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If you were asked in the interview "why do you want this job", what would you say?

Business companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. And if you don't know why? You probably should apply elsewhere! 

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Question added by Ghada Eweda , Medical sales hospital representative , Pfizer pharmaceutical Plc.
Date Posted: 2016/04/03
Ghada Eweda
by Ghada Eweda , Medical sales hospital representative , Pfizer pharmaceutical Plc.

The question, “Why are you interested in this position?” is sure to come up in an interview.

Here the three Steps for Answering "Why Do You Want This Job?"

And, even if it doesn’t, if you want the job you should get this sentiment across regardless. So, really, there’s no way around figuring out how to string together a coherent thought about why this being in this position makes sense for you (and for the company).

Luckily, there’s actually a pretty simple way to go about answering this question effectively without having to go through every big moment or transition in your life and career that’s brought you to this interview. Here’s a smart framework for how you should structure your answer.

Step1: Express Enthusiasm for the Company

First things first, this is an excellent opportunity for you to show off what you know about the company. You can talk all day about how excited you are about joining the team, but nothing will trump actually knowing a thing or two about the place you’re interviewing with. So, to prepare,spend time to know about the company and select a few key factors to incorporate into your pitch for why you’re a good fit.

Say you’re interviewing for a small quantitative asset management company. The start of your answer might sound something like this:The first thing that caught my eye when I saw the position posted was definitely that it was at EFG Advisers. I know that you build a lot of your tools in-house, the team is small, and you run a variety of long- and short-term strategies in the equities markets using a quantitative approach.

Especially with smaller companies, it’s always impressive when a candidate knows a thing or two about what goes on at the company. And the best thing about this is you rarely have to go beyond reviewing the company website or having a quick conversation with a current or past employee to learn enough to sound like you’ve been following the company for a while.

Step2: Align Your Skills and Experiences With the Role

Next, you want to sell why, exactly, you’re right for the role. There are two ways you can do this: You can either focus more on your experiences (what you’ve done before that brings you to this point) or your skills (especially helpful if you’re pivoting positions or industries).

Try to pinpoint what the main part of the role entails, plus a couple of the “desired skills” in the job description, and make sure you speak to that. Follow up your introduction to how excited you are about the company with why you’re a good fit:

But the part that really spoke to me about this position was the chance to combine both the programming skills I gained from being a senior software engineer and my knack for quantitative analysis in a position that actively lets me engage with my growing interest in investing and portfolio management.

Keep it short—you’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk about how you got your skills or relevant stories throughout the interview—and just focus on highlighting a couple key relevant abilities or experiences for the position.

Step3: Connect to Your Career Trajectory

Finally, you want to show that the position makes sense for where you’re going in your career. Ideally, you won’t give the impression that you’re just using the position as a stepping stone. Show that you’ll be around for the long haul, and your interviewer will feel more comfortable investing in you:

I’ve been interested in switching to finance for a while now and have been actively managing my own personal portfolio for a few years. Joining a quant shop makes sense to me because I think it’s one of the few places where I’ll still be able to use my technical skills and spend my day thinking about finance. I’m really excited to learn more and see how I’ll be able to contribute the firm. Of course, you don’t have to state specifically that you see yourself in the position for a long time. Just show that you’ve given some thought to how the job makes sense for you now and that it continues to make sense for the foreseeable future.

So try to String these three components together, and you have a response that will impress on three fronts: your knowledge and enthusiasm for the company, your relevant skills, and your general fit with the position. Plus, this framework has the added benefit of not stopping the flow of the conversation the way going through your entire life story would.

Loraine Domingo
by Loraine Domingo , Career Break , N/A

I only apply to jobs which I find interesting, something which suits my qualifications, and a job where I know I can grow and cultivate my passion. Therefore, before I get any interview it is well known to me that the interview I'm going with is desirable. So if I were to ask why do I want the job it's because of the prior reasons I gave above. I find the job interesting, I'm qualified for the role, and lastly it promotes career growth and will surely allow me to enhance my field of specialization. 

Sidrah Nadeem
by Sidrah Nadeem , Global Marketing Manager , Hill+Knowlton Strategies

I would most certainly work for any company for three reasons:

  1. I respect their vision
  2. I like their work culture
  3. I see myself adding value to the company

This is your chance, because the ideal show them that you have the skills they require group. You have to teach them that their possession of knowledge and experience will benefit the company if the job is yours, and how your experience confirm your words. You should also tell them about your understanding of the nature of the job and its requirements. If you do this will lead them to a message that you've in your homework of good research and show them that you're interested

Already this function. Never behave emotional way, and tell them how much you need for this job.

