The purpose of a job interview is to help an employer assess whether you have the right skills and experience to join their organization. Your interviewer may ask how your long term goals align with the needs of the business and how you would fit the company’s culture. One of the most common interview questions asked today is: “Why should we hire you?”
This question is simple, direct, and helps a business get to know you better without having to ask a wide range of specific questions. Fortunately, you can control how you answer this question, and there are a few things you can do to craft a strong response. In this guide, we’re going to discuss how you craft the perfect “Why Should We Hire You?” answer to ace your next interview.
How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”
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This question has become so common in job interviews because it allows employers to hear about what unique value you can bring to their business. To put it another way, when you receive question, you are being asked about how you, specifically, can help the business achieve their goals. What makes you a good fit for the job?
So, how should you go about answering this question? Let’s break down a few top tips to help you respond gracefully to this question.
Tip #1: Prepare for this question in advance
The first step in answering this question should take place before the interview even begins. So, you’re already on the right track by reading this article!
You should spend time reading over the job posting for the position you applied to. Which parts of that posting resonate most with you, and which requirements do you think you can fill? What experience do you have that meets the “experience” listing in the job post?
By identifying your skills, you’ll find it easier to recognize the specific ways that you can add value to a company.
In addition, you should also spend time researching the company’s goals and long-term mission. This will help you understand what values matter most to the business and help you figure out whether those values align with your goals.
Tip #2: Focus on the employer’s needs
This question sounds like it is about you and your wants, but in actual fact it is about how you can help a business. Your goals are important, but an interviewer is asking you this question to learn more about how you can help them.
When you respond to this question, make sure that you talk specifically about how you can help the business.
For instance, if you have discovered that the business believes heavily in developer relations, you could talk about your experience building a developer community. Or if a business aspires to help a million people accomplish a certain task, you could talk about your experience in scaling a team.
You should try to link your experience, skills, and characteristics to the exact position for which you are applying. Also, make sure that you discuss all the qualities that make you right for the position.
Tip #3: Use statistics to illustrate your accomplishments
Statistics are a great way to demonstrate your impact on a business.
Suppose you are applying for a web developer job. You might say that you helped speed up your former employer’s website by 25% or that you built components for a site with over fifty thousand users. Solid, numbers-driven examples are a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates and clearly showcase how you have helped a business in the past.
Tip #4: Mention any unique traits or experience
It can also be helpful to mention any unique characteristics or experience you have which you think makes you more qualified for a job.
If you are applying for a job as a chef, for example, you could say that you participate in a local initiative to help food banks.
Although not directly relevant to your professional experience, this example will help you better demonstrate your value to an employer and set you apart from other applicants.
Tip #5: Mention real examples
It can be tempting to use phrases such as “I would be a great fit for this position because I am organized/self-motivated/etc.” These are indeed positive character traits. Just talking about how you hold these traits is not enough, however. You need to show an employer that you have them.
In your interview, you should maintain a professional appearance, which will help you showcase some of your soft skills. You should also try to mention real examples of how you have used certain soft skills. So, if you say that you are self-motivated, you could mention an example of when you really needed to use those skills.
Tip #6: Tell a story
Your answers to this question should be brief, but that doesn’t mean you should recite a list of bullet points that you have memorized. Instead, consider what makes you qualified for a job, and craft a short story about what makes you a good fit.
First, discuss what you think the employer is looking for, then talk about how you have the skills and experience necessary to fill that need for the employer.
Example Answers to “Why Should We Hire You?”
Do you need a few examples to help you figure out how you can respond to this question? Great news: we’ve got you covered. Below we have written a few example answers to help you more effectively answer the question “Why should we hire you?”
Example #1: Administrative assistant
In this interview, you have highlighted how you are looking for an administrative assistant who has both technical skills and strong organizational skills. Given my experience as an administrative assistant with X, I believe I would be a good fit for the job.
I have experience communicating with professionals, and I am proficient in a number of modern software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Gmail, and Airtable. I would be thrilled to bring my oral and written communication skills to this position.
This response works because it is simple, and draws on the fact that the candidate has experience using specific technologies such as Airtable and Excel.
Example #2: Front-end web developer
You should hire me for this position because of my proven ability to build efficient front-end user interfaces in line with modern best practices. I am experienced in using JavaScript, as well as the React framework, to develop front-end applications.
In my most recent job, I was tasked with making our website load quicker. Through my work I was able to improve loading and rendering times by 10%. I understand that you are looking for someone with knowledge of back-end technologies as well.
I have spent my free time learning Ruby on Rails over the last few months, which I believe would be useful in this role. I would love the opportunity to use my skills for this position.
This answer is effective because the candidate has briefly mentioned specific tools they have used. They have also given an example from their last job about how they used those tools to have a measurable impact on the business.
Example #3: Accountant
You mentioned in the job listing that you are looking for an accountant with experience producing complex balance sheets and income statements.
In my last job, I was responsible for writing our balance sheets and income statements. During this time, I came up with a way to reorganize our accounting practices to make it easier to collect the data needed to prepare these statements.
In addition, I have experience using modern accounting tools such as Excel and QuickBooks. I would use to help you more efficiently track your expenditures and outgoing expenses.
This example response works because the interviewee mentions one clear example of how they helped a business achieve their accounting goals. This example is relevant to the needs of the company that they are interviewing for. The interviewee also mentions specific technologies which they have experience using, which allows them to better demonstrate their value.
Conclusion
The question “Why should we hire you?” may sound intimidating.
However, if you spend time preparing for this question, you should have no trouble delivering an effective response that articulates the impact you can make on an organization.
The main point to remember is that this question is not about you and your goals. Rather, it’s about how you can add value to the business. Make sure you create clear links between your expertise and experience and the needs of the business.
Ultimately, this question gives you a chance to show why you are a the best candidate for the job. Use this opportunity to showcase your skills, with reference to examples.
