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Why do you want to work here?
If you can't answer this common interview question posed to most job seekers, you might fail your interview on the spot.
While interviews are just as much about exploring if a company is a good fit for you, hiring managers and recruiters also like to dig deep to ensure that you’re actually interested in working for them.
After all, the average cost of onboarding an employee is more than $4,000—so ultimately, it’s in their best interest to hire someone they can envision sticking around for a bit!
So, how do hiring managers identify the best person for the job? Simple! By asking common interview questions like “Why do you want to work here?” According to Twin Employment and Training, 47 percent of employers surveyed said that they would reject candidates who didn’t know much about the company.
But, don’t let that statistic freak you out! Knowledge is power, friends. And luckily, you only need your preferred search engine and our tried-and-true four-step research process to answer this popular interview question.
The number of applicants per job tends to sit at around 29, so thoughtfully considered responses to common interview questions can help you stand out from the rest. Here’s how to nail your response the next time you’re asked “Why do you want to work here?”
Why Hiring Managers Ask This Question
Overall, there are four main reasons for a hiring manager to ask this question. They want to figure out if:
- You’re a good fit for the company.
- You did your research.
- Your motivation for applying to their company.
- You “get” their company's mission.
- You would add value to their team.
Unless this is your ultimate dream job, we understand your immediate thought might be “because I want to pay my bills.”
As you can probably imagine, that’s not exactly what the hiring manager is hoping to hear, which is why we’ve laid out exactly how you can answer this interview question and land the job.
In this article, we dive into company research, your career goals, how this new role is the perfect fit for you—and exactly how to explain that to a hiring manager asking "Why are you interested in this position?"
How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work Here”
Take it from us: you should never go into an interview blindly guessing at what a company does or how it operates. As you’re preparing for the interview, it’s important to do your research. Otherwise, it will feel nearly impossible to “wing it,” especially if you don’t have the appropriate background or context.
So, here are four steps to figure out how to answer the age-old question, “Why do you want to work here?”
1. First Things First, Know Everything About the Company
And yes, we do mean everything. The more you know, the more prepared you’ll feel going into the interview. Focus on key information, such as their mission statement, the product or service they sell, who their target audience is, their core values, and what their company culture is like. Knowing the company's mission can inform your answers to many interview questions.
Your first step is to scour the company’s website and take detailed notes while you do (you’ll see why this is important later on). The “About Us” page usually houses a wealth of information that can be incorporated into your response, in addition to case studies, product information, and more.
See if they have a company blog you can read. Usually, companies will also include their senior leadership team bios on their website, which can help you learn more about the types of leaders they hire and if they align with your values.
Another great way to learn about the company is to look at the job description. We know you did this already when you were tailoring your resume during your job search, but it never hurts to look for more clues like the qualifications, years of experience, skills, and check out the other job openings—maybe you'll see some trends.
Plus, if they have a "Careers" page they might provide even more information about them like their perks, benefits, and pay close attention if they use any "insider language" to describe their teammates. For example, Hulu employees are referred to as Hulugans. You can slip that language into your interview answer and really impress!
2. Sleuth Their Social Media, Press Releases, News Articles, and Team Members on LinkedIn
Typically, companies have a media or press page on their website where you can find a compilation of past press releases and news articles. You might be muttering to yourself, “Press Releases? News? I’m not in media relations; how could those possibly help with my interview?”
Since press releases are distributed in the hopes of generating media coverage and brand awareness, they are a useful way to find out what matters most to a company. Maybe the whole company was just volunteering somewhere or community service is a big part of the founder's story. Maybe the company you’re interviewing for issued a press release about a new product launch, or maybe they recently released one that focuses on their diversity and inclusion initiatives. Either way, it’s a great way to tap into the pulse of the company and the kinds of products or services you might be working with if you land the job.
Pro Tip: Take a look at the boilerplate of a press release (the paragraph at the end of a press release), because it serves as an elevator pitch for the company. Any important information the company wants the public to know will be found there, which can be helpful fodder for your interview.
