Most employers will ask the dreaded “Why do you want to work here”, during an interview. The main reason for this question is to determine how prepared you are for the interview and to understand your motivations. The recruiter wants to determine whether you will fit into their culture and future aspirations. If you go into the interview without preparation, this will become very clear you should do your homework. These are some ways to answer the question “Why do you want to work here.”
Discuss the Culture and Values
As part of your research, you should understand the company culture and values of the organisation and how these align with your interests. For example, Amazon has the values: of customer service focus, invention, and ensuring excellence. You can usually find the values on the company website. To understand more about the culture, you can look at websites such as Glassdoor, where you will find reviews directly from employees and previous employees. You can mention the culture and values and how these align with your own. For example, if you are interested in sustainability, find out what the company does to become more sustainable, as this will help the conversation flow during an interview and show that both parties are aligned.
Focus on Achievements
Research the main achievements of the company if you really want to impress the interviewers and make them feel good. For instance, if they have picked up any recent awards or even if they have a 5-star Google rating, these are worth mentioning. Not only will you show that you have prepared, but you will also give them a boost and open up the conversation to discuss these achievements in more detail. Everyone likes to hear what they’re doing well!
Mention Relevant Attributes
When asked the question “Why do you want to work here”, you could also talk about attributes you possess that are relevant to the company structure, values, or mission. Companies always tend to gravitate towards candidates who are familiar with the setup of their business, as it can make the transition much easier.
Understand Future Goals
You can also gain an understanding of the future goals, which can then furnish you with information to answer the question “Why do you want to work here.” For instance, if they are going through a period of growth or recently changed their products or service, this is something you can mention to show that you have done your research
Examples Answers for “Why you want to work here”
“I have worked in the public sector before, and your values of putting the customer first and focusing on efficiency align with my own values. These are values I have considered when determining my next role.”
“I was interested in the fact that your company consistently wins customer satisfaction awards which shows your customers are a priority, which is important to me”
“I have previous experience of working within start-ups and I enjoy helping to support businesses as they grow and all the challenges they face along the way. As a start-up within an industry, I am passionate about, your company, and the role appealed to me.
At Inspired CVs, we can help improve your interview success rates through our one-to-one consultations and interview workshops. To find out more, contact us for an informal chat.
