Answering The Interview Question: Why Do You Want to Work Here?

By Joe Issid

I’m sure we’ve all groaned under our breath when we have been asked this question during an interview. Personally, I have frequently felt a primal urge to exclaim that the only reason I am putting myself through this process is because I need to earn money. Of course, this is not something that is discussed during a civilized interview because, for some reason, we have evolved into a world where discussing our primal needs are considered taboo. Nevertheless, there are certainly myriad reasons why you are attending a job interview that do not revolve around remuneration. Whatever the reasons, it is always in your best interest to consider your responses before you even set foot in the room. Here are some tips to help you think this through a little more clearly.

Know yourself

While there is certainly merit to attending an interview for a job you don’t actually want, I would always recommend that you fully understand your motivation for attending an interview. Ultimately, if you are not able to fully justify your presence to yourself, how are you expected to convince someone else to hire you? It is important for you to take the time to lay out the precise reasons why you applied for the job ahead of the interview. This will allow you to prioritize your reasons and to provide an honest and legitimate answer when this question is posed.

Be unflinchingly honest

When creating your list, it is important to identify real and honest reasons for wanting to work for said company. Do your best to avoid the temptation of providing a list of platitudes that you think the interviewer will want to hear. For instance, if a short commute is very appealing to you, then I would strongly encourage you to mention it. Failing to do so will be a wasted opportunity for you to show your true motivations to the interviewer.

How can this benefit the company?

Along this vein, it should be clear than an interviewer is simply looking out for the best interests of the company. And, considering that you are looking to join this new team, the onus is on you to try and find a place where the company’s interests and yours intersect. And this is not as difficult a task as you may think. Fundamentally, an employer is looking to hire someone who is qualified to do the work and who will do so happily. As such, your task is to find out how this job would make you productive and happy. If you are able to demonstrate all the elements that will achieve this, then take the time to lay this out for the interviewer. And again, do not diminish the reasons for wanting the job. They can be simple or complex so, as long as they are true, an interviewer will feel satisfied with your answers.

Show and tell

You should count on the fact that anyone interviewing you will be sure to look you up online before making an offer. As such, it should also go without saying that anything you mention during the interview should be true (or, at the very least, make sure that nothing contradictory can be uncovered). I would suggest you research yourself online and see what comes up. You will want to make sure that your motivations and experiences can be corroborated when (not if) the hiring company does some digging around.

Turn the question around

The Digital Age has brought upon a tremendous shift in the way companies recruit new hires. Candidates have, more than ever before, a great deal of insight into a company and often have intimate knowledge of what working for the company may be like. As such, the balance of power has shifted somewhat, providing candidates more control over the interview process. As such, I would always recommend all candidates take the time to ask the interviewer why they believe their company is the right fit. This type of discussion could reveal further motivations for wanting to work there and could provide greater understanding between both parties.