'Why do you want to work here?' Best Answers + Templates

Why do you want to work here? (or "Why do you want this job?" or "Why should we hire you?")

Seems pretty straightforward.

But it is one of the hardest interview questions out there! Some folks would argue it's even tougher than "Tell me about yourself" or "What are your weaknesses?" 💁‍♀️

You definitely don't wanna say: 👇

"My friend works here so she said I should apply."

"I'll take any job I can get right now."

"What exactly does your company do again?"

Yeeeeah...let's just say those won't snag any offers.

What interviewers really wanna know is what pumps YOU up about their specific mission, culture, and projects.

📌 They're looking for details - the time you took to understand what makes their brand purpose unique and why you'll be an asset to that environment.

This article will help you avoid flimsy answers and craft a response spotlighting shared passions, relevant experience, insider knowledge, and the unique value you offer.

We'll also cover common statements to avoid and templates for tailoring a compelling “why us” answer focused on areas like software, data, designing, or product roles.

Let’s dive in!

Why do interviewers ask this question?

The reason interviewers hit you with the "why do you wanna work here" question is to get a peek into what drives you.

They're tryin' to see if you'll blend well with the office culture they've built.

Most companies spend big time and money creating a tribe that gels together. The last thing they want is to bring in someone who is not fully committed.

They want to see if you have genuine interest and enthusiasm for their company - not just in need of any old J-O-B.

They wanna see your eyes light up when you talk about their mission and purpose. If you seem "meh" or oblivious about what gets them going each day, that's a red flag. 🚩

This question also shows who did their homework. If you can't call out details about recent projects or accomplishments, you likely didn't Google them before showing up.

That gives the impression that you don't care or are not resourceful enough to prep.

If you align with their goals, you’re likely to roll up your sleeves and get to join the team. If not, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb - and no one wants that!

So be sure to put in the time to get to know the organisation before your interview.

How to answer ‘Why do you want to work here?’

When you answer why you wanna work somewhere, get specific 'bout what reels you in.

💡Do your homework ahead of time to find out:

• What values or purpose gets them out of bed each day
• What's unique about their culture and work environment
• What cool products or projects they've launched recently

Then, spotlight those details when you answer to show that you took the time to get to know and appreciate their story.

It also helps to call out any new initiatives, awards, or leaks you might've read 'bout them in the news:

👉 "I was pumped to see y'all just pledged to use 100% recycled materials in production - so ahead of the curve and committed to sustainable practices."

👉 "That corporate retreat y'all took painting murals for homeless youth speaks volumes about your creative culture and giving back. Mad respect."

If anything about their goals or community initiatives also aligns with your passions or background, feel free to weave that in there:

👉 “Coming from a family of educators, your company’s focus on donating tech resources to schools in need really resonates with my personal values.”

That's how you take a boring question and transform it into a chance to organically highlight your shared interests while applauding things that make them special. Boom - now you stand out. 🙌

💡 Connect with Your Interviewer

Try to make an emotional connection with your interviewer when explaining why you want to work there.

Appeal to their sense of pride and passion for the company. ✔️

For example:

"After learning about your impressive company values and culture from talking with employees like yourself, I'm even more excited about the prospect of joining your team."

💡 Emphasise Transferable Skills

Highlight how your background and transferable skills make you a great match to contribute to their specific goals or projects. ✔️

For example:

👉 "With my background in user research and designing intuitive interfaces, I'm confident I could quickly contribute valuable UX insights to your new product launch planned for next quarter."

👉 "With my background building web apps that can handle lots of users, I could help make sure your new video platform runs smooth and fast. I've done similar projects before so I know how to keep buffering and costs low."

The key is to show you've done in-depth research and have an eye toward being a contributor from day one.

This transforms it from a hypothetical interest into showing real initiative to hit the ground running if brought on board.

Why do you want to work here - Sample Answers+Templates

1. Start by naming a specific product or service of theirs you have used and enjoyed:

Example:

"I have appreciated using your company's budgeting app over the last few years.

The clear categories for tracking spending and the ability to sync across devices have helped my family better plan our finances and savings goals.

As someone passionate about accessible tools enabling financial wellness, I would love to join the team building intuitive solutions like yours."

2. Open with admiring an innovation or achievement of the company:

Example:

"When I first read about the solar mini-grid technology your engineers developed, making renewable power affordable for rural towns, I was so impressed.

Expanding clean energy access aligns perfectly with my values.

As a recent computer engineering grad with a background developing IoT monitoring systems, I'm excited by the potential to combine my skills with innovations like yours."

3. Note an impressive capability of a recent product launch:

Example 1:

"I was really impressed by the machine learning model powering your latest smart home assistant device.

The ability to parse complex voice commands spanning multiple IoT devices seems incredibly challenging from a coding perspective.

As a product manager passionate about leveraging AI to unlock intuitive user experiences, I would be thrilled to collaborate with your forward-thinking technical team."

Example 2:

"I was beyond impressed reading about your accurate forecasting algorithms for supply chain disruptions.

Being able to warn clients weeks in advance and suggest alternatives is an incredible capability.

As a data scientist passionate about leveraging predictive insights to minimise business risks, I would be extremely excited to collaborate with your team."

4. Share admiration for their approach to solving a consumer problem:

Example:

"I deeply respect the vision behind your new app simplifying grocery comparison shopping.

Tackling food inflation and access by making prices across retailers transparent - rather than just claiming to have the best deals - is admirable.

As a product leader devoted to digital solutions empowering community wellness, I am committed to elevating innovations like yours."

How not to answer this question - Things to avoid

Some of the things to avoid saying when asked why you want to get hired: 👇

• "I heard you have great benefits packages."
• "My friend told me you have a nice office."
• "I applied to a few different places, but your job description sounded interesting."
• "I need a job and you're a well-known company."
• "I've always been interested in healthcare/technology/etc."
• "Your organisation sounds like it has good values."
• "I like the direction your leadership is taking the company."
• "Your product/services seem to be selling well in the market."

The key problems with these kinds of vague, generic statements are: 👇

• They don't show passion or personal connection
• They fail to prove you researched the specific company
• Anyone interviewing anywhere could say the exact same things
• They reveal more about what you want to get rather than what you can uniquely contribute

Key Takeaways

We've covered quite a bit of ground!

Responding effectively when interviewers ask "Why do you want to work here at our company" requires consideration from several angles.

You need to: 👇

• Research specifics that uniquely excite you about their mission, culture, and recent work
• Craft a response highlighting shared values, relevant skills, and enthusiasm to contribute
• Use a relatable tone focused on sincerity rather than over-the-top flattery
• Practice 3-4 flexible answers you can customise for different types of roles

Hopefully, you now feel better equipped to take on this notoriously tricky interview question!

📌 An important tip - Don't just wing it - run your draft answers by a mentor in your field and get their input.

If you'd like feedback from an experienced mentor to further prepare for challenging job interview questions, you can schedule a free consultation call with me here.

I love to help candidates articulate their core strengths aligned with company priorities in impactful yet genuine ways.

Or you can check other top HR and Behavioural mentors by clicking the link below.

Also read:

How to answer "What are your salary expectations?" (With Scripts)