WHW Method: Why, What, How for Motivation Questions
- WHW method (WHW)
- WHW is an answer structure for motivation questions: explain Why this company and role appeal to you, What you bring and How the role fits your goals.
Updated
Written by Can Garip
The short answer
WHW is the structure Offermic uses for motivation questions such as "Why do you want this job?" and "Where do you see yourself in five years?": Why, What, How. Explain why this company and role appeal to you, what skills and experience you bring that match their needs, and how the role fits your goals and your plan to contribute.
Key takeaways
- WHW stands for Why, What, How.
- It fits motivation questions, including "Why this role?" and career-goal questions.
- The Why must be specific to the company, which means doing research first.
- The What connects your skills to their needs; the How shows where you are heading.
The WHW method is the structure Offermic uses for motivation questions, the ones that test whether you actually want this job. WHW stands for Why, What, How. It keeps your answer from turning into generic praise (“You’re an industry leader…”) by tying your motivation to evidence.
What does each part of WHW mean?
- Why: why this company and this role in particular. Mention something specific you learned from research: a product, a customer group, a stated mission, a detail from the job posting.
- What: what you bring that matches their needs. Name one or two skills or results that line up with the posting.
- How: how the role fits your career direction and how you would contribute in the first months.
Which questions use WHW?
- “Why this role?” or “Why do you want to work here?”
- “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
- “Why are you leaving your current job?”
WHW example
Example answer (senior registered nurse applying to a pediatric unit):
- Why: “Your hospital runs a family-centered care program on the pediatric floor, and that is how I’ve wanted to work since I started floating to pediatrics two years ago.”
- What: “I’ve spent six years in a busy medical-surgical unit, I’m certified in pediatric advanced life support, and I’ve precepted new graduates, which your posting lists as a need.”
- How: “Over the next few years I’d like to become a charge nurse on a pediatric unit. Here I could start contributing on the floor right away while working toward that.”
How Offermic scores WHW answers
Offermic’s feedback on motivation answers looks at authenticity, company knowledge, alignment between your goals and the role, enthusiasm and specificity. Vague answers that could apply to any employer score lowest.
WHW often follows the PPF method you use for “Tell me about yourself”: the Future part of your introduction sets up the Why. Tufts University’s career advice makes the same point about introductions, which should connect your history to the specific opening. For industry-specific angles on motivation, browse the healthcare interview hub.
Questions people also ask
What if I don't know much about the company?
Read the job posting closely, the company's about and product pages, and recent news. Even one specific detail makes the Why far more believable than a generic compliment.
Should I mention salary or benefits as a reason?
Not as the main reason. Focus on the work, the team and the growth, and leave compensation for the dedicated conversation.
Sources
- How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question, Tufts University
Written byCan Garip, Founder
Can Garip is the founder and developer of this app. He builds the AI mock interview product and writes its interview preparation guides.
Drafted with AI assistance, then edited and fact-checked by the author.