How To Answer ‘What Interests You In This Role’?

When you know more about the company and your potential role within it, answering ‘what interests you about this role’ flows.

It’s a popular question we hear from candidates that appears during the earlier parts of an interview.

This provides a good opportunity to present your capabilities and make an impression. Let us share some advice to approach this question.

Ross Goode, Principal Consultant for Team Automotive, suggests focusing on the job spec to guide you. It’s about knowing the role. “Whilst you might not have too much to read about a company beyond their website and LinkedIn pages, base your response on the job description. For instance, if you are applying for a sales role, think about the value you put on relationship building, the competitive nature you might have, or a strong believer in customer service.”

Whilst Ross highlights the focus on what you bring as a person to the table, Kimberley Best, Specialist Marketing Recruiter, emphasises an answer towards the company, “This is where you need to do your research. You need to have an understanding of why you are showing an interest. Is it because this company has been on your radar? Can you see a culture of a business that represents what you believe in? Have they built a solid reputation over the years from the people that work there to the leadership they endorse? This then opens up the skills and capabilities you are going to provide.”

Jaime Rana, Specialist Marketing Recruiter, points to blending the company, the role, and you together. “This question is all around your fit. It’s an opportunity to align your interests with the employer. For instance, you could be involved with charity work. Share how that reflects what you believe in and where there are parallels with the role. It’s around using examples to demonstrate what is important to you and the positive impact you can make.”

Karen Jayne Harris, Senior Consultant, suggests that keeping yourself in the middle of the frame is important. “This is a question to be precise and not be distracted by just selling your strengths. Let the employer know you have spent time understanding them and being a part of a growing company could be what you are looking for. This part of the interview presents a good way to present why the role links to your career development and shows to someone else you have put thought into this.”

Georgia Brooker, Recruitment Consultant, shares her own experience. “I have been with TeamJobs for 18 months and this question was part of my interview. From research, I could see TeamJobs had won awards, so that helped my aspirations to work with a credible and aspirational business. I also saw a work culture that had family values at its heart. This too is important to me, so I made sure this was clear. Know the balance between what you want and how a company can help you advance your career.”

The ‘what interests you in this role’ question invites a personal response. You cannot provide a generic answer, it has to be relevant to you and why a company would benefit from choosing you. Know the business, know what you value and know the role.

When you present your response with enthusiasm and consideration, you are going to present an interviewer with something serious to think about.