During the application and interview process, hiring managers will ask many essential questions to ensure they choose the right candidate. Among the more common questions are, “Why should we hire you?” and “Why do you want to work here?”
You’ve probably used a resume builder or cover letter generator to show how your skills will help a company achieve its mission, which landed you the interview. Now, let’s prepare you to have a solid answer to this question and make a great first impression in interviews.
The rest of this guide will outline best practices, common mistakes to avoid, and real-world examples you can use to shape your answer.
Preparing Your Answer to “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
As you develop your answer to “Why do you want to work here?” or “Why do you want this job?”, you must consider some key aspects. Let’s dive into more details about what employers are looking for with this question and how you can use research to stand out.
Understanding the Question
Employers ask why you want to work for them for a few key reasons. First, it helps them learn how much you know about the company and how you’ll fit in with its workplace culture. Your answer can also help hiring managers determine whether your skills match the requirements of the position you’re interviewing for and see if you’re genuinely interested in it.
Today, employers value personalization highly during the hiring process. After all, when companies get hundreds of applicants for job openings, personalization can be a key factor that makes someone stand out.
Taking the time to learn the hiring manager’s name rather than submitting a cover letter with a generic “Dear Sir or Madam” greeting or learning about some of the essential projects a brand has worked on to reference during the interview shows you’re willing to go the extra mile.
For example, consider someone applying to be a brand manager for a gardening tools retailer. If they express their love of gardening and how they want to help promote the hobby so that more people get into it, that’ll stand out a lot more to a hiring manager than someone who submits a generic AI cover letter without personalization or gives a generic answer about why they’re interested in the position.
So, always aim to personalize and connect when you hear the question, “Why do you want to work here?” or other variations like:
- Why do you want this job?
- Why are you interested in this position?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- Why are you interested in this role?
Research is Key
Just like other parts of the hiring process, such as writing a letter of interest or forming a counter offer letter, you want to do your research. It’ll show the hiring manager you’re prepared and that you have a genuine interest in the role.
Many companies provide extensive information about their mission, vision, and values that can help you answer “Why do you want to work for this company?” or similar questions. You can often find this information on the company website’s About page or in the job description. Then, you can write down key details you want to cover in your answer.
For example, let’s say you’re applying to be a social media manager for a fitness brand that aims to help busy professionals achieve their weight loss goals. You could then tailor your answer to explain how you want to use your graphic design and content planning skills to help the brand grow its online presence, reach more business professionals, and increase its impact.
Personal Connection and Enthusiasm
Have you ever felt really excited about a company you were applying to? Employers appreciate seeing that enthusiasm from applicants when they ask why you want to work for them. It’ll show why you’ll be a great member of their team.
For example, say you’re applying to be a manager at an amusement park you loved going to as a kid. You could use that connection to form part of your answer for why you’re interested in the job, such as how you want to create an atmosphere that helps kids today have the experience at the park that you once did.
You could also connect your hobbies and interests to the job duties you’ll be performing. For instance, someone who enjoys cooking and baking could use that hobby to show why they’ll make an excellent sales clerk at a store that sells kitchen appliances since they’ll be able to emphasize the practicality of key features and benefits of the products while helping customers.
Some other ways you could connect and show enthusiasm about a company are:
- Explain how your values align with their mission
- Mention a project the brand worked on, or a product they released that you felt had a significant impact
- Talk about why you want to get into the role you’re applying for or the company’s industry
When you’re having trouble connecting with a job, you may need to take a step back. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to work here?” and write down any ideas that come to mind to develop your answer.
Showcasing Your Fit
Once you’ve researched the company and found your personal connection, the final key piece of the puzzle is demonstrating your professional fit with the role. That includes how your skills and experiences make you right for the position and presenting how it aligns with your career goals.
Like choosing your resume skills, the job description will help you identify the right abilities to emphasize in your “Why do you want to work here” answer.
