In a job interview, you have a good chance that the recruiter will ask you about the reasons that led you to send an application. Rest assured, this is not a trick question. The recruiter will simply seek to verify if you have inquired about the position and the company, and if you could correspond with the company’s values. It is not easy to answer boldly to the question “Why are you applying to us?” … However, some candidates have done it. And it worked. The proof with 5 hard-hitting answers.
Research the company before you go to the job interview
To avoid being left stumped by the recruiter when they ask you the question “Why apply to us?”, it is wise to take the lead and find out about the company and the position you are applying for.
Where to look for information about the company?
Your main source of information is the Internet. You can consult the company’s corporate website but also use search engines like Google to search for articles published on it. Another complementary solution is the opinions left by current employees or those who have already left the employer, available on Viadeo.
How to use this information?
Now that you have a lot of information about the company, you need to analyze it. Ask yourself the following question: “after reading all this information, what makes me want to join its teams and work for it?”. Maybe you like the fact that the company trains its employees, that it has an ecological commitment, that it has an in-house video studio, or that its reputation is well-established and that it stimulates you to work for a great brand.
Our Cadremploi advice : now that you know what you like and what attracts you to the target company, calmly prepare at home a short, reasoned paragraph including all the elements of your response. Once in front of the recruiter, you will be confident in answering them.
“Why apply to us?”: because I want to take your place
“I remember a candidate who was very monotonous and not very relevant at first and who told me that he was applying to take my place. His audacity piqued my curiosity. So, I focused on digging into his personality and I discovered a candidate who was more willing to invest than the others,” recalls Adrien Courbon, sales director at EasyRecrue, a specialist in video interview solutions.
Our advice: Motivation for a job is a real asset in a candidate. It is a source of desire to learn and evolve within the company. Employers greatly value people who can inspire others and motivate them to achieve the company’s goals.
“Why apply to us?”: because I have ambitions for the company
“I hired a self-taught developer who applied to us because he thought our company could become the next Google of education. He explained to me that he coded every day, that he learned everything on the job without any specific training, and that he wanted to achieve great things. His ambition finally won me over,” says Léo Sounigo, founder of Study Quiz, a publisher of educational applications.
Our advice: ambition is a quality that leaves no recruiter indifferent. On the other hand, to seduce a recruiter, don’t just think about yourself, talk about the benefits for the employer and project yourself into the long term.
“Why apply to us?”: because I want to pursue a career internally
“Candidates are currently very ‘short-term’. Someone who explains to me how they see themselves in our company in a few years, someone who wants to make a career with us, scores points straight away,” says Jérôme Anstrousse, southern director of Infotel, a consulting and digital services company.
Our advice: your goal is to make your interviewer understand that you are planning for the long term in the company. You expect long-term professional development. Don’t scare the recruiter by giving them objectives for very short deadlines such as “I aim to become a manager in a year”. Focus instead on the experience acquired rather than on deadlines.
“Why apply to us?”: because I “failed” at my company, but my failure can be useful to you
“A candidate who applies after filing for bankruptcy, for example, and who knows how to explain it, gets my full attention. Indeed, their failure is an experience worth 10 years in a successful company. I am currently in talks with a candidate in this situation. I know that if we work together, she will not make the same mistakes twice. She will be a force for proposals,” argues Paul-Marie Edwards, director of the Safir group and author of “Searching for a job: a full-time job” (éditions du Palio, 2015).
Our advice: talking about your failures can work in your favor. First, it shows that you know how to be humble. Second, applying for a job offer highlights your ability to bounce back. Lastly, you can highlight the lessons learned and areas for improvement to work on.
“Why apply to us?”: because I know your company and I think I would enjoy working there
“I tell myself that a candidate who has taken the trouble to contact and meet one or more of our current employees is not there by chance. He is an actor in his recruitment and not passive. If in addition, he explains to me that, given what he has learned about the company, he is sure to be able to enjoy working for us, that is positive. This person should be a vector of goodwill internally”, appreciates Jérôme Anstrousse.
Our advice: show that you like the company and that you know its sector of activity, its creation date, and its workforce. Take an interest in its strategy and its internal organization. The size of the company is revealing of its culture and this can be an argument to convince a recruiter to choose you: you are made to work in a large group or conversely rather in a start-up.
