#CareerAdvice – #JobInterview – How To Answer ‘Why Are You Interested In Our Company?’ In an #Interview
It is easy to picture this question being asked by a pompous, pretentious executive who is toying with you like a cat playing with a mouse before feasting. A candidate wouldn’t say, “So, tell me why you want to hire me.”
I have interviewed and hired hundreds of candidates, and I avoid the “Why should I hire you?” question. I prefer “What has you interested in our company?” It feels like less of an entitled question than assuming they want the job and is open-ended enough to allow creativity in the answer.
Both parties are still trying to figure out whether they want to dance. Just as a candidate needs to convince a hiring manager that they will add value if hired, a company needs to prove to a candidate that they are the best destination.
One thing is certain. Both parties are interested, even if they are not absolute. Without interest, why would the two bother meeting? No one goes through the gauntlet of an interview process without having some interest in the company.
Why Does An Interviewer Ask This Question?
An experienced interviewer needs to make two decisions.
1. Does the candidate have the skills, background and behaviors coveted for this specific position?
2. Are the company and position a good fit this candidate’s short and long term preferences?
Many interviewers focus only on the first question. What can this candidate do for me? Questions are formulated to help the interviewer decide if the candidate can do the job well and in short order.
- Do you work well with teams?
- Do you have a track record of production?
- Do you have relevant experience that translates?
- Do you make great decisions?
- Are you organized?
This list of questions differs depending on the company and those non-negotiable behaviors that are important to its specific culture. Answering a question correctly often depends on the interviewer’s personal preferences. The same can be said when answering questions that seek to understand culture and job fit.
An interviewer asks, “Why are you interested in our company (this position)?” to gauge your preferences. They want to get past superficial reasons like pay, benefits and location. When faced with a decision between multiple talented candidates, companies will choose someone genuinely interested in the company’s mission, operating philosophy and approach.
If a candidate loves to work in a highly structured environment, and your company is loosely organized, the candidate will inevitably grow frustrated. If they feel strongly about working for a company that solves social problems, will they enjoy working somewhere with no such goals?
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Understand Your Interviewer
Dale Carnegie was famously quoted with, “Talk to someone about themselves, and they will listen for hours.” In other words, nothing is more important to someone than their own interests. Connecting with anyone is simple if you focus on the topics they are passionate about. For an interviewer, few things are more personally meaningful than the company they work for.
Most interviewers are managers or at least someone that the company trusts enough to select new hires. This person is most likely loyal and proud of what the company stands for. In a business setting, there are few things more interesting to talk about than the company you are betting your career on. Interviewers are expert on company culture, mission, performance and plans.
I was always surprised by candidates who did no research before an interview with me. Even if I asked a softball question about our company, they stumbled through a few points anyone could have read on the job posting. It was hard to take this type of candidate seriously. If they couldn’t prepare for an interview, how would they prepare for a company project, customer appointment or assignment?
Alternatively, I could be won over by someone who did their homework and came with a list of great questions. This showed that we shared a passion for my company’s mission. Enthusiastic curiosity made me feel comfortable that their motivation would carry them through any tough period that required resilience.
Tell Me Something You Are Excited About
An internet search makes this question so easy that misfiring on your answer is downright lazy. Google search the company’s name, CEO’s name and your interviewer’s name. Run a Google search and then look at Google News on the same keywords.
- What kind of press are the company and its leaders getting?
- Is the company making any exciting announcements about products, customers, or organization?
- If public, what are analysts saying about the financial performance of the company?
- Does the company support any causes or give back to the community in any way?
- What kind of consumer reviews does the company receive?
- What do past and present employees say about the work experience on sites like Glassdoor?
Six years after college, I was recruited by a company in a different city and a completely different business. The job was the polar opposite of what I had done since graduation. I had to convince myself why I would take time out of a crazy schedule to fly to Washington, D.C., and spend a day interviewing for a position I wasn’t sure I wanted.
After conducting extensive homework, I decided the opportunity was too good not to investigate. I didn’t prepare for this interview question, but when the CEO asked me why I might leave a great company, the answer came easy.
Your company plays in a profitable market that will grow over the next four decades. Your product will always be local, cannot be outsourced and is too capital intensive for new competitors to quickly disrupt. Within your market, you are the most profitable company and playing for a winner is important to me. You are a big organization, but in comparison to my company, this will feel like working for a startup. I can make a bigger impact in a company that is growing much faster.”
That answer rolled off my lips and was not rehearsed. I put the work in before I agreed to fly out for the interviews. I needed to convince myself first, and this proved to be more challenging than convincing the CEO.
Delivering a thorough answer demonstrated how I made decisions and also played to this CEO’s sense of pride in his company. My response was honest and connected with his sense of attachment to the company I was excited to join.
Of course, joining a well-run, profitable and growing company meant opportunities for more money. The pay was a critical factor in making the decision. In fact, I turned down the first offer, which brought them back to the table to offer more. But, I never talked about pay during the interview, and you should refrain as long as you can as well.
Your job is to make the hiring manager want you so bad that pay is not an obstacle. Show them that you are the perfect candidate and that you want the job for intrinsic reasons. Do this, and there is no limit to what a company will pay for you. Bring up money too early, and you come across as a hired gun looking only for the best offer.
Before you show up to that interview, answer this question for yourself. If you can’t clearly explain what interests you about the company, save yourself and your interviewer time and cancel the interview.
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