When choosing skills to discuss, remember that it’s important to customize this answer to each company’s needs. For instance, one company hiring an HR manager may need a recruiting specialist, while another will need someone to optimize the onboarding process. A tailored answer will help you stand out for each one during your interview.
After identifying the right skills, you can usually combine those to show how the job aligns with your overall career goals.
For entry-level applicants, the way you express your goals while explaining why you want to work for a company may be similar to what you’d put in a resume objective. For example, you could express your eagerness to break into a specific field or to continue growing the skills you gained through school.
As you gain experience, your career goals should evolve. Experienced applicants may want to emphasize their desire to continue growing their leadership abilities when applying for management positions or how they want to take on more challenging projects as they apply for more technical roles.
Throughout your career, continually ask yourself, “Why am I interested in this job, and why is it a good fit for me?” It’ll ensure you’re applying for the right positions that align with your goals.
Crafting Your Response to “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
Now that you understand the main things to consider with this question, let’s put it all together. Here’s a guide on structuring your answer cohesively, followed by some “why do you want to work here” sample answers to use for inspiration. Think of them as being similar to resume templates or resume examples when crafting your resume.
Structuring Your Answer
Once you’ve done your research, connected your passions to the role, and determined why it’s a good fit for your career goals, you’ll be sitting with a lot of good information. However, you want to avoid having your answer be too long or feeling disorganized.
Typically, a good length for your answer to why you want to work for a company will be around 100-150 words. This length ensures it’s concise while still containing enough details to make you stand out. While you won’t be able to read from a script during your interview (and it wouldn’t sound natural or genuine), it can be helpful to write something out ahead of time so you can practice and have an idea of what you want to say.
Combining some details you want to cover will help you avoid an unnecessarily long or disorganized answer. For example, you could combine your passion for a company’s mission with the top skills that make you a great fit, such as how you’re eager to use your customer service skills to help a medical center provide great service to patients during difficult moments.
Honesty is also important when forming this answer. While it can be tempting to bend the truth, people can usually feel it when you’re being ingenuine–especially hiring managers who interview and talk to a lot of people. So, stay true to yourself to ensure you make a great impression.
Education
Mock Interview Scenario for a Kindergarten Teacher:
Imagine you’re interviewing to be a kindergarten teacher at Maplewood Elementary School. They put a big emphasis on developing social skills within their early education program. They’re seeking an applicant familiar with group and project-based learning to guide students during the beginning stages of their educational path.
Interviewer: “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. After reviewing your resume, I’m impressed with your experience in elementary education. The first question I like to ask applicants is, why are you interested in this role?
Your Task: Provide a detailed response that showcases your early-age education skills and emphasizes the social learning side that Maplewood Elementary focuses on. You should show that you’ve done your research about the school and that you’re passionate about what they’re doing.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Begin with your research: Present what stood out to you about Maplewood Elementary during your research, such as their data showcasing higher learning retention rates at the middle school and high school levels after implementing their early-age social learning program.
- Connect your passion: Explain your passion for early-age teaching and your desire to help students learn essential social skills as they begin their educational journey.
- Highlight relevant teaching skills and experience: Discuss how your early childhood education degree and previous elementary teaching jobs make you a great fit.
- End with your career goals: Address why being a kindergarten teacher at Maplewood Elementary is the ideal next step as you grow your career.
Example Answer: “I recently came across the study that the Maplewood school system published a couple of months ago about how your social learning program has led to 20% higher learning retention levels as students advance into middle and high school. That also aligns with data the Minnesota Board of Education has published in the past, which has influenced my teaching style heavily, where I’ve aimed to focus more on group and project-based learning to provide my students with those same skills that will help them in their later years. Upon seeing your kindergarten teacher job opening, I was excited to apply. I’d be eager to work for a school that aligns well with my teaching methodologies while contributing to your efforts to provide students with the best learning environment.”
