How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work Here” with Sample Answers
To impress your interviewer and increase your chances of landing the job, it’s essential to be prepared for the common question, “Why do you want to work here?”. It is a perfect opportunity to show your genuine enthusiasm for the company and the position you have applied for, and most importantly, talk about your skills and relevant experience that make you the best fit for the role. Your response should demonstrate that you’ve thoroughly researched the company and have considered how your qualifications would contribute to its success. In this blog, we’ll explore effective ways of answering this question and provide sample responses to help you prepare for your interview.
Why Do Employers Ask Applicants “Why Do You Want to Work Here“?
For a hiring manager, knowing why you intend to work for their company or organization matters the most, aside from your technical knowledge and skills. Your answer to this question, “Why do you want to work here?” will reveal your intent and how sincere you are about the work. Additionally, it demonstrates to the hiring manager your familiarity with the company and its operations.
Your answer will make it clear that you are a candidate with a long-term commitment, a good fit for the company’s culture, and whether or not your long-term career goals align perfectly with the company’s. A well-thought answer will definitely make a difference in securing your position in a part time job, work from home job, or even a full-time job, whichever you prefer.
How to answer “Why do you want to work here?”
When asked, “Why do you want to work here?” in a job interview, it’s crucial to provide a well-prepared and thoughtful response. Here are some steps to help you craft an effective answer:
- Research Thoroughly about the Company: To prepare well for an interview, it’s important to conduct thorough research on the company you’re applying to. This includes understanding the company’s history, products or services, industry reputation, and recent achievements. You can do this by visiting the company’s website, reading press releases, and exploring their social media profiles. Additionally, it’s important to look for information on the company’s culture, values, and any specific initiatives they’re involved in. By doing so, you’ll gain valuable insights into what makes the company unique and why you’re interested in joining it.
- Study the Job Description: Before applying for a job, it’s important to carefully study the job description. Analyze the key responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications to see if they align with your background and experience. It’s also crucial to identify specific aspects of the job that genuinely excite you, such as the chance to work on innovative projects, collaborate with a talented team, or contribute to the company’s growth. Tailoring your response to address these points will help you stand out from other candidates and increase your chances of landing the job.
- Highlight Your Core Values: When reflecting on your values and how they align with a company’s values, it is important to consider what matters most to you in the workplace. This could be teamwork, creativity, integrity, or a commitment to excellence. It is essential to connect your values to the company’s mission. For instance:
- If you value continuous learning and growth, you can mention how the company’s emphasis on professional development appeals to you.
- If work-life balance is essential, you can discuss how the company’s flexible policies align with your priorities.
- If you are passionate about sustainability, you can highlight any eco-friendly initiatives the company has undertaken.
Steps to Frame an Answer for “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
A well-thought-out answer to this question will primarily assist in persuading the company or recruiting manager that you are a suitable fit, in addition to showcasing exceptional personal development skills. When answering this question, it is important to include:
1. Start by Talking About Why the Company Appeals to You
There must be a reason that compelled you to apply to this company. “What made you click in order to apply for the role?” – This is what you are expected to highlight in your answer. This can include the broad industry that the company is a part of, the company’s best practices, and its well-standing reputation in the industry. If it is a start-up or an MNC, you may mention how you envision yourself working in either of them.
Helpful Hint: Undertake preliminary research to stay well-informed about the company’s present state and its envisioned trajectory.
2. Include Reasons That Made You Apply for the Job
Ensure your answer includes all aspects demonstrating your interest in the role you applied for. Highlight your skills and interests that align with the responsibilities of the position. If you are transitioning from one career to another, such as from being an English language teacher to a content writer or from being a sales specialist to a marketing team, explain how your current skills will be suitable for the new position and mention any fresh perspectives or creative contributions you can bring to it.
Helpful Hint: Analyze the job description thoroughly to sketch the aspects of your experience and skills that match the description.
3. Mention What Makes You the Perfect Fit for the Job
The focus should be on your qualifications and traits that align with the position’s demands. For example, for a marketing position, a candidate might have internship experience either in content marketing, copywriting, sales, or email marketing. By sharing a relevant education and experience background, you will create the impression that you are the best fit for the role and stand out as a strong candidate. This should convincingly answer the question, “Why should you hire me?”.
Helping Hint: Humbly promote yourself and share ideas on how you will apply theoretical knowledge and skills into practice.
Sample Answers to “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
It is essential to keep in mind that you should be clear about your career objective before you craft an answer to this important question. Here are a few sample answers:
Sample 1: Answer For a Fresher Candidate
For a fresher job, the answer to this question will cover a broad spectrum. This means that your answer should focus on the industry in which you want to work and the type of work you want to do. In short, you should outline how the educational background and interests, including internship experience (if any), align with the company’s vision and values.
“During my academic career, I developed a strong inclination toward problem-solving and creative design, which led me to explore the field of industrial design. As I researched potential career paths, your company’s reputation for innovative product solutions caught my eye. In particular, your recent breakthrough in sustainable packaging aligns perfectly with my passion for environmental awareness and design excellence.
My academic background in mechanical engineering gives me a solid foundation in materials science and the tools of CAD. I’m confident that I can contribute effectively to your ongoing projects. I’m excited at the prospect of being part of a team that is making significant strides in the industry.”
