Why do you want to work for us?

That's probably the first question you'll hear from an employer, if and/or when you go to a job interview?  Sounds like a simple question to answer, right?  Wrong!

When answering the question, "Why do you want to work for us?," or a similar question, "Why do you want to work here?",  the one answer you surely don't want to give out is, "I need the money", or "I need this job", or "I'm married with two kids, with another on the way."  That's an easy way to put yourself out of the running for that job.

Now, consider some potential "positive" answers for "Why do you want to work for us?"

"I've always wanted to work for (insert company/industry name) ever since attending college."

Or:

"In doing my research on the company, I've come to admire your commitment to providing excellent customer service, quality products at affordable prices, etc."

Or even this:

"I enjoy the challenge of telling the story of your company, and/or promoting your products and/or services."

Here's one more:

"This company has been known for your innovative marketing/PR campaigns, and it's something I want to be a part of." 

Coming up with a solid answer to the question: "Why do want to work for us?" or "Why do you want to work here?", is something that requires a great deal of creativity, as well as a lot of thought.  In answering a question like this, you need to show a sincere interest in the company you're interviewing for, whether you plan to be there for a long time or not.


The bottom line: If you only want to work for a company just for the sake of having for a job, or simply collecting a paycheck, it'll be not only a waste of your time or money, but also that of the company.  You want to show the interviewer what can you do for the company, not the other way around.  After all, what's the use in wanting to even sell a company, much less work for it, if you can't show a sincere interest in it.  The purpose of many businesses is to make money.  Therefore, most employers will hire people who will make that money for them.  Yes, that includes companies that hire communications and public relations professionals.


Want more tips on answering the "Why do you want to work for us?" question? Click here for more, courtesy of about.com.
 
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