What they are really asking

Two things are hiding in this one. First, did you do any research, or did you apply to forty jobs without reading about any of them? Second, what does the outside world say about the company? Interviewers are curious about their own reputation, and your answer tells them how they look from the street.

The weak answer is the company's own website read back to them. They wrote it, so they already know it. A stronger answer mentions where you heard about them, one or two specific things, and why those things made you want to apply.

A shape that works

Source, two details, your reason. Say how you first came across them: a friend, a news story, a product you use, a talk at a conference. Name two specific things you've learned, and keep them concrete. Then connect one of them to you. If you've heard something mixed, you don't have to bring it up here; save your honesty for when they ask directly.

Model answers

Listen to how each answer is built, then make it yours.

Answer 1: a marketing coordinator in Chicago, applying to Tidewell Foods
Answer 2: a nurse in Edinburgh, applying to Northgate Clinics
Answer 3: a backend developer in Shenzhen, applying to Lanternpay

Check yourself

1Why is reading the company website back to them a weak answer?
2What does the nurse's answer do well?

Practice · 3 min

Choose a company you would like to work for. Find two specific facts about it that are not on the home page. Record an answer with your source, the two details and your reason. Keep it under one minute.

Your recording stays on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.