We apply for jobs for a variety of reasons. More often than not, we simply need a job–any decent position, to pay our bills, keep our head above water, and enjoy some little pleasures during the weekends. As you can likely imagine though, this is not exactly what the hiring managers want to hear from you. They want to hear some excitement, enthusiasm for what’s ahead. They want to hear some words of praise on their company and their job offer. And they also hope to hear about your strengths, personality, and preferences, that happens to be a good match for the position in question. That’s why they inquire why you are interested in the job, role, vacancy, position, or whatever they name it. Show Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to the question. I tried to include different examples on my list, for different jobs and interview scenarios. You will find also a few unconventional choices on the list, such a being brutally honest with the interviewers, or looking at the question rather philosophically. Go through the answers, consider each one, find a best match to your attitude, and adjust it to the job you are applying for. Then you can read also my notes below the answers, for additional hints and explanations. 7 sample answers to “Why are you interested in this position?” interview question
* You can also download the list of TOP 5 answers to this tricky interview question in a simple, one page long PDF, and return to it anytime later, when preparing for your interview: Why are you interested in this role, sample answers, PDFDo not forget on your non-verbal communicationDoesn’t matter how much you praise their brand, working conditions, salary offer, or anything else that caught your eye on their job offer. Unless they hear enthusiasm in your voice, and unless you look at least somehow “pumped up” in an interview, they won’t trust your words. Keep it on your mind, and make sure that you tell them the right things both with your tongue and your body. Not it doesn’t mean that you have to jump from your chair after every question. But you should look excited, give them a firm handshake, react positively, ask questions, and so on… * Special Tip: This isn’t by far the most difficult question you will face while interviewing for any decent job. You will face questions about prioritization, dealing with pressure, dealing with ambiguity, and other tricky scenarios that happen in the workplace. If you want to make sure that you stand out with your answers and outclass your competitors, have a look at our Interview Success Package. Up to 10 premium answers to 31 tricky scenario based questions (+ more) will make your life much easier in the interviews. Thank you for checking it out! The more specific you are, the betterTry to mention some details and numbers in your answers. I mean, it is fine saying that you are interested in the position because “it is a good job”. But that won’t satisfy most hiring managers, unless you explain why you consider the job good. You can talk about anything from salary and working conditions, to a meaningful purpose and affinity to their brand. As long as your words make sense (saying that you like the salary offer in a place that offers minimum wage would not make much sense), they will be satisfied with your answer. What’s more, they will see that you did your research, prepared for the interviews, and the offer actually means something to you. Being honest can be your best bet, not only in the interviewsAt the end of the day, most of us apply for jobs because we have to. World revolves around money, and unless you have money you quickly end up on the fringe of society, struggling to meet your basic needs. Nobody dreams of such a destiny. If you struggle, however, or find yourself just one paycheck away from living on the street, you should not be ashamed of your situation. You didn’t have it easy in life, typically it isn’t your mistake, and the money-driven world we currently live in is ruthless, and cruel to those less fortunate… If you apply for a position not many people are interested in, for some difficult job with low payment, such as working on a construction site, honesty is your best bet. You can say that with your current situation you don’t really have any choice, and will accept any job, as long as they pay you and you have money to pay the bills. Now it doesn’t mean that you should play a victim, or sound desperate in your meeting with the hiring managers. You keep your head up high, but are aware of your situation, see things as they are at the moment, and simply try all you can to keep your head above the water, and reach better tomorrows… Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions:
Matthew has been working in international recruitment since 2008. He helps job seekers from all walks of life to pursue their career goals, and to prepare for their interviews. He is the founder of InterviewPenguin.com website. Latest posts by Matthew Chulaw (see all) |