Interview question
How to answer “Why are you interested in this position?”
Name two duties from the job posting that you want to do, give one example from your own work for each, and say where this job takes you next. Keep it under a minute. A reason that could fit any job, like growth or a great company, tells the recruiter nothing about you.
What the recruiter is checking
The recruiter wants a specific reason you want this job, and some sign that you could do it well.
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That you know what the job is
Indeed's career guide says employers want to know whether you understand the job's responsibilities and how your experience lines up with what they need.
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That you aren't applying everywhere
The same guide says a recruiter may ask it to see whether you researched the job description or are casting a wide net.
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That you did your homework
In a CareerBuilder survey of 1,014 hiring and HR managers, 45% called knowing nothing about the job or company an instant deal breaker.
Build your answer from the posting
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Pick two duties
Find two things the posting asks for that you've done and want to do more of. Use the posting's own words for them.
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Add one example for each
What you did and how it turned out, with a number if you have one.
- 3
Say where it leads
What this job would let you do next, like bigger projects, a new skill or more of the work you do best.
It also comes as “What interests you about this role?”, “What interested you in this position?” or “What attracted you to this position?” The same three steps answer all of them. Indeed's career guide suggests noting your key ideas instead of memorizing a script, so you sound natural.
This role versus this company
The two questions sound alike but ask about different things. In a study published in 2000, recruiters judged fit with the job and fit with the company separately. They leaned on skills and abilities for the job and on values and personality for the company, and each judgment, on its own, predicted which applicants they recommended hiring.
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“Why are you interested in this position?”
Answer withThe job's duties, its scope and where it leads, plus your proof that you can do it.
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“Why do you want to work here?”
Answer withWhat you know about the employer, like its product, its mission or its reputation, and why that matters to you.
If they ask both, give two different answers. Build this one from the posting and the other from what you learned about the company.
What to say, and what not to
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Name the work
Say“The posting says this role owns [duty]. I've done that for [time] at [type of company], and it's the part of my job I want more of.”
Don't say“It seems like a great opportunity.” That fits every job you've applied to.
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Show it
Say“Last year I [result, with a number] doing exactly that.”
Don't say“I'm passionate about [field].” Let an example make the case.
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Look ahead
SayWhat this job lets you do next, like leading [type of project] or learning [skill from the posting].
Don't say“I need to get out of my current job.” That answers a different question, why you're leaving.
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Leave the paycheck out
SayThe work itself. Pay gets its own question.
Don't say“Honestly, the pay,” or “I just need a job.” A career article republished by UMass Amherst calls both fair reasons to apply, but not necessarily good ones to share.
Have the follow-up ready. If your reason is growth, culture or “a great company,” expect the next question to be what that means in this job. Answer with a duty from the posting and something you've done that's like it.
Sample answers
Swap in your own facts. Each one names the work, gives proof and says where it leads.
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IF IT'S A STEP UP
“I've spent [time] as a [job title], and the part I do best is [duty from the posting]. Last year I [one result, with a number]. This role adds [bigger scope from the posting], and that's the next step I've been working toward.”
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IF YOU'RE SWITCHING INDUSTRIES
“I've spent [time] in [old industry] doing [task that overlaps], most recently [one result]. Your posting asks for that same work in [new industry], which I've been moving toward through [course or project]. This role lets me do what I'm good at in the field I want to be in.”
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IF YOU'RE EARLY IN YOUR CAREER
“In my [internship, class project or part-time job], I [task from the posting] and [one result]. It was the part I enjoyed most, and this role is built around it. I want my first job to be one where I get really good at [skill from the posting].”
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IF YOU'RE RETURNING TO WORK
“Before my break I spent [time] as a [job title], where I [one result]. I've kept current through [course, certificate or project]. This role is the work I do best, [duty from the posting], and I'm ready to do it full time again.”
Practice it out loud
Paste the posting, and an AI recruiter asks what you're looking for in your next role and what interests you about this one. Then it follows up. If your reason could fit any job, it asks what that means in this one. Fit and motivation get their own score, and an answer with no specific reason for wanting the role is flagged, with your words quoted.
Practice the recruiter screenMore to practice: Phone screen questions · Tell me about yourself · Reasons for leaving a job · Why do you want to work here? · Where do you see yourself in 5 years? · Salary expectations · Questions to ask the interviewer · Hiring manager interview questions · Internal interview questions · Explaining an employment gap · Behavioral interview questions · Situational interview questions · How do you handle conflict? · What is your greatest accomplishment? · What are your weaknesses? · What are your strengths? · What not to say in an interview · How to answer interview questions · Why should we hire you? · Second interview questions