Job Interview Question and Answer: Why Are You Applying for This Job?

When answering the question about why you want the job, the comprehensive pre-interview research you have done will become essential. The interviewer wants to know why you are interested in the position so he/she can gauge what skills you are bringing to the position and how it fits into your short- and long-term career plans.

Use your answer to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and re-emphasise your suitability for the position. Give specific examples of things that attracted you to the company, so the interviewer can see that you match their culture and will thrive in the position.

While this looks like a question about you, the interviewer wants to know what you can do for the company and that you are a good fit for the job.

In your answer, you might want to elaborate on your strengths and achievements and how they match the position description. You could also talk about your career goals and the objectives of the company (information from your research). In both these instances, you are explaining how and why you would be an asset to the company.

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Here's an example of what you could say:

'I’ve always been impressed by the high standard of food journalism and content that SBS Food has produced, and the network’s willingness to explore diverse cultures, and tell stories through food is particularly attractive to me.

For the past three years I’ve worked as a freelance food writer for publications such as Broadsheet, Timeout and Gourmet Traveller. My stories tend to focus a lot on the history and heritage of a recipe, and I’m particularly passionate about unearthing hidden gems in the city’s outer suburbs.

I applied for this job because I see SBS Food and this role as the natural next step in my career, and I believe my strong writing skills combined with my respect for the SBS values make me the ideal candidate.' 

See our full list of interview questions and answers to help you in your next interview!