How To Answer “Why Are You Interested In This Job?”
A common interview question employers ask during job interviews is, "Why are you interested in this position?" They want to know why you want to work at their company, and the specific motivation behind why you applied for the job (not that you need a paycheck).
Knowing how to answer interview questions well is always important, especially with this question.
To persuade the employer that you have a true connection to the company and a passion for the job you applied for, your answer to this interview question should start with, "I'm interested in this job, at this company, because…" and then list at least three reasons why you want to work there.
Here is how you should structure your answer to the interview question, "Why are you interested in this job?"
Reason #1 – Professional Fit
Your first reason should always show fit in terms of professional skills.
Example: "I'm interested in this job because I can see that, in this role, my skills could help solve this problem within your company. I also see an opportunity for me to learn and grow these skills, so we both would benefit personally, professionally, and financially. If I can come in here and solve problems and accomplish your goals, I know I can develop my career the way that I want to."
This part of your answer lets them know that you are excited about what you will be able to accomplish for them, while still emphasizing what they are getting out of the bargain. You need to sell yourself as a business-of-one who can provide a service better than the competition.
Reason #2 – Cultural Fit
Your second reason when answering, "Why are you interested in this job?" also shows fit, but in a different way.
Example: "Also, I like the culture of this organization. From what I've heard and what I've been reading about the company, it seems like a great fit for my personality and my values. I really connect with your mission statement, and feel passionate about the work that you do."
This is a general answer, so if you can be more specific by actually naming a couple of things you've heard or read about the company's workplace culture that you like, it will help your cause. This is one area where your pre-interview research is critical.
Here are a few things you may want to look for when you research the company:
- Is this a top company in the field/industry?
- Is this company known for cutting-edge products or other innovations?
- Does this company have a great reputation for customer service?
- Is this company known for being a great place to work?
- Does this company value and/or provide resources for employee development?
Mention those things that truly speak to you and your values so your sincerity shows.
Reason #3 – Personal Fit
Wrap up your answer to this interview question with something that personalizes it a bit more.
Examples:
- "And this job is in a great location for me. I've always wanted to move here."
- "And this job is only five minutes from my house, so eliminating the commute is a big plus."
- "And I've always used your products, and I just love them. I am really excited about being a part of that."
Say something that gives you another reason of your own for wanting this job. This interview answer is a fantastic place to let your enthusiasm for the job show. It's very appealing to employers, and it gives them one more reason to hire you.
You'll have a very clear and thorough answer to the question, "Why are you interested in this job?" if you follow the formula above. Set yourself apart from the competition today!
Are you struggling to answer other common interview questions? We can help.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
6 Signs Your Brand Needs An Upgrade
A logo is only as good as the recognition it provides, so if your logo looks outdated or unprofessional, customers will be turned off by what they see which isn't good. Branding is all about consistency and repetition. It's the reason why customers know what to expect from a brand, who it is, and what its values are.
If you're not sure if your branding needs a refresh, consider these six signs:
Does Your Logo Work In Every Format?
The way we need logos to work for us has changed. They no longer only reside on a piece of packaging or storefront. Logos have to be flexible enough to be recognizable in all types of formats including everything from billboards to tiny social icons and mobile ads. Digital use also opens up possibilities that are harder to do in print like using lots of colors or gradients. Overly detailed logos that don't scale down very well become unreadable in smaller formats. Good logos are flexible logos. Flexible logos have options and variations that work harmoniously for any scenario at practically any size.
Is Your Branding Visually Scattered?
Your brand identity is typically the first thing people see when they encounter your business. If it is not consistent across all of your customer touchpoints, it's like sending mixed messages about who you are, what you do, or what you stand for. And that can be confusing for customers.
If customers see widely different styles when they visit your socials versus your website or retail store, there's a good chance that your visual identity needs some work. When every piece of marketing collateral looks like it was designed by a different team, it's difficult for people to remember your brand and connect everything as part of one unified brand image. Help your customers out and be consistent.
Does Your Product Packaging Look Dated?
One of the most effective ways to attract customers is through package design and labeling. Raise your hand if you have bought a product completely based on the package design. I know I am 100% guilty of this. Whether it is vitamins, soup, or wine with a really neat label, great packaging can be a game-changer. A package that looks outdated or boring can put off potential buyers who are looking for something more interesting and unique, like how they see themselves.
Has Your Brand Been Mistaken For A Competitor?
The goal of a brand identity is to help your business be recognizable and stand out from the competition. If people are confusing your business for someone else’s or getting mixed up about what you do, then something is wrong with how they perceive you—or how you represent yourself to them through your marketing materials like website and social media profiles, brochures, etcetera.