Engineering
Mock Interview Scenario for a Process Engineer:
You’re interviewing for a process engineering role at Precision Dynamics. You’ve recently completed your master’s degree in engineering after you’ve worked in the industry for the past four years and are looking for an opportunity to utilize the new skills you’ve picked up in school. Precision Dynamics has been innovating elevators for commercial buildings in New York and is seeking applicants with advanced skills in gearless drives, predictive maintenance, and regenerative drives.
Interviewer: “Thank you for joining us today. Our team was impressed with your mechanical engineering knowledge when we reviewed your resume. To start, I’d like to ask why do you want to work with us at Precision Dynamics?
Your Task: Craft an answer that showcases your passion for what Precision Dynamics is doing with their innovations to commercial elevators and why your skills are an excellent fit for the role as you continue growing your career.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Show you did your research: Present information you found about the company that caught your attention, such as your impressions of its new AI-powered elevators, which are capable of predictive maintenance.
- Add your passion for the role: Explain how you connect with the role and Precision Dyanamics’ mission of making elevators in New York safer and more efficient.
- Highlight your engineering skills and experience: Detail what skills you’ve gained while pursuing your master’s degree and how previous process engineering roles have contributed to your abilities.
- End with your career goals: Discuss why working on innovative projects with Precision Dynamics is the ideal next step in your career path.
Example Answer: “After completing my master’s degree in engineering from NYU, I’ve been seeking an opportunity that will challenge me and help me continue growing my skill set. I’ve been impressed with what Precision Dynamics has been doing with your innovations for commercial elevators in New York and desire to push the boundaries with what is possible. Specifically, your new SmartLift AI Elevator System with predictive maintenance to improve safety ratings by 35% caught my attention. I’d be excited to use my growing skills in gearless and regenerative drives and predictive maintenance to help your company achieve its goal of making navigating New York skyscrapers safer and more efficient for everyone in our community.”
Finance/Accounting
Mock Interview Scenario for a Chief Compliance Officer:
You’re interviewing for a chief compliance officer role at Sterling Trust, a national financial institution that provides banking solutions, loans, and financial advisement. They’re seeking a candidate to help maintain strict regulations and provide accurate service. With your experience as a compliance analyst and specialist, you want to present the right skills to showcase why you’re ready to step into a chief compliance role.
Interviewer: “Thank you for stopping in. I was impressed with your experience in previous compliance roles when I reviewed your resume. My first question is, why do you want to work for us?”
Your Task: Provide an answer showcasing your passion for Sterling Trust’s mission of providing an unmatched customer experience while showing you have the right skills to step up into the lead role of chief compliance officer.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Begin with your research: Compliance professionals need to be detailed, so show you took your time to research Sterling Trust’s financial services and know what they’re looking for in the role, such as complex ETF management and internal audit planning.
- Present your passion for their mission: The customer is at the heart of everything Sterling Trust does, so explain how your role as a compliance officer will benefit the overall customer experience.
- Add your financial skills and experiences: Your accounting knowledge and experience as a compliance professional have prepared you for the job, so present specific details that make you the right fit.
- Finish with your career goals: Explain why Sterling Trust is the right fit for you as you seek to further your career as a chief compliance officer.
Example Answer: “Having worked as a compliance specialist and analyst for banks and financial advisors over the last 12 years, I’ve learned that the customer is the most essential part of everything we do in this industry. I’m excited about working with Sterling Trust since your organization possesses those same values with your AAA rating from the Better Business Bureau and maintaining 97% positive customer satisfaction scores over the past decade. Using my leadership skills to coordinate internal audits where I’ve been able to maintain 99% recording accuracy in previous roles and my detailed ETF management protocols, I believe Sterling Trust would be the ideal organization to help me continue expanding my skill set as I look to step into a bigger leadership role.”
Sales/Marketing
Mock Interview Scenario for an Entry-Level Outbound Sales Rep:
Imagine you’re interviewing for an entry-level outbound sales role with Essential Catering Solutions. They prepare and deliver large, gourmet meals for local business functions, weddings, funerals, and other major events in people’s lives. They’re seeking outbound sales reps who can generate more leads and land deals with local businesses.
