Why do you want to work for us?

[Canopus]

If an application form asks this question then what is the correct way to answer it?

[summertime]

whats the position and what kind of company

 

I'd try to find something out about the company and what they are good at. It could be their commitment to training staff or if for instance it was a local supermarket you could mention how the staff always seem friendly and content.

[llisa32]

I'd agree with Summertime..if you can tell us what sort of company it is we can give you some examples of 'expected responses'

[Bard]

Answers that may be true, but won't be regarded in a positive light:

Because the pay is good

You are close to where I live, so it will be easy to get there

My friend works there, and he/she likes it.

 

These questions are often used to weed out applicants when creating a short list, so think about why you want to work for them, and then pick out elements that show you would be a benefit to them if they employed you. You need to be positive and enthusiastic.

This is also the point where you can mention other experience you have that is relevant to the job, and that might relate to why you want to work there.

If you tell us more information, we might be able to respond in a more informed way, with better focus.

[pearl]

What everyone else said. And good luck!

[Canopus]

Assume the organisation is a college or a university. There are two jobs being offered - one in teaching and the another in administration.

[pearl]

Which do you feel best suited to?

[Canopus]

This is hypothetical. I'm just gathering info for use as future advice.

[pearl]

Then I think Bards post pretty much covers it.

[Bard]

I don't know much about employment in HE, but if it was a school...

I'd look at the latest Ofsted. I'd look at the school development plan, which covers the goals that the school has set itself for the next 3 years. This would give me information about what their priorities are.

If I really wanted the job, I would look at what I had to offer, and match it to what the school needed.

I once turned down a job I had been offered with the words

" Thank you very much, but I don't feel that I'm what you are looking for."

It's important to be honest, but you need to select and match what you say to what they want to hear. Don't be afraid to walk away if it turns out to have been a bad decision. Isn't that what TheNeil did?

If I could add any useful extras that I could offer, that I felt they needed, such as disability awareness or G & T student support, I would mention it too.

[mand]

Sometimes the job description helps you to find reasons why you want to work for them and then you can expand your experiences to this.

Mand

[Mumble]

I think Bard's covered it pretty well

 

I would use the job-description, highlight the things you can do or the things that you can word you experiences to make it sound like you can do it, and get as many of these in as possible - something showing how you feel your attributes match what is being looked for and the work environment.

 

Also, if it was for teaching in a university department, it would be useful to find out who the other lecturers are and their experitise and how this relates to you. Then you can say something about admiring that person's work/publications and wanting to work under their guidance.

 

Maybe. But what do I know. I'm autistic and only suitable for weeding municipal parks. :angry: (please don't take that badly anyone, it relates to a thread I started elsewhere).

[wilson]

Hello,

 

There is some really good advice. Generally in the application form you should have already given evidence about how you meet the 'essential' criteria in the 'person specification' for the post. Therefore the question 'why do you wish to work here?' gives you the opportunity of showing that you have researched the company or institution thoroughly. For academic posts in Higher Education, being actively involved in research or having the potential to become actively involved in research is usually pretty vital. Therefore, as Mumble wrote earlier, get to know the specialisms of other academic staff and show how closely your own activities match one or two of these. Monster.com have useful sections on completing application forms and answering interview questions.

 

Good luck