Job interview questions explained: Why do you want to work for us?

How to make a good impression in job interviews is one of the areas that we get asked about the most. To help you get started on your journey into the workplace, we’ve put together some of our top tips to help you get through your interview in style!

Job interview prep

Before we get cracking, there are a few things that will help you make a good impression. The first is to show up neat, tidy and in appropriate clothing. If you need some advice, we’re always happy to help give recommendations tailored to the industry and role.

Another great tip is not to give stock replies. There is such thing as over-preparing as having scripted answers ready to go can be a bit robotic. It’s really hard to prepare for any possible question that may come up. The best thing to do is to jot down a list of talking points the night before. Treat it like a conversation, don’t lie and, if you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask.

If you’ve applied to the role, it should mean your skills match what they are looking for and you think you’d be good at the job – you just need to convince them that that’s the case!

First thing’s first

After you’ve been asked to come for an job interview, you should always start by researching the company. It will make it so much easier to answer questions in a thoughtful way. Look at their website, social media channels and make sure you understand what they do.

We’d also recommend looking back on the job description and person specification (if there is one). Afterall, having a clear idea of what they want will make it easier for you to tell them why you’re the best person for the job!

Now, on to the questions…

Tell me about yourself

This is your chance to give a brief round up of your highlight reel. You should give an overview of where you’ve worked before, what education you’ve completed, any previous experience and your interests that are relevant to the role. Try not to ramble, but make sure you answer in more than 3 sentences!

Why do you want to work here?

This can be asked in a few different ways. This question is mainly to make sure you’re passionate about working for them.

A good start is to tell them what you find interesting about the company and why – this is where your research comes into play! Don’t be afraid to go into a bit of detail about the parts of the job description you’re looking forward to the most.

This will all show you know the company and understand the job role.

What can you bring to the company?

This is your opportunity to sell yourself! Focus on your strengths. It might be that you’re an upbeat person and love to organise social events. You might work extremely hard and like to exceed expectations.

If you’re not sure what your selling point is, it’s always worth asking your friends or family that know you best!

What are your weaknesses?

This is a good chance to talk about something you’re working to improve. Confidence is a common answer, but you could also go for anything that wouldn’t hold you back from doing the job.

Why is there a gap in your work history?

If you’ve been unemployed, an employer may ask why. But you don’t need to panic. An interviewer will just want to make sure that you’ve been constructive with your time and there’s no underlying issue that would stop you being able to do the job.

If you left your last job to focus on your wellbeing, that’s fine! Let them know that you’re ready for work and turn it into something positive. This is a great opportunity to mention that you’ve been working with a YES. to improve your job skills as it shows commitment. You might have also been working on developing other skills on courses (e.g. with Inspire Suffolk!).

And finally…

Try to relax into the job interview, it isn’t an interrogation and you already have all the answers! Afterall, an interviewer just wants to make sure you’re ready to take on the challenge.

If you’d like to prepare more, you can book an appointment with a job coach who will help support you through the process. Whether you’d like a mock interview or to get a bit of advice on how to sell yourself, we’re here to help!