Answer "Why This Company" in an Interview

When an interviewer asks, "Why this company?" you may find yourself a little tongue-tied. Don't put yourself in that situation! Do your research ahead of time, and show up ready with an answer. The key is to know about the company; focus on what you can do to help the company fulfill its mission and goals, and your interviewer will likely be impressed.

Steps

Researching the Company

1. Check out the company's website. One of the best ways to get an idea of what the company is about is to look through their website. Find their "About Us" section, look at the history, and check out the mission statement.
   • Basically, you're trying to get an idea of how the company presents itself, as well as some background information.
2. Look at press releases. Press releases tell you about big news in the company's history, as well as how the company wants to present itself over time. Read through the last couple of years to find out more about the company, but focus especially on the last few weeks. You want to be current on what the company has been doing.
3. Spend some time with the company's products and/or services. Look through the company's catalog online, familiarizing yourself with the flagship products in particular. You could even go into a store and handle them, if possible, or order one from the company. For a service, review what they have online and go in-person if you can. Make sure you're familiar with all of the company's main products and services.
   • You could also read reviews of the company's products and services to get an idea of what has worked well and what hasn't.
4. Browse the company's social media accounts. If the company has accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and so on, take time to look through them. They can give you an idea of the tone they set and how they interact with customers.
   • Take a look at posts as well as their profile.
   • Look the company up on LinkedIn, too.
5. Focus in on the position you'll be interviewing for. That is, if you'll be in the marketing department or even just interviewing with the marketing head, make sure you're well versed on the company's past marketing campaigns. On the other hand, if you're interviewing for research and development, check out the company's most recent products and developments to see where they're headed.

Formulating Your Answer

1. Match your skills to the company's needs. You're essentially trying to do this with every question you're asked but especially with this one. By matching who you are with what the company is trying to accomplish, you show you understand the company, have looked into its needs, and you are the right person for the job.
   • For example, you might say, "I know that your mission is to provide the highest quality product you can. I am particular about detail, and while I work efficiently, I believe in striving to get every product to the consumer in perfect order."
   • Alternatively, you might say, "I was pleased to see your emphasis on customer service, as I believe the customer should always come first. I headed the customer service department at my last position for five years, and even though I would be working in marketing here, I think the mindset of putting the customer first transfers well to any position."
2. Discuss a recent press release. Doing so when answering this question will show you cared enough to research what the company has been doing lately. You don't need to be extensive about what you say, just mention it briefly.
   • For example, you might say, "I noticed that you seem to be shifting your focus a bit lately to a different kind of product, and I think that's a smart move."
   • Alternatively, you might say, "I saw that you are merging with a complementary brand, and I can see that has amazing potential for the company."
3. Pick something you admire about the company. Discussing something you admire serves two purposes. First, it lets the person know that you've dug deep into researching the company. Second, it indicates who you are as a person. What you admire tells the person what you value, and you'll show your values align with those of the company.
   • For instance, you might say, "I applied for a position at this company because it puts customers first, and I think people should always come first."
   • You could also say, "I appreciate that this company is so focused on product quality. Nothing builds a great company like high quality products and great customer service, both of which this company does well."
4. Be enthusiastic about the company and the position. Nothing wins an interviewer over like enthusiasm. They want people who will be committed to the company and the mission, so show that you will be in your attitude and tone.
   • For example, you might say, "I love that you put out the highest quality product you can, as that shows a great deal of integrity."
   • Alternatively, try "I've always loved your company and your brand. So many people find it so relatable, which is what I think makes it great."
   • However, you don't want to be overly fawning, as that can come across as insincere.
5. Show how your long-term goals match the company's goals. Even if your skills match the position, the interviewer may not be convinced your goals do. For instance, they may feel like you'll end up taking your creative thinking elsewhere or that you'll start your own business. Help them see how what you want will benefit them.
   • For example, you could say, "My ultimate goal is to design products that work well for people. With your mission to produce the highest quality product, I feel like I would be the perfect fit to make that happen. I will work hard to design the best possible product with the team I'm assigned to, and one day, I would love to work my way up to running a team."
   • Alternatively, try "I am so excited to work with the marketing team because it's my ultimate goal to design a marketing campaign one day. I'd love to do that with your company."

References

See also

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• Prepare for an Informational Interview
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