The Best Ways to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

A majority of us are not innately good at selling ourselves – However, as it turns out, interviewers are expecting us to do just that when they ask: “Why should we hire you?” I know it’s a question that immediately puts a lot of interviewees on edge but given how ubiquitous this questions has become, let’s take a look at it from a different perspective.

You have to keep in mind that a good salesperson knows his customers have pain points. Take your interviewer as a customer who wants a problem to be solved. Now, your answer to “why should we hire you” would automatically be focused towards providing their organization with pain relief. All you need to do is to first understand the needs of that organization and figure out how you can make yourself invaluable before you even get the job.

When recruiters ask, “Why should we hire you?” they’re asking “What makes you the right choice for this position?” Your reply to this has to be a concise “sales pitch” that elaborates what you have to offer them. However, keep in mind that while marketing yourself, you don’t have to sound “sales-y”. Your goal when making your pitch is to show that you’re the perfect person to solve that problem. The better you do that, the better your chances of landing the job.

Take a look below at a compilation of the best answers recruiters have heard from the interview candidates, to give you a better understanding of what is required of you when answering “why should we hire you?”:

• “I feel that my experience in XYZ industry and my ability to work autonomously make me a perfect match for this position.”
• “It has always been my dream to work in the hospitality industry, meet new people each day and use my proficient communication skills to solve their problems.”
• “Being brought up in a literary family, writing has always been my passion. So I feel my passion for writing makes me a perfect fit for this position.”
• “I have the savvy, experience, and superior communication ability to be just right fit for this position.”
• “Your company provides many services that I have had experience with, in a variety of capacities. [Offer a few specific examples] I believe that my familiarity with the industry would make me a good fit for this position.”
• “You have explained that you are looking for a sales executive who is able to effectively manage over a dozen employees. In my 15 years of experience as a sales manager, I have developed strong motivational and team-building skills. I was twice awarded manager-of-the-year for my innovative strategies for motivating employees to meet and surpass quarterly deadlines. If hired, I will bring my leadership abilities and strategies for achieving profit gains to this position.”
• “I have top-notch administrative skills and I believe I’d be an asset for the office. My skill set seems to be a perfect match for what you’re looking for. In addition, I enjoy working with people, and would welcome the opportunity to be a part of your team.”

Hit the subscribe button to stay tuned to the sequel to this piece, as I analyze the wrong answers that we inadvertently end up giving when asked, “Why Should We Hire You?”