Spanish Phrase
¿Por qué quieres este trabajo?
Meaning
The sentence asks someone to explain the motivation behind wanting a particular job. It is a direct, polite way to probe a candidate’s reasons during a job interview or a career‑related conversation.
When to use
Use this question in formal or semi‑formal settings such as job interviews, networking events, or when a mentor asks a mentee about career choices. It signals genuine interest in the candidate’s goals and fit for the role.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Porquéquieresestetrabajo?
Por qué (question word)
‘Por qué’ is written as two words when asking a question; it means ‘why’.
Querer (present tense)
‘Quieres’ is the second‑person singular (tú) present form of ‘querer’, meaning ‘you want’.
Demonstrative adjective
‘Este’ agrees in gender and number with the noun ‘trabajo’; it means ‘this’.
Word order
In Spanish, the interrogative phrase ‘por qué’ starts the question, followed by the verb and the rest of the clause.
🗨In Conversation
¿Por qué quieres este trabajo?
Why do you want this job?
Porque me apasiona la industria tecnológica y quiero crecer profesionalmente en una empresa innovadora.
Because I’m passionate about the tech industry and I want to grow professionally in an innovative company.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Porqué quieres este trabajo?
‘Porqué’ (one word) is a noun meaning ‘the reason’; the question requires the two‑word form ‘por qué’.
¿Por qué quiere este trabajo?
Use ‘quieres’ for ‘tú’; ‘quiere’ is the formal ‘usted’ form. Mixing forms can sound inconsistent.
¿Por qué quieres este puesto?
If you want a more formal tone, replace ‘este trabajo’ with ‘este puesto’ or ‘esta posición’.
↔Alternatives
¿Cuál es tu motivación para este puesto?
What is your motivation for this position?
¿Qué te atrae de este trabajo?
What attracts you to this job?
¿Por qué te interesa este empleo?
Why are you interested in this employment?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries interviewers value humility combined with confidence. When answering, focus on how your skills match the company’s needs and mention personal growth. If you’re speaking to a senior manager, you may switch to the formal ‘usted’ form: ‘¿Por qué quiere usted este trabajo?’