Best Responses for “Why Do You Want to Work From Home?” Interview Question

(Updated July 2023)

Why do you want to work from home? The words resonate in your mind far before you start to interview for jobs. Yet this question isn’t just for inward contemplation. It’s something that many employers and interviewers ask as part of the remote employment process. So before you shout out “sleeping in” or “pajama-wearing,” think long and hard about the question at hand. Not only will the answer give you a deeper understanding of your own intentions, but you’ll impress the interviewer enough to get one step closer to your goal: work from home employment.

Before the Interview: Prep Work for Answering “Why Do You Want to Work From Home?”

Do some prep work before the interview so that you have a clear understanding of your motivation for why you want a remote job. When you’re fully aware of what drives you, your response will be authentic and sound less scripted. Set aside at least 30 minutes to reflect and follow these simple steps.

1. Make a List

First, do some brainstorming and soul searching. Ask yourself, “Why do you want to work from home?” and make a list of everything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about crafting perfect sentences at first. Just get all your thoughts out of your head so you can dig deep for your completed answer. Some considerations you may have include:

Productivity concerns or cutting commute time to become more productive
Work-life balance
Improved scheduling and time management

2. Organize Your List by Topic

When you feel satisfied with your list, group your list items into related topics. For example, you may have thought of benefits related to:

Eliminating the daily commute
Optimizing your time
Reducing environmental impacts
Working whenever you want or can
Reducing workplace distractions
Working in a comfortable environment where you thrive

Tally up related items and lump them together to uncover which perks hold the most value. Pick the top three to five reasons as your primary discussion points.

3. Be More Specific

Now that you know which general perks are most important to you, create some specific statements for each. For example, you probably included better work-life balance as a primary motivation for working from home, as do many other remote workers.

But what does “work-life balance” really mean? For some, it may mean being able to work during peak brain hours or around the kids’ schedules. For others, it may mean being able to take work on the road without sacrificing pay. Write out a few sentences about what you gain from working remotely and how it solves both personal and career challenges.

Repeat this exercise for all the top reasons you uncovered in step 2.

4. Research Business Benefits

Did you know that employers can save money, decrease turnover, and increase productivity by letting their employees work remotely? Though employers who offer a work-at-home option already understand the perks, it’s nice to show them you care about the company’s future. Therefore, research articles, surveys, reports, and interviews about business owners who successfully operate remote teams. Make a list of general topics, but also include statistics and references for credibility.

On top of these advantages, you can also reference other benefits that can boost the reputation of the company. Some of these aspects are:

Positive environmental effects
Improved morale equals employee retention
Opportunity to further integrate the team through virtual “water cooler” activities

Some companies may already have knowledge of the beneficial attributes of remote work. But reiterating them can’t hurt your chances.

5. Map Your Motivations to Business Benefits

Now, compare your lists and map each item in your list of work from home perks to a specific business benefit. For example, you can link “flexible schedule” on your list to “increased productivity,” “fewer sick days,” or “increased employee retention” in the business benefits list. The goal is to create a direct relationship between your motivations and company advantages. Doing so helps prove a work-from-home option is mutually beneficial. Plus, it shows initiative to employers, which is a highly coveted soft skill that can only build your profile.

Prepare and Practice a Few Scripts

If you’re the type of person who can speak eloquently off the cuff, then consider yourself prepared. However, if you prefer to practice your speech ahead of time, craft a few scripts using the sentences and mappings in previous steps. Here are a few samples for inspiration.

On Increasing Efficiency by Eliminating the Daily Commute:

Preparing for work and commuting to and from the office consumes about two hours each day. By working from home, I hit the ground running sooner and get more done in less time. Plus, there are no delays for traffic or weather, so I work consistently come rain, sleet, or snow. Therefore, you can always count on me regardless of external factors.

On Increasing Productivity by Reducing Workplace Distractions:

Though I value my professional relationships, I do my best work when I’m alone in my home office. I have more control over my environment and can actively prevent distractions and stay focused on my tasks. I’m still responsive to emails and other messages, of course, and value frequent communication with my remote teammates.

On Reducing Environmental Impacts:

I recognize how my daily actions impact the environment, so I strive to minimize such impacts at home and work. By working at home, I not only complete my tasks more efficiently, but I also significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and other greenhouse gases. Plus, I help the company achieve its environmental stewardship goals by reducing energy use and overall waste.

Notice that each of the example scripts start with an employee benefit, then focus on work tasks, and end with an employer benefit. Try constructing your scripts in the same manner so that you explain how everyone wins in the remote workplace.

During the Interview: Strong Responses for “Why Do You Want to Work From Home?

Most likely, you will conduct your first interview over the phone. Thus, you can keep your list and scripts handy for guidance whenever you blank out or stumble over your words.

When the interviewer asks specific questions, be sure to answer them directly. If you get more open-ended questions, take the reins and speak on the topics that matter most to you and demonstrate your best qualities. At some point during the conversation, you should touch on the following:

Productivity (e.g., how working from home boosts your efficiency and work output)
Communication (e.g., tools or methods you typically use for reporting and discussion)
Consistency (e.g., reliable adherence to deadlines, work hours, or response times)

Feel free to “name drop” and provide statistics about the benefits of remote work. For example, you might mention Nicholas Bloom’s famous Ted Talk about how working from home boosts productivity and saves companies thousands each year. By discussing studies and researchers, you show that you’re current on industry knowledge, and you may even enlighten the interviewer with new, useful facts.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to say the “right” thing, however. The best you can do is speak honestly and professionally. Answer each question clearly, then let the interviewer guide you to the next topic.

What Not to Say During the Interview About Why You Want a Remote Job

Due to equal employment opportunity laws and other factors, there are definitely things you don’t want to say during an interview — even if they are true and legit reasons you want to work from home. Employers and recruiters generally know that they aren’t allowed to ask you specific questions to prevent hiring discrimination, but you don’t want to corner yourself or put interviewers in an uncomfortable situation.

Instead of focusing on the personal aspects (e.g., kids, ill family members, social preferences, unrelated interests, or disabilities), address how working remotely solves common workplace problems and helps alleviate challenges. As alternatives to the previous examples, you can say you want to work from home because you:

Find that remote environments help you balance your personal and professional priorities, which leads to better time management and increased work efficiency.
Appreciate the freedoms that a flexible schedule provides and, as a result, are more motivated to work productively each day.
Enjoy independent work and can self-manage your tasks effectively.
Prefer to maintain a well-rounded professional experience to apply knowledge and skills from other aspects of your life and work history.
Thrive in a self-made workspace tailored to your preferences and workflow.

Above all, keep the job requirements, your workplace qualifications, and the employer benefits as the focal point of discussion. Whenever the conversation gets a little too personal or unrelated to the job, reel it back in with hardcore facts about how remote work is a win-win workplace solution.

Ready to Nail Your Next Work From Home Interview?

Ready to ace that interview question? Take your preparation to the next level with expert career coaching! Whether you need personalized guidance or prefer learning with peers, we’ve got you covered. Opt for one-on-one career coaching sessions to refine your responses, or explore our series of group coaching recordings focused on interviewing in our Remote Career Center. Don’t leave your career to chance; get the expert help you need today!

Why do you want to work from home? Have you ever answered this question successfully in an interview? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your advice or story. We’d love to hear from you!

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