If you think that this is a warm-up question, then to some extent you are right. For most HR employees, this is a way to lighten the conversation so that you relax and remember everything that you rehearsed the day before. But, depending on what you say, the answer may alert the interviewer or give rise to doubt about your candidacy. Do not be too lazy to think in advance what to say so as not to lose your chances. Below are some solid tips from Layboard.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of potential challenges
You are not expected to have some exciting monologue. Usually, candidates start by explaining how their own experience relates to the position, and in general, the answers sound more or less standard. But the tenacious mind of the interviewer is able to identify warning signs of ignorance and immediately turn positive perception into critical: “Ha! Is she sure she understands what this job is about?” This happens when you begin to paint in colors how excited you are in anticipation of completing a task, when this task is only a small part of the proposed work or has a very indirect relation to it.
Job descriptions often look like they’re written on purpose to confuse you, especially if you don’t have much experience. So make sure that you read it several times and carefully enough (and again just before the interview) to avoid such mistakes.
2. … and serious interest in them
If the interviewer asks why you’re interested in the job, it’s important that you at least look interested. It seems obvious, but HR people constantly complain that candidates’ responses often sound like they’re more interested in getting any job, rather than taking on specific tasks. Of course, this can be true, especially if you really need to earn money. But keep in mind that your interviewee is looking for someone who is enthusiastic about the proposed role, which implies quality work with full dedication.
3. Do not pretend that you are flattered to be in this company.
If the job you’re most interested in is the brand you want to work for… come up with a different answer. The employer wants to hear what attracts you to everyday tasks, because if you are hired, most of the work will be related to the performance of actual duties, and not to the company as a whole. The company may have a fantastic reputation, but it’s best if the interviewer doesn’t notice that you’re overly excited about possible success.
4. Link the answer to your career
A good answer to the question “Why are you interested in this job?” not only explains what you like about the new position, but also how it fits into your career. This is especially true if the job is different from the previous role, you are applying for a job in a different field, or you have decided to go down.
Don’t go into lengthy explanations – come up with a sentence or two to give the HR employee some context. For example: “I decided to look for a job in a library because I like to analyze information and provide people with requested materials, and, in addition, I am glad to gain experience in a new corporate environment.”
5. Do not say that this is a step towards new perspectives for you.
When explaining how the job fits in with your track record, try not to imply that it’s just a stepping stone to something more. After all, that’s probably how a career is made, but the interviewer needs to make sure you’re satisfied with the job you’re applying for, at least for a few years. A candidate who dreams of moving up or further as soon as possible will obviously not please the personnel officer.
6. What if you are not too interested in this position?
Sometimes the reality is that you are not really interested in a job, but you really need money. So, you have to turn on the actress and pretend that this position is attractive to you. For inspiration, try to imagine someone who could love this kind of work and that this person would answer the question. Better yet, try to see what you really like in it.
Coming up with credible and sincere motivation is not easy, but at the same time, you don’t have to show a passionate love for copying or sending emails. If you really do not see anything in this vacancy that touches you in any way, try your luck elsewhere.
Really, just be honest with yourself. And everything will immediately become clear. If you find it difficult to answer this question, then this indicates that you have zero interest in working in this particular company, or even negative. Hiring managers are not asking this question as a mere formality. Thanks to the answer to it, you can get a lot of information about you and make up your personal characteristics. And not only based on the content of the answer, but also on how quickly you answer, in what manner – reluctantly, irritably, at a loss or easily, joyfully and with a burning look. Try to think logically. Put yourself in the place of the person who is interviewing you and see yourself through their eyes. This person needs to know your motivation. Now it is important to clarify three main points:
1) how qualified you are for the position you are applying for;
2) whether you will work well for the good of the company;
3) how much you are aware in advance and loyal to the company in which you are going to work.
The company is looking for a new employee, not just for the sake of staffing (although such options also happen, but they are extremely rare). The company is looking for a specialist to perform the necessary work and wants to make a valuable acquisition.
Now answer yourself honestly to the questions: why did you get up at 7 in the morning, drive through half the city and spend your personal time on an interview that already causes negative emotions in you? Was it your conscious choice? Does the job in question and the company in which you want to get a job seem really interesting and promising to you? Maybe you are here and now simply because you ran out of money, there is nothing to pay for an apartment and you need at least some work?
This is not the best motivation in the eyes of the employer if you apply for at least some interesting position. This may mean that you are just desperately looking for a job out of… desperation. At the same time, you don’t give a damn where and with whom to work, as long as the salary is paid. If you find yourself in this situation, it means that somewhere in your past you made a number of mistakes. How did it happen that you lost your previous job? Well, let it not be your fault (they laid off, the company fell apart, the relationship with the boss did not work out), but why are you now grabbing all the offers in a row, just to catch on somewhere? This may mean that you are short-sighted and irresponsible about your career. Perhaps you are just temporarily looking for a “safe haven” where you can wait out the storm, because now you just desperately need money and the social status of a worker. Therefore, now you want to get a job that guarantees stability, and immediately after that, you will start looking for a better place. It would be naive to assume that your potential employer dreams of hiring such an employee.
Examples of standard answers to the question – Why do you want to work in our company?
I always wanted to work in a large and reputable company in the business world.
I am sure that this is where I will be able to realize my potential. I am satisfied with the working conditions and are attracted by career prospects.
I am attracted by stability, the name of a well-known company, compliance with the Labor Code, and development prospects.
The proposals of your company coincide with my expectations, which means that our cooperation promises to be mutually beneficial.
Your company is a revolutionary in the market. It is interesting for me to work in this area and contribute to your (hopefully I can say ours soon) company to become a market leader.
Instruction
Think about the answer in advance, before the start of the interview. You need to come up with multiple answers. During the interview, you will understand which option is more appropriate.
If the employer speaks in a purely business tone, communicates dryly and only to the point, respond in the same manner. Say, for example, that the chosen one reflects your interests as much as possible and you consider it the most promising.
If you notice that the employer is trying to create a friendly atmosphere, communicates vividly and emotionally, makes abstract remarks that are not directly related to work, also be open, answer in detail. An appropriate response would be:
– children’s dreams, interests, hobbies. This answer is especially good when it comes to creative work;
– famous representatives of the profession who inspired the choice of specialty;
– parental authority. Say that your father worked in this profession, and you, trying to be like him, did not even think about choosing another profession.
Try to give a truthful answer, but do not give reasons for choosing a profession that will present you in an unfavorable light. Needless to say, the educational institution was chosen according to the degree of its proximity to the house, and the specialty was completely determined at random. Do not doubt that after such a story, you will appear in the employer’s mind’s eye as a person who is looking for an easy source of stable income.
If you see that the employer is endowed with a sense of humor, joking, there is nothing wrong with flashing a witty answer yourself. However, do not answer that you do not know anything else. Come up with a joke that will still let the employer know that you love the job and are ready to develop and improve your skills.
Useful advice
By asking a question, the employer seeks to find out what your motivation for work is. Answer accordingly.
A resume is a brief portfolio of your work experience. Also from it, the employer learns about your abilities, life goals and priorities, successes in past jobs. It is necessary to answer resume questions in accordance with the realities of your work experience.