Candidates are often asked a common question during job interviews: “Why should we hire you?”

Employers ask this question for several reasons:

• To determine if you possess the specific skills they require
• To see if you understand the core expectations of the role
• To gauge your emotional reaction to the question. Do you respond confidently or seem flustered? Are you assertive or modest?

It’s best to prepare your answer to this question before the interview to highlight your skills and make the best possible impression on the hiring manager.

A few steps can help you prepare:

• Research the job description and the company to tailor your response effectively
• Provide additional context beyond your resume to strengthen your case for being hired
• Describe your skills and back them up with examples of how you can use them to solve problems and achieve the company’s goals

Below are some sample answers; use them as a guide during your interview.

Sample Answer №1
«Based on our conversation and my research, I understand your company is looking for an Administrative Assistant who possesses both strong interpersonal and technical skills. I believe my experience aligns perfectly with what your company needs. I’m an effective communicator, comfortable with verbal presentations, phone calls, and business correspondence. I’m also a power user of Excel. I’m eager to bring my versatile skill set to your company.»

Why it works: You directly map the requirements listed in the job description to your own qualifications, clearly showing the hiring manager why you are a strong fit.

Sample Answer №2
«You’re looking for a Special Education Teaching Assistant with great patience and compassion. Having worked as a tutor in a summer school for children with dyslexia for the past two years, I’ve developed the ability to be extremely patient while still achieving academic progress with my students. My experience teaching phonics to children aged 6 to 18 has taught me strategies for working with kids of all ages and abilities, always with a smile.»

Why it works: The interviewee reinforces their answer with positive emotion. You can be more persuasive by connecting through demeanor rather than just words.

Sample Answer №3
«My background in IT, and specifically my ability to maintain and update websites, makes me a strong candidate for this role. In my last position, I was responsible for maintaining our department’s webpage. My duties included regular updates to student and faculty profiles, as well as posting information about upcoming events. In my spare time, I taught myself to code in JavaScript and Swift. I then used my coding skills to revamp our landing page and received commendation from our department head and the Dean of Students for my initiative. I’m excited about the prospect of applying my coding skills and my interest in learning new technologies in this position.»
Why it works: The interviewer wants to know what sets you apart. This answer focuses on the professional skills that differentiate the candidate in the job market.

Sample Answer №4
«You’re looking for a Sales Manager who can effectively lead a team of over 10 employees. In my 15 years as a Sales Manager, I’ve developed strong motivational and team-building skills. I’ve been honored twice as ‘Manager of the Year’ for my innovative employee motivation strategies and my ability to meet and exceed quarterly targets. If hired, I look forward to applying my leadership abilities and strategies to help grow your bottom line.»

Why it works: This answer provides detailed information about the candidate’s experience, track record of success, and key qualifications for the role, highlighting relevant achievements.

Tip 1. Demonstrate Your Value
For each competency or skill you mention, recall a specific instance where you applied it in a work context. Think about:

• Other relevant skills you could bring to the role
• Any previous professional or personal experiences
• Volunteer work that could showcase your work ethic

Ultimately, this is your chance to tell the interviewer why you would be an invaluable employee.

Tip 2. Use Storytelling
Briefly describe a scenario where you effectively utilized your hard and soft skills in a previous role.
Start by acknowledging what the employer is looking for, then demonstrate how you can meet that need. Your response should ideally last no more than one to two minutes.

Tip 3. Avoid a Scripted Response
While practicing your delivery is important, don’t try to memorize it word-for-word. It’s better to have a general idea of what you want to say and adapt it during the conversation.
If the interviewer indicates that a different quality or skill is more valuable to the organization, be sure to incorporate that feedback into your answer.