How to Answer 'Why Are You Interested in This Position?

Key Takeaways

• Interviewers look for genuine interest supported by research, not generic or vague answers.
• A strong response explains why you chose the company, why the role fits, and why you are the right candidate.
• Referencing specific deals, projects, or team attributes demonstrates understanding of the work, culture, and value you can contribute.

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"Why are you interested in this position?" shows up in every finance job interview, from early phone screens to Superday final rounds. It sounds simple, but hiring managers at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and other top firms use this common interview question to test whether you've done your homework or whether you're just mass-applying and hoping something sticks.

Generic answers like "it's a great opportunity" or "I've always wanted to work in finance" signal that you haven't thought seriously about the specific role. Recruiters hear hundreds of responses to this question every recruiting cycle. The candidates who stand out are the ones who can articulate genuine interest backed by real research. Whether you're pursuing your dream job at a bulge bracket or interviewing for your first finance role, your answer sets the tone for everything that follows and often determines whether you move closer to a job offer.

Why do interviewers ask this question?

This question serves multiple purposes, and understanding what interviewers actually evaluate helps you craft a response that lands.

At the surface level, hiring managers want to filter serious candidates from those treating the job application as one of many in a broader job search. But the real assessment goes deeper. Interviewers evaluate four dimensions: your depth of company knowledge, your understanding of the specific job, how well your career goals align with the role, and whether your enthusiasm feels authentic without tipping into desperation.

In finance specifically, this question tests whether you understand what the work actually involves. Investment banking means long hours, tight deadlines, and client-facing pressure. Private equity requires deep due diligence and portfolio company involvement. Consulting at firms like McKinsey and Bain demands structured problem-solving across unfamiliar industries. Your answer should reflect awareness of these realities, not just a vague sense that the job sounds prestigious.

A three-part framework for structuring your answer

Strong answers follow a clear structure that covers three elements: why this company, why this role, and why you're a good fit. Rushing through any one of these weakens the overall response.

Why this company

Start by showing you've researched the firm beyond its homepage. Reference specific deals, market positioning, or cultural elements that drew your interest. Instead of saying "Morgan Stanley has a great reputation," try "Morgan Stanley's strength in tech M&A and your team's recent deal activity in the sector matches where I want to build expertise."

One or two concrete details demonstrate genuine interest far better than broad praise. Check recent press releases, deal announcements, and the company website for material you can reference naturally. Review the company's mission statement and recent initiatives to understand their strategic direction. LinkedIn and even the firm's social media presence can help you learn about team culture and recent hires. If the job posting mentions company values or specific cultural priorities, reference them authentically. The more you prepare for a job interview, the more naturally these details will come up in conversation.

Your goal is to show you chose this particular company deliberately, not randomly. When a potential employer hears that you've researched their firm beyond the first page of Google results, it signals you're serious about this new role specifically.

Why this role

Connect the job description to your skill set and career aspirations. If you're interviewing for an analyst position, acknowledge that you understand the daily work involves financial modeling, due diligence, and supporting senior team members on live transactions. If it's a consulting role, show you understand the client exposure and structured problem-solving involved.

Avoid making this section entirely about what you'll gain. "Great training program" centers your needs rather than demonstrating value. Balance your learning goals with how your background prepares you to contribute from day one.

Why you're the right fit

Bridge your work experience to their specific needs. This section should be brief since other interview questions like "tell me about yourself" give you space to expand on your background. Here, you're creating a connection point: your previous jobs built relevant skills, your coursework gave you technical foundations, or your current job (or internship) exposed you to similar deal flow.

Think about what makes you a great fit for this specific job. Maybe you have years of experience in a related function, or your teamwork on a recent project demonstrates how you collaborate under pressure. Perhaps your specific skills in financial modeling or problem-solving match what the job description emphasizes. A specific example from your background makes your fit tangible rather than abstract.

Don't treat this answer as a cover letter summary. Keep it focused on the intersection between your background and their needs. A good answer to this similar question elsewhere in your interview should reinforce, not repeat, what you say here.

Sample answers for finance roles

These templates give you starting points to adapt. Memorizing scripts word-for-word makes your delivery sound robotic. Instead, understand the components and practice until the structure feels natural.

Investment banking analyst

"I'm drawn to this role at Morgan Stanley because of your strength in healthcare M&A. The recent cross-border deal work I've read about shows the complexity and client exposure I want early in my career. This analyst position appeals because I'll build valuation and modeling skills while contributing to live transactions. My internship experience building DCF models and supporting due diligence gave me a foundation I'm eager to develop further on a team known for rigorous deal execution."

Private equity associate

"This associate role interests me because of the combination of deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio company involvement. Your fund's focus on middle-market industrials aligns with my operating background and where I want to build long-term expertise. I've followed your investment thesis, and the value creation approach resonates with how I think about building businesses. My experience in banking gave me transaction fundamentals, and I'm ready to apply that on the buy side."

Consulting analyst

"I'm interested in this analyst role because McKinsey's financial services practice matches where I want to develop industry expertise. The structured problem-solving and direct client exposure appeal to my career goals. Leading case competitions taught me to break down ambiguous problems quickly, and I'm excited to apply that rigor alongside a team known for analytical depth and collaborative work style."

Common mistakes that weaken your answer

Even candidates with strong backgrounds undermine themselves with predictable missteps. The frustrating part is that most of these errors are entirely preventable with a bit of self-awareness. Recognizing these patterns before your interview gives you an edge over candidates who stumble into the same traps. Here's what to avoid:

• Focusing only on what you'll gain. Talking exclusively about learning opportunities and training programs centers your needs rather than demonstrating value. Balance development goals with contributions you'll make.
• Being too generic. "I've always been interested in finance" or "this seems like a great fit" could apply to any job opening at any firm. Specificity signals genuine interest and distinguishes you from other job seekers.
• Mentioning compensation first. Leading with salary or bonus expectations raises red flags about your motivation. Save compensation discussions for later in the process.
• Implying the role is a stepping stone. Saying "this will help me transition to private equity" tells your potential employer you're already planning your exit. Even if that's your long-term career aspirations, frame your answer around genuine interest in this position in the first place.
• Sounding robotic. Memorized scripts feel inauthentic under pressure. Know your key points well enough to deliver them conversationally, adjusting based on the flow of the interview.

How Cook'd AI helps you master this question

Knowing what to say and delivering it under pressure are different skills. Cook'd AI is your personal career mentor and recruiting concierge for exactly these moments. Daily drills build muscle memory for behavioral questions so your responses flow without hesitation. Mock interviews simulate real firm environments, complete with follow-up questions that test whether your interest is genuine or rehearsed. Diagnostics identify delivery weak spots like filler words, uneven pacing, or confidence dips that undermine otherwise good answers.

The platform manages your preparation so you can focus on landing offers. Practice structured responses, get feedback on your delivery, and build the confidence that makes elite recruiting feel achievable. Whether you're targeting a Summer Analyst role or an Associate position at a top firm, Cook'd AI helps you develop answers that sound natural under pressure. 

Start preparing with Cook'd AI and walk into your next interview ready to articulate exactly why you want to be there.