How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The question may seem like a trick question, but it’s not. It’s also not one you should answer spontaneously. Instead, you should plan a thoughtful, concise and appropriate answer in advance.

Here’s what you should keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Focus on an aspect of the company that you admire and explain how that resonates with you.

You may be tempted to answer this question frankly, but saying that you “need the money” or “saw that the company was hiring” will not give the interviewer any insight into who you are. Every person your interviewer calls in to discuss the position has bills to pay, too. Instead, focus on why you chose to apply to this particular company. Be sure to mention something specific such as the company’s main product or one of their core values.

Say something like: “I’m graduating this spring, so when I was thinking about my first full-time job, I decided I wanted to work at a company that makes a product I truly believe in. Your company’s user demographic is people ages 18 to 25, and as a person within that age group and an avid user of your product, I think I could represent the brand well as a PR and communications specialist.”

Highlight your skills and explain how they’re relevant to the position.

Next, set yourself apart by highlighting your skills and elaborating on your strengths and experiences. If you have particular experience with the company’s target demographic or the main skill set required for the role, be sure to mention that.

Say something like: “I was a brand ambassador for two years in college, so I know the best ways to increase brand awareness and sales, and to be the voice of a brand.”

Connect your career goals to the brand.

Once you’ve demonstrated your passion for the brand and shown how your experience relates to the role, be sure to mention how your career goals align with those of the company. The key is to show that you’re passionate about working for this particular company — not a competitor or simply any company in the field.

Here’s how to bring it all together:

“I’m graduating this spring, so when I was thinking about my first full-time job, I decided I wanted to work at a company that makes a product I truly believe in. Your company’s demographic is people ages 18 to 25, and as a person within that age group and an avid user of your product, I think I could represent the brand well as a PR and communications specialist. I was a brand ambassador for two years in college, so I know the best ways to increase brand awareness and sales, and to be the voice of a brand. Your company’s dedication to empowering young people struck me in particular, and it seems like a great fit in terms of me being able to provide valuable insights and expertise while working for a brand that believes in what I can bring to the table.”

By showing that you’re knowledgeable about the company and that your values align with theirs, you’ll demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the role and stand a great chance of impressing the interviewer.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Get a Letter of Recommendation and find answers to common interview questions such as Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?