They're looking for why you genuinely want to join this company — have you done your research? Do you understand their products, customers, challenges, and tech stack?
This question is a filter. Recruiters want to know if you care about working for them specifically — not just any company. Your answer reveals your research skills, your understanding of their customers and products, and whether you can thoughtfully assess challenges they face.
Many candidates stumble here because they give generic, rehearsed answers. That signals you either didn’t prepare or don’t truly want the role. Both raise red flags.
The actual job is to show that you have done your homework and that your career story aligns with their mission and product.
What interviewers are really looking for
Recruiters ask this question to separate candidates who apply to hundreds of roles with copy-paste answers from those who have a genuine interest and fit.
They want to hear:
- That you understand the company’s products and who uses them
- That you grasp the problems the company is solving or the challenges it faces
- That you have thought about how you can add value with your skills and experiences
- That you have a sincere reason for joining — not just compensation or job title
Talvinder explains:
"Have you done your research? Do you know what kinds of products the company works on? Who are the customers? What kinds of challenges they run into? What recent product announcements or controversies? What technology solutions do they use?"
Without this, your answer will sound generic or shallow.
Preparing your answer: the research you must do
Talvinder advises spending at least 30-60 minutes researching the company before your interview. Focus on:
- The core products or services and their user base
- Recent news: product launches, funding, controversies
- The company’s mission and culture
- Who the key leaders and product managers are (LinkedIn can help)
- The technology stack if relevant to your role
For example, if you are applying to Razorpay, understand their payments platform, the challenges of Indian fintech, and recent product expansions like lending or credit.
If you are interviewing with Swiggy, research their delivery ecosystem, hyperlocal logistics, and customer pain points like late deliveries or app usability.
This research anchors your answer in reality — it shows you care about their business.
What kinds of answers work well
Good answers fall into a few categories:
1. Passion for the product or domain
If you are a passionate user or admirer of the product, say so with specifics:
"I’m excited about joining Swiggy because I use the app daily and appreciate how it solves last-mile delivery challenges in Indian cities. I want to help improve the experience for users like me."
This shows authentic motivation.
2. Alignment with company culture or mission
If the company’s values resonate with you, mention that:
"I admire Razorpay’s focus on simplifying payments for Indian SMEs. Your emphasis on customer-centric innovation matches my approach to product management."
3. Interest in working with specific people or teams
If you know about the leadership or product team, highlight that:
"I’m eager to work with the fintech team here because of their expertise in building scalable APIs. I want to learn from them and contribute my experience in payments security."
4. Excitement about relevant technology or trends
If you are passionate about a technology trend the company is involved in, say so:
"I’m fascinated by how Meesho uses social commerce to empower tier-2/3 sellers. I want to apply my knowledge of growth PM to help scale that impact."
What not to do
Avoid generic statements like:
- "I want to grow my career here."
- "This is a great company."
- "I love working in tech."
These don’t show research or genuine interest.
Also avoid criticism or feature requests in initial interviews. Talvinder suggests:
"If you notice something missing or a feature that could be improved, save that for later rounds. When you do bring it up, frame it as curiosity: 'I noticed X. Can you share how the team thinks about that?'"
Being too critical too soon can backfire.
Structuring your response
A clear, concise structure helps:
- Start with your motivation for applying to this company specifically
- Mention something you admire about their product, culture, or team
- Connect your skills or experience to what they need
- End by expressing enthusiasm for contributing
For example:
“I decided to apply for the product manager role here because I am attracted to your customer-first culture and focus on quality products. After researching, I saw how your payments platform addresses real challenges for Indian merchants — which matches my experience in fintech. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team that values customer impact as much as I do.”
This kind of answer ticks all the boxes.
Seeing this in action: a simulated interview snippet
PM interview preparation session
Talvinder: “When they ask, 'Why do you want to work here?' they want to hear that you’ve done your research. That you know what products they build, who their customers are, and what challenges they face.”
Candidate: “So I should mention specific products and maybe a recent launch?”
Talvinder: “Exactly. For example, if you’re interviewing at Razorpay, talk about their payments platform and the challenges Indian SMEs face. Show that you care about solving those problems.”
Candidate: “Should I also say what I bring to the table?”
Talvinder: “Yes. Connect your skills to their needs. If you have experience with payments security or scaling APIs, say that. End with enthusiasm.”
Many candidates fail this question by giving generic answers that show no research or motivation.
Field Exercise: Craft your company-specific answer (15 min)
Pick a company you are interviewing with or want to join. Write your answer to "Why do you want to work here?" using this template:
- What attracts you to this company? (Product, culture, mission, team)
- What have you learned about their products or customers?
- How do your skills and experience align with their challenges or goals?
- Why are you excited to contribute?
Focus on specificity and authenticity. Avoid generic praise.
If you struggle, revisit their website, recent news, and LinkedIn profiles of key people.
Handling the question in different interview stages
- Screening call: Keep your answer brief but specific. Show you have done your homework.
- On-site or final rounds: You can add more detail, including thoughtful questions about product challenges or team dynamics.
- If asked for feedback or improvements: Frame it as curiosity, not criticism. For example,
“I noticed X feature isn’t available. Could you share how the team thinks about that area?”
This shows engagement without being confrontational.
Slack conversation: Translating company research into your answer
Judgment Exercise
You are interviewing for a PM role at Razorpay. The recruiter asks: 'Why do you want to work for Razorpay?' You have researched the company’s payments platform, recent credit product launch, and their customer base of Indian SMEs.
The call: Which of the following answers best demonstrates genuine motivation and preparation?
Your reasoning:
You are interviewing for a PM role at Razorpay. The recruiter asks: 'Why do you want to work for Razorpay?' You have researched the company’s payments platform, recent credit product launch, and their customer base of Indian SMEs.
Your task: Write your answer to this question. Be specific, connect your skills, and show genuine motivation.
your reasoning:
From the Field: Talvinder on the importance of genuine motivation
Test yourself: The motivation crossroads
You are interviewing at a Series A startup in Bangalore focused on AI-powered edtech. The interviewer asks: 'Why do you want to work here?'
You have two minutes to answer. How do you respond?
Where to go next
- If you want to master interview storytelling: Crafting Your Career Story
- If you want to develop customer empathy: User Research Basics
- If you want to prepare for common PM interview questions: PM Interview Question Bank
- If you want to understand the PM role deeply: What Is Product Management
PL alumni now work at Flipkart, Razorpay, Swiggy, PhonePe, and 30+ other companies.