Interviewer: Thanks for stopping in. We’re excited about your interest in joining our outbound sales team. My first question is, why do you want to work here?
Your Task: Having just graduated from high school, you don’t have much work experience. You’ll need to craft an answer that shows passion for what Essential Catering Solutions is doing, presents relevant skills you do have, and explains why you want to start your career in a sales role.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Show you did your research: Sales reps need to be knowledgeable about the products or services they’re promoting, so show you’ve done your research about Essential Catering Solutions. For instance, you could discuss their diverse menu for many dietary needs or fast delivery solutions.
- Add your passion: Explain why you’re passionate about Essential Catering’s mission for top-quality food and service during significant events in people’s lives.
- Explain your skills and experiences: While you don’t have outbound sales experience, showcase relevant skills that will transfer over, like the customer service abilities you gained while working as a grocery clerk.
- Finish with your career goals: Detail why you think working as an outbound sales rep is a great fit as you begin your career.
Example Answer: “While searching through job posts, Essential Catering Solutions’ mission of providing excellent food and service for your customers’ biggest life events caught my attention. It made me think about different events in my life, such as my sister’s wedding this past year, where everyone connected during the reception through a good meal delivered by a catering service. I’d be excited to use my skills in customer service and deep attention to detail to make a similar impact by connecting with local businesses in our community. I’m eager to learn and grow with Essential Catering Solutions as I develop essential lead generation and solution selling skills for this role, which I’m confident will take me far in my career.”
Health Care
Mock Interview Scenario for an ICU Nurse:
You’re interviewing to be an ICU nurse at Crestview Regional Medical Center. Their mission is to provide modern, effective, and caring service to everyone who comes to the center in a distressful situation. They’re seeking knowledgeable nurses to add to their ICU staff.
Interviewer: “Thank you for taking the time to stop in and talk with us. When we reviewed your resume, we were very interested in your background. Why are you interested in this position?”
Your Task: Your professional background puts you in an interesting position. You started the first five years of your career as a middle school teacher and have decided to complete your RN and enter the healthcare industry. Your answer should present why you’re making this transition and what makes you passionate about what Crestview Regional Medical Center is doing.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Present your research: Show you’ve researched what Crestview Regional Medical Center does, such as its innovations in critical care practices, and your knowledge of what you’ll be performing on the job.
- Add your passion: Explain how Crestview Regional’s mission of modern, caring, and effective service made you interested in applying.
- Explain your nursing skills and experiences: Discuss skills you’ve gained while obtaining your RN license and during nursing internships.
- Discuss your career goals: Address your transition into nursing and why you believe Crestview Regional is a good fit to help you achieve your career goals.
Example Answer: “When I was researching positions to apply for, I was impressed by Crestview Regional Medical Center’s desire to innovate to provide better and more accurate care for your patients. While I enjoyed the impact I made as a teacher earlier in my career, I decided to pursue my RN to get into healthcare after my mom was in a car accident a few years ago. Seeing the great care that the local ICU team put into place and their use of modern technology, like handheld ultrasound units for faster diagnosis and treatment, helped my mom during that scary moment and made me want to help out and make a similar impact. I’d be eager to use the diagnostic and emergency response skills I’ve gained during my nursing internships and while getting my RN at a caring organization like Crestview Regional.”
IT
Mock Interview Scenario for a Lead Cybersecurity Engineer:
You’re applying to be the lead cybersecurity engineer at WealthStream. They’re a startup that has developed an app to make personal financial management more accessible for the average person. The company is seeking a security engineer to ensure their customers’ information stays safe while using the app.
Interviewer: “Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. I was impressed by your resume and previous experiences in cybersecurity. My first question is, why do you want this job?”
