This is easily one of the most important questions you’ll be asked in an interview. An interviewer can read a lot about you and your skills and passion in your answer. They’re already interested in you if you’ve made it this far; now they want to know more about who you are and what you envision for them and yourself. So here’s your chance to tell them!

So kind of a lot weighs on your answer. But don’t worry! You probably already have a pretty good answer for “Why this job?” even if you don’t realize it yet!

Make sure your answer involves these three aspects—them, your past, and your future—and you’re set!

Talk About Them

Before you enter the interview phase, you’ve done research on the company (right?). You’ve googled them, and you’ve talked with people who work there or with them (right?!). Well now is the time to show this off! 

Making the first part of your answer be about them really puts into focus the “this” in “Why this job?” Why this job specifically, not any old job in any old organization. And be specific! No “I’ve always appreciated the work you do.” What work is that? Why does that specifically stand out to you? This is not the time for broad strokes.

Another way to show that you’re truly interested in them specifically uses a little more improv than rehearsal, but trust me, it’s worth it. Talk about what you like about this interview. Here’s what that could look like:

“When you asked, ‘What was your last failure?’ that told me this company gives its employees the space to take risks. And from other employees I’ve talked to, this company walks the walk. As a customer service representative, I found that creative solutions to client’s needs were what got me out of bed in the morning. And it’s great to know that I’d have the space to find new ways to solve issues with my teammates.”

Quick tip: If you find yourself struggling to come up with nonbasic answers, here’s how you can pick out what you really like about them and what they would mean for your future. When you’re preparing for this answer ahead of time (no need to fully wing it!), talk with a partner or close friend about what you like about the company and the people you’ve met so far. We’re much more free with our thoughts when speaking than writing. Take notes on moments when you get excited or a smile comes across your face—those are the real moments you want to share with your interviewer.

Relate This Job to Your Experience

So you’ve talked about what you know about them on a big and smaller scale. Now here’s where you get to show your interviewer how well you’ll fit in there. 

Let your skills, experience, or both do the talking. But again, don’t paint with broad strokes. Avoid saying “This job is a great fit for my skills and experience.” Duh! That’s why you’re here! You can reference details you’ve previously mentioned in your resume, cover letter, or earlier in the interview, but make sure you’re telling a story and connecting the dots for them.

“As I mentioned earlier, I get a little rush when I solve some stickier problems. As an IT manager at a small company, I constantly had to patch together new solutions to remedy old and new technology. In this new role, I’d be able to expand my capacity to find creative answers to difficult concerns.”

Quick tip: It’s best to practice this ahead of time. You’ll want to keep this as succinct as possible. Remember, you want this to be about them as much, if not more so, than you.

Connect to Your Career Goals

In addition to connecting the dots from your past to present, you want to show them the loose map you’ve drawn for yourself. They will want to see how you’re fitting them into your future. 

“I’ve been interested in switching to marketing for awhile now. I’ve been helping my friend with his new startup on social media; I’ve applied my sales know-how to getting a succinct message to a targeted audience, and I’ve found I have a knack for it. Joining your marketing department for a local cause makes sense to me because I’ll be able to apply my sales knowledge to a tighter group. Plus, as a marketing outsider, I’ll be able to offer a different perspective and fresh eyes on how to promote this cause.”

And I’d like to point out that even if they don’t ask this question, you should get these points across in your interview. Your number one goal in your interview is to get them to see that you’ve done your research on them with a critical eye toward how you would be a part of their team.

I’m Stacey Lane: Career Coach | Transition & Career Strategist | Personal Brand Specialist

I help individuals with unique backgrounds find their perfect fit and effectively market themselves so they find work that is as interesting as they are.

Contact me to get started!