How to answer "Why do you want to work here?"

This question tests whether you have done your research and whether your goals fit the role. Generic answers (“great company, great culture”) signal you would say the same to anyone. Strong answers are specific and two-directional: what draws you to them, and what you bring.

Research three concrete hooks before the interview — a product you admire, a technical challenge at their scale, a value or mission that resonates, or recent news. Then connect each to your own goals. For example: “I have spent two years on payments infrastructure, and the reliability problems you are solving at your transaction volume are exactly the kind of work I want to go deeper on — and I think my background in idempotent systems would contribute there quickly.”

The formula: a specific, researched reason about them, linked to a genuine reason about you. Avoid focusing only on what you get (salary, brand); show you understand what the role needs and why you fit it.