Your Task: Since this is a small startup, you’re aware that the hiring manager doesn’t know much about in-depth practices like intrusion detection and digital forensics. So, you must shape your answer to make your impact easy to understand while showcasing your passion and skills that make you a great fit.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Present your research: Show you’ve researched what Crestview Regional Medical Center does, such as its innovations in critical care practices, and your knowledge of what you’ll be performing on the job.
- Add your passion: Explain how Crestview Regional’s mission of modern, caring, and effective service made you interested in applying.
- Explain your nursing skills and experiences: Discuss skills you’ve gained while obtaining your RN license and during nursing internships.
- Discuss your career goals: Address your transition into nursing and why you believe Crestview Regional is a good fit to help you achieve your career goals.
Example Answer: “When I was researching positions to apply for, I was impressed by Crestview Regional Medical Center’s desire to innovate to provide better and more accurate care for your patients. While I enjoyed the impact I made as a teacher earlier in my career, I decided to pursue my RN to get into healthcare after my mom was in a car accident a few years ago. Seeing the great care that the local ICU team put into place and their use of modern technology, like handheld ultrasound units for faster diagnosis and treatment, helped my mom during that scary moment and made me want to help out and make a similar impact. I’d be eager to use the diagnostic and emergency response skills I’ve gained during my nursing internships and while getting my RN at a caring organization like Crestview Regional.”
Administration
Mock Interview Scenario for an Executive Administrative Assistant:
You’re interviewing for an executive administrative assistant job at United Horizon Enterprises. This multinational manufacturing corporation aims to make production processes more energy-efficient to reduce environmental impacts worldwide. In this role, you’d assist their CFO by scheduling meetings, coordinating travel, and handling correspondence.
Interviewer: “Thank you for joining us today. To get to know you a bit better, why are you interested in working for us at United Horizon Enterprises?”
Your Task: You’ve worked in many administrative assistant roles but never at the executive level. You’ll want to give an answer that shows you have the right skills to manage the high-level tasks you’ll be completing in the role while showing your passion for United Horizon’s green manufacturing initiatives.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Start with your research: Begin by referencing some things you learned about the company during research, such as how you were impressed with their innovations in renewable energy with their use of wind turbines and geothermal heat in their facilities.
- Add your passion: Explain why you’re passionate about United Horizon’s mission for greener manufacturing and sustainability.
- Reference your skills and experiences: Showcase how your previous roles as an administrative assistant have equipped you for the responsibilities you’ll carry out in this position.
- Explain your career goals: Address why being an executive assistant at United Horizon Enterprises will be the ideal next step in your career.
Example Answer: “I’ve always been very passionate about limiting my ecological footprint to ensure a more sustainable future, doing things in my everyday life like carpooling, walking places when I can, or bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. I’d be excited to work for a business like United Horizon Enterprises that aligns with those same values. Your renewable energy project particularly caught my attention, adding wind turbines and geothermal heat to power your facilities. I’d be excited to do my part in assisting the CFO’s scheduling and managing correspondence for the financial teams to keep your operations running smoothly for ongoing progress. I’m confident this organization will be right for me as I look to grow my career and get into an executive assistant role.”
Legal
Mock Interview Scenario for an Entry-Level Personal Injury Attorney:
You’ve completed your JD and your first internship. Now, you’re seeking an entry-level attorney role and have landed an interview with Carter & Associates Legal Group, a personal injury law firm focusing on medical malpractice cases. They aim to enforce medical regulations for safer healthcare and provide justice for those injured during medical treatment.
Interviewer: “Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. To get things started, could you tell us about yourself and why you’d like to work here?”
Your Task: As an entry-level applicant, you don’t have much experience, so you’ll want to show how your previous internship and time in law school have prepared you with the necessary skills. Your answer should also connect with Carter & Associates’ mission to enforce medical regulations for a safer healthcare space.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Present your research: Like any legal case, you should study the law firm you’re interviewing with. Discuss anything that stood out to you about Carter & Associates, such as their high success rates in medical malpractice cases.
