Introduction
During a job interview, candidates are asked a variety of questions, not all of which are related to their qualifications or skills.
Some questions are designed to help the employer get to know you better and make an informed decision about whether to hire you.
One such question is can be asked in different ways –
- “Why do you want to work here?”
- “Why are you here?”
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- “Why do you want to work for us?”
These questions may seem irrelevant or like time wasters, but they can actually reveal a lot about your motivation level and confidence.
The questions are asked to determine your interest in their specific company. Therefore, you should highlight the aspects of the company that attract you both professionally and personally.
Why do Employers Ask this Question?
The Importance of the Question – This question is designed to test your confidence and determination working for the company.
This question can be difficult to answer because you often prepare to answer questions about your skills and experience but may not have taken the time to think about why you want to join this organization.
This seemingly harmless question is actually very important and requires careful consideration when answering, as it could be the deciding factor between two equally qualified candidates.
The employer is trying to determine –
- If you know anything about the company and the job that you are applying for.
- If you will bring added value to the company.
- They want to know about your level of interest in their organization.
- They want to ascertain if you know anything about the organization’s products, competitors, and market dynamics.
- They want to know how committed you are to joining the organization and adding value to it.
Tips on How to Answer the Question
You should focus on specific aspects of the organization that attract you both professionally and personally.
For example, if the organization is a startup, you can highlight the opportunity for growth and the chance to work with a young, enthusiastic team.
You should also demonstrate your knowledge of the organization and how you can add value to it based on your skills and experience.
The answer should be broken down into four parts:
- Expressing interest in the company profile.
- Presenting knowledge of the workplace environment.
- Demonstrating enthusiasm to work for the company.
- Explaining how your experience and skills can be utilized for the benefit of the company.
- Focusing on the career development opportunities that the company offers, as well as your personal and professional interests in the job role.
- You may highlight your achievements, ambitions, and how the company can help you grow professionally.
By doing so, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates and increase your chances of securing the job.
You create a picture of yourself as an active-integral member of the organization who feels proud to contribute.
It is also important to show interest and passion in working for the company and how your skills can be tailored to the job requirements.
Before the Interview
Before the interview:
- Conduct research on the company by logging onto their website and finding important and relevant information that can be pointed out during the interview.
- Prepare a matching table that compares their background with the job requirements.
- It is helpful to do a Mock question and answer session with a friend or in front of a mirror.
This will help you gain confidence before the interview and allow you to refine your answers to ensure you are specific, truthful, and genuine.
Example of How to Answer the Question
An example answer to this question could be:
“This Company is a well-known ABC industry leader. I have conducted web research and found/believe that DEF products and their prospects are impressive and interesting/exciting. I have always wanted to work at this company. The ABC team is the team I’d be proud to work with. A place where my background/skills can be utilized and developed.”
It is also important to add other reasons explaining how your skills are the best fit for the company and the position.