| When I've been in the hiring seat, I don't ask this question. I think there are far better ways to get the information this question is trying to get. When I've been the applicant, I always have an answer to this, though. Before I've even applied to the company, I've already done at least some research on them (even if it's just reading their website) and know the sorts of things they do. There's something there that made me decide to apply at that particular company. I'm not just firing resumes out at random, after all. Perhaps that thing is small -- they use a particular technology that I'm interested in, or maybe it's just that I think what they produce is cool, or maybe just that they're located somewhere I want to be, or that they're in a segment of the industry that I'm intrigued by. One time, as an example, I applied at a company because some close friends had worked there in the past and had great things to report about it. So I said that (along with how what they do intersects with my skillset) and elaborated on what I was told about the company that appealed to me. In any case, whatever that thing was is the core of my answer to the "why us" question. I don't try to pad it or flatter the interviewer with how incredible I think the company is. I just talk about the thing that made me choose to apply there. In reality, as another response here said, what the interviewer wants to know is that you have some idea of what the company is about and you have some real interest (even a little bit) aside from a paycheck. Your answer should demonstrate that. |
This, I think, is really the core of it. Talented candidates can be picky about what jobs they apply to because they are in demand; they have looked over a company and found one or more specific reasons to apply. Answers like "I'm looking for a job and this position matches my skills." suggest that the candidate is being unselective, possibly because they are desperate and/or are significantly below average.