How to Answer: “Why do you want this job?”
A complete guide to answering this common interview question — including what interviewers are really looking for, practical tips, and a worked example answer.
What interviewers are really asking
Show you've done your research. Connect three things: something specific about the company or role that genuinely interests you, how this role fits your career direction, and what you bring that makes you the right fit. Avoid mentioning salary, perks, or location as primary motivators.
Tips
- Research the company properly — reference something specific.
- Show how this role fits your longer-term direction.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm without being sycophantic.
- Avoid generic answers that could apply to any company.
- Connect your background to what they actually need.
Example answer
Sample response
“I've followed your work on open banking for two years — the way you've built trust with SMEs in a space where incumbents have failed is genuinely impressive. I want to be part of a product team solving real financial inclusion problems rather than optimising engagement metrics. And specifically, the chance to work on the lending product aligns directly with the credit risk work I've been doing for the past three years. It feels like the right next challenge at the right company.”
Adapt this to your own experience — never use any example answer verbatim.
Use the STAR method
Structure your answer as: Situation (brief context), Task (your specific responsibility), Action (what you personally did), Result (the quantified outcome). Most strong interview answers follow this pattern.
Full STAR method guide