The question “why should we hire you?” is one of the most common interview questions in the interview process. And rightfully so. While most interview questions aim to check your skill and ability to perform the job’s minimum requirements, this question allows you to sell yourself to the interviewer. It allows you to showcase yourself as a worthwhile prospect and why you should be selected among all the other job candidates.
This article will discuss how to answer this question so that your response stands out from the rest.
Why Is This Question Important?
As with most personality trait questions, there is no right or wrong answer. However, there are certainly right and wrong ways to answer these questions. Hiring managers use these questions to identify if you possess the relevant qualities and character traits that fit the company culture and job role. They are also looking for your knowledge of the company, your experience in the role, and your job skills.
It’s easy for an interviewee to become overwhelmed by an open-ended question, which underlines the importance of researching the company and the role you’re applying for beforehand. During your research, consider your key qualifications and competencies and match them to those required to fulfill the role successfully. Emphasize the best matches but be sure not to come across as arrogant or cocky, as these are common red flags that interviewers are also on the lookout for.
How to Prepare for This Question
As mentioned above, interview prep before the actual interview is imperative. The key aspects you need to review are:
- Your work history (or relevant college and school experience for first-time interviewees)
- Your skill set, additional qualities, and relevant qualifications
- The needs of the company or role you are applying to
Take the time to review the job listing and research the company’s history, direction, vision, and goals. Try envisioning how you can fit into that picture in the short and longer term. This will give you a strong basis to start forming your answer.
Showing you’re well prepared indicates that you care about the role and respect the time allotted to you to be interviewed. Explain confidently what value you will bring to the company and why you are the ideal candidate.
Remember, this question is generally asked fairly early in the hiring process and creates an initial impression of you.
How to Answer the “Why Should We Hire You?” Interview Question
Now that you’re fully prepared for this important interview question, it’s time to start creating responses. Below are a few guidelines to help you along.
Project Confidence
Hiring managers are not just paying special attention to what you say, but how confident you are in saying it too. Your confidence will naturally improve with solid preparation and some rehearsal.
There’s a major difference but a fine line between confidence and cockiness. Understanding where this line is drawn is imperative to set a good impression of yourself. You never want to come across as arrogant, but you do want to sound proud about your key accomplishments and abilities. Remember, you can still be the smartest person in the room without boasting about it.
Relevance
You want to emphasize your qualifications and direct experience, but be sure to keep it relevant to the role you’re applying for. Avoid generic responses such as “I’m the perfect person” or “I’m really passionate about my work.”
An excellent idea is to think of real-life examples from your previous employment or similar projects you’ve worked on. Real-life examples illustrate to the hiring manager that your response is authentic while indicating how you fit into a real-world environment.
Prove Yourself
You want to ensure that what you’re saying during your response is sincere and that it covers all the key points. These include:
- Proving your value – Emphasize your strongest skills, talents, and positive attitude.
- Proving that you’ll fit in – Find similarities between the company and your culture and show off your people skills.
- Proving that you will positively impact the company – A great way to do this is to identify a potential problem that the company already faces and an idea to solve it.
- Proving that you’re honest – Don’t makeup stories or examples. Make sure your CV is accurate and work on your communication skills.
- Proving that you’re enthusiastic about the role – Pay attention to how you conduct yourself during the interview, both verbally and non-verbally.
Answer Samples
Here are a few sample responses to get you started.
My research of your company indicates that we are an excellent fit for each other for a few key reasons. Firstly, my measurable accomplishments and qualifications perfectly meet those shown in the job description, most notably (x, y, and z). I also feel that my academic experience and track record in this area may just be the missing piece in taking your company to the next level.
I believe I would be a great fit with (Company X). I reviewed the company goals, mission, and vision, and I wholeheartedly agree with the company’s direction. I deeply believe in the company’s values and see myself as integral in helping the company move forward. I possess all the necessary special qualifications and the preferred skills required to accomplish key business goals.
I believe that to be an excellent fit with the company I work for, I need to believe in its product (or service). Not only do I possess the exact qualifications and previous work experience for the current role, but I am also a frequent user of the company’s products and am a firm believer in them. I can see myself rallying behind the brand and participating in many successful projects.
Conclusion
Answering the “why should I hire you?” question can seem scary due to its importance in the interview process, but it doesn’t have to be. Do your research, create a draft of your initial detailed answer, and edit your draft as practice with mock interviews. Confidence is key when delivering a decisive answer, but be sure your confidence is sincere, not arrogant. Know why you truly deserve the job and don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer why you feel so.