Mohammed Azmathullah
by Mohammed Azmathullah , customer support specialist , Rippling

If I was asked this question point blank this is how I would have responded:

First of all I am already in love with this company and a company which shows great respect towards its employees has already made me to believe that I am already part of it.

Secondly, I did some research on the company and found that it is a leader in what it does. I mean who doesn't want to be part of a company who designs the rules rather than following them. More importantly this company treats its employees as an asset and not a liability which makes me want to showcase my skills in the best way any company challenges of.

Lastly, the work culture here in this company reminds me of my family where we all show dedication in what we do and really makes me wanting more. 

The company wants results, I am here to give them the results. The company wants hard work, dedication, integrity, fame;  

I am here to give it to them.

 

Thank you,

Hope this helps!

azaharuddin sirajuddin
by azaharuddin sirajuddin , Office Assistant , Drol International Gen Con LLC

The difficulty with all of those answers is that they may well be true and they may well explain why you have applied for a new job but they do not tell the interviewer any good reason why you should have the job. When you are going for an interview or applying for a job you need to give the interview compelling reasons for giving you the job and that starts with the basic question: Why do you want it?

So how do you give them that compelling reason? By treating this question as an opportunity for your sales pitch. By thinking about what it is that the interviewer wants in a candidate and what it is that they need to hear.

Ever been turned down for a job because you did not sound very enthusiastic? Been told that they were not sure if you really wanted it? It is actually a pathetic bit of feedback to give someone. Surely the correct logic is that they offer and if you don’t want it, you turn it down. If you are the best person for the job they should offer, but, it happens, so you need to make sure that it does not apply to you. This is your chance to sound enthusiastic, if not actually passionate, but how do you do that without sounding gushing and false?

TARIG BABIKER AL AMIN
by TARIG BABIKER AL AMIN , Head of Planning and Studies Unit , Sudanese Free Zones and Markets Co.

When asked in an interview, "Why do you want this job?" you can answer using the following steps as a guide

Show how your skills match - Show your enthusiasm for the job - And show how you fit into the culture

Abd alrahman Alnahri
by Abd alrahman Alnahri , Branch Manager , Nazih co.

Thank you for this question which is always present in the interviews

To answer this question must be answered include the two-sided

 

The first face expresses your personal goals and future ambitions, interest and experience that will be returned to you as well as your respect to the company and its culture and its vision and its functioning

The second face is how beneficial it will be returned on the company if hired for the capabilities and expertise needed by the company

But these days, spread the words of a new company a new challenge

Rami Assaf
by Rami Assaf , Plant Manager , Al Manaseer group

Sample Answers to "Why Are You Interested in This Position?" 1

This job is not only providing me an excellent opportunity but also the possibility to make a difference due to my qualifications. As an executive in finance who knows new stock options law, I visualize that this position is made for me. It has the challenge that will keep me agile. It is the type of job I would like to go to every morning.

2

I am interested in this job because my competencies match exactly to the job description, including sales and marketing. As I mentioned earlier, in my previous role in a flat industry, I was capable of creating an annual growth rate of 22%. Moreover, the team here looks excellent.

3

I fully understand that this company is expanding. I have read on your website that several new products will be launched soon. I am keen to be part of this company as it expands and grows.

4

I have worked through college by building porches and decks for neighbors; the entry level role for the most reputable home builder in the area is the most suitable for me.

5

Doing essential research is my liking as a technician. I would like to repeat the experience of being part of a breakthrough team.

6

I have been interested in this type of job all through my career. There is a good mix of long-term and short-term activities involved. I feel cranked up by short-term achievements and feel like billion bucks by long-term achievements.

7

I want this role of selling tickets at the theater because I believe that I would do it nicely. It is my quality to speak with people and handle cash. I always reach work at time and would like to work regular hours.

8

Although many companies tend to replace Americans with outsourced low wage workers, you are not among those. This company has a solid reputation, successful strategies and good values, all of which make it stand tall above other companies.

9

In your dry cleaners, I am a right fit as a counter clerk. According to my observation, counter clerk should have competence in multitasking. I am fond of multitasking and has a flair and practice in the art being a homemaker.

Hisham Hashim
by Hisham Hashim , Business Development Manager , RAS SERVICES P.L.C

Well the question seems to be easy and straight forward but its a tricky one.

They asked these same question when i applied to the current firm i worked with and i answered "Its dynamic and challenging".

Ahmed Mohamed Ayesh Sarkhi
by Ahmed Mohamed Ayesh Sarkhi , Shared Services Supervisor , Saudi Musheera Co. Ltd.

for get a good vision and management with ur trademark co.

to improve my skills and position

 

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