Examples For How To Answer "What Interests You About This Job?"

Picture this: You are sitting in front of HR for a job interview for possibly the job of your dreams. You had competed against several deserving candidates. You gave the assessment tests and cleared other stages of the recruitment process to become eligible for the biggest job opportunity of your life. But you almost go blank when the hiring manager asks you, "What interests you about this job?". Even though it's among the common interview questions, many candidates fear it.

What do you do in this situation? This article will help answer this question with utmost ease. We will tell you why are such questions asked by hiring managers, how you can give a strong answer, what tips you can use, and what things you should avoid.

What the interviewer wants to know?

While you must be wondering why are you being asked this question about a job you haven't even started yet. But did you know there is a particular reason the interviewer asks this question from you?

The hiring managers at the company want to know how much have you researched about the company. Along with this, they also try to figure out if there was any particular motivation behind joining the company.

Also read this article for HR behavioural questions: 20 Popular Behavioral Interview Questions With Answers 2023

So, when you are asked, "What interests you about this job," you can use this opportunity to show that you do not want to join the company merely for the high salary. Rather, there are other motivating factors which are inspiring you to seek association with it.

How to answer "What interests you about this job?"

In this article, we will describe different ways in which this question can be asked and how you can offer a well-thought-out response.

When the hiring manager asks you, "What interests you about this job," you can use one of the three reasons to answer.

Your reason for joining the company could be:

• Professional reasons
• Cultural-fit reasons
• Personal reasons

In the section below, we will explore each of these reasons. Additionally, we will also provide you with possible answers which would help you look confident while answering. So, what are you waiting for, let's start!

Examples of the best answers

Here are some of the best examples of how you can answer the question, "What interests you about this job".

Let's start by looking into the professional reasons you can give while answering this question.

Professional Reasons

To show that you are a perfect fit from a professional point of view, highlight how you fulfill the criteria below:

• You have the right skill set.
• You have previous experience and career trajectory of working in the same field.
• You have dedication towards your job.
• You are punctual about completing tasks on a target.
• You fulfill the criteria in the job description.
• You are a team player and can collaborate with others.
• The job fulfills your career goals.

You can use these points and use them in the answer when you tell the employer, "What interests you about this job".

Example Answer #1

To show dedication towards the job:

Example Answer #2

To show you have the right skill set:

Cultural Fit Reasons

A company is not only about the work. It's a composition of people from different backgrounds and experiences. Many times, companies have a value system that all employees agree to adhere to. It is done to promote diversity and team building.

So, before you face the tricky interview question, you should go through the company culture, mission statement, manifesto, and the company's history.

You can read about the company to understand the values it follows. It can be done by following the company's newsletter, press releases, and its social media pages.

Still think you need more interview questions, read this: Top 35 Interview Questions For Freshers With Answers

Some of the factors which you should keep in mind for the cultural fit reason are:

• Does the company have goodwill in the market?
• Does the company sell or provide competitive products and services?
• Does the company have a good retention rate, demonstrating employee engagement?
• Is the company involved in promoting social, cultural, and environmental causes?
• How does it promote employee development and growth?

Now let's see some sample answers to the question, "What interests you about this job".

Example Answer #1

To show the company has employee engagment system:

Example Answer #2

To show you like the culture of the company:

Personal Reasons

You also have the chance to personalize the answer by telling the hiring manager how this job matches your needs. It's seldom that the company we want to work for is part of our personal career goals behind them.

Giving a personal reason reassures HR that you are not applying for monetary reasons. Let's look into some of the factors which can be used as personal factors to answer the question, "What interests you about this job".

• The company is closer to where you live.
• You want to relocate to a new city, hence you are looking for a job in that city.
• You are already a user of the products and services of the company.

A sample answer to this question can look like this:

Example Answer #1

These were some of the top reasons that you can use while answering the daunting interview questions, "What interests you about this job".

In this article, we have also provided you with some tips and 'don'ts' for the interview answers. Continue to read.

Tips for giving the best answer to "Why are you interested in this job?"

You should check the boxes about the following point if you want to clear the interview process with these kinds of questions:

1. Always talk about your desired skill set and knowledge. Tell the employer how you can benefit the company.

2. Talk about your long-term goals to highlight your commitment to the job.

3. Place the company and the job as the focus of the answer.

4. Read the job posting and description thoroughly. Also, go through the company's website to know more and more about the company's culture and values.

5. Be confident and specific.

What not to say?

Aspiring job seekers should avoid talking about the following points when they are asked, "What interests you about this job".

1. Don't overwhelm HR by talking only about yourself. It is a common mistake done by candidates.

2. Don't give generic answers. Try to connect the answers with the job description and your skillset.

3. Don't give the impression that you want to grab this job opportunity only for money.

Key takeaways

1. The question allows you to highlight your experience, so make the best use of it.

2. The question allows the interviewer to understand whether you understand the role.

3. It gives you a chance to stand out.

Hope you liked this article. For more such articles, stay tuned to Unstop.