When preparing for an interview, keep calm and go over as many common interview questions as possible. "Why do you want this job?" is a common question in HR interviews. Despite its simplicity, answering this question correctly can significantly increase your chances of being hired.
It is critical to tailor your response to the HR interview question "Why do you want this job?" to highlight your strengths and qualifications. Prepare potential responses ahead of time and present them confidently and positively for the greatest impact.
Let's simplify it into three simple steps.
Step 1: Communicate Your Joy
When discussing why you want the job, it's important to show a genuine interest in the company, so do your research and understand key aspects of the company to include in your pitch. It is highly impressive to demonstrate that you have done your homework, especially with smaller companies, and this can be easily accomplished by reviewing the company website or speaking with current or former employees.
Step 2: Apply Your Knowledge and Experience to Your Role
Focus on highlighting your relevant experiences or talents to successfully sell yourself for the role. Identify the job's key responsibilities and the required skills listed in the job posting, and make sure to mention how your skills align. Maintain brevity in your response and save detailed stories or explanations for later in the interview. The purpose of this question is to highlight a few key qualifications or experiences that make you a good fit for the position.
Step 3: Discuss Your Future Career Plans
To persuade the interviewer that you are committed to the position, demonstrate how it coincides with your long-term career goals. Avoid giving the impression that you see the job as a stopgap measure. Instead, show that you have thought about how the position fits into your current and future goals. Even if you do not expressly state that you intend to stay with the company for a long time, demonstrating that you have considered the role's compatibility with your career path will make the interviewer more comfortable investing in you.
Avoided Errors
Here are some basic pitfalls to avoid when answering the question, "Why do you want this job?"
1. Only discussing your own progress: When explaining why you want the job, relate your interests and skills to the company's goals and express joy regarding using them to create a difference in the business.
2. Bringing up irrelevant points: During an interview, resist the urge to bring up personal factors like proximity to your child's school or the company's flexible hours policy as the primary reasons for wanting the job, even if they are a nice perk. Highlight the professional aspects of the position that pique your interest.
3. Don't bring up the company: When describing why you want the job, illustrate how your skills line up with the company's goals and how excited you are to contribute to their success. Make your explanation specific to the company.
4. Financial compensation: Your new job will have a higher annual remuneration or in-hand salary than your current job. It should not be cited as the sole reason for you to change careers.
In general, interviewers seek qualified candidates who have the skills and experience to perform well, as well as the potential for growth and a good fit with the company's culture.