Answer This Job Interview Question: Why Do You Want to Work Here?

By Laura DeCarlo

The question of, "Why do you want to work here?" is not limited to job interviews. You’ll find it knocking on your door in networking, informational interviewing, and even at job fairs.

When you are asked this innocent-sounding question, you need to have a strong answer. Your answer should demonstrate your knowledge of the company and the skills, talents, experience, and strengths you have that are a match for their culture and the targeted position/department.

It's Not About You

Until you get to the point of receiving an offer, employers are just looking for reasons to eliminate you.

Here are some answers you never want to find coming out of your mouth:

"For the money."

"It seems like a nice place to work."

"My cousin Fred works for you, and he has great benefits."

All three of these answers are similar, and may be absolutely true. However, they share the same problem – they are all about what you want. However, they do not make the employer interested in hiring you.

Generic answers don't make you stand out either:

"Because I know I can make a really good contribution."

"Because I know you have an opening for ______________ and I am qualified."

While these may seem better, they err in the similar manner of being vague, "vanilla" answers that anyone could give to any employer for any job.

For more bad answers to avoid giving, read 30 Bad Answers to Job Interview Questions.

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What's Wrong with These Answers?

The answers above don't stand out to the employer because they aren't about the employer. They make one of two mistakes:

1. These answers, above, focus on the benefit to you of the job. While the employer probably wants you to be happy in the job, they don't care about the benefit to you at this point. They want to know the benefit to them if they hire you.
2. Those answers don't demonstrate an understanding of the employer's needs. The employer wants to know that you are really interested in this job, and a vague or self-focused answer doesn't show that interest.

With these answers, you fade into the woodwork and get lost among the other job seekers who have not done their homework either. These answers will never get you far with an employer.

Do Your Homework

When I say, "homework" I am referring to research and preparation in three key areas:

1. Know yourself
2. Know the company
3. Know the position and the department (if possible).

Let me walk you through these:

1. Know Yourself

Before you talk to employers, or even network for positions, you need to have a strong grasp of what you can offer them. (What’s the return on investment you provide to the employer?)

You should be able to talk about your strengths and your accomplishments, and to readily give concrete answers to questions such as "What are your greatest strengths?" "Why should we hire you?" and "Tell me about yourself." as well as "What do you know about us?" and "Why do you want to work here?"

2. Know the Company

Get to know the companies you will be talking to (or talking about, if networking). When you know details about them, their culture, their goals, their products, and their challenges, you are then able to talk about yourself and your fit into the company.

Visit LinkedIn, and read the company profile information. Search for current/past employee profiles. Read Using LinkedIn for Company Research and Company Research Using LinkedIn Company Pages for more tips.

Google the company, and read all you can. Visit their company website to learn more about them.

[More ideas: Company Research and Google for Your Job Search.]

3. Know the Position and the Department (if possible)

In this economy, there is no room for shopping for "any job you find me qualified for." Instead, you need to know where you would fit into the company, whether there is a current advertised opening or not.

Again, resources like LinkedIn will let you search profiles for staff in target departments. Use the information to learn more about their job responsibilities and to identify LinkedIn Groups they belong to (and join them). Also, using Google and viewing the company website will allow you to learn more as well.

[Read The Winning Difference: Pre-Interview Preparation to be well-prepared for a job interview.]

Putting it All Together

Once you have done all your pre-interview homework, you will never again find yourself blundering on critical questions like, "Why do you want to work here?" Instead, you will be prepared to talk knowledgeably about the company and position, why they interest you, and how you will fit in with your skill set, personality, and experience.

[MORE: Smart Answers to Job Interview Questions.]

Bottom Line

Play the game, and realize that even if this job is not a match, if they like you and want to hire you, they may find the right place for you (at the right salary) in the long run.  As long as you've done your homework in advance and demonstrated your interest in them.

For more about handling behavioral interviews, panel interviews, and telephone interviews, as well as preparing for job interviews, see the article list on the right.