15+ Answers to "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"

It’s a common interview question for job seekers, “Why do you want to work here?” Or "Why do you want to work for us?" It prompts the job candidate to explain why that particular company interests them. And why the potential employer should close the job opening and offer the candidate the role. This question is prompted during every job interview in a job search.

The purpose of this qualifying question is to ensure that the candidate is a “good fit” for the company during job interviews. And ensures that the passions and missions of the work are aligned (between employee and employer). Each job seeker needs to prepare a well-researched answer to this question during their interview preparation.

Why Hiring Managers Ask This Interview Question (Why Do You Want to Work Here)

Why does a hiring manager ask, "Why do you want to work here?" Jared Brox describes, "passionate employees are engaged employees. They believe in the work they do and that they have a vested interest in the success of their company." As Jared alludes, passion is precisely the reason why this interview question is prompted to candidates.

Passion is precisely the point of this question. The way the answer is structured displays acknowledgment of the company’s mission and what shared interest might be prevalent between employees and employers. The underlying shared interest is passion. For example, if the company is a software engineering company. Then the candidate displaying a passion for engineering, software, and client services (if the business is a client-focused company) aligns.

For the interviewer, this is about measuring what “a good employee” should look like. And providing their diligence into the act of deciding whether the candidate seems like a passionate prospect. And asking "why do you want to work here" can help. They want to know the truth.

Jeff Haden of Inc shares, “Great employees are reliable, dependable, proactive, diligent, great leaders, and great followers.” The underlying principle of these characteristics is passion.

Interview questions like these

Lastly, there is some benefit for the hiring managers to ask this question beyond the interview. For example, an employee who lacks the passion for the business and the company's mission is more likely to become frustrated with their work. Resulting in employee turnover.

Anja Zojceska explains how employee turnover is a problematic issue to employers, “A high employee turnover rate is an expensive problem. When employees leave, a company has to replace them with new hires. Replacing employees costs a lot of money. According to The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) research, direct replacement costs can reach as high as 50%-60% of an employee’s annual salary, with total costs associated with turnover ranging from 90% to 200% of annual salary.”

How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work Here?” or "Why Do You Want to Work for This Company?"

Before answering, it’s imperative to perform light research on the business. Remember, the perfect interview answer aligns passions—the job candidate’s desires and the business’s passions or mission. The only way to align these passions is to understand the business’s mission or tasks.

Gathering the proper research

Use some of these sources to gather insights to structure into the interview answer:

• The company’s goals.
• The company’s mission.
• The company’s reputation.
• The corporate culture or company's culture.
• The culture or environment.
• The company’s products, services, and team members.
• The job description or job advertisement (each job requirement).

This information can be found on the company’s website (the “About Us” or “Careers”) or their corporate social media accounts like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Smart Google research can uncover more about the company. Use Google search terms like: "Company Name + News" or "Company Name + Mission". Or use tools like Google News. Research the company before answering!

Define your core values

Having shared values can be a great way to display a good fit for the position. Core values can be personal, career, or work-related. Try asking yourself the following questions for determining core values:

• How do you define your career objectives?
• What type of culture do you respect?
• What're the groups of words that describe your personal core values?
• When it comes to your future goals, what qualities are required to achieve them?

Constructing an answer

From here, use personal passions to structure an interview response that creates mutual interest. This can be a shared mission, cause, or the ability to see parts of the company that gains the job candidate invaluable experience. Never answer this question without preparation.

There is no time length that this answer should take to answer. A good answer should be under 90-seconds. If the job candidate has a strong and compelling story to share, that shows a strong mutual understanding, and interest in a shared mission or cause. Then share the story. Keep the answer to under 2-minutes in length to be safe.

If structuring an answer using career goals, speak about what experience will be gained by the prospective employer—prepare for follow-up questions. For example, an employer might ask questions about what the candidate can bring to the company in exchange for the experience.

To properly communicate the experience the job role will provide the candidate—the candidate should point to their resume and explain any employment gaps the opportunity will fill. This can help to illustrate what skill or experience is going to be gained to advance the candidate’s career.

Speaking to the reputation of the company is something that the hiring manager will love. Especially if they are working hard to make their company a better place to be and getting recognized for their efforts is a significant accomplishment.

Poor answer example

Unenthusiastic responses to interview questions are going to hurt. For example, "Honestly, I just need a job. I'm not that excited about this job opportunity" This is a terrible response. It's better to describe why the job is appealing. And why there's a passion for the job. Read the job description to get ideas on how to respond to the open position. Hiring managers won't appreciate a generic response. A hiring manager will expect you've done your homework about the position and why the job with the company sounds appealing.

How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work Here?” or "Why Do You Want to Work for Us?"

Below are several sample answers to this question. More than thirty sample answers. Use this as a guide for an upcoming interview. Or as a guide for constructing an ideal answer for the target company. Use these sample answers to construct your response to this question.

Example #1

I read a write-up a few months back on your company’s outreach within the local community. Giving back and volunteering is an important part of my own personal core values. And I remember feeling happy that a company values this community as much as I do. That happiness grew when I saw there was a job position opening in my field here. I would enjoy coming here each day with the knowledge that I am helping to make a difference in the community through my work in this position. Two years ago I spent months volunteering with a disabled child and it was rewarding for me. I would love to be here.

Example #2

I want to work for this company because I believe in the value of collaboration. And when I saw a position with your company in the production department, I had to make sure my application was in. I believe strongly in working with other colleagues towards a common goal. The skills I bring not only as a developer but as a member of a team will make me a valuable team member as well. I would love to be here. I'm confident I can learn more about user experience and provide my skills in providing an optimal user experience at the same time.

