How to answer ‘Why do you want this job?’

One of the most common interview questions you might be asked is ‘Why do you want this job?’ – so, why do you?

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Management Today

It’s one of the most obvious interview questions during a job interview, and your response can mean the difference between landing the job, or not. It sits there lurking among the usual type of questions asked during an interview, including ‘Tell us about yourself’, ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ and ‘What is your greatest weakness?’. It’s essential you can effectively explain why you are interested in this particular, wonderful job.

Here are some key considerations of what to expect in a job interview and how to best answer the crunch question – ‘Why do you want this job?’

When to expect the question

It’s more likely to be asked early during the interview, cropping up before or after ‘What do you know about the company?’ and ‘Tell us a little about yourself.’ The question itself may be worded in a slightly different way, such as ‘Why did you apply for the role?’ or ‘Tell us why you’d like to work for us?’

Even if the question comes up earlier than expected – or doesn’t get asked at all – you will have many opportunities throughout the interview to bring it in. For example, you could simply approach it by saying, ‘I meant to say this earlier on…’ or ‘That’s another reason I’m interested in this role…’

What does this interview question mean?

This question provides a good way for the interviewer to get to know you and to assess your commitment to this specific role. Put yourself in their shoes and think about the kind of person they will want to hire for the role.

Preparing for the question

During your prep match your skills to the role and seek to understand how the role will benefit them and what the company has to offer.

The likelihood of getting the job can often depend on your prior experience and what you have achieved in previous roles. This will provide the interviewer with insight into your skills and it’s incredibly important to relate these back to the question we’re considering here. You can go into more detail about your experience and skills when you answer such as:

What do you bring to the role? run through what you may bring to the role outside of just obvious skills and experience – things like communication or emotional intelligence. Soft skills are highly valued and convey to the interviewer how well you will function within the team.

Are you the ‘right’ fit? A key thing for managers to consider when adding a new person to the team is the cultural fit. It’s important to make sure the new hire is the right fit for the team and the wider company culture. Can you work this into your answer to our killer question?

How to answer the question ‘Why do you want this job’?

The examples below offer different ways to start answering ‘Why do you want this job?’ Answer as calmly and clearly as you can – you are simply giving the reasons why you want the job and why you would be a good fit for the company.

• ‘This opportunity is really exciting for me as I will be able to…’
• ‘I see the role as a way of developing my career in a forward-thinking/well-established company/industry as…’
• ‘I feel I will succeed in this role because I have experience in/softs skills that demonstrate/ I’ve taken this course…’
• ‘I believe my skills are well-suited to this job because…”
• Are there any aspects of this job you want to highlight that excites you?
• What made you want to send in your CV when looking at the job specifications?
• How it will develop and challenge your skills?
• Why the company appeals to you?

Be careful of these job interview mistakes

Here are a few examples of what NOT to say when answering the question.

1. ‘I need a job’ – this comes across as quite a desperate answer and lacking in regard for the job and the company. You need to be able to say why you are right for the role, and to prove your potential value to them.
2. ‘The money appealed to me’ – salary and benefits are key things to consider when looking for a role, but stating this as your main motivation  will surely damage your chances .
3. ‘This is a great step for me before my next career move’ – this is a big red flag to a hiring manager if you’re already stating an intention to move on from the role before you’ve even got it!

There are a range of ways to answer job interview questions. As long as you know why you applied for the role, and are able to demonstrate why you are right for the role, the rest should come easily. Good luck!