One of the keys to coming up with a compelling answer to “Why do you want to work here?” is to flip the question, like this: “Why would this company want to hire me?” In other words, think more about what you have to offer, and how you could make an impact, than why getting the job would benefit you. Here are a few things to consider as you develop your response:
How can you help the company succeed? Read up on what’s happening with the company and its industry. Has it recently changed its product or service offerings? What competitive pressures is it facing? Consider this landscape and think, “What knowledge and experience do I have that would be especially useful to this employer right now?”
What past career successes could you potentially repeat at this company? In previous jobs, how did you meet or exceed your employers’ expectations? What problems did you play a major role in solving? What ideas did you introduce that helped the company save money or otherwise boost its bottom line? What lessons have you learned that you could apply in the future to create value for the potential employer?
How will you complement the company’s culture? A candidate’s ability to fit within the organizational culture is an important hiring factor for many employers. So, do your homework on the company’s culture and identify what you find most appealing about it. For instance, if the firm encourages entrepreneurial thinking and that’s important to you, include that in your response.