Interview Answer for "Why This Firm?"

If there’s one question that filters out the time-wasters, it’s this one...

Author

Afzal Hussein
July 03, 2025

Before we get into today’s email, today is quite a special day for me as it’s the official launch day of my debut book ‘Breaking Into Banking’.

As a thank you to everyone that purchases a copy I’m giving away all 9 of my finance Career Guides worth £180 for free. Just buy a copy and email the receipt to [email protected].

Hey 👋!

If there’s one question that filters out the time-wasters, it’s this one:

❝

“Why do you want to work at our firm?”

On the surface, it seems like a throwaway motivational question. But in reality, it’s one of the most important—and one of the most frequently fumbled.

Because here’s the harsh truth:

If your answer sounds like it could be used for 10 other firms, it won’t impress anyone.

Hiring managers want to know:

  • Have you done your homework?

  • Do you understand how this firm is different from its competitors?

  • Do you actually care about working here, or are you just spamming applications?

Your job is to prove that you’ve made a conscious choice—that you didn’t just end up in this interview by accident. When you tailor your answer properly, it shows maturity, intent, and strategic thinking.

Why Most Candidates Get This Wrong

❌ They regurgitate generic statements:

❝

“You have a great reputation and strong deal flow.”
(So do all top firms—this means nothing.)

❌ They list facts from the About Us page:

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“Founded in 1869, your global presence and diverse workforce…”
(That’s just copy-paste. Everyone can find that in 10 seconds.)

❌ They don’t align the answer with their own goals:

It’s not just about the firm—it’s about why the firm is a fit for you.

How to Craft a Strong “Why This Firm” Answer

✅ Be specific – Mention deals, initiatives, values, leadership, culture, or structure that are unique to the firm.

✅ Connect the dots – Show how those things resonate with your career goals, interests, or personality.

✅ Show intent – Prove you’re not just applying for the name—you’ve thought deeply about why here.

Example: “Why Goldman Sachs?”

❝

“What stands out to me about Goldman Sachs is your strong emphasis on collaboration across divisions. I recently read about how your TMT and M&A teams worked together on the Adobe-Figma deal, which really appealed to me because of the cross-functional learning involved.

I’m also drawn to the fact that you promote junior mobility across teams, which shows you invest in long-term development. Finally, your recent initiatives in sustainable finance—especially the $750B climate commitment—align with my interest in ESG-driven strategy.”

This answer is clean, specific, and personal. It’s not a fact-dump—it’s insightfully curated.

Today’s Task:

  1. Pick one of your target firms—ideally one you’re most excited about.

  2. Do 15–30 minutes of research across:

    • Website (values, culture, training)

    • Recent deals or market activity

    • Interviews with analysts on YouTube

    • Podcasts, news articles, press releases

    • LinkedIn posts from the firm

  3. Write down 3 specific reasons why you’re applying. Focus on a mix of:

    • Cultural (e.g. flat structure, collaboration, inclusion, values)
    • Strategic (e.g. market focus, global presence, unique clients)
    • Deals, divisions, or leadership (e.g. notable transaction, team movement, bold initiative)

Bonus: Turn it into a 60-second verbal answer you can rehearse and refine.

If your “Why this firm?” answer feels like a copy-paste template, you haven’t done enough yet.

This is how you show you’re not just another CV—you’re someone who genuinely wants to be there.

This was taken from Day 3 of my 30-Day Interview Preparation Challenge.

That’s all for now.

Afzal

Ps. If you want all 9 of these Career Guides worth £180 for free just buy my debut book ‘Breaking Into Banking’ and email the receipt to [email protected]