Why Do You Want This Job? How to Answer Without Sounding Generic

"Why do you want this job?"

It sounds simple. But candidates overthink it, underprepare for it, or answer in a way that reveals they know nothing about the company.

The question isn't asking you to prove undying loyalty to a company you've never worked for. It's asking whether you've thought about fit—and whether you can articulate a reason beyond "I need a paycheck."

What Interviewers Are Really Asking

When interviewers ask this question, they're evaluating three things:

1. Motivation — Are you genuinely interested, or just desperate for any job?
2. Research — Have you bothered to learn about the company?
3. Fit — Does this role align with your career trajectory, or is it random?

A candidate who says "I'm excited about this opportunity because it's in my field" has failed. That answer could apply to hundreds of jobs.

A candidate who says "I've followed your work on [specific project], and the way your team approaches [challenge] aligns with how I want to develop my career" has passed. That answer proves research and intentionality.

Research from hiring professionals consistently shows that perceived lack of interest is a top disqualifier. Interviewers aren't expecting you to tattoo the company logo on your arm—but they do expect you to have spent 10 minutes on the website.

The 3-Part Structure: Company → Role → You

Every strong answer follows this structure:

This structure works because it:

• Proves you've researched beyond the job title
• Shows thoughtfulness about career direction
• Creates a logical narrative
• Differentiates you from generic candidates

How to Research Any Company in 10 Minutes

When you're applying to many roles, deep research on every company isn't realistic. But 10 minutes of targeted research before an interview is enough to sound prepared.

What to look for:

• Recent wins or launches — "I saw you just launched [product]. The approach to [specific thing] is interesting."
• Company values in action — Not just what they say, but evidence of it (blog posts, employee stories, press coverage)
• Team or role-specific details — "The job description mentioned [specific challenge]. That's exactly what I enjoy working on."
• Industry position — How do they differentiate from competitors?

Where to find quick insights:

Example Answers by Situation

For a New Graduate

"I've been following [COMPANY]'s work since I used [PRODUCT/SERVICE] in my [CLASS/PROJECT]. What struck me was [SPECIFIC OBSERVATION ABOUT THEIR APPROACH]. [COMPANY]

The [ROLE] stood out because it combines [RESPONSIBILITY 1] with [RESPONSIBILITY 2], which is exactly the kind of work I explored during my [INTERNSHIP/PROJECT] at [PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE]. [ROLE]

I'm at a point where I want to build deep expertise in [AREA], and working with your team on [SPECIFIC CHALLENGE FROM JOB DESCRIPTION] is exactly how I want to start my career." [YOU]

Why this works:

• Shows organic connection (used their product)
• References specific role responsibilities
• Explains career rationale without overpromising

For a Career Changer

"I've been interested in [NEW FIELD] for a while, and [COMPANY] specifically caught my attention because of [SPECIFIC REASON—e.g., 'your approach to combining technology with human expertise']. It's different from how most companies in this space operate. [COMPANY]

Reading the job description, I was drawn to [SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY] because it connects to what I did in my previous role—[BRIEF TRANSFERABLE EXAMPLE]. [ROLE]

This transition is intentional for me. I've spent [TIME] building skills in [AREA] through [COURSES/PROJECTS/SIDE WORK], and [COMPANY] is where I can apply that foundation while learning from people who've been in this space longer." [YOU]

Why this works:

• Addresses the career change directly
• Shows company-specific research
• Demonstrates proactive skill-building
• Positions the move as intentional, not random

For a Lateral Move (Same Level, New Company)

"I've been working in [FIELD] for [X] years, and what drew me to [COMPANY] is [SPECIFIC DIFFERENTIATOR—e.g., 'how you approach customer success as a growth function, not just support']. That philosophy aligns with how I've been trying to work, but it's not always been the culture at my current company. [COMPANY]

The [ROLE] is interesting because [SPECIFIC ASPECT OF JOB DESCRIPTION]. At [CURRENT COMPANY], I've been doing similar work, but I'm looking for [WHAT'S MISSING—e.g., 'more ownership over the full customer lifecycle']. [ROLE]