- Share your passion: Explain how you connect with the law firm’s mission and why you’d like to get into personal injury law.
- Explain your skills and experiences: Present how your time in law school has equipped you for the role, as well as any experiences during your internship.
- Discuss your career goals: Share why you think an entry-level attorney role at Carter & Associates is the ideal next step of your legal career.
Example Answer: “When I decided to go to law school and become an attorney, the primary factor was knowing how enforcing the law can positively impact society as a whole. Your mission at Carter & Associates Legal Group speaks to me since you want to improve the medical field by enforcing regulations and providing justice so everyone feels safer when they receive healthcare. I’d be eager to use the litigation and alternative dispute resolution skills I’ve picked up during law school to contribute to your law firm’s cause. I’m confident that with your 70% success rate on cases, I’d be able to learn a lot and grow as an attorney while working on these cases.”
Food Service
Mock Interview Scenario for a Head Chef:
You’re interviewing for the head chef position at Ember & Oak Steakhouse. You’ve been in the industry for 11 years and are ready to pursue this role at a five-star restaurant whose mission is to provide the finest upscale dining experience in Boston, Massachusetts.
Interviewer: “We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us today. I’m very impressed with your culinary experience and was wondering, what about this job attracts you?”
Your Task: You have tons of experience as a chef that you’ll need to condense into a concise answer combined with your connection to the restaurant’s mission and why it’s the right step for your career.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Share your research: Even though you’ve landed several jobs as a chef, think of this like learning a new recipe. Ensure you have done enough research about Ember & Oak to discuss things that stand out, such as their specialty Wagyu Beef, which gets rave reviews from customers.
- Mix in your passion: Share how your love for cooking will help Ember & Oak achieve its mission of the finest dining experience in Boston.
- Add your experience and skills: Mention how your previous experiences as a chef and skills in food safety and kitchen management will make you the ideal fit.
- Mention your career goals: Explain why the Ember & Oak Steakhouse is an excellent step for your career, such as your desire for a new challenge working with the finest cuts of beef.
Example Answer: “After working in the culinary industry for 11 years, the highest priority for me has always been ensuring quality in everything my team prepares. Everyone knows how disappointing it is to go to a restaurant and have the food you’re served feel subpar. It can ruin your whole night. Therefore, your mission to provide Boston’s finest upscale dining experience resonated with me. From top-notch ingredients like only using USDA-certified wagyu beef to being named the best steakhouse in Boston for the past three years, I know your restaurant goes all in on quality. I’d be excited for the challenge of working on the finest cuts of beef with immense detail while being able to use my food safety and kitchen management skills to help you continue your success.”
Creative
Mock Interview Scenario for a Sports Journalist:
You’ve landed an interview for a journalist role at Endzone Sports Media. Their mission is to provide the most accurate and unbiased sports news for people around the world. With the NFL draft coming up and a new football season not too far away, they’re looking to add a talented interviewer and writer to their staff.
Interview: “Thanks for taking the time to meet with me. I was really impressed when I reviewed your portfolio. My first question is, why would you like to work with us?”
Your Task: You’ve been working as a freelance journalist for the last five years but are now ready to transition into a full-time role with a publication. You’ll want to provide an answer that shares your passion for what Endzone Sports Media is doing and why you’re ready to take this next step in your career.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Start with your research: As you would do with an article, you must be prepared with enough research for your interview. Presenting something like an article or series you enjoyed from Endzone Sports Media would be a great idea.
- Share your passion: Detail your passion for sports journalism and why you’d be excited to contribute to Endzone Sports Media’s mission of accurate and unbiased sports news.
- Add your experience and skills: Explain how contributing to other publications and writing on newsworthy sports topics has prepared you for the role.
- End with your career goals: Discuss why landing this role on Endzone Sports Media’s reporting crew would be a great next step for your career.
