How to Answer: “Why do You Want to Work Here?”

How to Answer: “Why do You Want to Work Here?”

How To Answer, Job Interviews, Job Search

Why do you want to work here is an inevitable interview question. To answer effectively you must be enthusiastic and have a good understanding of what the company does, its values and culture. So, how do you do this? What’s the best answer to why do you want this job?

What’s the Interviewer Really Asking?

This question isn’t so much about showcasing industry knowledge or how well you know the company’s accolades. It’s about two things. The first is the job at hand, why do you want this particular job? And the second, why do you want to join this company? Consequently, it means that your answer needs to have two focuses that are woven together into one succinct answer.

Why Would You like to Work for Us?

The question Why do You Want to Work Here highlights the importance of properly researching a company before going to an interview. Without knowing about the company, you won’t be able to be convincingly enthusiastic about working for them. Nor will you be able to align your skills with what they need or show how your own goals support the company’s mission. Being able to do this will enable you to successfully convey that it’s not just a job you’re after, but this particular job.

Step-by-Step Guide to Answering Why do You Want to Work with Us

In your answer to an interviewer asking you why you want to work at this company, you want to show that you’re a good fit for the role and into the company’s culture. You also need to bring out why you applied and that you’re planning on staying. What you don’t want to mention is that you applied because of the job’s benefits or salary. Nor do you want to say that you haven’t been asked to interview anywhere else, or you just took a chance.

Why do You Want to Work with Us – Sample Answers

  1. I can see that this position allows for professional growth and this is something that I want in my career. I also know that I could add immediate value to the company by occupying this position of [name of role]. From my CV you’d have noticed that I’ve got a wide range of experience in marketing. The skills I’ve gained are the ones you’re looking for. Additionally, I’ve also gained several others, like product development and working with online tools. I believe these would help generate new avenues of sales leads.
  2. I admire the work this organisation does within communities and I’d like to be part of the way you all work together to help vulnerable people. As often as I can I’ve volunteered to teach kids. This is because I believe that a good education can change the life trajectory and access to opportunities a child has. I know that this position will draw on my skills and experience in ways that I can meaningfully contribute to projects.
  3. I want to work here because I really like the products you make. I have used them for a long time as I believe that they’re a great combination of quality and in the right price range. This position gives me an opportunity to work in an area I’m passionate about. As well as use my skills and industry experience to contribute towards building up a company I believe in.

3 Easy Steps for a Great Interview Answer

A great answer to the question of why you’re interested in a job should do these three things:

  1. Create links between the job and your skills and interests.
  2. Show an understanding of the company and explain why you want this particular job.
  3. Be backed up with personally relevant experiences.

1. How to Create Links between the Job and Your Skills and Interests

First, you need to know the specifics about the job, how it fits into the overall company structure and mission. As well as it’s actual responsibilities. Then you need to unpack your skills and interests in relation to the job’s specifications. When attempting to do this, never inflate your experience, or skills and don’t make up an interest.

There are several ways to figure out a job’s specifics. Look at the advert and in it the job outlining of the duties and key requirements. Take special note of mandatory and preferred qualifications, required and desirable qualities as well as any special traits the employer is looking for. If you can, find out more by chatting to someone from the company’s HR or recruitment agency.  Having a conversation with a current or past employee will also help you to understand the job’s context better.

How to Identify Your Skills

Skills are divided into two types, hard and soft skills. Your soft skills relate to personal attributes and behaviours such as communication, emotional intelligence, problem-solving and collaboration. Hard skills are associated with the technical requirements of a job. They are learnt via studying and/or developed through experiences. This means that they are quantifiable and can be checked up on. Hard skills, for example are customer service, sales and marketing, financial analysis, speaking a foreign language and computer software knowledge. Employers generally look for a mix of hard and soft skills.

When you write up your skills list, start by looking at which ones you developed in previous roles. You’re typically looking to identify those skills that have added to your effectiveness. This will also help you come up with personally relevant examples. Remember to also list skills that you believe are transferable and, therefore an advantage to have when assuming this role. These kinds of skills are often what make you a uniquely qualified candidate for the job.

How to Pick Relevant Interests

Focus on the interests that align with your career ambitions and build your skill set. This means that while you may have a wide range of interests you need to be strategically selective. Therefore, only look at those interests that you can easily relate to the position. For example, travel can show you have a desire to learn and explore new avenues. Team sports can imply that you work well with others and value collaboration. Volunteering and community service can be used to highlight values in action and soft skills, like empathy and a caring demeanour.

2. How to Align Yourself with this Specific Company and Particular Job

What you want to accomplish is to show how your values match and support the company’s mission and predominant culture. After ensuring that you know what your priorities, values and goals are, research the company. Identify what their values are and mission statement is and find out more about the prevailing company culture. To do this you need to delve into information that the company disseminates (online and offline) and their social media presence. Ideally find someone who currently works for the company and connect with them. Alternatively, meet up with a past employer, the company’s HR, or their recruitment agency. Then once you have enough information, match what you know about the company’s culture and goals with your personal values. Stay true to yourself and the added advantage of this exercise will be you feeling more confident going into the interview.

3. How to Choose Relevant Personal Examples for an Interview

Anything you share in an interview needs to show why you are a strong candidate for the job. Be very selective when sharing personal information. Personal stories should be memorable because they paint you in a positive light while calling attention to your unique job-relevant attributes.  To figure out what stories to share, reflect on your education and life experiences. In relation to education, look at why you chose to study what you did – why those courses or that degree? What did you enjoy most and excel doing? Experiences can be work related, internships, holiday jobs, positions you held, volunteering, clubs you joined or sports you played.

Why Prepare for an Interview

No doubt you’re enthusiastic about the job if you applied for it. Nevertheless, conveying your enthusiasm in a professional way requires ground work ahead of the interview. Any research you do ahead will come in handy and introspection will stand you in good stead, even after the interview too. Remember, the more you prepare, the more self-confident you’ll feel going into an interview. And confidence is a key feature of an appealing candidate!

Why Partner with the Key Recruitment Group?

The Key Recruitment Group has been finding the right match between employers and employees for over 45 years. Our team is made up of professionals who leverage their industry expertise and knowledge to find the right fit for a job. We believe in collaboration, shared experiences, and trust. This means that we walk the whole recruitment journey alongside you. From hearing what you need, sourcing and vetting appropriate candidates through interview processes to probationary periods and signing employment contracts. Contact Us to discover how partnering with the Key Recruitment Group will make your recruitment processes easier.

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