How do you answer the “Why Did You Apply For This Job?” interview question?
Here are some tips to answer the “Why Did You Apply For This Job?” to ace that interview and some tips that would be useful to you as an applicant.
Why Did You Apply For This Job?
One of the most common interview questions is this. It seems pretty easy to answer this but considering a lot of things to say, how can you compress these? What should be included in your answer? How can you ace this question and make it as striking as possible for the interviewer to see the potential in you?
Why do interviewers ask this?
This question is asked by the hiring manager to determine how much you know about the company you are applying in and if this role aligns with your career plans. They would want to know if you can add value to their team and if you are that person who wants to grow and progress with the company. In answering this, there are some interview tips that can help but how can you prepare for this particular question?
Now, what must you consider in answering?
- Study the values and mission of the company and incorporate your answer to something you are passionate about
- Include your knowledge if you have about this specific industry and add the specific examples and situation you have been through which can be helpful to the company in achieving its goals.
- Talk about your achievements or recent challenges you have encountered and how you solved them that is related to the job.
In conclusion, your answer must include your passion for the product, service, or mission of the company, why you want to take the responsibilities, and how your background can help you succeed in this role.
This type of question could be in other forms such as:
- Why are you interested in this company?
- What about this job caught your eye?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What made you want to apply for this role?
- How did you hear about this opening?
- Why did you apply for this position?
- What do you know about our company?
- What attracted you to this position?
- Why do you think this role is a good fit for you?
- What aspects of this job align with your career goals?
- How does this position fit into your career path?
- What motivates you to join our team?
- Why should we hire you?
- What do you hope to achieve in this role?
- How does this role align with your professional interests?
- What makes you think you would be successful in this position?
- How does this job align with your long-term career plans?
- What about our company’s mission resonates with you?
- Why do you believe you would be a good fit for our company?
- What interests you most about our company?
- How did you come across this job opportunity?
- What do you find appealing about this role?
- Why do you think you would enjoy working in this role?
- What makes our company stand out to you?
- What aspects of our company’s culture appeal to you?
- Why do you see yourself as a good fit for this role?
- How does this role align with your skill set and experiences?
- What excites you about this job opportunity?
SAMPLE ANSWERS
from Career Sidekick
“I’ve been working in digital marketing for 5 years and it’s a field I enjoy a lot and want to continue growing in. I applied for this position because after reading the job description, it seems like a great opportunity to continue building digital marketing skills – like social media marketing and Facebook advertising. And since I’ve been doing this exact type of work for three years with my last employer, I’d be able to hit the ground running and start contributing immediately to your team’s efforts.”
“In my next position, I’d like to continue building my project management and leadership skills. I reviewed the job description and saw an emphasis on team leadership and project management, so it seemed like a great fit. And since I’ve already spent 3 years managing 7-figure client projects and leading a team of five people in my most recent company, I’m confident that I could get up to speed very quickly and start contributing results for you in this role.”
“As a registered nurse with six years of experience in a busy ER, I don’t want to give up the pressure and high pace altogether, but I’ve been hoping for a role in a slightly slower-paced facility where I can apply the skills I’ve learned but also have more time to connect with patients. Your job post for a day-clinic nurse with a broad technical skill set and the ability to work under periodic intervals of pressure really stood out to me because it’s exactly the balance I’ve been after. My experience is well suited to your busy afternoon rush, while the slower hours will offer me more time for patient care and connection.”
from The Forage
“One thing that really excited me about the role was the opportunity to work with a global client base. I love traveling and immersing myself in new cultures. However, I am not cut out for a nomadic lifestyle! This job would allow me to continue meeting people from other cultures and learn from them without having to pick up and move every few weeks.”
“In my current role, I’ve done all I can do. It’s a small company that’s stable, but there’s no way for me to move up or expand my job duties so I can learn more. Because this company is bigger, I’ll have more long-term opportunities that align with my career plans. And this role is a step up for me since I’ve never managed more than two accounts at a time, so I’m looking forward to the challenges that will bring.”
If you want some more, here are some dos and don’ts in an interview you must remember to help you get that job.
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!