”So, why do you want to work here?” — if you’re looking for a new job, you’re very likely to hear this interview question at some point. Many candidates say this is the “dumbest question ever”, frustrating and seemingly useless.
Still, it’s asked for a reason.
“Why do you want to work here?” and its sister questions like “Why do you want to work for us?”, “Why do you want to join this company?”, and “Why are you interested in this position?” are very important to hiring managers for a number of reasons. It may help them figure out if you’re a culture fit, or understand your motivations in applying for the job and whether you’re likely to stay in the role for a while.
When preparing an answer to this question, there are two important angles to consider: ‘Why do you want to join this company?’ and ‘Why are you interested in this position?’ Combining the answers to these two will give you the complete answer you’ll use in an interview.
The hiring manager is looking for someone who will fit in at the company and enjoy working there.
A good answer will demonstrate your knowledge of the company and industry. That means you must do your homework so that you can identify specific reasons for wanting to work there.
