you can about the company and the position. Research the company’s website. Evaluate their activity on social media.
Go even further by viewing the company’s LinkedIn page. You might find that you know someone that works there or you know someone that knows someone that works there. Reach out to these people to gain greater insight into the company and the position. Read the most recent articles that the company has published.
Read articles that have been published about the company. Get clear on what the company’s mission is and what their core values are and then finally remember that the reason why this question is so popular is that it gives the interviewer greater insight into what your intentions are and if you will really be a valuable contribution to their team.
So let’s dive top three strategies to answer the interview question “why do you want to work here?”
1. Show that you are the solution to their problem.
Now you’ll know what their problem is because you’ve done your research. To dig a little bit deeper, thoroughly review the job posting. So here’s an example of how you can answer the question by demonstrating that you are the solution to the problem.
“I want to work here because I understand that one of the challenges your company faces is angry and upset clients.” One of my greatest strengths is to quickly calm high-stress situations. In fact, in my previous position, I was recognized for repairing relations with dissatisfied clients.”
2. Be yourself and show your passion.
It can be hard to show your true personality in a job interview especially when you want to show your best self, but studies have shown that an interviewer will hire someone based on a personality trait over someone that has a specific skill set.
After all, personality is a lot harder to train than a skill set. It’s easiest to show your personality when you’re talking about something that really interests you or something that you’re passionate about. Your excitement for the position will come through in your body language and your words.
So here’s an example of how you can answer the question of being yourself and showing your passion.
“I want to work here because I recently read that your company is known for its contribution to society and its commitment to improving the community. “one of my greatest passions is to bring awareness to my local community about good nutrition. In fact, every month I hold a free nutrition class for families in my local community center.”
3. Be specific with your examples.
The last thing you want to do is answer this question with something like, “I want to work here because I need a job” or “I want to work here because I need money.” Be as specific as possible when you answer this question.
Here’s a better way to approach it. “I want to work here because I admire that one of your core values is to empower your employees. I’m impressed that your organization takes the time to understand employee strengths and weaknesses and assigns responsibilities accordingly.”
4. Tell them why you’re interested in the job.
You like the person that leads this team. You’re going to learn these things. Explain it, and make it concise. It’s not really about having a right answer, it’s about showing that you’ve done your homework and you see yourself fitting in and that you’re ultimately going to be part of the team going forward.
They’re looking for people who have passion and conviction and wanting to work there because they have lots of candidates for the role but they want to make sure they’re hiring someone who’s passionate about the learning,
passionate about the company, and passionate about the culture.
