How to Answer "Why Do You Want to Work Here?" (With 10+ Examples)

Sometimes the most difficult interview questions to answer are the simplest.

“Why do you want to work here?” can easily throw you off during an interview because it’s so direct.

Interviewers use this question to gauge whether you’re actually interested in the company and likely to stick around long-term.

Here are four ways to create an answer to “why do you want to work here?” that’ll show you’re interested and impress your interviewer. Ideally, you should touch on 2-3 of these points in your response:

1. Express passion for the company’s mission

An effective way to make sure you leave a strong impression on employers during your interview is to demonstrate passion for the organization’s mission. Doing this shows that you’re truly motivated to work at that specific company, which employers love because it means you’ll make a more engaged and committed employee.

It’s easy to find a company’s mission statement – a quick Google search should turn up the results if it’s not featured on the company’s website (usually the “About” page). Once you’re familiar with the company’s mission statement, find a way to incorporate it into your answer.

Alternatively, if you’re applying for work at the Apple store, whose mission statement is “Bringing the best user experience to its customers through innovative hardware, software and services.” you can explain how you love creating novel designs that center user experience.

Mentioning the company’s mission statement and how it aligns with your own personal mission statement indicates that you’ve done your research and put thought and effort into preparing for the interview.

2. Mention why you’d be a good cultural fit

Possessing the qualifications required for a role isn’t guaranteed to land you the job. Interviewers also want to know that you’ll be a good match for the company culture.

Employees who are a good cultural fit are more likely to work well within existing teams, contribute to a positive work environment, and thrive in the role.

To determine if a company is a good fit for you, here are some steps you can take:

• Request an informational interview with someone at the company
• Check out the company’s social media
• Read employee reviews online

Visit the company’s website. Then, use that information when you prepare your answer to “Why do you want to work here?”

For example, if you notice that the company lists corporate social responsibility initiatives on its website, mention that you have a few ideas for how the company can give back to the community.

3. Show how your career goals and the company’s goals align

This part of your answer should showcase how the position you’re interviewing for fits into your personal career goals (and how your goals align with those of the company so employers know you plan to stick around).

If you find out through your research on the organization that they’re planning on expanding into a new region, for example, tell the interviewer about how you’re looking for a new challenge. Then, explain why your skill set and work experience make you well-suited to take on a leadership role in the upcoming expansion efforts.

By showing how your career goals align with those of the company, you also demonstrate an understanding of the employer’s vision and what it will take to achieve it.

4. Discuss the company’s position in the industry

Another great way to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role is to mention what distinguishes this company from its competitors and why that makes you want to work for them.

For example, maybe the industry is experiencing changes due to technological advancements. You can say you admire the company’s ability to adapt and stay competitive, then express how you would contribute to the company’s continued innovation.

2 sample answers for “Why do you want this job?”

There’s no one right answer to this question, and you can approach it from so many different angles.

Here are a couple more examples from around the internet to help you find your own answer:

Describe how you want to grow at the company

Focusing on your personal growth is another way to show employers that you have long-term plans to work at their company.

Comment
byu/JamesHardenismydad from discussion
injobs

Now, we don’t recommend phrasing your answer exactly like this user – and certainly don’t say the word “blah” – but they do make some good points:

• They mention having the skills they need to “hit the ground running,” which is always something employers are happy to hear because it means they’ll be able to make valuable contributions from day one
• They express interest in growing with the company, showing that they intend to stay long-term if presented with the right growth opportunities

It’s probably not a good idea to say anything along the lines of “If there’s room for me to grow with your company, I’d love to, but I’m committed to becoming a Marketing Director.” This clearly communicates that if you can’t get the role you want, you’ll leave – which may not be what a potential employer wants to hear in an interview for a different role.

Simply state your desire to grow with the company, and discuss how you’ll be able to contribute as you grow professionally.

Discuss something you like about the company

If you’re at a loss, try to identify something you like about the company or role you can discuss, like this Reddit user suggests:

Comment
byu/voja-kostunica from discussion
incscareerquestions

This isn’t exactly a sample answer, but it provides many good ideas for what you can highlight about a company to show your interest—whether you like the product, find working for a startup exhilarating, or you like the mentorship opportunities presented by a well-established company.

A good answer to “why do you want to work here?” should also work really well for the question “why should we hire you?” – both are opportunities to address your interest in the role and what it is that makes you the perfect fit. Check out this TikTok for more inspiration:

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How not to answer “Why do you want to work here?”

To avoid leaving a negative impression on employers, don’t do any of the following when asked “why do you want to work here?”:

• Focus only on your own interests, not the interests of the employer
• Say that you only applied to the job for the money
• Reply that you don’t know
• Give a generic answer that could apply to any company

Here are some examples of what not to do in your answer:

Be too honest

Comment
byu/holdawayment from discussion
inrecruitinghell

Employers already know that you’re applying for a job because you need a job – it goes without saying.

So while technically true, this answer gives interviewers no valuable information about you as a candidate, and isn’t going to convince them that you’re the right person to hire.

In a competitive job market like this, you need to make sure you stand out.

Say you haven’t decided

Comment
byu/Key-Calligrapher-209 from discussion
inITCareerQuestions

Interviews are a two-way street and it’s completely fair if you’re still making up your mind about whether or not you actually want to work for the company. However, it’ll put employers off to hear that you won’t know if you want to work there until you have an offer.

Mention money

Comment
byu/voja-kostunica from discussion
incscareerquestions

Employers already know that you want and need money – we all do. By asking this question, they’re giving you an opportunity to differentiate yourself from the competition, so it’s better to take the opportunity and impress them.

Additional interview resources

Looking for advice on how to answer other common job interview questions? Here’s a list of additional resources to take a look at: