Believe it or not, this is one of the most common and most critical questions you’ll hear in a job interview. But do you know how to answer it without making the wrong impression? A wrong answer may ruin your chances of getting employed. We’ve drafted some important points for job seekers out there to help them ace this question.
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Before going into the interview, you must know what really attracted you to apply for the company. This question is normally asked by hiring managers in order to give them an idea of what your career goals are, how the position fits you and how motivated will you be once you’re hired.
Answering the questions without facts on hand makes it harder for you to give an answer full of substance. If you say you’d like to work for a great company, you’ll have to provide evidence of what makes the company great.
Do your research. Days before the interview, find out more about the company, its background, and take some time to research the position you are applying for. This will help the hiring manager assess how well you do your homework. At the same time, recruiters want to know and understand your priorities and preferences.
You can’t generate an answer for this question if you haven’t taken the time to know more about the company. Perhaps you agree with the company’s values, you may admire their growth or success, or their position of the company in the current market. What do you think about the company’s reputation? Use these pointers to determine what really motivated you to apply for the job.
Use references. In order to back your words with concrete facts, seek out any press on the company. If you’ve read an article about the company, don’t hesitate to use a quote from it — sharing your knowledge makes you come across smart, prepared and interested.
Visit the company’s website. If you can’t find much information about the company, try to visit the company homepage to get a glimpse of their background. Find out if they have a blog of their own and sign up for any newsletter offered. If you’re a social media geek, you can follow their social media accounts to find out more.
Be enthusiastic. You may have done your research, but if you sound unenthusiastic while answering, it can make the hiring manager wonder if you really want the job. Don’t just state straight facts about the company’s background; make sure you have the interest and the sincerity to talk to the interviewer about what you know.
Don’t use generic answers. This only makes it obvious that you haven’t researched the company, and that you don’t have a clear idea of what the job is all about. Vague information can derail the whole interview process.
These pointers should help you answer this interview question easily. Knowing what you want in a company is always important, especially if you’re building your career to succeed.
