How to Answer Why Do You Want to Work Here?

Why Do Interviewers Ask “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”

Interview processes are seldom complete without employers asking you why you are interested in the position you’ve applied for with them. It can be phrased in some other ways too. For example:

“Why do you want to work here?”

“Why do you want to work for us?”

“why do you want to work at our company?”

“Why are you interested in this role?”

“What made you interested in applying for this position?”

“Why you are interested in this position?”

“Why did you choose this job?”

“Why (company’s name)?”

“Why do you want to join our company?”

“Tell us why you want to work for us.”

Interviewers may phrase this question to discuss why the company and the role appeal to you with genuine interest and excitement. You need to prepare yourself for the same.

In this article, we’ll tell you how to answer “Why do you want to work here?” with other common interview questions you may face, no matter what your profile is.

The best answers to this question, “why do you want to join our company?” should refer to the organization’s mission, vision and culture while aligning with your skill sets, interests and career goals. You can leave a positive impression on the interviewer by doing thorough research about the company, pointing down the notes and incorporating them into your answer. Learn about the company you’re interviewing for. If you speak about the company and its business model to the interviewer, you will be considered a keen candidate for the position. Your conversation should reflect that you have researched the company in advance and you’re interested in the job.

How to Research about the Company

Here are a few ways to research the company.

1. Through Company Reviews

The best way to get an authentic insight into the company is by hearing from the present employees or ex-employees. There are several review sites where you can see the reviews shared by others.

Reviews give an overview of the work culture and happenings, work-life balance, salary, and hierarchy of the company and help you to make an informed decision for your career.

2. Explore the ‘About us’ section

Go through the ‘About us’ section on the company’s website. Read about the company’s mission, vision and values to see if you can enhance your career goals after joining. It is important to resonate with the company’s motto to ace your career goals.

3. Hierarchy

Learning about the company’s hierarchy can give you an insight into the cultural values of the company. Research other vacancies at the organization on LinkedIn. Check the company’s social media channels to get an idea about its work culture. A company’s postings reveal a lot about its leadership and help you answer the employer’s most common question – ‘why would you like to work with our company?’

4. Key persons of the organization.

The key persons are the important employees of any organization who hold important positions in the company. These individuals can be founders, directors, or CEO/President of the company. Search about the key players of the organization by reading the employer’s “About” page and employee bios. You can also check out what these individuals say on Twitter and LinkedIn, and what they share about their company. Inspiring personalities who are a part of an organization can be one of the answers when your employer asks you, ‘why do you want to work here?’

5. Clients, products, and services.

After you apply for a position at a company, you may be asked about their clients and products or services related to your profile. So, read about their offerings and the channels they are present on. You should be aware of their app (if any) and how it functions.

6. Browse Blogs and articles

To gain detailed product knowledge, it is highly recommended that you read through their blogs and articles section. The company’s blog, case studies, and white papers can give you a better idea of its accomplishments.

7. Recent events and media coverage

Most companies have a PR page on their website to showcase press releases and events. It is an excellent source to find out information regarding the company’s latest news and updates.

8. The person interviewing you.

Finally, you should know who your interviewer will be. It will give you an advantage during the interview to better your chance of meaningful conversation with them. You can locate the person on professional sites and learn more about their position and profile.

Answering “Why Do You Want to Work For This Company?”

Here are some industry-specific examples that can help you answer the most common question -‘Why do you want to work for this company?’ you may come across during your interview.

Have a look

Assistant project manager intern in the IT industry

1. “I’ve been aware of {organization’s name} since I was a grad. student. The company’s projects were a real inspiration to me in IT. I went through case studies by people who have worked here before and, taking inspiration from them, wrote my thesis. When I was put in charge of my first job and the first project, I always referenced the solutions laid by your founder since he was such a big influence on IT and technology. I respect that the legacy is continued for over 15 years now.”
2. Developer in SaaS organization

“Your organization stands out in the SaaS category and you’ve won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry year after year. Being a B.Tech, and app developer, I’ve always been passionate and curious about innovations and technology. I think I will get a chance to work with leaders like (names) and develop my skill sets more.”

3. Business operations manager in E-commerce

“I cannot think of any other profession which complies with such powerful cosmos of all the fundamental business skills other than eCommerce. It will give me exposure to product marketing, supply chain, pricing and profit management, cross-selling, up-selling, customer service, and more. There can be nothing great than eCommerce to gain experience in end-to-end business process mechanisms. That’s why this sector interests me more”.

4. IT Business manager IT and B2B sales manager

“After gaining 5 years of experience in IT corporate business, I truly believe that I have some unique experience in the b2b sector that could take your partnership and affiliate programs to the next level. I will use my experience and knowledge to strengthen the company’s mission and take it ahead towards developing directions.”

5. Sales manager in Telecom

“It is a great privilege to work with a reputed telecom company. Telecom is a booming industry and I can’t see myself placed in a better organization than this. After being appointed as a Territory Site Acquisition Manager (Mobile tower installation), I will bring more tower installation business to the company. My technical qualifications will help me to work closely with Tower Technicians, Cluster managers and in-charge, Broadband Technicians, and look at installation operational activity.”

Common Mistakes: “Why Do You Want to Work For This Company?”

Here are some common answers that you should avoid –

• “I’m looking for a salary hike”

A money-driven decision might not appeal to the employer, and you will be considered an unstable employee who may switch jobs again. You may change your mind in a month or two after joining. This kind of answer is likely to make all involved parties unhappy and push you to the bottom of the list.

• “I think this job would be a great stepping stone in my career.”

This is a very subjective answer. Sometimes the employer might think, you are using this opportunity for a small stint and then will leave the job after a while.

Whereas, you can always justify their ‘why’ and ‘how’ effectively.

• “I don’t like the work culture in my present company”

“Speaking negatively about current or past employers gives a big negative impression about you. No matter how bad the situation was, badmouthing will not reflect well on you. Avoid that.”

Conclusion

“Why do you want to work here?” is one of the most important questions in an interview. During your conversation with the employer, by sharing the facts you’ve read about the company in advance, you make a good impression on them. If you’ve prepared yourself well with your thorough research and some enthusiasm for the job, you increase your chances to go one step closer to the job.