“Why have you applied for this job?”

Most candidates do not appreciate the importance of this question “Why have you applied for this job?”. It is the most important question of the interview.

Giving a general answer which is pretty standard for example “I am looking for a new challenge”, “I have been with my current Employer for years and ready for a move”, “I am bored in my role”, “You were recommended by a Recruiter” are not the answers which interviewers today are looking for.

The interviewer will want to know WHY this particular job is of interest to ‘YOU’ at their Company. They will know you are the best candidate for the role when they can feel your passion, drive and enthusiasm during the interview.

You have one chance during your interview to affirm your aspirations. What you are looking for… What you believe this job and Company can offer you… Why they should believe you to be the perfect candidate.

Here is how to prepare for the question “Why have you applied for this job?”

There are a few key areas to consider to include, your new boss, the people you will be working with, the Company, the role and finally the package on offer. Let’s look at each one in turn.

1. Research the interviewer prior to the interview on the Company website and also on LinkedIn. Understand their career path and where they have worked previously and also their responsibilities. Look at their academics as this will give you an indication if qualifications are important to them as a person. Testimonials from contacts will also be an interesting read for you as you will feel by the time you meet the interviewer that you actually know them as a person rather than going into an interview blindly.  From your reading and research decide if they are the sort of person you can relate to and hopefully work well with to achieve the same goals. If you can honestly say they are, when you are asked “Why have you applied for this job?” you can also say that you have researched them and would love the opportunity to work for them and lead them to achieve their business objectives.

2. Research the Company and select a couple of values which you can relate to. In the interview you need to be able to discuss these values and how they match your personal and work values and ethics by sharing examples of recent work you have done or achievements you have made.

3. Research the Job and fully understand the duties and responsibilities of the Job. Ensure you have took each duty in its own entirety so that you are able to give examples of when you have carried out the same or similar duties. Give some thought before the interview of areas of the job which you are applying that you have particular strengths and interest in, for example, introducing new systems and procedures and the benefits and the savings which have been experienced by the business which have contribute to the business achieving their profit.

4. The package should not be discussed at first interview unless specifically asked by the Interviewer. My personal recommendation would not be to discuss money at a first interview at all. If the interviewer asks the question “what salary are you looking for?”. The recommended answer would be “money is not the main motivator”. I am looking for the right role with the right people and business. I would be looking for what you feel the role is worth against my experience”.

The interviewer wants to feel a connection with you when you answer the question “Why have you applied for this job?” They want to see your positive and energised body language and want to really believe what you are saying to be the true reasons as to why you are interested and why you have applied for this job. They want you to be memorable to them for positive reasons. If you can give some really thought and preparation to the answer to this question you are on the road to being the best-chosen candidate for the job.