Best Answers For “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”

It's one of the most common interview questions, but like many of the interviewers' favourites, "Why do you want to work here?" is a question many candidates dread hearing.

The best way to answer "Why do you want to work here?" can vary depending on the company, the vacancy, and even on your first impressions of the interviewer.

Seasoned interviewees will develop their own techniques to answer this question better, but there are some techniques you can use to take a shortcut to a better answer.

In this article we'll look at why this question terrifies so many candidates, some of the general best practices to prepare your answer, and some examples of the best stock answers to have in reserve, just in case.

If you're looking for a short answer, here are five steps to help you answer this interview question:

Different forms of "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"

First of all, it's worth noting that this is a question that crops up in many different forms in different interviews, so the first technique is to be able to spot it quickly, so that you can deploy one of your well-rehearsed responses.

Some variations on "Why do you want to work here?" include:

There are many permutations but there are two common elements. The first part of the question relates to your desires or expectations, and the second part relates to the company, workplace or culture that comes with the role.

Be on the lookout for unusual versions of the same question. Interviewers might ask if you have researched the company, or if you have any opinions about what you have already seen of the working environment.

If you think you have been asked a question that fits this pattern, decide quickly whether any of your stock answers will suit it - and you could have a shortcut to the best possible response.

Why do we hate to be asked "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"

So what exactly is it about this question that so many candidates hate? There are a few challenges that are specific to this question but not to many others:

However, this does not prevent you from preparing a good response in advance. Below we'll look at how this is possible for a question that has been asked and answered so many times over the years.

But before we do that, take a moment to conquer your fear, hatred or other negative sentiments towards this question. "Why Do You Want to Work Here?" is not your enemy.

Any question that you can reliably expect the interviewer to ask you is an advantage. You just have to find the best way to use it to your benefit.

Best practice for "why do you want to work here?"

You know you're likely to be asked why you have chosen to apply with the particular company in question.

Both you and the interviewer know that it's probable that you didn't choose the company specifically, but found the job advertisement or heard about the vacancy from your recruitment consultant.

One option is to try to convince the interviewer that you are specifically interested in their company, but this is actually not necessary in most cases.

What the interviewer really wants to know is how well you can answer the question, even if your answer is not 100% true.

As such, be ready with a researched and rehearsed answer. Your delivery is as important as the words you say, so don't fluff your lines.

Equally important are the lines you choose to leave out. Find the style of response that suits you and what you want to say, as there are several ways to express yourself here.

How not to answer

Before we get to the sample answers to "Why do you want to work here?" let's summarise some of the things you should resist saying.

These include:

Generic answers

Make sure your response is specific to the company you are applying to work for. Every interviewer has heard endless generic answers to "Why do you want to work here?"

It's not enough to say that the company has a good reputation or that you have heard it's a good place to work.

The trick is to take one of your favourite stock answers, and then tailor it to the interview you are sitting in at that moment.

Funny answers

It's good to be approachable in interviews, but humour is a big risk to take, especially on a key question like this one.

Resist the urge to turn the question back to yourself by saying something like "You should want ME!"

Keep it serious. This is your chance to sound fully engaged with the opportunity in front of you - so make sure you show that.

Honest answers

Again, honesty is not all bad, but interview technique is about giving the best answers, not necessarily the most true answers.

As such, don't say "If I don't get this job, I'll apply somewhere else." Realistically every interviewer knows they are not your one and only career ambition, but you don't have to say it to their face.

Remember, "Why do you want to work here?" does not imply you could never be happy anywhere else - so don't put that restriction on the question unnecessarily.

Example answers for "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"

With all of that said, let's work through some sample answers to "Why do you want to work here?"

You'll see that these represent a compromise between completely generic stock responses, and a fully tailored answer for each company you apply to work at.

Although there may be a little leg work needed in each case, having these template answers to "Why do you want to work here?" should save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you are applying to a lot of places and attending many interviews in a short space of time.

Putting it all together, here are some example answers to "Why do you want to work here?"

Make it about the company

Just a little research ahead of time can pay dividends, so run an internet search and see what previous employees have said about the company.

If there's something positive that comes up time and time again in people's opinions of the business as an employer, this is something you can include in your answer, for example:

"People who work here say they feel valued and supported in their professional development. I want to work at a company where I can contribute and grow over time."

Make it about the job

A detailed job advertisement is a good starting place when crafting your response, especially if you need to come up with tailored versions of this answer for a lot of interviews in a short time span.

Look for niche attributes mentioned in the job description - not the basic skills, but anything that other candidates might lack, such as specific past experience or expertise.

"I saw you are looking for someone with experience in ... and I can offer that. Together I believe we could achieve so much and I'd love to work in a role where I can use that particular skill.

Make it about values

If there's something you respect about the employer - or something they are known for, such as their ethical values, environmental commitments or charity work - this gives you something to base your answer around.

This type of response shows that you are interested in the company as more than just a direct employer, but that you are ready to engage with their culture as a whole.

"Your fundraising work for ... really inspired me. I want to be a part of an organisation that conducts business responsibly and gives something back to the community."

Make it about you

If you're not sure how to tailor your answer to the company - perhaps because there's little that really stands out about them - talking about yourself is a fallback option.

Be careful to still frame your answer in a way that sounds specific to the employer, but if there's really nothing remarkable about them, do the best you can.

"I'm interested to learn more about your company culture and what it's like to work here. My experience working as a ... makes me feel like this department would be a great place to take the next step in my career, and the skills you are looking for are a perfect fit."

Tell the truth

Finally, the truth is not always a bad thing. Try to include elements of the truth in any answer you give - even if you don't just say "I need the money."

But sometimes the whole truth is the way to go, for example if you find your dream job advertised by a company you have always respected or wanted to work at.

"This role is a genuine life ambition for me. I have wanted to work here ever since..."

Keep it quite brief, but be specific and enthusiastic. Having a 100% honest answer to "Why do you want to work here?" is a rare opportunity, so take full advantage and land that dream job.

There is no 'One Size Fits All' answer

If there was a single perfect answer to "Why do you want to work here?" everyone would know and use it - and that's the problem.

To answer the question well, you need to be original and say something specific to the company interviewing you, ideally something knowledgeable, not too material or money-driven, and which shows you have done some research.

For applicants who are attending several interviews a week, that can be challenging on top of finding vacancies, writing cover letters and updating your CV, but remember a vacancy for which you have an interview is arguably worth more than one you're only just applying for.

As such, prioritise interview preparations over applying for other jobs - if you do well in this interview, you might not need any others.

Practice makes perfect

Once you have one or several prepared responses, make sure you rehearse them so your delivery is as good as possible during your interview.

Get a friend to hold a mock interview - especially if you have a friend who works in a hiring role - and make sure they ask you "Why do you want to work here?"

To make it even more authentic, have them choose a real-world company and pretend you are applying to work there, so you can do some realistic research and prepare a genuine response.

If you're confident in front of a camera or microphone, you could even record your mock interview on video or audio, so you can play it back later and give yourself a performance rating.

Remember not to be too slick in the real interview - you don't want to sound like you're reciting an answer you've given a hundred times before.

As we noted up top, interviewers have heard the generic responses over and over again. This is your chance to say something different, so don't make it sound too rehearsed or robotic.