Why do you want to work here?

They’re all essentially the same interview question, but also one where your answer needs to be very well rehearsed. Follow this guide and you’ll be well prepared to give your best answer to this interview question.

The first thing to realise is that there is no right answer to this question, but there are definitely some wrong answers!

The interviewer is simply looking to see that you have researched the job and company adequately, and come to the conclusion that you would be a good match for their requirements.

So let’s get on and think about some answers which can demonstrate this.

So why DO you want the job?

Potential Answer 1:

“I lost my last job six months ago, and money is tight – I really need to get back on my feet and bring some money in so that I can provide for my children.”

Rating: A worthy answer, but it is only showing what you can get out of the company. It does not show them why their company would be a better employer for you than any other. (1/10)

Potential Answer 2:

“Your products are awesome! I love the innovation and creativity which you have shown in your recent product launches! I can’t wait to work here – it would be so exciting!”

Rating: Well you’ve researched at least part of the company (the most obvious part), but what are you going to give to the company? Why are you a good fit? (3/10)

Potential Answer 3:

“You’re well regarded as the best manufacturer in the market, particularly in the area of manufacturing efficiency and quality control. These are two of my particular interests and ones which I would like to develop, and I think that this position would give me the best opportunity to do that”

Rating: A much better response than Answer 2 – you have clearly researched the company more deeply, and have a good idea of why you really want this position. It still needs some tweaking though to ensure that you are really selling yourself to your employer. (6/10)

Potential Answer 4:

“You’re well regarded as the best manufacturer in the market, particularly in the area of manufacturing efficiency and quality control. I have led a number of projects at my current employer that in total have improved manufacturing efficiency by 30% and reduced defects by 40%. I am now looking for a new challenge where I can take my proven skills and apply them to new situations, as well as learning new techniques to continue my development.”

Rating: This one has everything! You’ve researched the company, you show me that you’ve got skills to offer the company, and that we’ll be a good match for each other. You’ve got the job! (10/10)

More advice with tricky interview questions

Well hopefully you've now got a much better idea of how to answer one of the trickiest interview questions out there! If, however, you're finding it difficult to think of compelling answers to each of these questions, then I recommend that you pick up a copy of Bob Firestone's book on answering the toughest interview questions.

Here are my thoughts on Bob's book, called "The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Answers"

• Bob is a business, career and sales coach based in the US. Although I strongly believe that the fundamentals behind his approach to answering interview questions are rock solid, I personally found the style of some of his answers a little more 'salesy' than I'd be comfortable with in one of the more 'straight-laced' organizations. So if you do use the book, make sure you tailor your answers to your audience



• Bob's book provides sample interview answers which you can use as inspiration or as a basis for your own answers. Don't simply rehearse his answers or you risk looking like a bad actor and completely unnatural. Interviewers are trained to get to the truth (actually, we quite enjoy exposing untruths), so make sure that your interview answer is personal and truthful to you!



• Because Bob's interview answer guide is an electronic file, it is available for immediate download - this wasn't something I thought about until an interview candidate asked me one evening for something to help him prepare for an interview the next morning!! Bookshops and libraries were closed and Amazon wouldn't even have dispatched his book by the time his interview started. By producing an ebook, Bob allows you to pack in a couple of extra days of critical preparation before your next interview



• Bob offers a no-questions 2-month full money back guarantee. Of all the people who have bought Bob's ebook after visiting this site, not one has asked for their money back (as of 31 May 2006). I don't know of a better recommendation than one offered by other interview candidates!

If you want to see why these candidates are so pleased to have bought Bob's ebook (incidentally, now on special offer and with special bonuses), click on the following link for Bob's interview answers ebook. Just before you go there, please be aware that his website can take a few moments to load - please be patient - I'm sure you'll find it worthwhile!!