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Interview question

How to answer “Why do you want to work here?”

Name one specific thing about this job and one about the company, and tie each to work you've already done. Skip “It seems like a great company,” which tells them nothing about you.

A young man in an olive overshirt on his living room sofa at dusk, explaining to his laptop why he wants the job

What the recruiter is checking

  1. Real interest

    Indeed's guide for employers says asking why you applied is an easy way to gauge your motivation, and that the job should go to someone genuinely interested in it.

  2. Whether you looked them up

    In a CareerBuilder survey, 45% of hiring managers called knowing nothing about the job or company an instant deal breaker.

  3. Whether it's canned

    LinkedIn's recruiting blog notes that many candidates arrive with a canned response, so some recruiters ask “What inspired you to apply here?” instead.

Build it from three pieces

  1. 1

    One detail from the posting

    A duty or goal the posting names, in its own words.

  2. 2

    One fact about the company

    Its mission, a product, a recent project or its reputation. Something you learned by looking.

  3. 3

    Your link to both

    Something you've done that shows you'd be good at this, and that you want more of it.

It also comes as “Why this role?”, “Why did you apply?” or “What interests you about this job?” The same three pieces answer all of them.

What to say, and what not to

  1. Specific beats warm

    Say“The posting says you're moving [process] onto [new system]. I led the same move at [type of company] last year.”

    Don't say“It seems like a great company.”

  2. The job first, then you

    SayWhat the job needs, then why you fit it.

    Don't say“This would be great for my career.” That's only about you.

  3. Research you can point to

    Say“I saw your [launch, report or new location] in [month].”

    Don't say“I've heard great things.”

  4. Leave pay for later

    SayPay has its own question later in the screen.

    Don't say“The benefits,” or “It's close to my house,” as your whole answer.

  5. Their values, your proof

    SayOne value they list, and a time you acted on it.

    Don't sayTheir mission statement read back to them. A Google hiring guide told interviewers they don't want candidates to “just parrot talking points about your company.”

  6. Interested, not starry-eyed

    SayWhat about the work you want more of.

    Don't say“This is my dream job.” Ask a Manager's Alison Green says it can come across as naive.

Sample answers

Swap in your own details, and keep it under a minute.

  1. IF YOU'VE DONE THIS WORK BEFORE

    “The posting says this team is [goal from the posting]. I did [similar work] at [type of company], where [one result]. I also read about [company fact], and that's the kind of work I want more of.”

  2. IF YOU'RE EARLY IN YOUR CAREER

    “I've used [company's product] since [when], and the posting's focus on [duty] lines up with [class, internship or project], where I [one result]. I'd like my first job to be somewhere I can keep doing that.”

  3. IF YOU'RE CHANGING FIELDS

    “I've spent [time] in [old field] doing [task that overlaps]. Your posting asks for exactly that, in a field I've been moving toward through [course or project]. [Company fact] is why I applied here and not somewhere else.”

You've read the answer. Now say it.

The words come out differently when someone is waiting for them. An AI recruiter asks what interests you about this role. If your reason is generic, like growth or culture, it asks what that means in this job. If it's specific, it asks what in the posting stood out. Fit and motivation get their own score.

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