The Right Answer to “Why Do You Want This Job?”
Posted April 21, 2014 & filed under Interviewing, Job Search
Sometimes the simplest questions can be the hardest to answer.
In a job interview, you expect to be asked certain common interview questions. These allow interviewers to distill your professional career down to positive and negative attributes which can then be weighed. Most interview questions can be easily decoded but “why do you want this job?” is almost a bit oversimplified.
Do you just give your unfiltered opinion? Will any old answer suffice? Think again. Some responses to this common interview question are definite strikes against you.
Find your best reasons
The beauty of this question is that you aren’t limited to one reason. This isn’t a yes or no question and no interviewer will cap you at one reason. In fact, you’re expected to give a multifaceted (yet concise) answer.
When crafting your response, think about the how “Why do you want this job?” is phrased. The number of reasons aren’t specified, which allows you to cherry pick the best reasons when selling yourself as a candidate. Some of the best answers to emphasize include:
- Your love of the industry
- Your desire for new challenges
- Your drive to become a leader
- The company’s reputation
- The company’s environment
What you should avoid:
- An increased salary
- A laundry list of benefits
Additionally, you want to show off your research on the company. Integrating the various awards, industry accomplishments, work atmosphere, and company history into your response shows that you are proactive and eager to learn from the start.
Show your worth as an employee
“Why do you want this job?” is a little deceptive. As much as your interviewer wants to hear what compelled you to apply, they don’t want the type of one-sided wish list that your six year old would send to Santa. A good response to this common interview question demonstrates your mutual benefit.
Example:
“In my research, I was excited to see that your company had several award-winning products. That’s the type of challenge I aim for with every project. As a professional, I strive to make superior contributions and I’m eager to work with a team that shares my passion for aiming above the grade. In your office environment, I know I’ll have all the resources to make that happen.”
by James Walsh
