Interview Prep: 5 Ways to Answer “Why Are You Interested In This Role?”
Interview Prep: 5 Ways to Answer “Why Are You Interested In This Role?”
Interviews are like a game of ping pong - you give them a list of reasons why they should be interested in you, and they turn it around to ask why you’re interested in them.
Though this is a standard question, your answer can influence the interviewer’s impression of your intentions and understanding of the role. Here are some tips for you to nail your answer every time!
1. Read, Review, & Repeat
Take the time to read over the job description in detail – what specific tasks/duties/responsibilities are mentioned most often? What does the bulk of the role entail? Those should be what you’re looking to focus on in your next role.
Planning events may be a passion of yours. But if it’s the last bullet listed under the job responsibilities, or not listed at all, you probably don’t want to say you’re most excited to get back into event planning.
Always be true to yourself, but just as you would tailor your resume to a job description – tailor your answer!
2. Talk About Your Trajectory
Explain how this role is the perfect piece to your overall career puzzle! Mention the type of experience/training/industry exposure that you are most excited to gain through this position.
No one wants a dead end role, but just be careful not to make it seem like this is just a quick stop on your way to the top – you don’t want the interviewer to think you’ll be bored or not interested in the role you are applying for!
3. Spotlight Your Skills
This is a great opportunity to mention your qualifications that directly correlate with what they’re looking for.
Are they seeking someone with strong interpersonal skills? Mention how this role will allow you to utilize your years of customer service experience. Do they need someone analytical and proficient in Excel? Highlight your knack for numbers and the exciting opportunity to develop new reporting tools & metrics.
Bring it back to why you are the ideal candidate!
4. Don’t Dwell On The Past
Whether it’s a toxic work environment, micromanaging your boss, or lack of work/life balance that made you leave your last role, you don’t want to use the time you have complaining.
Instead speak about the aspects of this new company & position that excite you! What you learned from this last job to make you a success in this role. Focus on the new opportunities, and your strengths to perform this role well, not past challenges.
5. Be An Asset To The Team
Make sure you understand what the company does, learn about their mission & values, get a vibe of the culture, and research any exciting announcements /expansions/ developments, etc.
This will give you the opportunity to explain why THIS specific company is a great fit for you and how you can contribute to their collective success within the role.
Ready to Interview?
Check out our open roles at http://www.burketalent.com/jobs