How to Answer: "Why Do You Want To Work Here?"
How do you answer the interview question: "Why do you want to work here?"
Before we get into it, If you haven't signed up as a jobseeker on Jacksonville Works, take a second to do that here. The registration page opens in a new tab so you can hop right back here when you're done.
Now that we've got that done, get ready to take some notes,🖋️ so you'll be ready to nail this question the next time it pops up during an interview.
In this post we're going to explain:
- The reason employers ask this question.
- What employers are looking for in an answer.
- How to prepare for this question.
- A template for how you can give a knockout answer
Then we'll wrap up with an example answer that will help you prepare your answer.
BONUS: If you're a registered job seeker with Jacksonville Works, you can grab a printable prep worksheet that will guide you through planning your answer.
Why do employers ask this question?🤷🏾♂️
Well, no hidden meanings here. This question is asked so that:
➡️Employers can understand why you may choose to work with them.
Employers invest a lot of time and money into hiring employees. They want to the best of their ability figure out your motives for wanting the job and working for their company. Are you just looking for a check? Do you have a sincere interest in the company and what they do? That's what employers are trying to uncover.
➡️ Also, they are looking for signals that their business may be a good fit for what you're looking for in an employer.
Essentially they want to assess if the company can deliver what you want in an employer. A mismatch in what a jobseeker wants in employment and a place to work will inevitably end in an employee who bolts for the door or is miserable.
What Employers are Looking for in your Answer
As we hinted to above, employers want to get an idea of if you really want to work there or if you will cut and run in a few weeks. A few things specifically employers are listening for include:
- A true desire to do the job or interest in the work. Depending on the job you're considering, you may be wondering, who in the heck has a deep burning desire to be a janitor or work fast food or whatever job? The job doesn't have to be a passion or fulfil a life purpose for you to have an interest in doing it. Maybe the job supports you reaching your ultimate goal, the thing that you're absolutely passionate about. That passion will fuel your staying power in the job.
- An interest in the company, its mission, products and services it provides. Companies want you to be invested in their mission and believe in the product or service they offer. Employers know that employees who care about the company and its clients, stay longer and are more productive. So that is what they are looking for.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK HERE INTERVIEW QUESTION
Now that we know why employers ask this question and what they want to hear in an answer, let's talk about how you should approach your answer.
Here's where your interview preparation will make you shine. If you've followed our interview preparation game plan, this question will be a breeze.
To be ready with a good answer to the "Why do you want to work here question?", include these steps in your interview prep. We also put together a worksheet that guides you through these preparation steps and helps you organize your research. You can get a copy here.
Research the Company
Of course, you should know something about a company where you are considering working. But specifically to answer this interview question, visit the company's website and look for the following pages:
- About us
- Our team
- New or Press releases
- Product or service pages
- Company blog
- Social media links
From the information found in these pages you should be able to answer these questions:
- What does the company do?
- What product or service does the company provide?
- Has the company received awards in the past 12 months?
- Has the business grown? New locations? New products or services?
- What is the company's vision and mission statement?
- What can you learn about the company's culture and guiding principles?
Next up, pull up the job posting. Take a few minutes and read through it. Read carefully and highlight or underline the following:
- Tasks the role is responsible for doing that interest you.
- Things that you're skilled in and want to put to use.
- Parts of the job that you could bring significant value.
- Parts of the job that give you opportunity to gain new experience and sharpen skills.
Next to each part of the job posting that you highlight, explain why and how.
➡️ Why does this interest you?
➡️ Why do you want to put your skills to use?
➡️ Why and how could you bring value to this area?
➡️ Why do you want to gain this skill or experience? How does this job help?
Once you finish these research steps you're ready to put together a solid answer you can share if you're asked, “Why do you want to work here?”, during your next interview.
Want the guide? Click here and we'll email it to you.
Why Do You Want to Work Here? Your Interview Question Answer Guide
Giving an impressive answer to the, “Why do you want to work here?” interview questions is as easy as 1,2,3. To plan your answer, use the notes you took during your research and follow the three steps below.
STEP 1️⃣
Share how the company's mission, vision and culture align with your personal beliefs or goals.
STEP2️⃣
Describe specific tasks from the job description that excite or interest you and why.
STEP3️⃣
Talk about recent awards or recognition received by the company, or other news and how that piqued your interest in the company.
Fill In the Blank Template
To make preparing your answer even easier, you can follow this fill in the blank template. Simply fill in the blanks with the details discovered during your research, adjust as needed and you’re done.
It has always been important to me to ______. I noticed that your company _________ and ______ which aligns so well with my personal values. Also, in the job posting I read that the person in the role of ____would _____ and ____. I’ve done ____ for ___ years and really feel that I can contribute___, while expanding my knowledge and hands on experience with ___ is exciting. Finally, your company has recently ____ which is a wonderful accomplishment. I’m very interested in joining a company that is ___ like ____.
This may sound like: 💬
It has always been important to me to give back. I noticed that your company supports several local non-profit organizations and encourages employees to volunteer their time. which aligns so well with my personal values. Also, in the job posting I read that the person in the role of administrative assistant would support the leadership team and prepare accounting reports. I’ve done administrative support for senior leaders for two years and really feel that I can contribute with my love of organization and planning, while expanding my knowledge and hands-on experience with accounting is exciting. Finally, your company has recently been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Jacksonville which is a wonderful accomplishment. I’m very interested in joining a company that is constantly growing like ABC Corporation.
And that's how you not only answer the question, “Why do you want to work here?”, but impress the heck out of your interviewer. Don’t forget to get your copy of the planning worksheet to help you get through prep even faster. You can get the worksheet here:
Have another interview question you'd like to know how to answer? Leave a comment below with the question you want help with. We'll break it down for you in a future blog post.
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