How to Answer the Question: Why Should We Hire You?

One of the simplest interview questions can also be one of the trickiest. When a hiring manager asks “Why should we hire you?” what they are really asking is:

• Do you know what responsibilities this position entails?
• Do you know what the company values?
• Are you truly interested in our company?
• What makes you unique?

You don’t want to oversell yourself, yet you need to differentiate yourself from other applicants. This question is an opportunity for you to summarize your skills, accomplishments, and experiences while also making a case for why you’d be a valuable asset to the company.

Here are a few tips to help you craft a winning response to the question, “Why should we hire you?”

Compare job responsibilities and experience

Read through the job description a few times before going into your interview.  What duties are listed that you have experience with? How did you measure the success of your work? For example, if you are applying for an event planner position, you would describe the different types of events and activities you’ve coordinated in the past and detail your analyzing process.

Highlight key terms

Each position is unique so make sure the way you describe yourself is tailored to the role. If the responsibilities include coordinating schedules and implementing programs, you know that this company needs someone who is organized and detail-oriented. What habits and tricks do you use to stay on top of everything? For content writing and production, focus on your accomplishments as a creative thinker.

Speak about your interest in the company

Why do you want this specific job with this specific company? A lot of candidates applying for the position will have equal amount of experience so you need to show the potential employer why you are a better fit than anyone else. A good way to do this is to show your interest in their company. Research the company before you come in—learn about their history, what their mission is, and what projects they are working on that sounds exciting to you.

Keep it brief

Take a maximum of one to two minutes to answer this question. It can be tempting to go longer to detail your achievements—especially if you’ve been working for a while—but odds are the hiring manager will have your resume in front of them so bring something new to the table.

Bring it all together

Once you’ve identified the information you want to highlight, practice delivering your pitch in front of a friend or family member who can give you constructive feedback. The more you go over your answer, the more comfortable and natural you will sound. Here is an example:

“From our conversations, it sounds as if you’re looking for an HR Consultant who can develop an effective recruitment and retention program. With my three years of experience working in the HR industry, I’ve developed strong industry knowledge and have built a wide network. My organizational skills and ability to work collaboratively enable me to perform the high-energy tasks of interacting with clients but still being able to stay on top of detailed administrative duties like tracking information. I’m really excited to use these skills to work with an organization that believes in making business simple and sustainable for companies in Hawaii.”

Preparing for a big interview?

Check out our other tips:

• How to Answer the Question: “So Tell Me About Yourself”
• How to Answer the Question: “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?”
• How to Answer the Question: “Why Did You Leave Your last Job?”
• How to Answer the Question: “What is Your Greatest Weakness?”