Nailing the job interview: “Why do you want to work for us?”

A classic in job interviews of all kinds, the question “Why do you want to work for us?” (or “Why do you want this job?”) serves several purposes from the perspective of the recruiter. From a good answer, the recruiter gets information about your career goals, perceived strengths, and motivation, as well as an idea of how well you have done your research about the company and the position you’re applying for. “I need a job” is not a good answer, even if it’s true.

It’s also worth remembering that having an answer to this question is a great way to demonstrate your motivation in your cover letter, to maximise the likelihood of actually getting an interview.

If you want to give a kickass answer to this question, make sure you follow the following advice:

1. Know yourself

Let’s face it - there are companies you probably don’t want to work for, for a number of reasons. My advice is not to fabricate reasons that will get you hired, but to convince yourself first. For this purpose, you need to understand yourself first.

Try asking yourself these questions:

• What are your career and life goals?
• Which of your skills are you hoping to use in the job?
• Which new skills and what kind of experience are you hoping to get?
• What kind of a working environment motivates you?
• What kind of an impact do I want to have on the world?

Finally, ask yourself: “How does this job align with my answers to these questions?”

If you have a crystal clear answer - great! If not, as is likely, it would be a great idea to research the company and the position to try to figure out if, and how, they would fit in.

I’m not saying that all of these questions are necessarily relevant to every job, and certainly not that you should explain your answers to all of them in the job interview. However, thinking about them is likely to give you the right focus and to help you understand your own motivation.

2. Do your research

The main task in preparation for your job interview is to research the company (and position) you are applying for. Not only will it help you figure out if you actually want the job, but it will help you demonstrate your motivation to the recruiter. What’s more, doing such research is a great example of a task that you can do during otherwise useless downtime.

Here are some useful questions to ask:

• What are the company’s values? Are they socially responsible, innovative, eco-friendly, or anything else you value?
• What kind of a working culture does the company have? Are employees encouraged to come up with and present new ideas? Is there flexibility in working hours? Is there a strict or a flat hierarchy?
• What kind of products and services does the company provide? Do you use them? Do you know what their impact is? Would you be proud to be a part of producing such products or services?
• What kind of learning opportunities does the position offer? Is the company known for employing competent people who you would like to learn from? Does the company support employees in trying new things, experimenting, and learning? Do they offer professional training to their employees?
• What’s the public image of the company? Would you like to be associated with their brand?
• How does this company fit in with the rest of the industry? Is it a market leader? New innovator?
• What do they say about the position you are applying for? How does the position fit with the overall structure of the company? What is its impact? What can you learn from it?
  
  

Basically, know what you’re applying for. Not only will you find out if, and why, you actually want the job, but you’ll also gain valuable information that you will be able to use during other parts of the application process.

To find the answers, the company’s website is the first stop. In addition, you should also google the company and ask your friends and family about what they know about the company or the industry and what their impression of the job is.

Pro tip: As you do your research, write down all questions you have about the company and the position, so you can ask them in the interview and demonstrate your motivation even further.

3. Don’t forget their perspective

It’s tempting to answer the question purely from your own standpoint. After all, the interviewer literally asks why you want to get the job. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that there’s a reason why they are asking the question - to find out if they want to hire you. So, after all the introspection and the research, make sure your answer to the question, as well as your answer to everything else they ask you, aligns with the kind of a profile the company is looking for. For this purpose, it’s a great idea to check the job announcement, and make sure you tick the boxes.

What have you answered to this question? Did it get you hired? Do you have any tips for introspection or research? Leave a comment!