Interview Question: "Why this position?/Why this company?"
“Why did you apply for this position?”, and it’s sister question “Why do you want to work here?” are very important questions to hiring managers for a number of reasons. They ask these questions to help figure out how you would fit in with the culture at their company, to understand your motivations in applying for the job, and whether you’re likely to stay in the role for an extended time.
To answer these questions, you’ll need to do some research.
Begin with visiting the company website. You can review the organization's mission statement and history, products and services, and management, as well as information about their company culture. Look for the "About Us" section. If there's a "Press" section of the website, read through any featured links there as well.
Pay attention to themes that come up repeatedly on the site. As much as any stated corporate values - the words that a company chooses to describe themselves are very telling. Do you want to work at a place where people are “driven to excellence,” or does that make you feel tired? Do you like the idea of working with people who consider their coworkers family, or do you need more distance between your job and your personal life?
LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find more information. You'll be able to see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. If you have connections at the company, consider reaching out to them. Not only can they put in a good word for you, but they may also share their perspective on the company and give you insider tips to assist you in acing the interview.
Lastly, take a look at your interviewer's LinkedIn profile to get insight into their job and their background, as well. Look for any common links between you. Do you know the same people? Did you go to the same school? Are you part of the same groups, online or off? Those common links could help you establish rapport during the interview process.
See Researching Your Interviewer, Identifying the Interviewer and How to Connect With Your Interviewer(s) for additional tips.
Approach each part of the question differently, and build the foundation for your answers with the research you've done on the company.
These reasons could include one or several of the following:
- Company reputation (as a whole)
- Reputation of key leaders
- Admiration of products/services
- Admiration of other company initiatives (marketing campaign, community involvement, training programs)
- Company culture and values
- Company growth/success
Example:
“Well, the JP Morgan reputation is certainly a factor. I would be proud to work for a company with such a long history of leadership in the industry. Also, a good friend of the family has been working in corporate finance at JP Morgan for the last two years and he told me that the culture supports learning and development on the job – and really rewards hard work.”
Researching the company and even the interviewer - if you can, is going to be the absolute best way to prepare for the question. When you understand the company's values, the culture and the role that the position plays within the company, you can give an outstanding response to their inquiry.
Additional Resources: