From Generic to Genius: Perfecting Your ‘Why This Company’

Aakash Gupta
2 min readOct 4, 2024

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You’re likely to hear it in >70% of interviews.

So, it’s a question you want to prepare for.

There are 7 common mistakes that even the best make when answering “Why this company?”:

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗘 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣

This is the most common starting point for candidates. It’s easy to fall into reciting the company’s mission statement or listing well-known facts about their products.

The key is to move beyond general facts & showcase how your personal experiences align with the company’s goals or challenges.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗪𝗢 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Many candidates struggle to connect their personal experiences to the company.

Pro tip: your personal connection doesn’t have to be dramatic or directly related to the company’s product. It could be about the company’s approach to a problem, or a feature that resonated with you.

The key is authenticity.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧

Candidates often shy away from addressing weaknesses in their applications. Ignoring potential red flags doesn’t make them disappear; it magnifies them.

Don’t wait for the interviewer to bring up such concerns. Address them proactively & frame them positively. This shows not only self-awareness but also confidence & strategic thinking.

The key is to control the narrative.

Check out the deep-dive to find out the key lessons and how to overcome these mistakes.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗟𝗘

Most candidates deliver their answers without a clear structure. This leads to rambling responses that are hard to follow.

A well-structured answer makes your response more coherent and also highlights your ability to communicate clearly — a crucial PM skill.

The key is to be articulate.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗥

Many candidates struggle with balancing different aspects of their response.

For each reason you give for wanting to join the company, pair it with a way in which your skills, or experience would be an asset.

The key is to strike a balance.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗫 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟

You shouldn’t just show your knowledge of the company but also…

Clearly articulate why this company, at this time, is the right fit for you.

The key is to show how this company is a part of your journey.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗦𝗠 𝗚𝗔𝗣

Candidates often deliver responses in a flat or overly formal tone.

Companies don’t just hire for skills. Let your genuine excitement shine through in your response.

The key is passion.

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Aakash Gupta
Aakash Gupta

Written by Aakash Gupta

Helping PMs, product leaders, and product aspirants succeed

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