Example #3

I've always wanted to work for this company. I have nothing but respect for the technological innovations you’ve been developing. And I want nothing more than to be a part of a company that is changing the world. I see that as a way of moving forward in my career. I'm thinking I would fit in perfectly. And I have an excellent track record of success in this role.

Example #4

I want to work here because I’ve been a fan of your products for years. In my experience, once a product becomes popular, the company behind it gets lazy with the quality. In the ten years that I’ve been using this product, it’s only gotten better. I want to be an advocate for this product and work on it. I see this as an exciting way of pursuing the things I love.

Example #5

I want to work here because I believe in taking a collaborative approach to each project I’m a part of. When I saw a position with your company to join the production team, I knew I had to apply! I've seen your work in this industry. Your advertisements and interviews really inspired me because I saw the teamwork in action. I love working with a team to achieve a common goal, and my background in collaboration and production has prepared me for this role. I look forward to becoming a valued contributor to this incredible team. I see this as an exciting way to get involved.

Example #6

I want to work here because I love this industry and can’t imagine being away from it. But if I’m going to get anywhere, I need to be with the best of the best. This business is not only the leader in this industry, but it’s the only company that I have the utmost trust and confidence in. This is an exciting way for me to develop.

Example #7

This company has the reputation of being one of the leading businesses in the industry. With quite a list of impressive customers as well as a notoriously high customer satisfaction rate. Your partners are frequent speakers at national conferences in this industry, and they are advocating for solutions and changes for the type of products you make. These are signs that this company is a leader, not a follower, in any sense. With my background in this industry, I'm very interested in changing the industry and feel like I can do that by being a part of this business.

Example #8

I honestly didn’t know much about this company before the interview process. In my research, I’ve found that your goals and my skills match up almost perfectly. And each aspect of how the job is accomplished here is inspiring. The approach and relationship with the workers are fantastic. I believe I'll be able to obtain notable accomplishments or awards working here.

Example #9

I want to work here because I have used your products for years. And I’ve always been very impressed with the innovations and consistent concern you seem to have for helping your customers learn how to use them effectively. With your products' exceptional quality, marketing them almost feels like a service to me since I’m so invested in them myself.

Example #10

I want to work here because I think that the company culture here is perfect for me. My employment would be a seamless transition for us both. The culture nurtures innovation and empathy through giving, care, and support. Additionally, your workplace video inspired me. I believe our team can obtain notable accomplishments that will improve my career path.

Example #11

This business has a wonderful reputation as a lovely place to work. You place a high value on your employees and encourage them to learn, grow, and become their best inside the company. This means that employees happily work here for many years, and there is little turnover, which is far beyond the average length of employment. According to your customers online, your products' high quality reflects your impressive employee satisfaction, which is not surprising! This feels like a win for stockholders, employees, and customers alike.

Example #12

Bottom line, I want to be here. I believe in the value of collaboration. And when I saw a position with your company in the production department, I had to make sure my application was in. I believe strongly in working with other colleagues towards a common goal. I also know the skills I bring not only as a developer but as a member of a team will make me a valuable team member as well.

Example #13

Before the recruiter told me about this opportunity at the recent job fair, I have to admit that I didn't know much about your business. I've been doing some research in preparation for this interview, and I have to say that I'm impressed by your products and your vision for the future. I'm really interested in getting more involved in the public side of development, and I read that you are really growing in that area. As an experienced developer, I know I can bring a lot of value to the team.

Sample Answer for Retail Workers

Sample answer: I've been a customer of this store for a number of years. Coming in here, I noticed how the associates worked closely together to provide incredible customer service. I've always enjoyed being in this store. I'm genuinely very interested in these products that are here. And I have strong knowledge about them from my personal interest with the products. I'd love nothing more than to receive the training that's provided to employees here and be able to assist others much like I was in the past.

Sample Answer for Customer Service Workers

Sample answer: I've had customer service issues that I've addressed with this company in the past. I've always experienced something wonderful from the team. While other customer service issues I've had at other companies were not as optimal of a customer experience. It's clear the training, teamwork, and collaboration are world-class here. That's why I want to work here.

Sample Answer for Fast Food Workers

Sample answer: I respect and value the companies missions. As a child, I experienced coming to this restaurant and establishment a number of times. It always held fond memories for me. And I respect how the restaurant operates. I believe in the missions of the business and it's something the same memories that I share—are the memories I would like to create for others. I'd like to give every child the memories I had when visiting.

Putting It All Together (Why Do You Want to Work Here)

Have a good reason and answer to "Why do you want to work here?" When the interviewer asks, include part of the company goals. And aspects of the company culture. Then integrate reasons that align with career goals and development requirements.

Include skills that will be obtained. Or key work experiences that will be offered. And mention the reasons why you're a good fit for the role. By approaching the answer in this manner, it can feel like there is an "even exchange" of value between the interviewee and interviewer.

Additional Resources

Additional resources that can help when the hiring manager asks, "Why do you want to work here?"

• Things to do Before, During, and After Your Interview
• Yale Interview Preparation
• 50 Common Interview Questions
• 9 Interview Preparation Tips

Favorite Resources

Our favorite resources are included below.

Job interview resources

• Common Interview Questions by Marquette University
• Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions by Marquette University
• Preparing for Job Interviews by the University of Kansas
• Mock Interview Handbook by CSUCI
• Interview Guidebook by Lebanon Valley College

Resume and cover letter resources

• Writing a Resume and Cover Letter by USC
• Resume Writing Tips by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Resume and Cover Letter Guide by Harvard University

Job search resources

• Building and Engaging Your Network by UC Berkeley
• Career Ready Assessment by UC Berkeley

Interview Question and Answer Guide (PDF)

Download our full interview preparation guide. Complete with common interview questions and example answers. Free download. No email required.

Download PDF