How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”
· by the InterviewCrusher team
With this question the interviewer is gauging your motivation and, above all, whether you've done your research. A generic answer that would fit any company (“it's a leading company with a great atmosphere”) reveals that you haven't prepared and that you're probably sending the same CV to a hundred places.
A good answer shows that you know what the company does and why it fits you specifically. You don't need to flatter them: you need to be specific. A single sentence you could only say about this company is worth more than five generic compliments.
What mistakes should you avoid when answering “Why do you want to work here?”?
- Answers that would work for any company: “great atmosphere,” “market leader,” “interesting project.”
- Talking only about salary or benefits as your main reason.
- Flattering with no basis: empty praise is easy to spot.
- Showing that you don't know exactly what they do: a fatal mistake.
The company → the role → you
- 1
The company
Something specific that draws you in: their product, their way of working, a recent project. It shows you've done your research.
- 2
The role
Why this particular role, and not another, fits what you want to do right now.
- 3
You
What you bring to that fit. It shouldn't be only what they give you, but also what you add.
Sample answers
“I'm interested because you keep support and product on the same team, something almost nobody does and that to me is the right way to build: I've lived through the opposite and I know what it costs. The role fits what I'm looking for now, which is being close to the user while also deciding what gets built. And I think my background coming from customer support can bring you that perspective from day one.”
Quick tips
- Spend 15 minutes on their website, their blog, and recent news: with one concrete detail you already stand out from the pack.
- Strike a balance: talk about what draws you to them and what you bring, not just what you get out of it.
- Connect their mission or their product to something real in your background or your values.
Knowing the answer isn't the same as saying it out loud
Practice this question with an AI recruiter that asks follow-ups, keeps the pressure on, and gives you honest feedback. In your language and no credit card.