Why Do You Want To Work Here?
“Why do you want to work here?” is such a common interview question that it’s become a meme in and of itself. “I want to work here because I need money to live” is the joke answer you’ll hear more often than not.
The joke is funny because it’s true - to a certain extent. We all need to work in order to afford to live. Many of us have been at a place in our lives where we’re willing to work
almost any job - as long as that job offers enough money that we can pay our bills.
As funny as that answer might be, it’s not what an interviewer wants to hear. They want to know that you’re going to mesh well with the company’s culture, and that you’re there for more than just money.
Below, we’re going to explore many of the reasons an interviewer will ask why you want to work for their company. We’ll discuss what you
shouldn’t say, some of the things you
should say, and even some example questions and answers.
Why this question gets asked
Employers aren’t looking for just anyone when they’re vetting applications. They want someone with the right skills, to be sure, but they’re looking for more: They want someone who will gel with the company’s culture, an employee who will learn and grow in the position, and one who will go above and beyond when performing their duties.
In other words, they’re looking for someone who wants more than just a paycheque - and that’s why answering “Why do you want to work here?” with “Because I need money” is a bad idea. They know you need money - it’s a core piece of our society.
They want to understand the
other reasons you’re interested in the job. By asking the question, they can learn about:
Your motivations and desires- How well you know their company and the position
- Whether or not you’ll be happy in the role
- How likely you are to stick with the company
- Which team members and mentors you’re likely to get along with
That’s a lot of information gleaned from just one question. A great answer will help you fit into your new workplace and impress upon the interviewer what qualities you’ll bring to the company.
Before we get into the kinds of information you should offer up when a prospective employer asks you why you want to work for them, we’re going to take a quick look at the kinds of things you should avoid saying. Dodging these pitfalls can help you keep your answer concise and give your interviewer the information they’re looking for.
What not to say
This is the perfect time to mention something really important: Interviewers are people. We’re going to explore some of the concepts and ideas we’d avoid bringing up when telling an interviewer why you want to work for their company. You might, however, have a good read on your interviewer’s personality - these are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and you can adjust accordingly.
“I need the money.”
Of course, you do. As we discussed above, everyone needs money to live. The company you’re applying to has great pay
and great benefits (we hope) - otherwise, you probably wouldn’t be applying there. They know the industry. They know the financial incentives they offer. Here’s the problem - if the only reason you’re working there is because you need the money, you’ll have no problem leaving the company if a more lucrative offer comes around. While that may be true, interviewers want to know that you’re there for more than just a paycheck.
“I need the experience.”
Phrased differently, this could be the start of an excellent answer - and we’ll delve deeper into answers related to growth in the next section. Telling the interviewer that you want the job in order to gain experience, however, is problematic on two counts:
The first is that it implies you don’t have enough experience already - that may be true, but employers want to hire people with enough experience under their belt to excel in the position.
The
second is that it implies to the interviewer that you’re just here to pad your resume - and that you’ll leave when you’ve got enough experience to land a better job. As true as that may be, it’s not what an employer wants to hear.
“I’m interested in the company - but only at a surface level.”
We don’t think any of you would
literally say this to an interviewer, but you might inadvertently give them the impression that you haven’t done your research. Avoid mentioning surface-level reasons for wanting to work at the company like:
The job looks interesting- The company seems cool
- The job posting gave me the right vibe
These things may all be true, but it’s important to delve deeper.
Why does the job look interesting? What about the company seems cool to you? What stood out to you about the job posting? Don’t be generic - specifics are what interviewers are looking for when asking these questions.
What you should say
Now that you know what not to do, what kinds of answers should you give? Interviewers are looking for a few things when they ask you why you want to work for their company: They want to understand your motivations, whether or not you’re the right fit for the company’s culture, and what relevant skills you might have to help you grow and thrive in the position. Your answer should cover all of that. Here are some things you should include in your answer:
“My skills fit the role perfectly.”
They’ve read your resumé, so they already know how well your skills align with the role in question - and they must align pretty well, given that you’re at the interview phase of the application. This means your answer should
reinforce your resume, not repeat it. Do you have any unexpected skills or experiences that will lend themselves to the position? What particular parts of your experience mesh well with specific requirements within the role? Highlight these - but keep it relatively brief.
“The company’s philosophy aligns with my personal philosophy.”
