“Why Do You Want To Work Here” might seem like a simple question, but there’s more to it that meets the eye. Any question that a recruiter throws at you is meant to eliminate the weakest candidates. Why? Because employers are on the lookout for the best candidates that fit their job postings.
Ahead, you will learn the top reasons why hiring managers ask the question “Why Do You Want To Work Here.” You will also learn how best to answer the question and how to prepare so that you can emerge as the most outstanding candidate for the job.
Let’s dive in!
#1. Learn the Whys and Wherefores #
One of the best ways to craft a perfect answer to an interview question is to learn the reason why recruiters or hiring managers ask the question in the first place. Study shows that hiring managers look out for these three things when candidates respond to the question “Why Do You Want To Work Here”:
- Why do you prefer their company over others?
- What motivates you to want to be part of the company?
- What you intend to contribute to help the company achieve its goals and objectives?
The above are basically why recruiters or hiring managers ask the question “Why Do You Want To Work Here.” The way you respond to this question will tell the hiring manager so many things about, including whether or not you are truly interested in the job offer. Your answer will also help the recruiter to gauge how much you know about the M & E industry, the job requirements, as well as their competitors.
#2. Do Your Homework #
If you are really serious about landing a new job, you must research about the company you intend to be part of.
Where should you start your research? The first point of call should be the company’s website. Pay close attention to the “About us” section, as you will get information regarding the company’s mission, vision, and goals. You will also get information about how the company started, the team, and other stakeholders. Then, navigate to the product and services section to learn more about what the company offers. Review the company’s latest news to get insights into the company’s current projects, challenges, biggest competitors, and objectives.
Lastly, revisit the job posting and pay attention to the job responsibilities and requirements. After researching about the company, proceed to craft your answers.
#3. Craft Your Answer #
At this point, we believe you now understand why recruiters ask the question “Why Do You Want To Work Here.” Plus, you have done your due diligence by researching about the company to know how your skills, strengths, and weaknesses can match the position you are targeting.
It’s time to craft your answer!
When crafting your answer, always remember that it’s not about you but the company. Specifically, your answer should revolve around how the company can benefit from your skills and abilities.
That said, craft your answer around the following three-step formula:
Best Formula for Your Answer #
- Mention those things that inspire you about the company’s mission, vision, and goals.
- Highlight your knowledge of the job and the company.
- Explain how the company can benefit from your expertise, skills, and talents.
If you can include these three areas in your answer, you’d be one step away from landing the job offer. Any answer that captures these three areas will stand out in the recruiter’s point of view.
Why Do You Want to Work Here—Examples #
Study shows that the best way for job seekers to prepare for an interview session and also provide great answers to the recruiter’s question is to browse through sample answers to inspire them.
Find below a great answer to the question: Why Do You Want To Work Here:
Sample Answer On Why Do You Want to Work Here #
I have had a solid interest in M&E since I was a kid and that’s why I proceeded to the college to understudy the workings in the industry. Your job posting for the position of an evaluator resonated with me so much since I have previously worked in a similar firm where I led a team of 5 to grow the company’s earnings by 10 percent. If given the opportunity to be part of your team, I can replicate what I did in my previous company and even do more.
Here’s why this answer work:
- The job applicant has successfully displayed his/her knowledge of the M&E industry and also about the organization.
- The candidate understands the company’s goals, mission, and aligns with their values.
Here’s a wrong way to answer the Question: “Why Do You Want to Work Here? #
Too many times we have heard of cases where candidates seeking to be employed in a monitoring and evaluation firm answer the question this way:
Since I graduated from college, I have been longing to work in your company and my reasons are not far-fetched. One, I heard your company offers one of the best benefits in terms of medical, dental, insurance, paid paternity, and lots of allowances. Let me be honest: these benefits are my core motivation. That’s not all: your company is very renowned and I believe your teams are made up of reputable specialists. I would love to be part of the team, and that’s why I applied to work here in the first place.
What’s wrong with this answer?
There are so many things that are wrong with this answer. We understand that money is very important in human affairs, but an interview session is not the right place to say it loud. Additionally, the answer is too generic, without pointing out what the candidate intends to offer the company.
And that would it! As you prepare for your next interview, practice how to craft your answer as an evaluator as much as you can. This will help you not only develop confidence, but have the wherewithal to stand out from the crowd. Remember, the job market is highly saturated; as such, recruiters or hiring manager are on the lookout for only the best candidates that have value to offer.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume templates here.
Key Takeaway #
Here’s all you need to know about how to answer Why do you want to work here? question:
- The question Why do you want to work here? and all its permutations gauge your knowledge of the company and motivation to work for it.
- To answer it most effectively, you need to prepare yourself by researching the company, studying the job ad, and linking everything to your unique skills and talents.
- The best answers prove that you understand the company’s mission, know its products and/or services, and that your skills will be of value to the company itself.
- The worst answers are generic and focus on what you want as opposed to what you can give the company in return.