Has Your Company Grown?
What a great problem to have, right? This is probably the most common reason for a rebranding effort. As time goes by and your company changes, your brand no longer reflects your values or who you are anymore. When you first started out, it may have made sense to use a cookie-cutter Etsy logo instead of custom branding because you were a new company. But now that time has passed and you've become more established, it's time for a change! Update your brand strategy and imagery so that it reflects who you are today and not who you were five years ago when you first started your business.
With growth comes new products or services. If you're launching a new product line—or even just adding something new to an existing one—this is an ideal time for a refresh because it will help people understand how these items fit into their lives or why they should buy them in the first place. Branding evolves along with your customers' needs and expectations. So if something doesn't feel right anymore—whether it's the tagline or the logo or even the name of the company—it might be time for a refresh.
Is Your Brand Messaging No Longer Working?
Has your audience changed significantly or are you no longer attracting new customers? It's always important to make sure that your branding is relevant to the people who matter most—namely, current and prospective clients or customers. If you've had significant growth in recent years and now have an entirely different set of customers or even stakeholders that need to be taken into account (such as employees), then it might be a good time to consider a rebranding effort from top-to-bottom rather than just tweaking your existing logos and messaging slightly.
Is It Time for You To Do A Brand Refresh?
If some of the items above are ringing true for you, a good place to start is with a brand audit. This will help you take stock of what is and is not working for your brand and then allow you to fine-tune or do a full revamp depending on your needs and goals.
A brand audit will help you form a strategy and style guide. The goal of a style guide is to ensure that all of your marketing collateral—whether it's an email newsletter or a website—looks professional, polished, and cohesive. It's not just about aesthetics; it's also about ensuring consistency between different channels so customers can easily identify your brand. When your messaging is consistent across all touchpoints, it won't matter if you're communicating with customers in person or online, they'll know exactly what to expect from your brand. You can create a style guide for yourself or hire someone else to do it for you—just be sure it's easy for everyone on your team (and even outside agencies) to refer back to when creating new content or designing new products or services that will be used by customers.
3 Most Important Things To Do In A Job Interview
A job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you have been removed from the job market for an extended period of time. It is one thing to sell on paper with the resume and another thing to sell in person at the interview.
Regardless of whether you have been out of a job for an extended period of time, are looking to change careers, or are still employed and seeking a better opportunity, the key to conducting a job interview successfully is a result of a number of factors, and being aware of these factor plays a major role in how to prepare for an interview.
One of the more defining factors is the relationship you establish. People hire people they like. Even if one candidate is more qualified and experienced than another, without a good relationship there is a minimal chance of securing the job.
The same goes for referrals. When you are referred by an existing employee, your chances are much stronger than a candidate who applied simply as a result of finding the opportunity through a job posting.
So the question becomes this: how do you develop a strong enough relationship from a job interview to strengthen and lock in your chances at a job offer? Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your job interview, and eventually go through with it.
Use Appropriate Body Language
What you don't say matters just as much as what you do say. Your body language and facial expressions inform an employer how engaged you are in the conversation and how interested you are in the opportunity. Smile, exhibit confidence, and listen carefully so you respond appropriately and build on the conversation.
Seek More Information
Asking questions expresses to an employer that you are engaged in the conversation. Try to ask questions to probe for additional information. Research the company in your interview preparation and make a list of potential questions that you may want to ask.
In addition, while you're in the interview, instead of simply addressing what's asked of you, respond and follow up with a question of your own and turn the interview into a conversation. This expresses to the employer that you're interested in learning more.
Demonstrate You Are Up For The Challenge
There are challenges with every job. What is important to an employer is that you are up for the challenge and that you have the ability to succeed. Once again, research information as you're preparing for the interview by reviewing the company's website and social media. You will have a better understanding of what challenges or changes the company has recently been through, and how they may impact the position you are interested in.
Ask related questions during the interview to find out more. This informs an employer that you have come well-prepared for the interview. You can also take the opportunity to relay how you have experienced similar situations in past jobs and explain how you dealt with them.
The more confident and comfortable you are with yourself in the interview, the easier it will be for the employer to develop a strong rapport and relationship with you. This is not to say you sit back and relax as though you are sitting in your own living room. Instead, the point is to be open to conversation and for it to be developed with ease.
Consider a candidate sitting stiff, head down, and who is brief in response to conversation and questions asked. It makes it difficult for them as well as the employer to try to establish good rapport and a relationship. Don't let that be you!
We know how difficult it can be to feel confident in a job interview. If you're struggling to perform well in job interviews, we can help.
We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you prepare for your next job interview.
It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.