Example Answer: “I’ve always been a big sports fan, keeping up on the latest news about football, baseball, golf, and more. Endzone Sports Media really grabbed my attention a couple of years ago when you released your Top 30 Before the NFL Draft series, in which you interviewed all the top draft prospects for that year. Reading that made me feel so much more connected with the draft while it was happening, and it’s those kinds of projects that your publication works on that I’d be excited to contribute to. Having been in the industry as a freelance journalist for the last five years, I’ve refined my skills in interviewing, digital multimedia storytelling, and research, which I’m confident will contribute well to your mission of accurate and unbiased sports news. I’d be eager to join your reporting team to continue growing as a writer and storyteller.”
Retail
Mock Interview Scenario for an Assistant Department Manager:
You’re being interviewed for the assistant clothing department manager job at Vista Ridge, a retailer specializing in trendy and fashion-forward designs. They’re seeking an assistant manager who can help with scheduling and inventory management as they continue expanding their clothing selections.
Interviewer: “Thank you for joining us. To learn more about you, could you tell us about yourself and what made you interested in working here?”
Your Task: You’re in a unique position since you have a gap in your work history, having been a stay-at-home parent for the last four years. You’ll want to craft an answer that explains why you’re returning to the workforce, your passion for Vista Ridge’s fashion-forward designs, and why your skills make you the right fit as an assistant department manager.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Share your research: Show that you know about the Vista Ridge brand and what grabbed your attention about what they do, such as their use of 3D printing to create more intricate clothing designs.
- Connect your passion: Explain why you’re passionate about Vista Ridge, such as how you’ve had great experiences shopping at their store or your appreciation of their trendy clothing.
- Add your retail experience and skills: Detail how your previous experiences working in retail stores on inventory and scheduling will make you successful.
- Discuss your career goals: Present why working at Vista Ridge is the ideal choice as you look to get back into the workforce and grow your career.
Example Answer: “Every time I’ve shopped at Vista Ridge, I’ve had an amazing experience. From your friendly staff to the organized displays, your team makes the shopping experience easy. Not to mention, your trendy designs, like the 3D-printed lace patterns you do, always stand out to me. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the last four years, but now that my son is in school, I’m ready to start working again, and Vista Ridge seems like the ideal choice for growing my career. I’m confident my abilities will make me a great fit as your assistant clothing department manager. I’m very proficient with the Lightspeed Retail inventory interface and have studied up on the program’s latest updates. I also have over five years of scheduling experience from previous department manager roles. I’d be eager to use my skills and experience to help you stay on track as you expand your clothing line.”
Logistics/Maintenace
Mock Interview Scenario for a Construction Project Manager:
You’ve landed an interview for a construction project manager position with Summit Builders. They specialize in hotel, restaurant, and supermarket construction projects and aim to build using innovative materials like carbon composites and 3D-printed concrete to create more sustainable buildings.
Interviewer: “Thank you for meeting with me. I reviewed your resume and was really impressed with the previous commercial projects you’ve worked on. What made you want to apply to work with us at Summit Builders?”
Your Task: Provide an answer sharing your familiarity with Summit Builders’ commercial construction process, your passion for their mission, and how your skills fit their needs.
Guidelines for Your Answer:
- Start with your research: Detail what grabbed your attention when applying to work with Summit Builders, such as their innovative use of carbon composites and 3D-printed concrete.
- Add your passion: Explain why you’re passionate about their mission, such as your desire to work on modern sustainable buildings.
- Detail your construction experience and skills: Discuss how your previous experiences managing timelines and overseeing construction crews will make you the ideal fit.
- Reference your career goals: Mention how Summit Builders would be an excellent choice for growing your career by working on these dynamic projects.
Example Answer: “Every time I’ve shopped at Vista Ridge, I’ve had an amazing experience. From your friendly staff to the organized displays, your team makes the shopping experience easy. Not to mention, your trendy designs, like the 3D-printed lace patterns you do, always stand out to me. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the last four years, but now that my son is in school, I’m ready to start working again, and Vista Ridge seems like the ideal choice for growing my career. I’m confident my abilities will make me a great fit as your assistant clothing department manager. I’m very proficient with the Lightspeed Retail inventory interface and have studied up on the program’s latest updates. I also have over five years of scheduling experience from previous department manager roles. I’d be eager to use my skills and experience to help you stay on track as you expand your clothing line.”
