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During interviews for internships and entry-level positions, a common question you’ll be asked is “Why this company/internship?” The hiring team wants to understand why you applied at their company specifically, considering all the other companies with similar opportunities. While it’s a fairly simple question, preparing beforehand will help you ace it and stand out as a candidate. Here’s how to answer this question, as well as what not to say.
Start Your Job Search With Intent
Part of this question is trying to gauge if you were intentional when applying at the company, or if it was just one of 100 other companies you applied to. If the latter is the case, that’s completely fine, but you don’t want to let them know that. Explain why you initially applied, and what made the company stand out to you.
Don’t say: “As an accounting major, I knew I always wanted to work at an accounting firm. I applied to all the accounting firms that I could, and this is the first interview I’ve gotten.”
This answer will make the hiring team think that you’re only there because your other options fell through. Even if that’s the truth, answering the question like this will likely end in this opportunity falling through as well.
Instead say: “As an accounting major, I knew I wanted to work at an accounting firm. During my job search I wanted to find a company that was smaller than the Big 4 and would provide a close-knit office community. I was also interested in a company that prioritizes career development, so I was excited when I found out you cover costs for the CPA exam. Out of all the other companies I saw, this was the one that fit my wishlist. The more I learned about the company, the more I wanted to work here.”
Include Specifics About the Company
This interview question also wants to gauge how much you know about the company. Did you do your research, or did you show up unprepared? Before the interview, look for information regarding recent company news, details about what the company does, and find information that is unique and specific to them. For investment banks, accounting firms, consulting firms, and internship programs, see if the company has a profile on Vault, which will give you all the information you need.
Don’t answer the question by saying this: “I’m interested in working in tax, and I know this company specializes in tax accounting. I’m excited to work at a smaller firm and gain more hands-on experience in tax accounting.”
While this does technically answer the question, it doesn’t give the hiring manager any indication that you did your research and found aspects unique to the company that you won’t find at a competitor.
Say this instead: “What really drew me to this company was your dedication to career development for your employees. I saw that new hires are paired with another team member as a career coach. I find mentorship to be incredibly valuable and the opportunity to learn about tax accounting alongside a dedicated mentor really solidified my decision to apply here. I also saw the company is ranked in the Vault Accounting Rankings, and your employees echo the endorsement of the company due to your mentorship opportunities.”
This answer is much more specific and highlights an aspect of the company that appeals to you and what you value. An answer like this is much more likely to help you land the offer.
Explain Why You Fit
You also want to explain why your skills and experience are a good fit for the company. Including this information in your answer shows why you want to work for this company, but it also shows them the skills you have and why you would be a valuable addition to the company.
Don’t approach it like this: “I see the company is invested in using technology to improve productivity and give clients a shorter turnaround time. I have a lot of experience using AI and think I can help the company with this initiative.”
This answer is pretty generic. Get more specific about the skills you have.
Try this instead: “I was drawn to the company’s investment into AI. During my internship, I worked a lot with AI and improved my prompt engineering skills and learned the fundamentals of machine learning. I agree with the company’s vision of improving tax accounting through the use of AI, and I think my skills will allow me to help with this mission. The job description also included needing to have experience using Claude, which is what I primarily used in my internship. I also have experience with Google Gemini, as I see the company utilizes Gmail.”
This response highlights your skills and how they fit with the company’s mission. It also touches on what interested you in the job description, further highlighting why you’re a good fit for the role.
A Personal Note
This question is also the time to mention any personal ties you have with the company. This can include a friend interning there, a family member being a past employee, or something you researched in school that directly relates to the company’s mission. Any personal ties you have with the company can help you stand out from other candidates.
Your answer doesn’t need to include all four of these elements. Find the one or two that best align with your life and goals to answer the question in a way that will help you progress to the next round.
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