Introduction
Answering “what interests you about the position” quickly separates prepared candidates from those who haven’t done company or role research. If you want to turn this common interview prompt into a chance to show alignment, motivation, and fit, the approach below gives a repeatable structure, examples, and practice tactics that hiring managers notice. Use the guidance here to craft answers that are specific, story-driven, and tied to measurable value.
Why this matters: interviewers use “what interests you about the position” to assess fit, commitment, and whether you’ve researched the role—so your answer should do three things: show company knowledge, connect experience to needs, and finish with a future-focused contribution. Takeaway: a short, evidence-backed response beats vague flattery every time.
Why do interviewers ask “what interests you about the position”?
Interviewers ask this to measure preparation, motivation, and role fit in one question.
They want to know if you understand the role’s day-to-day, how you’ll add value, and whether your goals align with the team. A strong reply shows you’ve researched the company and can translate your skills into impact—avoid generic praise like “it seems like a great company.” For evidence-backed prep, consult practical employer-research advice from sources like Jobscan’s interview tips and synthesis tactics from The Interview Guys. Takeaway: answer with specific company facts + one clear contribution you’ll make.
How should I research the company and role before answering “what interests you about the position”?
Start with the role description, public projects, and employee signals, then map them to your experience.
Examine the job posting for priorities (KPIs, required skills), read the company’s recent blog or press, and scan team members’ LinkedIn profiles for context. Rutgers-Camden’s career guidance suggests focusing on employer values and specifics that you can cite in an interview. Example: “I saw your Q2 product integration on the blog and want to apply my two years of API experience to shorten time-to-market.” Takeaway: small, concrete facts from research make your answer credible and memorable.
How to structure a concise, authentic answer to “what interests you about the position”
Use a three-part structure: insight, fit, impact.
Start with a brief insight about the company or team, explain why your background makes you a fit, and end with the measurable impact you aim to deliver. For behavioral polish, combine frameworks like STAR or SOAR to tell a one-minute story about a past result that connects to the role. For example, “I’m drawn to this role because you’re expanding into X; in my last role I led Y, which reduced Z by 30%, and I’d apply that same approach here.” Takeaway: a tight structure keeps your answer focused and performance-oriented.
Sample answers to “what interests you about the position”
Practice these templates and adapt them to your role, industry, and research. Each is short, specific, and impact-driven.
Q: What interests you about the position?
A: I’m excited by your move into enterprise clients; I led onboarding programs that cut churn 22% and can scale similar playbooks here.
Q: What interests you about the position?
A: I value Product teams that iterate rapidly; my A/B testing process improved conversion by 12% last year and maps to your growth goals.
Q: What interests you about the position?
A: Your sustainability initiatives align with my nonprofit partnerships experience—I'd help measure and report ESG outcomes for stakeholders.
Q: What interests you about the position?
A: I admire your customer-first culture; my CX redesign decreased support tickets while improving NPS, which I can replicate here.
Q: What interests you about the position?
A: This role’s emphasis on automation fits my background in reducing manual QA time by 40% through scripts and CI integration.
Takeaway: keep examples specific, tie to a metric, and end with how you’ll contribute.
Behavioral storytelling to support your answer
Use a short STAR or SOAR micro-story after your main line if the interviewer probes.
Example micro-story: “At Company X, I automated the weekly report (Task), designed a script and trained a teammate (Action), and saved 6 hours/week while increasing report accuracy (Result).” Linking that to the role shows exactly how your work transfers. Takeaway: a focused story proves credibility and shows outcome orientation.
Common mistakes to avoid when answering “what interests you about the position”
Don’t recycle company slogans, overshare personal goals, or ramble about compensation.
Avoid generic lines like “I love your mission” without evidence, and don’t treat this as a résumé recitation. Interviewers note authenticity and specificity; failing to research the role is an easy disqualifier according to guidance from Indeed’s interview prep. Takeaway: specific contribution beats vague enthusiasm.
How to practice, rehearse, and build confidence for this question
Practice aloud, get timed feedback, and simulate pressure with mock interviews.
Record a 45–60 second version, then shorten to a 20–30 second elevator answer. Use role-specific practice questions or partner mock interviews to rehearse follow-ups. Jobscan and The Muse recommend iterative practice and reviewing how your answer sounds for clarity and brevity. Takeaway: repetition plus feedback makes concise answers become natural.
How Verve AI Interview Copilot Can Help You With This
Verve AI Interview Copilot helps you craft concise, role-specific answers in real time by pulling from your resume and the job description. It provides structured prompts to turn research notes into a three-part response and practices STAR-style micro-stories tailored to your industry. Use Verve AI Interview Copilot for timed rehearsals and adaptive feedback that improves clarity and confidence. In final practice runs, Verve AI Interview Copilot acts like a coach, simulating follow-up questions and suggesting metric-driven impact statements.
What Are the Most Common Questions About This Topic
Q: Can Verve AI help with behavioral interviews?
A: Yes. It applies STAR and CAR frameworks to guide real-time answers.
Q: How long should my answer be?
A: Aim for 30–60 seconds; include one example and one impact.
Q: Should I mention salary when asked this question?
A: No. Focus first on fit and contribution; discuss compensation later.
Q: What if I’m changing careers?
A: Emphasize transferable skills and a quick example showing impact.
Q: How can I show passion without sounding scripted?
A: Use a specific company fact and connect it to a real past result.
Conclusion
Answering “what interests you about the position” well is about research, structured answers, and concise storytelling. When you tie company facts to a transferable result and a clear, measurable contribution, you demonstrate fit, readiness, and motivation. Practice using short frameworks, rehearse with mock interviews, and focus every answer on impact to increase interview success. Try Verve AI Interview Copilot to feel confident and prepared for every interview.
