Why This Company?

Overview

'Why do you want to work here?' sounds like small talk. It is not. The interviewer is checking whether you chose this company on purpose or sent the same application to fifty others. Answers like 'great culture' or 'interesting problems' could be said about any employer, so they earn nothing.

A strong answer ties three things together: something specific about the company, something specific about the role, and a reason this is the logical next step for you. Each part should rest on something you actually found out, such as the product you used, a talk or engineering post you read, the job description, or a conversation with someone on the team.

The table shows what the interviewer is scoring.

• Specificity — Names a product, a technical problem or a decision only this company has — Praise that fits any company
• Research — Cites where the fact came from — Repeats the home page slogan
• Role fit — Links the job's duties to skills you have used — Talks only about the company
• Direction — Explains why this is your next step now — Sounds like an escape from your current job
• Tone — Calm, curious, selective — Flattering, desperate or focused on pay

What you will be able to do

• Build a 60 to 90 second answer from three parts: company, role and you.
• Research a company in about an hour and pick two facts worth mentioning.
• Adjust the answer for a recruiter, an engineer and a hiring manager.
• Avoid the five answers that make interviewers stop listening.

Interview questions

• How should I structure my answer?
• What research should I do?
• What should I avoid saying?
• How do I change the answer for different interviewers?

More Behavioral topics

• Tell Me About Yourself
• The STAR Method
• Think Big and Bold Vision
• Time Management
• What Are Behavioral Interviews?
• Why Are You Leaving?
• Work-Life Balance
• Working Outside Your Comfort Zone