How to Answer 'Why Do You Want To Join Our Company’

Why do you want to join our company? This is again an overused question but employers often throw it on candidates to ensure that the odd ones are no longer in the fray. You may be tempted to give an honest answer — 'Your company is a good paymaster and I also want some more salary'. The answer is certainly legitimate, but it won’t help you at all in winning your case since it does not answer what you can bring on the table.

Such questions often seem intriguing, but are basic in nature. They may put candidates off guard if they are not prepared and could ruin your otherwise stellar interview.

What’s the basic purpose?

The question is simple but it has two complex posers rolled into one:

• 1. Why do you want to work for this company?
• 2. Why do you want this job?

Most candidates fail to understand these hidden layers in this question and rather answer in a bland way. What you need to do is research about the company before you reach the interview stage as you will have another opportunity to showcase your skills once more. Hiring managers wish to know whether you are a thoughtful, intelligent, and mature person.

Mistakes to avoid in such questions

• Avoid being too honest: As we have already explained above such, answers won’t help your cause at all. You should understand the fine distinction between being honest and being upfront.
• Don’t try to be generic: Answering in a generic manner should be avoided. Suppose your answer goes like this: “Well, it seems a great and cool company to work with and I would love to be a part of your great organization.” There is nothing wrong with this answer, but it’s certainly too generic.
• Avoid being funny: This is not a question that encourages you to show your wit and humor. Your chances will be gone if you choose to answer like this: “I mean you need me and I am certainly the best and then there are the rest.”

Along with this, you also need to align your skills and qualities with the values and needs of the company.

Let’s come to the point

So, so far, we have discussed the various aspects of this question; we should now talk straight. You need to ask yourself a simple question— is it just the paycheck that entices you to work in the company? Money is certainly a big motivation, but there must be some other reasons as well. Think of your career goal and consider how this company can help you achieve your objectives.

Your could focus your answer on talking about your company’s core values and its reputation. This things can be related to both job and non-job positions such as company’s community involvement, outreach programs, training facilities, and other incentives. An insider secret is that all hiring managers love to work with people who in turn want to work with them.

Sample answers

Here are sample answers to two most frequently asked questions:

• Why do you want to join your company?
  “I went to your website and found references about emphasis on the training program and community outreach. I was excited to know that there is a company that invests in enhancing the skills of employees and also wants to give back to the society. I was glad to find out an opening in my skill set. I feel that it would be really great to work at a place where my both technical skills and personal philosophies are perfectly aligned.”
• Why do you want this job?
  “I have firm belief in working towards a common goal and my skills as an engineer will add value in the team, which will provide me job satisfaction. “

Putting it together

Such answers will certainly bowl an HR manager out since you perfectly aligned your personal philosophy with the goal of the company. Our motto here is not to give you a sample answer that you can memorize; you can make your own answer that suits your profession and the requirements of the company you applying for a job for.