How to Answer “Why Are You Interested in This Position?”

“Why are you interested in this position” is a common interview question that may appear to be a simple ice breaker during a job interview, but an interviewee’s answer provides a great deal of important information. There are other versions of the question as well, such as "Why do you want this job?" and "Why do you want to work here?" A common mistake is to confuse it with a question like "Tell me about yourself." That question is primarily about the interviewee, whereas "why are you interested in this position" tells the hiring manager why this role is your dream job.

If answered correctly, the hiring manager can ascertain a job seeker’s career goals, why they're leaving their current job, how the position aligns within their career goals, their level of motivation, as well as the candidate's priorities and preferences. Every organization has a culture, and they want to ensure that anyone they hire fits in with that company culture.

Not every person seeks a new job for more than paying the bills, particularly early on in their career. If someone is on their first job search, the companies they interview with may be aware that the prospective employee isn’t in it for the long haul. In that situation, a good answer to “why are you interested in this position” shows that the applicant understands the role is a stepping stone.

Being prepared for potential job interview questions can help you come up with great answers. Here are a few steps to take to successfully answer this question:

1. 1. Understand the job: Look over the job description and note keywords that the hiring manager will want to hear that also align with your own skill set. This will reinforce that you're a perfect fit for the role.
2. 2. Research the company: Doing so will provide a clearer understanding of various aspects of the company, its culture, and its long-term goals and strategies. Most company websites also include a mission statement and bios of company leaders that may inspire you. You can find keywords on the website as well that you can incorporate into your answers.
3. 3. Explore their media coverage: Search beyond the company website and learn how the company and its leaders are viewed by the media and the public. Research media coverage, press releases, and social media presence on various platforms.
4. 4. Reach out to your network: If you’ve been in a specific industry for a while, there’s a good chance that your network overlaps or has connections to the company where you’re interviewing. There are multiple social media platforms that will show those connections; create a list of people you can reach out to in order to get more information.
5. 5. Outline your career path: Consider where you see yourself in a year, three years, and five years in your career. What are the roles you need in your career trajectory to achieve those goals?
6. 6. Find alignment: After looking through all your research of the company and the people who work there, what aspects align with your career timeline? What keywords from their website and media coverage can you highlight to connect yourself to this company?
7. 7. Find specific examples of reasons to work with them. This could include the company’s reputation, admiration for their products or services, wanting to work with their company values and culture, or being inspired by the company’s leaders.

The best interview answers align an applicant’s passion and career goals with the company’s objectives and culture. After researching why you want to work with a company, you should be able to translate that desire in a way that benefits the company.
- Be an asset: “I’m interested in the position because I believe my skills could help with the expansion your company is undergoing, and I want to be a part of that growth.”
- Admire the culture: “Your company has a great reputation that I have long admired. [X value proposition] fits my values and makes me excited to help with your company’s mission.”
- Be a fan: “I am a long-time user of your products and am excited to be a part of a product that I love.”

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