HOW TO ANSWER 'WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB' DURING AN INTERVIEW

You’re in the interview and they ask you, “why are you applying for this position?”… or “why did you apply for this job?”…Are you prepared with what you want to say?

It's one of the most straightforward interview questions, and how you respond could determine whether you get the job or not.

The employer will be able to see from your response how excited you are about the chance and what made you want the position. There are two main reasons why employers ask candidates such questions as "why did you apply for this job?" or "why are you interested in this position?" They'll check to see first if you've done your homework and are aware of what their job entails. Second, they want to know if you have considered your career and know what you want.

Focus on the position for which you are interviewing when responding to this question. Instead of expressing reservations about your current work or employer, try to focus your conversation on the prospects you see with the new employment. Confidence and professionalism will be communicated by positively structuring the dialogue.

There are a few general measures you may take while you get ready for the interview, though you should definitely develop an answer to this question that highlights your distinctive abilities and traits in relation to the position:

The Position

By preparing for this question prior to the interview, you'll be able to respond to the hiring manager's question quickly and professionally. You must first comprehend the position's responsibilities in order to formulate a response. It is a good idea to read the job description in its entirety before the interview. Will you be interacting with customers? Are you going to be in charge of accounting-related duties? This information is crucial for understanding which of your qualifications are most pertinent to the position and for effectively expressing your reasons for applying for it.

Research the Company

Be careful you read the job description and research the firm before the interview. You might express a specific interest in the position to the interviewer by demonstrating that you did your research on the organisation and its business strategy.

     - The company website: Begin with the “About Us” page, and look for company press                releases, blogs or social media profiles.

     - Outside media coverage: Find recent news stories or press releases related to the                  organization.

- Personal networks: Consider reaching out to your own connections to learn about the company culture and inner workings.

Take a note of the company's values and mission statement and think about whether it is something you are or could be passionate about. When asked why you want the job, you can then talk about how you want to help them on their mission to achieve certain goals or that you are aligned with some of their core company values.  

Structure your Answer

Condense and organise your response after researching the company and the job description in relation to your background. Even while writing down your response can help, you get better at it, you should be ready to speak out even if you don't have the information in front of you. Instead of memorising it, keep in mind a few important points you wish to make.

Consider including the following three pieces of information in your response while preparing your response:

- How would this job help you improve professionally?

- How does the job fit in with your long-term objectives?

- What makes this job unique?

- What about you makes you a particularly good fit for this organisation or job?

Your response should demonstrate that you read the job description in its entirety and thoughtfully considered if the employment was actually a suitable fit for you both now and in the future. Finally, it shows that you are more interested in that particular position than other comparable roles.

Focus on the job at hand 

- 'I want this job because I have clear skills that will help me achieve...' 

- ‘This role will give me the opportunity to combine both my skills in [skill 1] and [skill 2] to achieve...’  

- ‘I love [job role specific task] and my last job took me away from that. So now, I’m looking to find a role that will let me get back to working on projects I really enjoy and after looking at the job spec I think this role would be perfect with that.’ 

You want to make sure that you are matching specific skills you have obtained to parts of the job role with these answers. This demonstrates that you have done your research and are confident in your ability to complete the job to a high standard if hired. Keep it brief because there will be plenty of other opportunities in an interview to discuss your skills and go over your CV in greater detail.

Write down any recent accomplishments or challenges you've faced recently that may be relevant to this new job. Consider how this will benefit the role, team, and company for which you are applying.

You should also demonstrate to the hiring manager that you spent time researching the position and how it relates to your career goals and specialties.

A better way to explain why you want the position

One of the keys to developing a compelling answer to the question "Why do you want to work here?" is to flip the question: "Why would this company want to hire me?"

In other words, consider what you have to offer and how you can make an impact rather than why you need the job. Here are three questions to think about as you prepare your response:

How can you help the company succeed?

Learn about what's going on in the company and its industry. Is it currently offering new products or services? What kinds of competitive pressures does it face? Consider this environment and ask yourself, "What knowledge and experience do I have that would be especially useful to this employer right now?"

What past career successes could you potentially repeat at this company?

How did you meet or exceed your employers’ expectations in previous jobs? What problems did you play a significant role in solving? What ideas did you introduce that helped the company save money or otherwise boost its bottom line? What lessons have you learned that you could apply in the future to create value for the potential employer?​​​

How will you complement the company’s culture?

Many employers consider a candidate's ability to fit into the organisational culture to be an important hiring factor. So, research the company's culture and determine what appeals to you the most. Include, for example, if the firm encourages entrepreneurial thinking, which is important to you, in your response.

The answer to the question "Why do you want to work here?" depends on the job and the organisation — as well as you and how you want to express yourself. Understanding what employers are unlikely to want to hear is the first step in developing a meaningful response for almost any interview situation. Here are a few examples:

"To be honest, I just need a job, and this one looked promising." To be sure, this is a straightforward response. However, it does not demonstrate a genuine interest in the position or the company. Furthermore, the hiring manager may be concerned that you will leave the company for a more appealing opportunity. 

"I see this as the first step towards bigger and better things." While no employer expects every employee to stay with the company for the long haul, a response like this suggests you're more concerned with the future than the present. It also implies that you've already got one foot out the door before being hired.

"I've heard that this company provides competitive pay and benefits." Any company wants to be known as an employer of choice, and leading companies understand that in order to attract top talent, they must offer competitive compensation. However, they do not want to hire people whose primary motivation for working for the company is financial gain.

End your answer with a question

Ending your response with a pertinent question for the interviewer is a great strategy to differentiate yourself from other job candidates. The interview becomes more conversational when you conclude your statement with a question. Additionally, it demonstrates that you're not afraid to seek clarification when necessary.

Consider working with a recruiter if you are currently seeking employment. See this page to learn more about how Franklin Fitch's talent solutions specialists can help you find a new job, whether you want to work remotely or on-site.