Do you stumble when interviewers ask the “Why should we hire you” question?

There are few things more vital to job search success than being properly prepared for job interviews. After all, that interview will likely be the only chance you get to make a positive and lasting impression on a prospective employer. But how ready are you? Are you prepared to answer common interview questions like, “Why should we hire you?”

In this article, we'll explain why interviewers ask this difficult interview question and provide some insightful tips that can help you effectively respond. We'll also provide helpful examples of different “Why should we hire you?” answers and explore some responses you should try to avoid.

Related reading: 20 Hard Interview Questions and Answers

Why do interviewers ask this question?

It's important to understand why the interviewer asks, “Why should we hire you?” What does the interviewer hope to learn by asking this question? For most employers, this is an easy way to provide candidates with an opportunity to pitch their qualifications, career motivations, and career goals.

To effectively deliver a compelling response, you need to be prepared to provide a brief elevator pitch that highlights how your skills, achievements, and motivations make you an ideal fit for the position you're seeking.

Alternative “Why should we hire you?” interview questions

You should be aware that employers may ask some variation of this question. For example:

  • “What makes you a great fit for this job?”

  • “Why should we hire you rather than one of the other candidates for this position?”

  • “Tell me why you're the best person for this job.”

These questions and others like them should all be viewed as an opportunity to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job. With proper preparation, you should be able to provide a compelling response that helps showcase your qualifications and focus attention on the value you can offer as an employee.

Tips to answer “Why should we hire you” interview questions

Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to craft your “Why should we hire you?” answer. The following tips can help you develop a response that's sure to leave the right impression on prospective employers.

Research the company and job

It's impossible to properly answer the question, “Why should we hire you?” if you haven't taken the time to figure out what the company needs. Research the company to identify its mission and values. Then, review the job description to ensure that you fully understand what the employer is looking for.

Identify key job skills and align them with your qualifications

Once you've identified the company's needs, it's time to match your qualifications to the job requirements. Figure out which skills best align with those requirements and focus on highlighting them as part of any answer to the “Why should we hire you?” interview question.

Make sure you highlight your measurable achievements

You'll also want to include at least one notable achievement in your answer. Make sure your achievement is presented using real numbers that quantify its impact. For example: “I led the reorganization team at ABC Corp., which reduced waste by 23% and saved the company $400,000 a year.”

Convey your unique value proposition

You must also differentiate yourself from other candidates. Take time to identify your own unique value proposition – the key quality that sets you apart from other job seekers and makes you a valuable addition to any team.

Focus on how you can help the company meet its needs

As you craft your response, don't forget to focus on the company and its needs. Your answer should help the interviewer understand the type of value you can add to the company, so try to emphasize how you can help the business further its goals.

Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job

Finally, try to demonstrate your desire to join the company and its team. Employers want to hire people who are enthusiastic about joining their company and are committed to their mission. If you can convince the interviewer that you are excited about the company's mission and goals, you'll be one step closer to that job offer you're seeking.

Examples of different ways to answer this question

Sometimes, it's helpful to review example answers to tough questions like, “Why should we hire you?” Here are some different sample answers that you can customize to fit your own needs.

“After reviewing the job description and company website, I'm confident that my team leadership and data-focused approach to management make me a great fit for this role. During my time at DFG Inc., my teams consistently exceeded sales expectations by 20-25% each quarter. I'm excited to bring that same level of excellent performance to this company.”

“I know that every company does things a little differently. In my past transition to the role of software engineer at X Company, I found that building rapport with key players, immersing myself in the company's philosophy and workflow, and jumping headfirst into their specific programs helped me get up to speed quickly. I was proficient and productive within weeks, and able to make recommendations for process improvement within a couple of months.”

“When I started my last job at X accounting firm, I made it a priority to learn the different programs and get familiar with our clients on my first day. By doing this, I was able to be onboarded much quicker and smoother than if I hadn't, while also helping clients sooner.” 

“When I started my last job in paid advertisement, I knew going in that I was going to have to learn their homegrown system. To help make my transition go smoothly, I reviewed all the training materials before my first day to ensure I had a rudimentary understanding of the system before I had access to the system itself. With that little boost, I was able to completely understand the system by the end of my first week.”    

“Based on our conversation so far, it looks like you need a proactive content strategist who also has experience improving brands' overall SEO strategy to increase organic traffic to their websites. During my time at X Company, my SEO content strategy improved our organic traffic 37% year over year and shattered many monthly records.”

“From what I've gathered so far, you are looking for a candidate who can juggle multiple customers at once while aiming to break impressive sales records. At my last job, I broke multiple of our weekly sales records, helping the team beat our overall yearly record of $3 million in sales revenue.” 

“As a hospitality professional for five years, I know that there's nothing more important than providing the best possible customer experience. I also know that your company is dedicated to that same proposition! I'm also confident that my unique customer service and management skills can help me to quickly make a positive impact in the area of customer satisfaction, employee cohesion, and efficiency.”

“After researching more about this HR position, I'm convinced that my experience is perfectly matched to this job's needs. As a human resources manager for the last seven years, I've been tasked with everything from scheduling and vendor management to process and procedure compliance. In addition, my commitment to efficiency and keen eye for detail helped to reduce office management costs by nearly 20% – results that I look forward to replicating here.”

Responses you need to avoid

While it's important to know what to say when you're answering the “Why should we hire you?” question, it's also vital to know which responses you need to avoid. Here are some key tips to remember if you want to avoid any obvious missteps:

  • Never say, “I don't know.” If you have no faith in your qualifications, employers won't see any reason to give you a chance.

  • Never lie. Honesty is critically important when you're answering any interview question. Remember, if you've been granted an interview, then the employer already thinks you might be a good candidate. There's no need to stretch the truth,

  • “I'm the best at everything I do, and you'd be a fool to let me slip through your fingers” – or any other arrogant answer. Employers want to hear a confident presentation, but they're almost certain to be turned off if you come across as conceited or cocky.

The right answer can help you ace your interview

The worst thing you can do is to walk into an interview without preparing to answer the question, “Why should we hire you?” Employers who ask this question will expect you to be able to convince them that you're a great fit for the role. Fortunately, a little preparation can help you to craft a compelling answer that makes the right kind of impression on any hiring manager.

Need more help answering the “why should we hire you” question? Get the assistance you need by reaching out to our interview coaches today!

This article was originally written by Natalia Autenrieth. It has been updated by Ken Chase.

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