The best way to respond to the interview question “So why do you want this job?”

The question "So why do you want this job" remains a popular choice to ask candidates during an interview and is a great question designed to get you the candidate to think and respond in an appropriate manner. Its intention is to test not only your commitment to the job on offer but also to test exactly how much and what you know about the role in question and how you would be able to fit in with the culture and working practices of the company.

If you fail to prepare for this question it may ruin your chances of being accepted for the job, you must keep in mind the question "why do you want this job", you must give the interviewer sufficient evidence as to why they should give you the job and not to another candidate. Remember that this is your personal sales pitch, and with any pitch practice makes perfect.

You must go beyond the practical reasons as to why you may have applied for the job such as "I need the money" or "I'm looking for a more challenging role" although these may be true they are not standalone reasons in themselves in explaining why you should get the job.

In responding to this question your sales pitch needs to portray your passion and enthusiasm for the role. You need to be honest with the interviewer, if you come across as false they will pick up on either the conscious or indeed unconscious signals that you give away such as your tone of voice or your body language. To give yourself the best chances you will need to research as much information about the company's past, present and future as possible before the interview. Perhaps you were drawn to the role because the company are expanding internationally and you have avidly followed the company's progress. Maybe it is your passion for working across international boundaries in different cultures as to why you feel you are the perfect fit for the job.

If the company has a reputation of treating is employees well either through offering internal career progression schemes or perhaps it's listed as one of the best companies to work for due to its training, support and general workplace excellence, then this may be another reason. Is this a company that takes its commitment to its employees seriously? Does the company offer the perfect balance of being a global organisation but still manages to maintain the personal approach of a much smaller firm? If so then state this, remember to back up any statements with general facts that you have researched into the company, as this is bound to impress the interviewer and will help to distinguish you out from the other candidates. Conversly does the company have a success story that inspired you to join and be part off? What skills can you bring to help to contribute to the continuing success of the firm? With all of these questions it will be up to you the candidate to highlight and get across to the interviewer which aspects of the job are important to you, your individual answers must be tailored as such.

You must keep in mind that the interviewer will be trying to pick out the key aspects of your answers to either back up or put down whether or not you are the best, most qualified candidate to do the job and one that can best fit in with the culture of the organisation. This is why it is important to state how your previous accomplishments have not only prepared you to work for the company but also how you hope they can be developed long term, this is a company you hope to 'grow into'. Your answer should demonstrate your familiarly with the company and the services that it provides. Interviewers will like to hear a candidate praise the company as it will help to solidify their own personal beliefs about the company in a positive way.

Here is a model answer example:

"I have always wanted the chance to work for xxx hence when I was made aware of the position I jumped at the chance. I believe my previous role at company xxx allowed me to build up a great platform of transferable skills that can be used in a more rewarding and challenging context. My acute knowledge of international business should stand me in a favourable light for the position in Poland on offer. I am an avid follower and believer of the direction that the company are taking by expanding internationally into Europe, and I believe I would fit in well into the company culture due to previously working abroad. The company's values and beliefs of investing heavily in the career prospects of its employees is one that was previously lacking in my old job, and will really give me the confidence to develop my career further. The company's reputation of offering an award winning employee mentoring facility is the envy of the competition and one that I feel I can benefit greatly from".

We hope this advice inspires you to go beyond the generic answers so you can give the interviewer a much more personal and truthful insight into why you want the job on offer. This will rely on you gathering as much information as possible about the company beforehand, so you can impress the interviewer with your knowledge. Again you must demonstrate how your previous experience has prepared you for the role, and where you can see yourself fitting in with the company for the foreseeable future.