episode #12

Career Success TV

Why Did You Apply For This Job
(Job Interview Questions & Answers)

During an interview, a commonly asked interview question is “Why did you apply for this job?” Do you know how to answer? 

The reason for this question is an easy one. Many employers simply want to hear your reason for applying to their job & why are you interested. Your answer may give them insight into what motivated you to apply for this position in the first place! 

So it’s important that you know how to answer it satisfactorily. 

Although it is a standard interview question, it can still be a tough one to navigate. 

In this video, I will provide some examples of how NOT to answer this question. Then I will flip it to provide you with some great ways on how you SHOULD be answering this simple but tricky question. 

The Dos and Don’ts provided will surely help you figure out how to successfully and confidently answer this question and impress your interviewer. 

You will have many questions thrown your way so let me help you get this question behind you so you can move forward with the rest of the interview. 

Make sure to look at the video all the way to the end. You don’t want to miss anything!

If you are looking for more interview tips to help you during your interview preparation, then we can help you! Go over to our YouTube channel - Career success by Jennifer Tardy.

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Read the Transcript

Hey, job seekers, this is Jennifer Tardy here, your career success coach. And today, it is all about answering job interview questions and answers, with today's question being, "Well, why did you decide to apply to this job?" I'm gonna give you the best advice in how to answer this question, and if you stay tuned all the way to the very end, you are going to get my favorite section, the career success bonus tip for underrepresented populations, for UPs. So stick around, let's get right into it. 

Why would an interviewer ask you, "Well, why did you apply to this job?" Interviewers want to know that you have applied to them intentionally, that you are not just applying to some random job, or you are not just stumbling across a job and you happen to apply. They wanna know that you chose them for a specific reason, and perhaps you've done a little research along the way. So here's how you do not answer this question. Do not tell the interviewer that you are so ready to leave your current job because they're frustrating you so much, that you are willing to apply to anything. Also, don't tell the interviewer that this job is in your backyard, and so you are ready to apply to it along with millions of other jobs out there that you applied to. Also, don't tell the interviewer that you applied to this job because your mom and your dad told you to apply to the job. Those are not good answers. 

Speaking of answers to common questions, did you check out last week's video? If you didn't, make sure that you check out this video, because we are talking about how to answer the question, "What are your weaknesses?" So check that video if you haven't had a second. Now, if an interviewer has asked you, "Why did you apply to this job?" What sort of answers have you given in the past? I'm curious, I'd like to know. Drop me a comment in the comments section, and let me know how you've answered this question previously. 

Now, moving on. Here's how you answer a question like this. You wanna make sure that you connect your answer to something related to the company that shows, or that demonstrates, that you've done your research about that company. So when they ask you, "Well, why did you apply to this job?" Connect it to the mission of the organization, some of the goals of the organization that you've researched and you've found out, maybe the reputation of the organization or its brand, maybe you happen to be on Glassdoor.com and you saw that it was one of the top companies to work for and da da da da da, and you decided that you wanted to come and work for a company like that. But, whatever you do, when you answer this question, connect it to some research that you've done on the organization, and it will end up being a great answer for you. 

As always, we are at my favorite segment, and this segment is all about career success tips for UPs, or underrepresented populations. So if you are a member of a underrepresented population, I do want you to know that it is completely acceptable for you to tell the employer that one of the reasons, one of many reasons, that you've decided to apply to this position, is because it fits a need of yours. So for instance, if you happen to be a working mother, and you saw an award for this organization because they are the top company to work for if you are a working mother. 

Now, make sure that that is only one of the reasons that you've decided to work there. And, make sure that that is probably the third reason, where your number one reason could be the mission of the organization, number two, that it has a very strong sustainable future ahead of it, because it already had long-term gains and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And also, you happen to notice an award that was won in the company, which is recognized for working mothers, it's recognized for its diversity efforts, it's recognized for its commitment to military veterans, it's recognized for anything that positively affects your underrepresented population. 

Okay, so if you're watching this video, you are probably interviewing, and just as you were listening to how to answer this common interview question, I have a free copy, a free downloadable PDF guide, of 25 common interview questions and top-notch answers. So if you wanna know more, be sure to go to the details section, check out those questions answers, and as always, I hope that you appreciated that. I hope that you appreciate this video. If you did, subscribe to the channel and like the video. We have more videos coming your way soon. I hope to see you at the next video. I am Jennifer Tardy, your career success coach, and I'll see you soon. Take care.