You have the skills, and you have the experience - but you have to figure out how to answer the infamous question “Why should we hire you?” in an interview.
While this query may appear simple, most job candidates struggle to address it effectively. It demands a strategic understanding of what makes you uniquely valuable to your prospective employer.
Therefore, preparing and practicing this question beforehand is crucial. This way, you can express why you fit the role with enthusiasm, brevity, and confidence.
In this article, I delve into why interviewers ask this question and offer guidance on providing the best possible answer with the help of a few examples.
Employers ask this question to hear your elevator pitch, giving you the opportunity to market yourself as a seasoned professional. Your response can emphasize various key attributes:
You can highlight a particular accomplishment from a relevant previous role, demonstrating how you can replicate similar successes within their organization.
It is recommended to include any numbers or figures that help you quantify your achievements.
If you can showcase that you possess all the skills sought by the company, you can effectively answer the question.
Emphasizing your compatibility with the company culture and enthusiasm for your field or industry can significantly enhance the attractiveness of your candidacy.
When two applicants exhibit similar skills and work experience, employers often favor the more motivated, sociable candidate who can seamlessly integrate into their company culture.
Given that this question can perplex candidates, it can be a test of your ability in handling challenging situations by getting you to explain, humbly and thoughtfully, why you are the best fit for the job.
(Pro-tip: While preparation is highly recommended, it's also important not to memorize your response verbatim, as this can make you appear robotic or insincere during the interview.)
Now that I’ve covered the fundamentals let's delve into some useful tips! These 4 key tips will let you ace this job interview question:
Begin your response by emphasizing any pertinent skills and professional experiences that align with the position requirements you are seeking.
To increase the credibility of your answer, always substantiate your statements with concrete examples.
It is crucial to incorporate your ability to collaborate as teamwork and adaptability are essential in nearly every professional setting. Irrespective of your field, you will likely need to collaborate with others and adjust to a variety of social situations. Collaborative and adaptable employees are therefore highly sought after by employers.
Even in seemingly solitary professions, such as that of a novelist, collaborating with publishers, editors, and book designers remains integral to creating a successful book.
Convincing the interviewer that you can seamlessly adapt to your work environment, colleagues, and superiors is a fundamental aspect of effectively responding to the question "Why should we hire you?"
Ultimately, every job’s function is to assist an organization in achieving specific goals. For instance, in a marketing role, the aim might be to generate leads. While in customer support, it's about providing exceptional service to clients.
Therefore, one effective way to answer this question is by highlighting how your experience and skills can directly help the company in achieving its goals.
Consider a scenario where you're applying for an event planner position at a small company. Upon reviewing the job description, you understand that the company seeks someone capable of organizing local events and enhancing the company's visibility.
This advice is helpful for every interview question: "Tell us more about yourself," "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" or any other queries the interviewer might pose.
Ultimately, don't pretend to be someone you aren't.
Misrepresenting your experience, qualifications, or abilities can result in securing the job, but the experience will likely be unsatisfactory for you as well as your employer.
Examples of responses to the question "Why should we hire you?" can serve as a valuable guide when crafting your answers.
"My passion and proven organizational abilities make me a strong candidate for this role. I take pride in my effective time management, coordination, and interpersonal skills. I successfully reorganized the office supply closet by implementing a category-based system in my previous position. This initiative led to a 30% reduction in annual office supply expenses. I am eager to utilize these skills in this new role."
"My experience and expertise in creating streamlined schedules make me an ideal fit for this role. I understand the importance of meticulous organization, which is evident from my track record in my previous job. I am enthusiastic about contributing my organizational skills to your restaurant."
"I am the right fit for this position due to my proven ability to cultivate strong client relationships. My dedication to serving the community consistently drives me to deliver my best work. I know the importance of maintaining a consistent presence for client events, as reflected in my 100% attendance record for weekly case proceedings and meetings.
Additionally, I possess leadership experience, having successfully trained and mentored over 20 new hires to ensure smooth operations and facilitate their integration into the team."
“Based on our conversation and the job description, I believe I have the skills and qualifications you're looking for in a candidate. My extracurricular involvement in reputable design competitions prove my commitment to product design.
I am motivated by the mentorship, growth opportunities, and innovation that [Company Name] has as it aligns with my mission to grow as a designer and impact the technology industry. I am excited about the possibility of being a part of this amazing team and company!”
When responding to the question "Why should we hire you?" it's important to avoid certain practices:
Knowing how to respond to the daunting question, "Why should we hire you?" is your golden ticket to standing out in the competitive job market. It's your chance to shine and showcase your unique value.
So, remember, when you're in that interview room, be yourself, be confident, and be ready to prove why you're the perfect fit for the job. Always remember that it's not just about selling your skills but also your story and your potential.
Show your employers why you are not just a candidate but the solution they've been searching for.
Seize that opportunity today and leave your employers with no choice but to say, "We should hire you."
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Created by industry experts
Created by industry experts