Of course, you can also peruse the company’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, or Tik Tok if they have one! Their social media accounts are a way for you to see how the company interacts with its customers and stakeholders, which is good to know heading into an interview. While perusing their social channels, you can also get a feel for the type of posts they like to share. For example, they may share more internal content like team retreats or they may prefer to focus on their products and services.
And while it’s very likely that you found the job posting on LinkedIn, don’t forget to use it as a research tool as well. LinkedIn can provide ample insight into the company, and more specifically, into the people who work for them. Here are a few important things to look out for:
- How long employees typically stay at the company
- Upward mobility (how many of the employees have been promoted while at the company)
- Employee posts and mentions about the company
3. Once You’ve Gathered Information, Write Down What You Admire About the Company
When the hiring manager asks “Why do you want to work here?,” it's an excellent time to show off all the research you conducted prior to the interview. (Remember when we suggested that you take detailed notes while scouring the website? This is where it really comes in handy.)
Maybe you were impressed with the thoroughness of the company’s annual report displayed on the homepage, or maybe there was a particular design element that you were drawn to, or a quote from the CEO that really resonated with you. By calling out what you admire, not only does it clearly show the time you put into interview preparation, but it also allows the hiring manager to understand what’s important to you as a potential candidate.
4. Prepare for Any Follow-Up Job Interview Questions After Your Response
So you gave a great response, but let’s be honest—the job interview questions likely won’t stop there! Be sure to anticipate follow-up questions, such as:
- “You mentioned that you were impressed with our annual report, what in particular stood out to you?”
- “Thank you for bringing up our most recent press release. What were your thoughts on that product launch”?
- “What came up for you after reading that case study?”
- “If you had worked on X project, what might you have done differently?”
Your responses will show that you not only did your research, but that you’re able to synthesize information and potentially find ways to add value in your role.
Sample Answers! 4 Different Ways to Answer the Question “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
Now that you know the steps to crafting a great response to “Why do you want to work here,” it’s time to put it all together. Here are a few examples of how to respond to one of the most common interview questions.
If You’re Applying for a Job at a PR, Communications, or Ad Agency
Reference a case study on their website.
Example Answer: “Great question! I really enjoyed your agency’s case study about how you integrated digital media and traditional public relations tactics for a recent national campaign. It illustrated the importance of taking risks while still using tried and true best practices in order to elevate a brand. That is exactly how I like to approach my work, and I’d love to have a hand in the continued success of your company.”
If You’re Applying for a Job at a Major Tech Company
Research their CEO and what you admire about them.
Example Answer: “Thank you for asking. I have been a long-time admirer of your company, especially when [CEO NAME] completely disrupted the industry with the X app. It was a game-changer for me, and I have been following her ever since. Recently, I watched her Ted Talk about women in tech and I was blown away by her resilience and fortitude. I’d be honored to work for a company that understands the importance of elevating women in the tech space.”
If You’re Applying for a Job in Human Resources
Focus on the people.
Example Answer: “That’s a great question. I really admire the fact that your company is so employee-centric, and it’s clear how much you value your employees. I noticed multiple employees posted on LinkedIn about a mental health week that you recently gave them, which got me really excited about potentially working for you. I’m very passionate about improving employee morale and mental health in the workplace, so I think it would be a perfect fit.”
If You’re Applying for a Job in Finance
Reference their client portfolio.
Example Answer: “Excellent question. While researching your company, I noticed that many of your clients are start-ups seeking seed funding. I admire the fact that you advise and support early-stage entrepreneurs, and it’s something that I’m passionate about as well. I would love to combine our expertise and team up to help entrepreneurs make a difference in the world.”
Bottom Line: This Simple Question Is Coming Your Way
This is a common job interview question for a reason, so be prepared with a great answer. Remember that your interviewer is looking to hire someone that can come solve their problem—not someone who just needs a paycheck. Talk about your shared future and position yourself as not only the solution with your skillset but also as a natural addition to the team.
In the end, you'll be the interviewee the entire team just knows is the perfect cultural fit and will be a valued contributor. Plus, you'll easily stand out among your competitors (the other candidates interviewing) who only have generic answers prepped.
