So you’re in the tiny office with the cup of lukewarm water, button-down shirt tucked neatly into your trousers, and as far as you can tell, it’s going pretty good. You’re getting on with the interviewer - they seem to like what you have to say and they missed that one tiny typo on your CV. Laughs and good times all around! You’ve got this one in the bag.
They rack their papers on the top of the desk, like they’re about to wrap up. “All right,” they say. “One more question for you before we get out of here.”
You nod, trying to look confident. You’ve already made it this far. You’ll be fine.
“So, why do you want to work for us?”
Your palms instantly start to sweat. Your collar suddenly feels much too tight. You look around the room for a hint on how to start, but all you see is your empty wallet and your stack of bills waiting for you at your flat.
Where do we go from here?
While it may seem daunting, don’t let this question discourage you. It’s not nearly as much of a trap as it sounds. All this question means is everything you’ve said in the interview thus far has been gravy (well done on avoiding these), and this lady or gent leading the interview is giving serious consideration to hiring you. Think of it like a seal of approval that’s not quite set on the envelope, or a finish line made of thick hedges you’ll have to fight through.
If you can crush this question, that gig is a good as yours. And lucky for you, we’ve got tips that will help you coast right through this question and straight into the job of your dreams - or at least the job that will help you survive in the meantime.
Like any other interview question, you should be prepping for this ahead of time. Consider the following items when you study:
Employer.
This might seem like a no-brainer if you’re a seasoned member of the job search militia, but don’t underestimate its power. Knowing about the company you’re trying to work for will help you address this question, like: how you’ll fit in with their culture, what you know about their day-to-day work, and how you can benefit their business and assist with their needs.
Yourself.
Not just your great breakroom humor, or your mental map of all nearby pubs. Know what you bring to the table. How can you benefit the company? Why should they pick you over anyone else? Consider your specialty skills, or any quantifiable change you’ve brought in past positions. Anything that sets you apart.
The Job.
If you know what your future role entails, you can speak to how you’ll handle it. Consider stressors here that you’ve dealt with in the past and keep an eye out for inefficiencies you could solve for. Have you done this type of work before, for years? Will you be coming to the role with fresh eyes? Both have their benefits in an interview, so be sure to play on both strengths.
Now, armed with the knowledge, you can begin to tackle this question. Hiring managers love facts, skills with visible measurements, things that make you easy to read, size up, and hopefully hire. If it’s easy to see you’re great at what you do, then you’ve got a very good chance at this job.
But anyone can rattle off facts about the company, their history, job experience, etc. And any talented public speaker can weave a web to distract the listener from the original question.
The key to owning this question is all about being memorable - standing out among the rest. When that interviewer thinks back on the last eight hours they’ve spent in that room, rotating new candidates in and out, the one that should stick out is you.
We know you’re cool, you’re funny, and you’re a workhorse when it comes to your job. Let that authenticity through. Employers want to hire real people, not a keyboard-slapping automaton.
Don’t take that authenticity too far, though. It can be tempting to answer this question a little too honestly, saying, “Yeah, I’m here to support my family, whatever that takes. I’m hungry for a paycheck.”
This isn’t the time to keep it that real.
Focus on the parts of the job that you are passionate about. Maybe you’re interested in the end product of the process you’ll be working on, or a software you’ll be using – or maybe even the location of the office. Play on those strengths when answering this question.
If nothing about this job gets you jazzed, it may be time to take a page out of Shakespeare and act it out. Showing excitement about the company you’re interviewing with, and the role you’re going for, will only work in your favor. Think of it - humans are naturally more favorable to others who like them. If you can express your love for what they’ve got going on, the positive impact will be huge. This is one thing worth faking.
We know you’ve been practicing for this interview since they rang you - and good on you. Preparation is key, and it never hurts to rehearse for something like this.
However, when you’re answering this question, make sure it doesn’t have the air of being scripted and rehearsed as you rattle it off. Feel free to leave in a few “err’s” and “um’s”. Don’t fret if it comes out a little bit jumbled. As long as you can convey the info and the feeling behind it, you’ll crush it, just like the interviewees below.
Why do you want this job and why should we hire you?
With all the work you do in the community, it’s impossible to not recognize who [company name] is and the role they play. I love seeing the time you put into the city surrounding you, as investing in my community is something I spend a great deal of time doing. It’s essential that we engage in our environment. I’d be thrilled to work for a company that shares my values, and hopefully I can continue to grow my engagement through employment with you, while at the same time putting my skills to work.
This answer shows you’ve done your research. You know the company and what they do, and you’ve established a clear bond with them - and thrown a touch of flattery in there as well.
Your company has been on my radar for quite a bit now - not only is it a field I’m talented in and in a good location for me, but the company culture is appealing from everything that I’ve heard. When I saw this position listed that fit my skills, I had to get my application in. I’ve seen that as a company, you’ve been trying to move in [x direction], and with my previous experience in [x category], I’m the perfect person to join you on you crusade and be a leader to other employers.
This answer ticks a lot of valuable boxes: you know what the company does, what their newest mission is, the job listing itself, and you managed to market yourself in the same answer. There’s space in here to tailor it to your next interview, so feel free to try this one out in front of the mirror a few times before you head out.
[High-up employee] has been one of my role models for a long time now. I look up to her for her skills, the strides she’s made in her career path, and the way she carries herself. In fact, many of the steps I’ve taken in my career so far have been in an attempt to follow in her footsteps. Knowing that she now works at this company, and with the knowledge and skill set she has, I can tell this is a company that I’d also like to be a part of and that will help me in growing my career.
This answer shows that you follow what - and who - goes on at this company, which is a strong move. It also demonstrates what kind of goals you have, and makes you seem like the type that might actually work hard to achieve them. Not a bad look, right?
Armed with all the above knowledge, we encourage you: go forth and interview! What once seemed like the hardest job interview question of all time is now something you can sit down, face forward, and defeat with dignity. “Crushing interview questions” might not be the fun party trick you’ve been hoping for, but let’s hope it can put a stop to your endless job search - once and for all.
Can’t get enough? Level-up some more and crush these tough interview questions while you’re nailing it.