Why Do You Want This Job? How to Answer This Common Interview Question

Published on Jan 16, 2026 by Lakshita Sharma

Why do you want this job? How to answer this common interview question is one of the most frequently searched questions by both freshers and experienced professionals. This question basically comes up to a recruiter in order to understand your motivation, career goals, and how well you align with the company and role. However, many candidates struggle to craft a clear, confident, and convincing answer.

The biggest problem is that most of the job seekers end up being too generic with responses like "I need a job" or "I want growth, which do not impress the interviewers and lessen their chances of selection. A clueless or badly prepared answer can make even a skilled candidate look uninterested or unsuitable.

This blog will help you provide a strong, personalised, and professional answer highlighting your skills, enthusiasm, and value to the employer. Filled with expert interview advice, real-life examples, and real recruiter insights, this guidebook will aid in building your confidence.

In this post, you will learn the reasons behind the interviewer asking this question, the expected response, mistakes to avoid, as well as examples of answers to the question for the various types of jobs, to end up answering the question intelligently.

Key takeaways :

• This type of interview question is used for assessing role fit and motivation rather than skills. Motivational Interview: This is a pretty self-explanatory kind of interview.
• Generic answers work against you, so always fit your response to the particular position, corporate values, and description of the work.
• A good answer links your skills, career goals, and what the company is looking for, thereby benefiting both you and the business organisation.
• Teaching yourself to respond with a polite and honest answer is an effective way to distinguish yourself and make a good impression.

Purpose of the “Why Do You Want This Job?”

This kind of question is being asked by the interviewer in order to make a judgment about your motivations, level of interest, and appropriateness for the given job. This question also helps the interviewer in understanding whether you have knowledge about the company, if you know the details about the job, and if you want to work in the given company instead of just any other company. This question also helps in making a judgment about your skills, goals, values, and their appropriateness with the given organisation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Answer “Why Do You Want This Job?”

Here are step-by-step guide to answer this question.

Step 1: Research the Company

Before going for the interview, it is important to acquaint yourself with information about the company’s mission, ideologies, products, services, and workplace culture. Your mentioning of these in your response to the question indicates that you have a genuine interest in applying for the position rather than applying to any company.

Step 2: Analyse Job Description

Make sure to carefully examine the description to find the requirements with regard to skills and responsibilities needed in the role. Match those requirements to the skills and expertise you possess to demonstrate to the interview panel your suitability for the role.

Step 3: Connect Your Career Goals

Tell the reader how this role relates to your short-term and long-range goals. This shows the reader/employer that you not only want a position but a position within the company, not just for a short period of time.

Step 4: Highlight Your Value

Clearly state how your skills, knowledge, or experience can benefit the company. Focus on how you can contribute to their success.

Step 5: Show Enthusiasm and Confidence

End your answer with positive energy and confidence. A calm, confident tone reflects motivation, professionalism, and readiness for the role.

What Interviewers Expect in Your "Why Do You Want This Job?" Answer

The following are some points that describe what the interviewers expect in your answer.

Genuine Interest in the Role

The interviewers wish to see your desire for this job rather than just any job; hence, answers must reflect curiosity and excitement about the role's responsibilities.

Knowledge About the Company

They want you to say something about the company's values, culture, products, or achievements. This would show that you have researched the organization and are indeed serious about the opportunity.

Skill and Role Alignment

Employers are looking for a clear match-up between your skills and experience and what the job requires. This is how they determine how good a fit you are for the position.

Career Goal Alignment

With that in mind, your response should indicate how this role supports both your short- and long-term career goals and provides an avenue of commitment and growth.

By having a positive attitude and motivation

A confident and enthusiastic tone shows the interviewer that you are motivated, professional, and ready to make a contribution to the success of the company.

Why Do You Want This Job? sample answer

For every category, some sample answers will benefit you in your interview.

Sample Answer – Fresher

Why I Want This Job: It perfectly fits my skills and aims. I have been researching your company and find your commitment to innovation and employee development admirable. As a fresher, I have been wanting to learn and explore new things. This job would give me that chance to do that and also learn new things. Since I am flexible and open to new learning, I think that could help me in making a difference for your organisation.

Sample Answer: Experienced Professional

The reason I am applying for the position is that it corresponds with my background and long-term career plan. The dedication of your company to delivering quality and innovation greatly appeals to me. Based on the job description, it can be noted that the skills and experience I possess are directly associated with the job requirements.

Sample Answer – Career Growth Focused

I am interested in this position because it offers the right balance of challenge and learning. Its work culture and values stand out to me, and the position fits well with my career goals. I think my skill can contribute to the success of the team, while the role helps me to grow in the direction that I am aiming for.

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• How To Answer – Tell Me About Your Family

FAQs

Q1. Why do the interviewers ask this question?

Interviewers ask this to know your motivation, interest in the role, and suitability for the company.

Q2. How would you answer this question?

Connect your skills, career goals, and interest in the company to the job role.

Q3. Should I include salary in the answer?

Focus on no salary or benefits per se, but rather learning, growth, and contribution.

Q4. How long should my response be?

A clear and confident answer right to the mark, within 30–60 seconds.

Q5. Can freshers answer this question without experience?

Yes, freshers can mention their interests, relevant skills, and willingness to learn.

Final Thoughts   

"Why Do You Want This Job?" is more than just a job interview question – it is your platform to demonstrate drive, focus, and determination. With a good response to this question, it becomes easy for the interviewers to realise that you are genuinely interested in the position offered and that your skills and objectives match the company's mission. By learning about the company and understanding its requirements for a position, you would not only be preparing a response for "Why Do You Want This Job?" but also advancing towards achieving a successful outcome.