J.T. O’Donnell from Work it Daily is one of my favorite Youtubers that gives career advice. If you want to see more of her videos you can follow her page HERE. In this particular video that I am sharing she briefly gives advice to viewers on how to act in an interview generally, but mostly she focuses on the question “How do I respond when I am asked ‘Why do you want this job?’”.
She offers some great insight into why hiring managers ask this question in the first place, 3 things they are trying to figure out about the interviewee, and some pit falls interviewees often fall into. Finally, she shares what you should say in response to the question.
She shares that this question is an opportunity to show the employer how much you respect and admire them, as well as what they will get from you as an employee. This is an opportunity to share what she calls your “emotional connection” to the job and show the employer why you would be more qualified, dedicated to, or better suited for the position than others.
I feel every potential employee should be prepared to answer that question effectively if they are serious about their career. It is often an unutilized opportunity to let yourself shine and stand out from the other applicants. It is also an opportunity for you to shift the conversation to really whatever you want. You can learn to answer this question in a way that helps you highlight your strengths, ambitions, and to connect with the interviewer on a more personal level. It is in your favor to leave an interview with the interviewer knowing your name and something specific to you. You never want them to have to go back and read you resume to remember who you were.
As a final thought, I will give a quick warning. You never want to overshare personal information- and this applies to every meeting from job interviews to raise negotiations to job performance evaluations. You need to speak their language. It’s a hard balance to strike, but it is essential that while you learn how to effectively open up and share a bit of who you are you must always keep it professional. Interviewers are not you counselor, best friend, or mom so save water works, or long drawn out stories, and keep your answers on point and on topic. There is nothing worse for an interviewer than when an applicant starts rambling. They want to get to know you as an employee- not your life story. So, there you have it- the secret to nailing your answer every time you are asked “Why do you want this job?” Watch her video and let me know what you think! Feel free to share any personal experiences you have had with this question being asked in interviews, or any other questions you might have! I love feedback so also let me know if this post was helpful or not! As always, I hope you all enjoy your journey to success.
Your Journey to Success 