‘Why do you want to work for us?’
Why are recruiters asking this?
This is one of the most common questions, and to some people the most important question. “Why us?” Recruiters ask this, because it’s a shortcut summary of your motivations. If you’ve mentioned this in your cover letter, great – you’ve already done the legwork. It would be a good idea to reference that story or talk about the same topics.
This question can take many forms, and you should tailor your answer to the style of questioning. However, you can keep the same basic elements in your reply.
Remember that an interview is a lot like a first date, so make sure to explain what makes you and the company a great fit. Talk about yourself, not just the company, and how you see the two of you doing great things together.
It may be uncomfortable, but this kind of question is great to present a short pitch for you getting the job. Make sure your answer isn’t too generic – everyone wants to work for the top companies (because they’re the top companies). But do your research and try to find an angle that speaks to you and then explain why.
Checklist for a great answer
- Be unique and specific, to be memorable
- Pitch yourself
- Don’t be afraid of a personal story
- Be charismatic and inspirational
Examples
EY is my top choice for my first role because first I want to work in consulting. Why I want to work specifically for EY, has to do with values and “building a better working world.” For the last 2 years I’ve volunteered with Dress for Success, a nonprofit which helps empower women at work. I’ve followed EY’s approach to gender equality and I appreciate how you can bring your whole self to work. I’d like to build my career in an inclusive environment, while developing my skills and advancing my expertise in financial consulting, and EY is someplace I see myself accomplishing that.
Other similar questions
- Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?
- What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
- Why should we hire you?
- Why do you want this job?
How do I get better at these questions?
PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
The illustrious economist and statistician EF Schumacher once said: “An ounce of practice is generally worth more than a ton of theory.” We at Mockmate strongly believe in exactly this, which is why we created our AI-powered job interview simulator. Now is the time to stop reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos, and begin to perfect your interview skills by actually doing it! Start giving yourself an edge here!
