Few interview questions sound as simple as “Why are you interested in this position?”
The answer seems obvious. What’s less clear is what interviewers are actually listening for when they ask this question.
This question isn’t about enthusiasm alone. It’s a chance to show how your experience and interests make you an excellent match for the role.
Here’s how to approach it in a way that’s specific and genuinely compelling.
Why Interviewers Ask This Question
Despite how it’s phrased, this isn’t a motivation test or a personality check.
Interviewers ask this question to understand whether:
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You’ve thought about the role beyond the job title
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You understand what the work actually involves
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This role makes sense for you right now
They want to know: Why this specific role, at this specific company, at this point in your career?
What Interviewers Are Listening For (and What They’re Not)
Strong answers tend to quietly signal a few things at once:
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You understand the responsibilities of the role
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You’ve connected the role to your skills or experience
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You’ve made a thoughtful choice, not a reactive one
What interviewers are not looking for:
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Flattery or excessive praise for the company
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Desperation or “this job will fix everything for me” energy
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Overly broad statements that could apply anywhere
A Simple Way to Structure Your Answer
Rather than memorizing a script, it helps to think about your answer in three parts:
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What specific parts of the role interests you and why
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How that connects to your skills, experience, or strengths
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Why this position makes sense for where you are in your career and the impact you want to make
Talking about the company as a whole is good. But if you find yourself talking only about the company’s mission and not about the specific role, it’s usually a sign something’s missing.
Avoid Answers That Sound Too Generic
Many candidates give answers that sound positive but don’t actually say much.
Generic examples include:
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“I love your mission.”
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“This feels like a great next step for me.”
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“I’m excited about the opportunity.”
These aren’t wrong, they’re just incomplete.
On their own, they don’t show that you understand the role, the work, or why this position is a fit. Interviewers hear versions of these answers all the time.
Specificity is what makes your interest sound credible and genuine.
Three Strong Answer Patterns That Tend to Land Well
There isn’t one “correct” answer, but there are a few patterns that show up consistently in strong answers. You’ll notice that each sample answer:
- Starts with the role, not generic enthusiasm
- Connects interest to real work or challenges
- Sounds thoughtful
1. Role-first interest
You lead with the work itself—problems you’d be solving, responsibilities you’d own, or skills you’d use regularly.
This shows you’re choosing the role intentionally, not just the company name.
Sample Answer:
“What stood out to me about this role is the opportunity to work on projects that sit at the intersection of analysis and execution. In my current role, I’ve done a lot of the hands-on work, but I’m looking for a position where I can take more ownership over how insights translate into decisions. This role feels like a natural next step in that direction.”
2. Solution-oriented interest
You reference challenges the role is designed to address and explain why they’re meaningful or engaging to you.
This works especially well in technical, product, or strategy-focused roles.
Sample Answer:
“I’m particularly interested in this position because of the challenges the team is working through right now. From what I’ve read and what you shared earlier, there’s a real focus on improving how data is used to guide priorities. That’s the kind of problem I enjoy digging into—understanding what’s not working, testing improvements, and helping teams move forward with more clarity.”
3. Growth-through-impact interest
You connect the role to how you want to grow by contributing, not just by learning.
This signals maturity and long-term thinking.
Each of these patterns works because they anchor your interest in something concrete.
Sample Answer:
“I’m interested in this role because it allows me to grow by contributing at a higher level. I’m at a point in my career where I want to have a clearer line of sight between my work and the outcomes it drives. This position would let me build on what I already do well while taking on more responsibility and impact over time.”
How Your Answer Shifts Depending on the Situation
Context matters. The same answer won’t land the same way in every scenario.
If this is early in the interview:
Keep your answer concise and role-focused. You can always expand later.
If you’re changing industries or functions:
Make the connection explicit. Don’t assume the interviewer will connect the dots for you.
If you’re overqualified:
Emphasize the substance of the work and the problems you’re interested in solving, not the level or title.
If you’re interviewing at multiple companies:
Avoid comparisons. Focus on what makes this role compelling on its own.
Final Thoughts
If your answer shows that you understand the role, see how you’d contribute, and have a clear reason for being there, that’s a great answer. Keep it clear and specific.
If you want support handling tough questions for an upcoming interview, feel free to reach out to us. We’re always happy to help.
