Portuguese Phrase
Por que você se interessa por esta vaga?
Meaning
This question asks the interviewee to explain the motivation behind applying for a specific job opening. It signals that the recruiter wants to know how your goals, skills, and values align with the role.
When to use
Use it at the start of a job interview, during a networking conversation about a vacancy, or in a written application when you want to prompt a candidate to elaborate on their interest.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Porquevocêseinteressaporestavaga?
Por que (why)
Use "por que" (separate words, no accent) to ask a reason. It functions like the English "why".
Você (subject pronoun)
Second‑person singular pronoun, common in formal or neutral speech, especially in interviews.
Se interessa (reflexive verb)
The verb "interessar‑se" is reflexive; the pronoun "se" must stay with the verb in the present indicative (interessa).
Por (preposition)
Introduces the cause or object of interest, similar to English "about" or "for".
Esta (demonstrative adjective)
Points to a specific noun that follows; agrees in gender and number with "vaga".
Vaga (noun)
Means "job opening" or "position"; feminine singular.
🗨In Conversation
Por que você se interessa por esta vaga?
Why are you interested in this position?
Eu admiro a cultura de inovação da empresa e vejo que minhas habilidades em análise de dados podem contribuir para os projetos que vocês descrevem na descrição da vaga.
I admire the company's culture of innovation and I see that my data‑analysis skills can contribute to the projects described in the job posting.
✕Common Mistakes
Por quê você se interessa por esta vaga?
Use "por que" (no accent) when asking a question; "por quê" appears only at the end of a sentence.
Por que você interessa por esta vaga?
The verb "interessar" is reflexive in this context; you must include the pronoun "se".
Por que você se interessa esta vaga?
The preposition "por" is required before the demonstrative "esta" to indicate the object of interest.
↔Alternatives
O que o motiva a candidatar‑se a esta vaga?
What motivates you to apply for this position?
Qual é a sua principal razão para querer esta vaga?
What is your main reason for wanting this job?
Por que você quer trabalhar aqui?
Why do you want to work here?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, interviewers value concise, sincere answers that link personal goals with the company's mission. Avoid generic statements like "I need a job"; instead, mention specific projects, values, or growth opportunities that attracted you to the vacancy. Using the reflexive form "se interessa" shows you understand the idiomatic way to express interest.