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A common interview question that can leave some candidates lost for words is ‘why do you want this job?’. It might initially sound like a simple question to answer, but it can be easy to slip up. So, it’s essential you can effectively communicate why you are interested in the role and why you chose to apply in the first place.
Here are some key considerations when answering that all-important question of ‘why do you want this job?’ with great examples ready for your upcoming interview.
When a hiring manager asks this question, what they really want to know is how much you know about their company, how this role fits into your ongoing career plan, how it will help you develop and challenge you, and why the company appeals to you.
When preparing your answer for this question, keep in mind that the hiring manager is looking for someone who will provide value to their team and someone who wants to grow and progress with the company and feed this into your answer.
Interview prep is key to landing any job. As well as doing overall research on the company, the role itself and the wider team structure, we recommend prepping for common interview questions as well.
The points below will help guide you in the right direction when preparing your answer to ‘why do you want this job?’ and a few of the key things you want to think about prior to your interview.
Related: Honest reasons for leaving your last job
There are a few different ways to start answering the ‘why do you want this job?’ interview question. Here are some of the best ones to use to help get you started:
These are great answer openers because they demonstrate you are passionate about the role and that you are excited to become part of the team. It’s also clear that you have thought about how this role will impact your personal career goals and how they are aligned with the job role itself. Spend some time researching the company and selecting a few key factors to incorporate into your answer to demonstrate that you are a good fit.
With these answers, you want to make sure you are matching specific skills you have obtained to parts of the job role. This shows you have done your research and are confident you can get the job done to a high standard if employed.
Try to keep it short as there will be plenty of other opportunities in an interview to talk about how your skills and to go through your CV in more detail.
You also want to show the hiring manager that you put some time into researching the position and how it relates with your career goals and specialties.
Related: Tell me about yourself: How to answer one of the most common interview questions
Now we have gone through some of the best answers, we should also mention what not to say when faced with this question in an interview. Here are a few things to avoid:
“Because I’m qualified” Although this answer may be correct, it won’t make you stand out to a hiring manager. All applicants that come through will more than likely have the correct qualifications, but you want to highlight what makes you so special. Highlight what you can add to the team beyond your CV.
Read more:How to make a successful career changeJob interview confirmation email templates15 ways to prepare and succeed at virtual job interviews
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