How to answer: “Why do you want to work here?”

What the interviewer is evaluating

Even for entry-level roles, interviewers want to know whether you have made a deliberate choice or whether you are applying everywhere and hoping something sticks. Generic answers such as "you are a well-known company" or "I like the sound of the work" signal the latter. Specific, researched answers signal that this application is intentional.

For candidates without experience, this question also gives interviewers a window into your intellectual interests and values. If you are applying to a sustainability consultancy and you can articulate why the company's specific approach to ESG reporting interests you, that signals genuine alignment. That interest is a proxy for motivation and motivation is a proxy for performance.

A strong example answer

I want to work here for reasons that are quite specific to this company rather than the sector in general. The first is your product. I studied the development of sustainable supply chain models as part of my dissertation and your work on scope three emissions tracking is one of the most practical implementations I have come across. You are solving a problem that most companies in this space still treat as a reporting exercise rather than an operational one.

The second reason is how you communicate your work. I have read several of your published case studies and the technical depth in them is unusual for a company of your size. That level of rigour in how you share knowledge externally suggests to me that the internal culture values precision and genuine expertise, which is exactly the environment I want to develop in.

Third, I spoke to a graduate who joined your London team two years ago through a university event. She described the level of client responsibility graduates are given early on, and that kind of genuine exposure, rather than observer status, matters to me in a first role.

I know I am at the very beginning of my career, but I have been deliberate about which companies I have applied to, and this is one of a small number where I genuinely believe there is a fit between what I care about and what you are doing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Weak answers usually fail the same three ways: too vague, a little defensive, or about something this job never asks you to do.

• "You were one of the companies offering a graduate scheme". True for half the room, and never worth saying
• "I like the idea of working in this industry" without any specifics about this company
• "The company seems like a great place to work" without any evidence of research
• Mentioning salary, location or work-from-home arrangements as primary motivators

How to make your answer stronger

Read these once, then say the whole answer out loud. Waffle is invisible on paper and obvious the second you hear it.

• Do the research. Spend at least an hour on the company before your interview: their website, recent news, published content, employee reviews. You cannot give a specific answer without specific knowledge.
• Use the company's own language where appropriate. If their website emphasises "rigorous evidence" or "real-world impact", using similar phrasing signals that you have genuinely engaged with their positioning.
• Reference something the company has actually produced: a blog post, a case study, a product feature, a piece of press coverage. The specificity immediately separates you from candidates who have only read the About page.
• If you have spoken to anyone who works or has worked at the company, mention it briefly. Second-hand insight into culture or working practices signals resourcefulness and genuine interest.
• Connect at least one reason to your own academic or personal work. "Your research intersects with my dissertation" or "your product solves a problem I spent time studying" creates a genuine narrative thread between who you are and why you are here.

Frequently asked questions

How do I answer this question if I applied to fifteen companies and cannot remember why I chose this one specifically?

Do not mention the other applications. Spend thirty minutes before the interview researching the company properly, identify three genuine reasons this company interests you and answer from there. The research itself often generates real interest.

Is it acceptable to say I am interested in gaining experience?

You can acknowledge that gaining experience is part of your motivation, but it cannot be your only reason. Pair it with specific, substantive reasons why this company or role is the right place to gain that experience.

What if I genuinely cannot find anything distinctive about the company?

Look harder. Every company has something specific to it: a particular client base, a product, a culture, a way of approaching their market. If after thorough research you still cannot find anything, that itself is information about whether the application is right for you.

Should I mention the company's graduate scheme or training programme?

You can, but do not let it be your only or primary reason. "You invest in graduates" is a better complement to substantive reasons than a standalone answer. Lead with what the company does, not what they will do for you.