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If you’ve watched the Ocean’s movie series, then you probably remember George Clooney assembling a team. But if you pay close attention, you’ll realize that every team member has a purpose to achieve the overall mission i.e., the robbery.
Similarly, every organization functions because of individuals who work towards a shared purpose i.e., driving the business goals. This is why organizations are so keen on onboarding individuals who will value and drive the overall purpose with rigor and enthusiasm. Let’s unpack one of the frequently asked interview questions: “why do you want to work here?” or “why us?”.
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The Purpose Behind “Why Do You Want To Work Here?”
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How Not To Answer: Why Do You Want To Join Us?
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How To Answer: Why Do You Want To Join This Organization?
The Purpose Behind “Why Do You Want To Work Here?”
“Why do you want to work for us?” or “why do you want to work for this organization?”—no matter how an interviewer phrases this question, it’s crucial that you have an answer ready. “Why us?” is one of the most common personal interview questions, where potential employers assess whether you’re the right fit for the organization. What the interviewer truly wants to know is:
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Why you’re the most ideal candidate for the role
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What made you apply for the position
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Whether you’ll fit into the organization’s culture
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How well you understand the organization’s goals and purpose
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If you’re likely to stay and continue to grow alongside the organization
The bottom line is that you need to do your research to craft the perfect answer. In the process, you must reference the organization’s mission, vision and culture and gauge how they align with your career goals and skills.
How Not To Answer: Why Do You Want To Join Us?
Before looking at various ways to answer “why do you want to work with us?”, let’s look at some of the common mistakes that candidates make. Here are some answers you should steer away from.
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“It looks like you people really need a manager”: Humor may suggest that you don’t know how to answer the question
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“The work looks fun”: Ambiguous answers will suggest that you haven’t done your research about the organization
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“Your office looks nice”: By not relating to the organization, the interviewers may find you insincere
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“I need the money urgently”: Being brutally honest doesn’t always leave a positive impression; you need to choose your words carefully
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“I’m not sure how to respond”: Not knowing how to answer this common interview question weakens your candidacy
How To Answer: Why Do You Want To Join This Organization?
Here are some simple yet effective tips that’ll help you craft an ideal response to the question “why do you want to join our organization?”
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Identify Particular Reasons
The first step in preparing a response is researching the role and the responsibilities it entails. Think about how the responsibilities align with your personal interests. Check whether there are any opportunities to grow and improve your skills and knowledge. More importantly, gauge whether the organization values collaboration and knowledge sharing, encouraging teamwork.
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Express Your Enthusiasm
The question provides you the perfect opportunity to show your knowledge about the organization. It tells them that you pay attention to details and are genuinely keen on learning more. However, this doesn’t mean that you tell them everything you’ve learned; instead, identify key points that you can incorporate into your pitch.
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Align Your Skills And Knowledge
This is the most crucial step of the process—aligning your experience and skills with the role. This helps you convince the recruiter. There are two ways of doing this:
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Focus more on past experiences (what you’ve done in the past and how it brought you here)
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Focus more on skills (how you can add to the current performance levels)
Remember to keep it short and highlight only the relevant experiences or abilities for the position.
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Think Big Picture
To seal the deal, you need to show how the role affects you personally. This will indicate that you’re genuinely invested in working with the organization because it’ll help you grow. Connect the position to your career and how it’ll act as a stepping stone. Assure the interviewer that you’re around for the long haul.
Now that we’ve established how to prepare the best answer, here is an example to help you piece your own answer together.
Although your organization has been operating for several decades, I’m really impressed with how you’ve never wavered from your mission and vision. You’ve always relied on technology to make it better and impact the lives of people. I’ve been passionate about using technology for the benefit of people as well. As a product manager at <organization name>, I have developed two applications from scratch. I’m excited about using my knowledge and networks at this organization.
Conclusion
The PAM—Purpose, Audience and Message—Framework is crucial for answering “Why do you want to join this organization?” It helps you determine your purpose and audience so that you’re able to deliver the most appropriate message or answer.
Harappa Education’s Ace The Interview course will help you apply the PAM framework as you craft the best response to the most frequently asked interview questions. You’ll even master other key concepts and techniques to develop engaging responses. Learn how to project confidence as a star-studded faculty line-up equips you with essential tips and tricks.
Explore topics such as What are the Common Questions to Ask an Interviewer, Top Interview Skills, Tips for Interview & How to Prepare for Mock Interview from Harappa Diaries and crack your next interview.
