Finding a
job can take time and it can be difficult to stay motivated, so you should be clear on the type of role you are looking for and the location you would like to work in. When all your hard work pays off and you secure an interview, one of the most common interview questions is “why are you applying for this job?”
An employer wants to know what motivates you to want to work for their company. The key here is finding the right way to explain why you want this job. You want to convey to the employer that you are ambitious, enthusiastic and energetic about the job. Preparation is key. Identify the skills needed to fulfil the specific role and research the company before interview. Familiarise yourself with the website, the product or service they offer and compare to competitors. Review the company’s LinkedIn page, search for people that work at the company and connect with them. Read reviews about the organisation on Glassdoor. Armed with information from these platforms you can emphasize what you can contribute to the organisation. You can go on to mention some comments you have read about what a great company they are to work for. You can talk about areas of commonality you have with other employees in the company or you could comment on noticing that many alumni from your college or former workplace appear successful within the company.
Overall, this question is a good opportunity to demonstrate how you are a good choice for the role, stay focused on the organisation, its management style and its culture and avoid discussing reasons that focus on you, like salary, hours of work or the commute.
