First of all, as I have stated in my previous articles, preparation is the mother of all skills. For this question also, ensure you have practiced on what you are going to say, how would you answer most efficiently, that would impress anyone for that matter. You should feel impressed and completely satisfied with your answer when you are practicing it.
That being said, if you just go to the interview without preparation and practise, you will sound mediocre, less than average, nervous, unprepared. You will be wasting your time and the interviewer’s time. Now let’s start.
This interview question “Why do you want to work for this company” is asked rather in the middle of the interview when the interviewer is still trying to gauge you. If you are being asked this question, It means you do stand a good chance to get selected. With this question “Why do you want to work for this company” the interviewer would want to see what additional qualities you have which separates you from the other participants.
Few key points
Check the company background, spend time in researching about the company on the websites, LinkedIn and sources that you know.
· What is company into (manufacturing, software, Digital marketing, lending etc.)
· What is company annual revenue
· How many people are working in the company
· What was the recent activities, accomplishments that was called out.
· Who is CEO
· What is company mission/values
Now to answer “Why do you want to work for this company” let’s take a holistic approach, not narrow and fragmented. When you think why anyone is asking this question, they want to hear something good about their company “unconsciously” and how you would make it a better workplace by improving it with your contribution.
Take an example of you buying a house from a seller, and seller asks you why you want buy this house. If your answer is, this house is beautiful is all aspects, well maintained, clean, it has awesome view, well-kept garden etc. It will make the seller feel good that you have noticed all his hard work that he invested to make the house look beautiful. On the other hand, if you say, the selling price is affordable, you have friends around the house or it is close to your workplace, it makes very less impact, probably the seller wont sell it to you if he has an option with the same price another buyer.
So, let’s formulate an answer that will be applicable in every interview. Since you have done you research. Give 2 minutes to answer this question. Start with the company background, talk about what business the company is into, how the business is a growing business and helps solve the problems in the industry. Talk about the company values eg.(collaboration, respect, customer satisfaction, employees growth, integrity etc.. These are the common ones, normally, majority of the companies have similar values, but do your research. Then you can say how you relate to the company values and 2 strengths/skills that will contribute to enhance the workplace. With this approach you can make the interviewer (company) feel important, beautiful, and how your contribution can make it more lovely.
Quick example – make your own answer, based on the above framework.
Great question! With the research I have done, ABC company is mainly into manufacturing business, you make audio systems that look so sleek, it looks beautiful when installed in a car or a house. I am sure you have experts and designers who give their 100%, hence you can come up with such a beautiful device. Your company is always upgrading and ensure they are meeting the customer expectations. With my skills set of designing and going the extra mile to solve a problem, I can assure you that, I will be able to contribute to improve the products look and feel. I am collaborative and can with work different teams easily, this is an advantage you have as coming up with the excellent product requires collaboration of all teams. This is the summary in brief, please formulate your own answer which will sound orignal.
All the best 🙂
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-you-want-work-company-techwithtrolls-ddj4f
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