When I’m personally involved in the selection process for a new employee, I’ll often start by asking candidates a simple question: “Why did you decide to apply for this job?”
I consider it to be a great question to start an interview. It isn’t too confusing and it allows the person to explain why they chose to apply for this job.
My advice to candidates who are asked this question is to avoid beating around the bush and get right to explaining, in all seriousness, precisely why you applied.
Candidates sometimes make the mistake of transforming this question by choosing to speak about their career path or their strengths as an employee in their answer. In these cases, I’ll politely interrupt them and ask the question again.
Sometimes a candidate will tell me that they need to explain their work history in order to better respond to the question. I disagree with this answer, however. I think it’s inappropriate for them to get into these details, since they aren’t pertinent to the question.
It’s as if the candidate has decided how they want the interview to proceed, regardless of how I want it to proceed. Doing so may suggest to me that the person has a hard time adapting or responding to directions.
Furthermore, the beginning of the interview is crucial – it’s at this moment that the recruiter will form their first impression of a candidate. The rest of the interview will serve to validate or repudiate this initial impression.
In short, starting off with confusion and a detour can result in an unsuccessful interview.
Here are a few ways to respond well to this question, along with my comments.
Reasons related to your role in the company
This is probably the most appropriate way to respond, since it addresses a central element.
It’s always interesting to link the role applied for with your own personal aspirations and to make your answer very personal.
There’s a difference between saying “I enjoy managing” and “I’ve always wanted to take a management role because I enjoy directing a team and seeing people work well together. Previously, I was coach for my improv team and I liked the responsibility.”
Also make sure to talk about what’s new in this role that attracts you.
Some candidates want to reassure the interviewer by saying something like: “It’s a field I know very well. This job is identical to a job I’ve held for the past 10 years.”
But why is the person applying for a job that they’re already doing? What will this new job bring that their current job doesn’t?
If you say the job represents a new challenge, explain what that challenge is. This question will give you a chance to talk about yourself and explain what makes you unique. Your answer needs to contain a certain personal depth in order to justify your application.
Reasons related to the company
It’s a good idea to talk about the company, the team, the boss and the products or services the company provides. This shows that you’ve done your homework and that you are interested in what the company offers.
Again, be sure to be specific and detailed in your answer. Don’t simply say that you think the company is great and not add anything else. You’ll come off as if you’re simply trying to flatter your way into a job.
It’s important for the recruiter to recognize a real thoughtfulness in your answer.
That said, don’t get overly enthusiastic about one particular element:
“My main motivation is to work for a boss like you. I’ve followed your entire career closely and I think I could learn a lot from you.”
Sure, this will flatter the boss, but what will you say if they reply with:
“That’s very nice of you to say but you won’t be working with me very long – I’m retiring in a few months.”
Reasons related to quitting your current job
If you are very motivated to leave your current job, even with legitimate reasons, you may give off the impression that you’ll take any job just to get out of your current one.
People who don’t like their jobs will foster the impression that they are victims, or that through their own attitudes, they are in part responsible for their displeasure at their current job.
If there are negative aspects about your current job that you want to mention as reasons for wanting something new, you can mention them, but make sure to keep your focus on the reasons you want the job you applied for. A new job should represent a beneficial thing in your life, not just an escape from a different situation.
Practical reasons
You have every right to mention that working conditions, location and the permanent nature of a position attracted you to the position applied for. But avoid listing these reasons at the beginning of the interview and coming back to them repeatedly throughout the conversation, as some candidates do.
Practical reasons for being interested in a job should always be considered secondary to the job itself.
Yes, it’s normal to be interested by a good salary and benefits – but these cannot be the primary reason you applied for the job. If you come across as being primarily interested in the salary or other secondary aspects, the recruiter could easily believe that your interest in and engagement with the job could ultimately be low.
In conclusion
This question appears to be a simple one that can be answered with a minimum of preparation. But be careful: there really isn’t much of a margin for error when answering it.
The question touches on a fundamental aspect of your candidature, and it’s often asked at the beginning of an interview. Knowing this, make sure you are well prepared!
Thanks to Sandrine Leblanc, digital content and social media specialist at Bentley Leathers Inc. for this article idea.
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