Deepali is a music enthusiast, eager to join a magazine where she can write about her favorite artists and their music. After several applications, she finally gets an interview.
It goes well until the interviewer asks the one question that makes her stumble for a good minute—“Why are you interested in this job?”
Even though she is passionate about music and writing, she doesn’t expect to have to explain this. Deepali takes a few moments to recollect her thoughts and finally shares why she thinks this job is perfect for her. She mentions artists she follows, some that the magazine has featured. She talks about handling publicity for a local band—how she helped them attract an audience for their first concert.
Deepali’s quick-thinking, passion and drive help her frame a meaningful and impactful response to the question. Read on to discover how you too can learn to answer the interview question, “Why are you interested in working for us?”
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How To Answer: “Why Are You Interested In This Position?”
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How To Approach A Job Interview
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Sample Answers To The “Why Are You Interested In This Job” Interview Question
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Ace Your Interview
How To Answer: “Why Are You Interested In This Position?”
An interviewer wants to know why you want to work with them, what you can add to their organization and whether you know what you’ve applied for.
So, your answer to why you’re interested in the job is significant.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
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Think About It
The first thing you need to do is think about why you applied for the job. You may like the organization, their work culture or the work they do. List down anything that stands out to you. If you follow their social media, you can highlight what you liked about them with examples. For instance, say they organized a book reading with an author you admire. You can mention this during your interview. It shows you’re aware of what the organization does and that you took the initiative to find more about them.
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Learn About The Organization
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not reading up on the organization they’re applying to. Their corporate websites have everything you need to know. From clients and ongoing projects to their leadership, you must know relevant information that you can use during the interview. For instance, if an organization is working in the development sector, you can ask to participate or contribute to a project that addresses grassroots issues. This will also offer a segue into discussing possible ideas you may have for new projects.
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Add Examples To Support Your Response
It’s a good practice to share examples to substantiate your responses. If you say you’re good at public speaking, you have to highlight instances that support your claim. Talk about making speeches at a college festival, participating in debates or playing a part in a play. The interviewer can easily assess your skills and abilities with your examples.
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Align Your Answers To The Job Description
The job description is your guiding light for an interview. Focus on the skills and requirements highlighted in the job role. You can pick the ones that match your profile and experience to frame comprehensive answers. The “what interests you about this job” question is aimed at assessing your suitability for the role. The more you can align your answers to the job description, the better.
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Talk About Your Inspiration And Motivation
At the end of the day, you have to talk about yourself in the best way possible. Why not discuss what motivates and inspires you? When you share things you’re passionate about, the interviewer can easily identify if you’re being authentic. You have to tell them a story they can’t resist. For instance, don’t just say you’re good at teamwork, tell them how you were able to resolve a conflict while working on a group project. This way you’ll come up with memorable answers during your interview.
Answering an interview question is simpler when you know what to say. Think of an interview as being like a conversation with someone who wants to learn more about you. You have to share relevant information in a limited time. Make it as impactful as you can.
How To Approach A Job Interview
A job interview, whether it’s your first job or third or fifth, makes you nervous and causes you to question everything you’ve ever done.
You’re required to revisit your work experience, education and activities you’ve been engaged in. Each aspect of your life must translate into sound answers that can get you the job of your dreams.
Even if you’re nervous, you can frame responses that leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. For a question that forces you to think about why you applied for the job, you have to be mindful of the organization, what they need from you and what you can give them.
The most important thing to remember is you’re not the only interviewee. How your answers differ from others will establish why you’re the right fit for the role.
Take care of the following things when going for an interview:
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Remember to study the job description carefully and thoroughly to know exactly what you’re applying for
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Prepare and practice your answers to common—and not so common—interview questions
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Read about the organization, its people, culture and even initiatives that may be of interest
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Be well-versed with your resume or CV because sometimes we tend to forget everything we’ve done in the past
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Think about instances from your experience that you want to highlight in your interview
The best way to approach a job interview is with the right mindset. If you have sample answers to interview questions, you’ll have an idea of what to say when. It’s important to take a moment and think about your answers, and how you’ll respond.
Sample Answers To The “Why Are You Interested In This Job?” Interview Question
There’s no such thing as the best answer, but it can definitely be true to you. You have to be comfortable with the question first before you jump into what you’re going to say.
Here are some why are you interested in this position answer examples to help you frame the best response:
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Arti is interviewing for the role of an associate at a digital marketing agency.
I believe this job is perfect for me because it aligns well with my experience as a communications intern for my college. I was responsible for my department’s social media—from campaigns to social media responses. I even organized online events during the lockdown to keep students engaged.
I noticed that your organization values employees who take initiative because a lot of them actively participate in social media campaigns. I would love to be part of a culture where individuals are encouraged to voice their opinions.
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Shubham is interviewing for the role of a tech lead at a software development firm.
After working with a startup for two years, I’ve had hands-on experience creating and collaborating with users to improve their experience. I was part of a three-member team that developed an application to address technical errors on the official website. I believe your organization prioritizes quality over other things. I’m certain I can help you with quality checks to ensure everything that’s rolled out to the user is airtight.
Both these examples highlight the interviewee’s skills, abilities and experiences. They were able to align the job description with their education and work experience. They also highlighted how they can help the organization with their skills. This way, they were able to give unique responses to a common question. The interviewer will likely remember their answers over more generic responses.
Another thing to add to your answer can be a problem the organization is facing. It can be a website that loads slowly or an inactive social media profile. Once you identify a problem, you can talk about solutions and how you’d implement them. This is a great way to stand out from the crowd and establish your credibility as a valuable candidate.
Ace Your Interview
With practice, you can crack any interview question thrown your way. Harappa’s Ace The Interview course will teach you how to frame answers to commonly-asked interview questions. With important frameworks like the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) response method, you’ll craft compelling and winning answers. Learn how to overcome your nerves and be confident during your interview.
Our stellar faculty will share tips on how to tackle unexpected questions like the number of windows in your city. Answering interview questions is an art. The more you practice and prepare, the less your nerves can get in the way. With each interview, you’ll become better at handling important interview questions. Enroll today to get one step closer to your professional goals.
Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as What are the Common Questions to Ask an Interviewer, Top Team Leader Interview Questions, Guide to Answering "Tell Me About Yourself", "How Would You Describe Yourself" and The 50 Most Common Interview Questions to ace your next interview.