Why Edwards Lifesciences? How to Answer It (With Example)

What 'Why Edwards Lifesciences?' is really testing

Medical technology employers commonly ask a motivation question early in the process, whether in a recruiter call, a competency interview or a recorded one-way video. The question is rarely about flattery. Interviewers are usually trying to judge three things: whether you understand what the company does, whether your reasons for wanting the role are credible, and whether you are likely to stay engaged in a regulated, patient-focused industry.

Edwards Lifesciences is publicly known as a medical device company focused on areas such as structural heart disease and critical care monitoring. That context matters. Candidates who only say 'it's a big, respected company' sound like they could be applying anywhere. Candidates who connect their own experience to the company's focus on patients and clinical outcomes stand out.

Do your research before you write a word

You do not need insider knowledge, and you should not pretend to have any. You need enough public information to be specific. Spend 45 to 60 minutes on the following, and always check the company's current materials, because priorities and products change.

Take notes in your own words. A single, accurate, specific observation is worth more than five generic compliments.

• The careers page and any published values or mission statement: note the actual wording and what behaviours it implies.
• The most recent annual report or investor materials: look for stated priorities, therapy areas and where the company says it is investing.
• Press releases or news about clinical studies, new approvals or technology developments: pick one that genuinely interests you.
• The job description: highlight the three skills or responsibilities you can evidence from your own work.
• Your own story: why does healthcare, devices or patient impact matter to you personally or professionally?

A three-part structure: Mission, Match, Mark

A strong answer is short, usually 60 to 90 seconds spoken, and follows a clear order. Use this framework to avoid rambling.

Keep the whole answer in the first person and tied to evidence. If you cannot back a claim with an example, soften it or cut it.

• Mission: what attracts you about the company's purpose or work, stated specifically (one or two sentences).
• Match: a brief example from your experience that shows you have the relevant skills or values. This is where the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) fits, kept to a compressed form.
• Mark: what you want to contribute and learn in this role, and the mark you hope to make in the first year or two.

Worked example using STAR

The answer below is illustrative only. It is written for a quality or process-focused graduate role, and the figures are placeholders. Replace everything with your own genuine experience and real numbers.

"What draws me to Edwards Lifesciences is the focus on patients with heart disease, where the quality of a device has a direct effect on someone's life. That is what I want my engineering work to connect to. On my placement in a manufacturing quality team (Situation), I was asked to investigate a recurring inspection failure on a disposable component (Task). I reviewed several weeks of inspection data, found that most failures traced back to one misaligned fixture, proposed a change, and documented the new check so operators could follow it consistently (Action). Rejects on that line fell by [X%] over the following month, and I learned how much rigorous documentation matters when products are used in clinical settings (Result). I'd like to bring that same attention to detail and data-led problem solving to this role, and to learn how quality is managed in a regulated medical device environment."

Notice what the answer does: it names a specific reason, gives one compact piece of evidence, and finishes by looking forward. It does not claim knowledge of the company's internal processes.

Common mistakes, and what to say instead

Most weak answers fail in predictable ways. Compare these approaches.

• Don't say: 'It's a global leader and a great name for my CV.' Do say: 'I'm drawn to work where product quality connects directly to patient outcomes.'
• Don't recite the company's website back to the interviewer. Do pick one detail and explain why it matters to you.
• Don't overclaim a personal story, such as a family illness, if it is not true or you are not comfortable discussing it. Do use a sincere, proportionate reason, such as a university module, a placement or a clinical shadowing experience.
• Don't focus only on what you will gain (salary, brand, progression). Do balance it with what you will contribute.
• Don't give a two-minute monologue. Do aim for 60 to 90 seconds and stop.

Delivering it well on a recorded video interview

If your motivation question arrives in a one-way video format, you usually get limited preparation time and a fixed answer window, so structure matters even more. Write your three-part answer as bullet prompts rather than a script, because memorised paragraphs tend to sound flat on camera.

Practise aloud, timing yourself. A tool like ScreenReady lets you rehearse timed answers on camera and review AI feedback on structure and clarity, which is useful for spotting rambling or a weak opening. Whatever method you use, record at least three takes, listen back, and trim any sentence that does not add evidence or specificity.

Final checklist before you answer

Run through this list the day before your interview.

• I can state one specific thing about Edwards Lifesciences' work that interests me, and why.
• I have one real example from my experience that supports my reasons.
• I know what I want to contribute in this particular role.
• My answer fits in 60 to 90 seconds.
• I have not claimed any knowledge I cannot source from public information.