"Why do you want this job?" answer template (A2, B1, B2)
How to use this template
Choose the level that fits your English and fill every blank with a true detail from your own work, in 3 parts: Them, You and Together. Plan your example on the STAR worksheet, tick the checklist, then say the answer out loud.
A2 template: simple English
Short sentences, one idea in each. Good if your English is basic or you feel nervous.
- Them: I like your ________ (company or team) because ________ (one reason).
- You: I have ________ (skill or experience). It is useful for this job.
- Together: I can ________ (what you will do). I want to learn ________ (one thing).
B1 template: linked sentences
Joins your ideas with because, and, then and so. Good for most interviews.
- Them: I want this job because your ________ (company or team) ________ (specific thing you read or saw).
- You: This fits my experience, because I have ________ (time) of ________ (type of work) and I am good at ________ (skill).
- Together: I would bring ________ (strength), and in the future I would like to ________ (realistic goal).
B2 template: fuller answer
Adds a reason, a result and a little more detail. Use it if you can say it without reading.
- Them: What attracts me most is ________ (specific value, service or project), which I noticed when ________ (where you learned it).
- You: It connects directly with my background in ________ (area), where I ________ (relevant achievement).
- Together: In this role I would contribute ________ (what you offer), and over time I hope to develop into ________ (next step).
STAR worksheet: plan your example
Your answer needs one true example. Plan it here in notes, not full sentences, then use it in the "You" part of the template.
Situation
Where you learned about this employer or role: the advert, the website, a visit, a person.
Task
What you want from your next job, in one honest line.
Action
What you have already done that prepares you for it.
Result
What you will bring, and what you hope to learn there.
Checklist before you say it
Tick each point when it is true for your answer.
- Them: Name one specific thing about this employer or role: a value, a team, a service, a location.
- You: Link that to your own skills or experience.
- Together: Say what you will bring and what you hope to grow into.
- Avoided: Saying "I need a job" or "it is close to my home" as your only reason. Give a reason about the work itself.
- Out loud: I said the whole answer out loud, with only true details, in about one minute or less.
A finished answer to compare
This is one way a hospitality staff might answer. Compare it with your template: the same parts, with real details. Do not copy it.
Hospitality Staff answer
I want this job because your hotel is growing its food and beverage side, and I enjoy a busy service. I have three years of hospitality experience and I stay calm and friendly even when it is full. I would bring quick, guest-first service, and I hope to grow into a shift leader role.
Learn more about this question
- How to answer "Why do you want this job?" — the short answer, the steps, mistakes and phrases
- Template: Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Template: Why did you leave your last job?
- Template: What motivates you?
- All answer templates
- Example answers for your job: Care Worker · Hospitality Staff · Kitchen Porter · Barista · Hotel Receptionist · Retail Assistant · Warehouse Operative · Delivery Driver · Customer Service Advisor
Questions people ask
Should I learn the template answer by heart?
No. Learn the order of the 3 parts (Them, You and Together) and your own details, then say it in your own words. A memorised answer can sound flat, and an interviewer may ask a follow-up question.
Which level should I use for "Why do you want this job?"?
Use the level you can say without reading. If you are not sure, start with A2, say it out loud twice, and move to B1 when it feels easy. A short, clear answer is better than a long one that is hard to follow.
How do I print this template?
Use the Print or save as PDF button near the top of the page, or your browser's print menu. Only the template is printed, without the menus and buttons.
Practise this answer aloud
Say your answer to "Why do you want this job?" out loud or type it, and see what an interviewer may notice and what to fix first. Free to start, no card needed.