What Not to Say to “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
Now that you know the basic guidelines for answering why you’d like to work for a company, let’s quickly review some common mistakes that you should avoid.
Common Mistakes
Overall, the most common mistakes from job seekers are giving an answer that sounds too generic or not providing enough details. Here’s an example of what that would look like:
“After getting my marketing degree, I’m eager to land a job in the digital marketing space. This looks like it would be a great company to work for as I begin my career.”
While this answer is a decent start, it doesn’t make enough of a connection since it doesn’t mention any details about the company or the applicant’s skills.
You also want to ensure you aren’t being too basic with your reason for wanting to work for a company. When employers hear applicants say the main reasons they want to work there are the pay and benefits or how they appreciate the hybrid work schedule, it can feel too impersonal.
While employers don’t necessarily mind hearing that they have competitive compensation, it doesn’t show any passion for what the company actually does or the tasks you’ll be performing day to day. So, aim to dig into more of those aspects instead while answering this question.
Concluding Your Answer
It’s important to conclude your answer to “Why do you want to work here?” on a strong note.
A great way to keep the hiring manager engaged is to encourage further questions or follow-ups, such as saying, “I’m excited to discuss in more detail what my daily role with this company would look like.” This will show your continued interest in learning about the position.
Since you’ll have to answer this question quickly during the interview, preparing beforehand is also helpful. Using the mock interview scenarios above, you can start to come up with your own sample answers to this question. Practicing with a friend or family member before the interview can help, too.
While you likely won’t get much feedback after an interview, there are some cues to evaluate how you did. For example, you could look at the hiring manager’s facial expressions or whether they asked for more details about your answer after you gave it. These clues will help you refine your answer over time.
Overall, this is an important answer to emphasize during an interview. It can get you off to a great start, showing your interest in a company and passion for what you’ll do on the job. A good connection with the role can be the difference maker that leads to you standing out and getting hired.
To ensure the most success, remember:
- Do your research beforehand
- Find your connection with the company’s mission
- Review the job description to understand the top skills the company is seeking
- Don’t stretch the truth
- Avoid answers that sound too generic
With these tips in mind, you’ll be on your way to landing your next job!
“Why Do You Want to Work Here?” FAQs
When employers ask why you want the job, they’re looking for you to show interest and passion for the role you’re interviewing for. You can discuss your connection to the company’s mission, reference projects they worked on that stood out to you, or the skills you’d like to use in the role.
The ideal length if you were to write it out is about 100-150 words. That would take you about a minute if you were to voice your answer out loud. Aim to keep it concise and impactful while adding enough essential details about the company’s mission and your skills to make your answer stand out.
The job description, the About page on the company’s website, or its social media pages usually contain a lot of good information about what the company does. Some sections that typically stand out are mission statements, product or service descriptions, or origin stories.
When a hiring manager asks what you bring to the company, they’re usually looking for you to showcase some essential skills you have that align with the job description. Try to do some research and review the job description before the interview to identify some skills you can reference.
Even without experience, you can still make a great connection with a company by showing your passion for its mission and values. You can also reference skills you picked up in school or transferable abilities from hobbies or volunteer work that apply to the role.
Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of BeamJobs. He started his career in data fulfilling the dream of little kids everywhere: working for an insurance company. He then moved on to work in edtech for a company called Chegg before venturing out to start BeamJobs. Things have come a long way after countless “learnings” (fancy word for mistakes), and BeamJobs has now helped 2.5M+ people create their perfect resume. Stephen and BeamJobs have been featured on awesome sites like Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Dallas News, Baltimore Sun, the Daily Press, Zendesk, HubSpot, and loads more.
