Sometimes the simplest and most straightforward interview questions are also the most difficult. One that you should constantly be prepared for and ask yourself, Why do you want this job
Like a similarly problematic interview question “Why do you want this job?” requires you to focus on a specific answer without any clues, contexts, or prompting from the interviewer. It’s a blank space — but that doesn’t mean you can wing it and fill it with just anything.
How to Answer “Why do you want this job?”
I advise three fundamental strategies based on my 16 years of expertise as a communications coach and my numerous experiences sitting on both sides of the interview table:
- Share your enthusiasm for the company’s mission, products, and services.
- Describe why you would find the role’s obligations enjoyable.
- Describe how, in light of your qualifications and experience, you envisage yourself performing well in the position.
As long as your response is succinct, you can combine any of these three strategies. Here are some tips on how to handle each strategy effectively, along with sample responses you may use as a reference.
1. Express your personal passion for the employer’s product/service/mission.
Employers want to know that you are enthusiastic about their work, whether it takes the form of a service, a mission, a brand, or any combination thereof. Additionally, you might relate your passion to the organization’s guiding principles, which are frequently listed on its website. If you’re applying for a job with a nonprofit where the mission aligns with your own values, it’s especially crucial to demonstrate your love for the position.
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But how do you express your zeal? Sabina Nawaz, a CEO consultant, provides helpful advice in her HBR article, “How to Show You’re Passionate in an Interview.” When you’re enthusiastic about something, as she puts it, it tends to affect other areas of your life. Find examples of that in your own life, and mention them in your interview. It’s not necessary to “display[the] the kind of full-throated, table-thumping behaviours that employers prefer to correlate with passion” to be enthusiastic, according to Sabina. The goal is to communicate “what matters most to you.”
Sample Answers
Here are some illustrations of comments that successfully link motivation and purpose.
- “I’ve strongly backed X for the majority of my adult life because I think that Y.”
- Because I really believe that, X is highly essential to me in both my personal and professional life.
- “I have a great deal of enthusiasm for X and would be pleased to work for a company that upholds the same core values.”
2. Explain why you would enjoy the responsibilities of the role.
Why do you want this job, It goes without saying that when we enjoy our jobs, we work longer, better, and harder. What employer wouldn’t want their workers to be as dedicated as that? But it’s up to you to make the link between work and happiness obvious. A connection can be made by simply saying, “X is something I appreciate,” but by explaining why or how, the point becomes even more significant and remembered.
Sample Answers
Here are examples of responses that connect job to joy.
- From my tutoring work in school to the training I received at my previous employment, I have always enjoyed assisting others in learning, which is why I feel so happy working in L&D.
- I’ve always enjoyed writing and editing, whether it was for the college newspaper or the web content I produced as an intern, so I’m thrilled to discover that writing plays a significant role in this position.
- The challenge of using numbers to tell a narrative or express a concept has always made data analysis enjoyable for me, therefore I’m looking forward to the data visualisation work this team will be doing.
3. Describe how you can see yourself succeeding in the role, given your skills and experience.
The interviewer is interested in what you can accomplish in the future as well as who you are and what you can do now. After all, they are investing in you in addition to simply hiring you.
Why do you want this job, Express your confidence in your abilities to excel and develop in the position. Use expressions like “I look forward to leveraging my talents to…,” “I think I will contribute by….” and “Given my expertise in X, I can see myself excelling in….” The idea is to explain how your prior experience has equipped you to get started right away.
Sample Answers
Here are some examples of reactions that hint at potential outcomes.
- Because I’ve done work akin to this in the past and am familiar with what it takes to engage these specific customers, I can see myself succeeding in this position.
- I’ve discovered that I function best in a team setting, so I’m looking forward to collaborating with many departments to set and meet our objectives.
- “I’m confident I can assist you identify ways to handle projects more efficiently and effectively after knowing more about this profession,” you say.
