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

“Why do you want to work here?” is almost guaranteed to come up in a job or job training interview (such as a learnership). This question may seem simple, but it’s actually a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the company, your enthusiasm for the position, and your fit with the company culture.

Answer Why Do You Want to Work Here?

“Why do you want to work here?” is a common job interview question that aims to assess a candidate’s level of interest and knowledge about the company and its culture. Employers want to know if you did your research on the company and if you are genuinely interested in working there or if you just applied randomly.

Why you want to work somewhere is a question frequently asked during interviews and you’re expected to have a great answer! 

There’s a huge difference between a well-thought-out response and a spontaneous one. Don’t be spontaneous! Plan your answer thoroughly and thoughtfully by researching the company and the job.

Ask Yourself ‘Why do I want to work there?’

You need to research the company as thoroughly as possible, take these steps:

  1. Check the company website – what they do, their values and a bit about the people there.
  2. If it’s a big company, google ‘what’s it like to work at [insert company name].  Sites such as Glass Door and The Job Crowd share this information. Companies are rated in terms of salaries and benefits, management, corporate culture and job-life balance.
  3. Google the job title that you will have and find out more about the type of work you will do. Ask yourself if it’s enough to interest you.
  4. Find real reasons why you’d want to work there, list them, but don’t make them up!

Why Do You Want to Work Here?: 5 Great Reasons to Work at an Organisation

I want to work here because of :

  1. What the company does – explain what it is about their product or service that interests you.
  2. The culture – what do you like about the culture, is there anything specific? Most companies are pretty much the same, it’s companies like Google where you can expect really crazy culture.
  3. Their recent successes and accomplishments – have they won awards or done something that was in the media?
  4. Company philosophy and mission – what’s special about what they put out and how does it connect with you?
  5. The career development opportunities offered – companies such as Toyota are committed to education. Do you have goals that can be achieved at the organisation?

You don’t have to be able to speak about all these points but definitely prepare at least three.

Your Answer Reflects if You Will Fit in at the Organisation

Research can help you make a decision about an organisation.

Here’s what to do if you want the job.

  1. Find useful information about the company.
    • If you’re into design and know they won an award for it, let them know you were impressed by their work. Don’t just repeat what their website says, explain specific things you value. For example, if a company describes its culture as dynamic, don’t say: “I like the dynamic culture.” Instead, say: “You aren’t afraid to try new ways of doing things and always stay ahead of your competitors. That’s something I really admire.“
  2. How will your skills allow you to add value and contribute to the company?
    • Perhaps you’re applying at a tech company where innovative curious minds are an asset. Give them an example of a time when you were innovative or decided to learn something new just because you could.
  3. What does the company say about corporate culture?
    • If they look conventional, dress to fit in. Once you have the job you can slowly start introducing them to your inner crazy. 😉

Interview Tips

Remember that landing a job is a two-way process. The company needs to see if you are right for them and you must also assess if they are right for you.

Work Must Pay Off For yOU

You may think any job will do. But the truth is that you need something suitable for your personality, dreams and ambitions or you may end up being unhappy in your job. Remember that each job is a stepping stone when you’re young. Only a small percentage start their dream jobs when they’re young.

For the vast majority, a job is something that treats you well and pays your bills. When you’re young and idealistic you may think a job should be something more, but it isn’t. When you’re starting out, you need to secure jobs that pay as much as possible and not look for an emotional attachment to a job. The attachment can come once you are happy that your pay is at the level you want.

When you’re under 30, be loyal to your pay, not the job. If you have a job for 3 months and can find another that pays more, take that job. Your primary goal under the age of 30 is to get your pay as high as possible or it will remain low. Under thirties must do whatever it takes to drive their pay up.

Gather information and ask yourself if you want to work there.

Score the company on things that are important to you. Think about:

  • their image, are they the leaders in a field? – any YouTube videos? Any unique and interesting information posted by the company that you can refer to?
  • fair salaries
  • fair treatment

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