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

They want to see whether you've done your homework on the company and whether your interests and goals genuinely line up with what they do. It also hints at how engaged and likely to stick around you'd be.

Updated October 2026

What a strong answer shows

Specific knowledge of the company, such as its products, mission, culture or recent work, beyond the homepage tagline
A clear link between what the company does and your own interests, coursework or projects
Enthusiasm for the role itself and what you'd learn and contribute

A simple structure: Them, me, the match

Something specific about them: Name one or two concrete things that drew you in, like a product, project, value or team you researched.
Connect it to you: Tie that to a class, project, club or experience that shows your interest is real.
What you'd gain and give: Say what you hope to learn in this role and one way you could contribute.
Close with enthusiasm: End with a short, sincere line about why this role is a great next step for you.

Sample answer

There are a couple of reasons. First, I've been following [Company]'s work on [specific product, project or initiative], and I really like how you [specific approach or value, e.g., focus on user research]. That connects with my own interests. In my [class/project/student org], I [brief description of what you did], and I enjoyed [specific aspect] the most. This [role] looks like a chance to build on that in a real-world setting, especially [specific responsibility from the job posting]. I'm also excited about [something about the culture or team, e.g., the mentorship program I read about], because I learn best when I can get feedback and grow quickly. I think I could contribute [skill or strength] while learning a lot from your team, so this feels like a really good fit.

A general example: swap the [brackets] for your own experience, and say it in your own words.

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Mistakes to avoid

Giving generic praise like 'you're a great company' or 'you're a leader in the industry' that could apply anywhere
Focusing only on what you get, such as pay, prestige or the location, without showing interest in the work
Reciting the company's mission statement word for word without connecting it to your own experience

Likely follow-up questions

What do you know about our company or products? Prepare two or three specific facts or recent news items, and say why they interest you.
Where else are you applying? Be honest but brief, and point to a common theme that shows your focused interest in this field.
What would you want to learn in this internship? Name one or two concrete skills that tie back to the role's responsibilities.