Sample 2: Answer for a Candidate at the Mid-Level
An intermediate-level experienced candidate (3-5 years of experience) will seek a new job because they wish to work for a good company, earn a good salary, or advance in their career field. The answer to the question “Why do you want to work for us?” will certainly include:
- Knowledge of the industry
- How past experience can help produce better results for the new company
- Suggestions about the company’s current work practices
- Willingness to learn and grow despite relevant experience in their professional field.
“I have a B.A. degree in English (with honors) and an M.A. in Mass Communication. I have successfully completed one internship in content writing and communication every year since I began my studies. I am passionate about writing and have been developing my skills over the past 5 years. I am particularly drawn to your company because it is known for producing quality content and working with great academics. I believe my expertise in content writing, SEO, and editing will be a valuable asset to the team.”
Sample 3: Answer for a Senior Candidate
A candidate with 8 to 10 years of experience is expected to be knowledgeable and extremely skilled in their area of expertise. The candidate must show that they are willing to share their expertise with the prospective company and explain how it can fit with their growth strategy.
“I’ve worked in digital marketing for seven years, and I’ve admired [Company Name’s] leadership in the industry. What stands out to me about this company is how it values a dynamic skillset. I genuinely feel that my experience in the business-to-business (B2B) sector could really benefit your partnership and affiliate programs. I believe I could help enhance these areas as part of your company’s growth plans.”
Sample 4: Answer for a Change in Career
It is easy to change careers in today’s times, with many professional and short-term courses available to acquire the desired skills and knowledge. For anyone changing careers, it is important to talk about transferable skills because their existing skills may not completely relate to your new career option but still prove to be helpful.
“For the past ten years, I have taught Accounting at [Name] school. I have always been interested in working in a corporate environment and being technologically savvy. I have been keen on understanding the investment practices of financial companies. Keeping in mind my educational background, past work experience, and interest in the finance field, I decided to pursue a professional course in Financial Analysis and Modeling, along with learning Microsoft Excel and Power BI tools. Therefore, I desire to start my career in the finance field and utilize my theoretical expertise, along with the new skills I have acquired. I will strive to bring greater enthusiasm to the team.”
Sample 5: Answers for Different Jobs
Here are a few best answers to the question, “Why do you want to work with us?” for different career roles:
1. Data Science Jobs
“I have gained extensive experience building complex data models during my tenure at my previous company. I believe that working for your company will serve my eagerness to scale up my skill set. Your innovative machine learning and advanced programming approaches to producing cutting-edge solutions for data models make this the perfect opportunity for me.
I am particularly drawn to this position because it focuses on leveraging data to drive strategic decisions. This fits perfectly with my passion for translating complex data into actionable insights. With my strong background in machine learning and analytics, I am confident that I can effectively contribute to your team’s success”.
2. Graphic Design Jobs
“I am excited about the opportunity to work at [Company Name]. Your company is popularly known for its eye-catching designs and open-door environment for creative solutions. It is evident from your official website that the graphic design team is constantly developing and putting a strong emphasis on client brand value.
It would be a fantastic opportunity to be a part of such a team. The position aligns with my passion for creating compelling visuals that communicate meaningful narratives. My strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and ability to adapt design to various mediums make me well-suited for this role. With my dedication to staying updated with design trends, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively and thrive within the dynamic creative team.”
3. Computer Science Jobs
“I am genuinely eager to work with your company. I have gone through your client base and the kind of diverse work you are doing to build real-time applications and develop software to test systems.
I am more keen on diversifying my work experience as a Computer Science Engineer, and I truly think that your company will give me that opportunity. My expertise in Python and Java, as well as my practical knowledge of developing applications and putting algorithms into practice, make me a strong match for the position’s technical needs. I am confident that I can increase my technical expertise even more to support a project for a company.”
4. Finance Jobs
“Your company’s reputation for innovation, financial success, and ethical practices excites me about joining. The position offered aligns with my passion for financial analysis, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making. I possess technical proficiency and analytical insight that can contribute to your team’s success.”
Conclusion
The answer you provide to the interviewer’s question, “Why do you want to work here?” shouldn’t sound cliche or informal. When you respond, let your innate eagerness and interest shine through. The best course of action is to thoroughly review the job description and conduct background research on the company to craft a unique response that will stand out to the hiring manager.
If you found this blog helpful, also check out our blog on ways to answer the question, ‘How did you hear about this position?’
FAQs
Answer: When asked why you want the job, it’s important to show your genuine interest in the position and the company. One effective way to frame your answer is by highlighting how the job aligns with your career goals and aspirations and how your skills and expertise can contribute to the company’s success.
For instance, “I have a strong passion for marketing and data analysis, and this role perfectly aligns with my career ambitions. I admire your company’s innovative approach, and I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of a team that is disrupting the industry. I believe my skills and enthusiasm can make a significant contribution to your team.”
Answer: When asked why you chose this company, it’s important to highlight the specific reasons that drew you to the organization. For example, “I chose this company because of its strong reputation for innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. I’m impressed by its track record of success, dedication to the industry, and culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. This is an opportunity for me to contribute my skills and expertise to a forward-thinking organization and grow both personally and professionally.”
Answer: When asked “Why do you want to work here?”, it’s important to highlight what drew you to the role and the organization. One great way to frame your answer is by emphasizing your career goals and how this position aligns with them. You can also mention your excitement about the company’s mission and values and how they resonate with you.
By doing so, you show that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the company. Additionally, you can talk about the potential for growth and advancement that this job offers and how you’re eager to learn new skills and take on new challenges.
