How to answer “why do you want to work here?”
If you are a cynic like me, hearing this question during an interview can be exasperating. But the truth is that you are more likely than not to be asked that question – and you better nail the answer.
A strong answer to the “why do you want to work here” question will set you apart from all other applicants.
This article will explain everything you need to know about this question and we’ll go over some of the best example answers out there so you can understand how to make your answer shine.
After you are done reading this article, make sure to practice answering this question for free at Voomer – where you’ll get AI-powered feedback on your answer so you can land that dream job!
Why do interviewers ask this question?
While you might be desperate just to get an offer, employers have lots of job applicants to choose from.
So it makes perfect sense for them to find out who is the best fit for the organization and the specific role.
Their job is to find someone that will excel at their job and stick around for a long time. Weeding out people who applied just because LinkedIn or some other platform made it easy is essential, and the “why do you want to work here” question does the trick.
What your answer should communicate
Your answer’s job is to make you a more desirable candidate after your answer the question! When you prep for this question, you should communicate the below points, that you are:
- A good fit for the organization
- A good fit for the role
- Want to excel at this role
- Plan to stay at that organization for a reasonably long time
If your answer covers all – or most – of those points, your answer will be very strong.
Best example answers to “why do you want to work here?”
Since each person’s career is wildly different, don’t just copy these answers and use them yourself. Any half-decent interviewer will see through a stock answer.
Use the examples below to get inspired for when you think about how you’d answer the “why do you want to work here” question!
Ensure you answer using the STAR method. This helps keep your answer on track and makes the interviewer’s life easier!
Example 1: Admiration
“I want to work here because this organization, in my opinion, is the best at brand management. Everywhere I’ve worked before has brought up innovations developed by this organization as examples to be followed.”
Why this is a strong answer: This answer shows the interviewer that you actually know something about the organization and that working there would give you a sense of pride and belonging.
Example 2: Personal growth
“I want to work here because I believe my skills are being under utilized at my current employer. Working here will allow me to put my proven skills to work and bring a lot more value to the organization”.
Why this is a strong answer: Show the interviewer you are ambitious and welcome new responsibilities. This tells them you are going to be a force for positive change and growth at the organization, which is something very hard to develop organically and therefore is a highly sought after skill.
Example 3: Values
“I want to work here because this organization’s values really resonate with me. I’ve struggled to find a place where I feel like I am building something meaningful for society and the organization’s consumers. Your clear values (make sure you list them!) resonate with me and working here would be
Why this is a strong answer: This is an answer interviewers love to hear. Not only does it show them you took the time to research the organization, you tell them that your values are highly aligned with the organization’s. This usually means that you’ll be a happy, motivated employee.
Next steps
Now that you know how to frame your answer, make sure you practice answering this question for free at Voomer.
You’ll get AI-powered feedback on your answers so you can quickly improve and land that dream job!