I'm not looking to leave just to leave. But when I saw this role, the match between what you need and what I want to build my career around felt worth exploring." [YOU]

Why this works:

• Honest about why they're looking
• Shows the role isn't random—there's a specific gap they want to fill
• Demonstrates company research beyond the job title

For Someone Returning to Work

"During my time away from full-time work, I've been [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU DID—caregiving, health, personal projects]. But I've stayed connected to [FIELD] through [COURSES/FREELANCE/INDUSTRY READING], and [COMPANY] kept coming up. [CONTEXT]

What specifically drew me here is [COMPANY-SPECIFIC REASON]. The [ROLE] aligns with where I was building expertise before I stepped away—[SPECIFIC SKILL OR EXPERIENCE]. [COMPANY + ROLE]

I'm ready to return, and I'm being selective about where. This role at [COMPANY] represents the kind of work I want to commit to for the next chapter of my career." [YOU]

Why this works:

• Addresses the gap briefly without over-explaining
• Shows continued engagement with the field
• Positions return as selective, not desperate

What NOT to Say

Mistake 1: The Compensation Focus

Bad: "The salary range is competitive, and I've heard your benefits are great."

Why it fails: This signals you're motivated by what you get, not what you give. Even if compensation is a factor (it usually is), this question asks about role motivation—not financial motivation.

Mistake 2: The Desperation Signal

Bad: "I've been looking for a while, and this role seems like a good fit."

Why it fails: Desperation reduces your perceived value. Even if you've been searching for months, your answer should focus on why this role is right—not why you need any role.

Mistake 3: The Generic Response

Bad: "I've always admired companies like yours that value innovation."

Why it fails: "Companies like yours" admits you don't know what makes this company different. Generic answers signal generic candidates who are mass-applying without thought.

Mistake 4: The Trash Talk

Bad: "Honestly, my current company has terrible management, and I need to get out."

Why it fails: Speaking negatively about your current employer raises red flags. Interviewers wonder: "Will they say this about us in two years?" Focus on what you're moving toward, not what you're running from.

Mistake 5: The Admission of Ignorance

Bad: "I'll be honest, I don't know much about the company, but the role looked interesting."

Why it fails: Honesty is good, but this kind of honesty signals you didn't prepare. If you don't know about them yet, do 10 minutes of research before admitting it in the interview.

When Honesty Works: Addressing Broad Applications

Here's the reality: most job seekers apply to many roles. Interviewers know this. Pretending you've only applied to their company rings false.

The solution isn't to lie—it's to show that even though you're exploring multiple opportunities, you've thought specifically about this one.

"I'll be transparent—I'm actively exploring roles in [FIELD/FUNCTION]. But I'm not applying everywhere. I'm focused on companies that [CRITERIA YOU CARE ABOUT], and [COMPANY] stood out because [SPECIFIC REASON].

What specifically drew me to this role is [DETAIL FROM JOB DESCRIPTION]. It's not just another application for me—it's one of the opportunities I'm most excited about because [GENUINE REASON]."

Why this works:

• Acknowledges reality without sounding desperate
• Shows selectivity (you have criteria)
• Still includes company-specific detail
• Positions them as a priority, not just an option

What If You Genuinely Don't Know Much?

Sometimes interviews come faster than expected. You might get a callback for a role you applied to weeks ago and barely remember.

If this happens:

1. Ask for the job description — "Could you send me the updated job description before we speak?" is perfectly reasonable.
2. Do 10 minutes of research — Even last-minute prep is better than none.
3. Focus on the role type — If you can't speak to the company specifically, speak to why this type of work interests you.

Honest but recoverable:

"I applied to several roles in [function] recently, and I'll be honest—I want to make sure I'm speaking specifically about what your team needs. Could you tell me more about what prompted this hire?"

This pivots the conversation while showing self-awareness. It's not ideal, but it's better than fumbling through a generic answer.

Prepared by

Careery Team

Editorial Policy→

Reviewed by

Bogdan Serebryakov

Researching Job Market & Building AI Tools for careerists since December 2020