Does the company do charitable work with organizations that are meaningful to you? Do they emphasize the importance of teamwork, play, self-actualization, or anything else that resonates with your personal philosophy? Before your interview, do your research. Find the company’s mission statement. Read about the charitable activities the business conducts outside of business hours. Learn about how they support other local businesses. Match these things to the things that are most important to you - then talk about them in the interview.
“I want to grow and develop with the company.”
Instead of answering “I need the experience”, lead with this. Talk about how the company has grown over the years and what you’ve learned about how they help their employees develop. Research is, again, essential here - talk to recruiters, find staff reviews and testimonials, and get a sense of how the company treats its employees. If there’s a lot of room for growth within the company, bring that up - interviewers love it when people want to learn as much as possible, all while keeping that experience within the company.
“I’ve seen the company’s work, and I find it inspiring.”
Pretty straightforward - research the company, find projects they’ve completed that excite you, then talk about those projects. Why do they excite you? What could you bring to the table to bring similar projects to fruition in the future? When you’re genuinely inspired and excited, it shines through in an interview.
Example answers
Knowing the topics you want to cover in an answer is one thing - how to tie all of those topics together with a neat little bow is quite another. Fret not - we’ve created some example answers to the question - across a number of different industries to help you get a sense of what you want to say:
Answer 1: Journalistic inspiration
“Two months ago, I came across the story you ran on the Southwood Community Centre scandal. I was amazed at the level of investigative detail the reporters poured into that story. The work this paper has done to shine a light on the important issues facing the residents of our city - issues that are often overlooked by large national news outlets - is truly important.
You can imagine how elated I was to find an opening at the paper that matches my skills perfectly - and I believe some of my life experiences can help add a new perspective to the paper’s work. I’ve read some of the other stories the journalists who reported on the Southwood Scandal wrote, and I’m amazed at the diversity of opportunities; they’ve written everything from local pieces to opinion articles on national events. I get the sense that I’ll be able to wear a number of different hats and truly develop my skills and grow with the paper. I look forward to contributing, learning, and growing with the team.”
Why it’s a good answer:
It covers everything - it shows you’ve done your research, how the paper aligns with your philosophy (a need for better local news), work the paper has done that you find interesting (the Southwood Scandal), it talks briefly about your skills and gives the interviewer a good opening to ask you to elaborate on them (life experiences), and cements your excitement to grow with the paper (different hats).
The biggest flaw is that this answer might be too long for some interviewers - you don’t have to cover
everything if you’re getting the sense that they want to move on.
Answer 2: Succinct and technical
“The work this company has done revolutionized DevOps. I’ve used your software countless times in my previous work, and I love it. Your open-source philosophy resonates with me. I believe that a collaborative and open approach to development yields the best results. Remote work and access to free courses suit my needs for work-life balance and personal growth, and my skills are the perfect match for the position. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work for the company.”
Why it’s a good answer:
This one is really succinct: It shows familiarity with the company and its product, philosophical alignment, and a desire for growth within the company, all while highlighting how your skills align with the role. Sometimes, it’s good to keep things simple.
Answer 3: Friendly and hard working
“I’ve worked as an HVAC technician for a number of years. In those years, I’ve only heard good things about your company, and I know you’re one of the leading HVAC companies in the city. I’ve also made a lot of friends in my career.
One of those friends works for you now, and she says that the culture at your company is unparalleled. I love working with a team of dedicated, hard-working, and like-minded technicians - people who know that customer satisfaction means going above and beyond. I know from my friend that your company supports development through additional training, that the management team has experience working out in the field, and that earnest, hard work is rewarded. That’s why I want to work for you.”
Why it’s a good answer:
There are some subtle things happening here. You’ve established gregariousness as one of your skills - you’ve made a lot of friends as an HVAC tech, and you’re easy to get along with. You’ve explained why the company’s culture matches yours and that you’re excited to grow with the company. Plus, you’ve got a great in - one of your friends can vouch for you and give you the inside scoop about the company and its culture.
Conclusion
There are two main keys to answering “Why do you want to work here?”: Research and authenticity.
Don’t make up an answer on the spot - truly reflect on why you want to work for a given company instead of another. Take the time to find something that inspires you about the company, and learn about how they’ll help you grow with them. If nothing resonates with you about the company or its culture, it might not be the right fit - and that’s why interviewers ask the question.
Our Staffmax recruiters can help you understand the role you’re applying for and the company that’s offering it; that makes researching and answering why you want to work for a company much easier. Looking for an opportunity that truly excites you? Talk to one of our recruiters today!
