What are some of the most effective responses to the question, “Why should we hire you?”

Those five little words often strike fear in a job candidate’s heart. But you needn’t be scared if you’re prepared. Your prospective employer wants to know why you think you’re the best candidate for their position and now is your time to shine. We heard from several hiring experts from all over the globe who shared some of the best responses they have received after asking that critical question.

I Bring a Unique Perspective

Turn it back on the interviewer and ask them “why your company?
This is an answer I would reserve for those candidates who have options or are not counting on a job to get them through a tight financial situation. If you’re in a place where you can negotiate, asking the hiring manager what the company can do for you communicates that you’re not just looking for any old job, but that you’re looking for the right job. It also allows the interviewer to tell you about the company’s best qualities, which may be just what you’re looking for.

I bring a unique perspective.
Highlighting your perspective shows that you would add something new to the team rather than simply filling a position. It’s important to remember, however, that a “unique perspective” doesn’t mean an “opinionated perspective.” Be careful to word this answer in a way that demonstrates how your perspective would be an asset to the company, rather than a liability.

I Can Pick Up the Job Quickly and Deliver Results

I’m a quick learner
This is a great answer for entry-level positions or for those who are looking to make a career change. It shows that you’re willing to put in the work to learn new things and that you’re not afraid of a challenge.

I have a track record of success.
This is a great answer for anyone with relevant experience, but especially for those who are looking to move into management or other leadership positions. It demonstrates that you’re not only capable of doing the job, but that you’re also able to achieve results.

Let Me Share an Example

1. List your transferable skills, with examples
Transferable skills are the qualities that can be carried forward to your future role, irrespective of role, industry, or sector, e.g. “Being entrusted with three different profiles during my two years with (current/previous company) shows my adaptability during business disruptions.” Or “coming from a defense background has made me flexible and adaptable to changes.” In these examples, flexible and adaptable are the transferable soft skills that are valued in any job role.

2. Ask a clarifying question, before answering with an example
Turn the question into an opportunity to clarify doubts about the job role with your prospective employer. An example statement is, “From what I have heard, you need someone who can communicate effectively with cross-border stakeholders. Am I right? (Assuming the answer is yes), I have been acknowledged as a great communicator. Here is an example from my past.” Asking clarifying questions will help you to both express and impress.

3. Highlight your experience with a particular skill that the position requires
If the key skills required in the job are your strength areas, describe in detail the past examples of how you have used these skills. This gives the interviewer a better chance to determine the position-job fit. If you are thorough in explaining the facts and anecdotes, this is most likely to lead the interviewer to be positively inclined toward your candidature then and there.

Here’s How I Can Help Your Business Succeed

You need to be specific about your experience and how that will carry over to this new job. Don’t just say, ‘I have previously managed a team, so I am capable of doing that in this new position.’ Say instead, ‘When I managed a team, I learned how to address my colleagues’ concerns and needs. This support that I gave them meant that they were then understanding how to complete (a task) in a confident manner. I would like to provide this type of support for your business.’ The more specific you are about how you achieved all of these great things in your previous role will let them know how you would fit into this new role.

Here Is What I Did Before and This Is How I Can Do the Same For You

During an interview, don’t be stumped when they ask that inevitable question, “Why should we hire you?” Be prepared with an answer that tells them you can do the work with exceptional results, you’re an excellent addition to their team, and you are right for the job.

But this is also when they’re looking for something different, someone who stands out. So, what should you say that makes you more remarkable than the other candidates?

Here are two of the best responses:

1. Say something like,”From my research on your company and what I’ve learned from you today, you’re searching for a professional communicator, someone with a passion for getting the job done right. In my previous role” and then give a suitable example. Finish with “I’ll bring that success and energy here, with exceeding your expectations as being my main focus.”

Why this is a good answer:
It tells the interviewer you prepared yourself for this opportunity and that you were listening to them. It highlights that you understand the role and what is needed. By giving an example of something you’ve accomplished, you’re proving and not just telling them what you can bring.

2. Say, “I applied for this position because I know I have the relevant skills and knowledge to perform well. On my resume, you can see I have” and then point out all experience pertinent to the applied job and your successes. Finish by saying, “With my experience and my can-do, self-start attitude, I’m your perfect candidate.”

Why this is a good answer:
The best candidate is usually chosen for their experience and what they can bring to the role. This answer displays your quantifiable achievements and your super-relevance to the job.

I Bring Solutions

This broad, open-ended question is more focused on understanding if your experiences and skills are tailorable to providing immediate value to the company. When posed with this question, you should focus on providing exact details on your value proposition to solve the pain points the company has.

How do you discover these pain points? First would be from the job description itself. Can you identify what problems they are trying to solve? The second would be during the interview – ensure you ask the right questions and drive the conversation toward the company telling you pain points they’re having on their end.

Let the company tell you what problems they have instead of assuming what you think they might have.

Once you’ve determined their pain points, demonstrate how you can help them resolve them. For example, this response:

“As your stakeholders are hungry for insights and the analytics team cannot catch up with all the ad-hoc questions, I have experience in a similar situation in my previous role. At company X, I’ve taken the initiative and communicated with different stakeholders to build automated dashboards so that they may self-serve in their requests. As a result, the analytics team was able to focus more on producing higher-value work. I believe this experience is valuable for the next candidate in this role.”

Is better than compared to this response, where the candidate focused only on their skills and did not start with the pain points the company has:

“I have expert skills in building succulent and insightful dashboards that stakeholders can easily understand. I’m great at picking up new dashboard software as I’ve used 4 different dashboard software in my previous roles, including the one used at your company. With my various experiences with dashboarding tools, I believe these experiences are valuable for the next candidate in this role.”