How to Answer "Why Do You Want to Work With Us?" Without Sounding Like You Googled the Company Five Minutes Before.

Everyone is asked this. Almost everyone answers in the same way.

They give an answer about admiring the values of a company, a few promising growth opportunities and often copy-paste straight from their 'About Us' page and just adjust slightly to avoid looking too obvious.

The interviewer nods, asks the next question and mentally puts you in the category of 'easily forgotten.'

This is just one of those interview questions which seem so straight forward, until you're sat opposite the person interviewing you and realize your answer is pretty much identical to that of every single candidate they’ve already interviewed that day - and the day before.

Why many of the answers to this interview question often fall flat

The truth is that it’s not always because candidates aren't prepared. In most cases, the person will have done some level of research - skimmed the company website, read some articles etc.

They come into the interview with at least some kind of information they can use to formulate a response.

The problem is that this information sounds too much like it’s been taken directly from a press release.

"I've been really impressed by your company's approach to innovation, the 'people-first' culture and the opportunities here for growth" "Sounds nice.

It's plastered all over the website of around forty thousand other companies and offers absolutely nothing new or insightful about you, why you've even bothered to apply, or what separates you from the candidate that sat in this seat before you.

Interviewers don’t ask this question simply because they want to be showered with praise and admiration, rather, they use it as an opportunity to discover if you genuinely understand the workings of the company and if you possess any genuine reason to wish to become a part of it. Just talking the talk simply won't help to answer either of these important questions.

What the interviewer is actually trying to figure out

There are two things this question can actually assess, underneath all of the usual jargon:

One: Have you done your homework. No superficial research, but some thorough study. Do you have a proper understanding of the company's objectives and potential challenges, and are you aware of what differentiates it from its competitors. Those genuinely interested in a company always put in this effort. However, for those who simply need a job, this effort can sometimes be skipped.

Two: Is your reason logical. Does your background, experience, career aspirations - all align with this particular company and role? Because if it doesn't all connect properly, why should they trust that you'll stay with the company or be passionate about the work once the new and shiny aspect has faded?

A decent answer to this question should effectively cover both elements.

The structure of an answer that will make you stand out

This isn’t about rote learning. Instead, it's about adopting a particular structure for your answer.

Begin by referencing something specific and concrete about the company - not its company statement, but something tangible like a product decision it made, an aspect of how it works that captured your attention, or perhaps a problem that the company is clearly facing that genuinely interests you.

This should be just one concise sentence to demonstrate that you have put in the effort to research the company.

Next, link this back to you.

Explain why this specific company trait is significant given your experience or future goals. Most candidates skip this stage, yet it is vital, because it is what converts "I like your company" into "this is why we’re a great fit." Keep it brief, and aim to get it in 2-3 minutes at the most. This isn't the time to give a lengthy monologue, but to rather initiate a conversation.

How to construct an effective answer

Bad example: "I've always admired the company's reputation and I believe it offers significant growth opportunities. The team appears to be highly collaborative, and I'm excited about the possibilities here."

It's perfectly acceptable but entirely forgettable and could be uttered by anyone.

Better example:"I've been keeping an eye on your customer service approach for about a year now; the decision to move away from outsourced solutions and bring the team in-house is a difficult and significant one for a company of your size. For me, that decision shows that the company prioritizes long-term quality over short-term savings. This is particularly important to me as I’ve had significant experience in past roles navigating the conflict between expediency and taking the time to do things properly, and I want to be part of an organization that has already decided this approach is correct."

Same company, different interview question, but this response paints a much clearer and distinct picture of the candidate.

What if you don’t have a deep personal motivation to join

The candid answer is that sometimes you simply don’t have one. Perhaps you just need a job, this one caught your eye because of the salary, the commute works, etc. - and that’s the reality for many people.

However, there is usually something that you can offer that makes your application more than just desperation.

Maybe it's the development of skills that this role will afford you.

Perhaps it’s the opportunity to experience a particular type of work the company offers, a scale of operation that’s different from what you’re used to.

You do not necessarily need a profound connection to the company’s overall mission. All that you require is a genuine, sensible reason.

What will not work is pretending to be passionate, which never truly succeeds in fooling an interviewer as this is something they have dealt with numerous times.

Instead, try and identify your real reasons, even if they are somewhat humble, and explain them articulately.

Don’t forget this critical point

It is not uncommon for this question to come early in the interview process, especially near the beginning.

This makes your response all the more important, as it will set the tone for the remainder of the conversation.

An exceptional answer will indicate that you’ve taken this interview seriously from the outset.

This will put both you and the interviewer at ease and provide them with concrete material to discuss.

However, a sub-par response will set you back and could negatively impact the perception formed throughout the rest of the interview. Just because the first impression was that you were not prepared.

Taking 20 minutes to prepare this response is a small effort to make, particularly when it has the potential to put you miles ahead of the competition as very few will make the effort.