In every interview, tough questions are always on the table. But the toughest, and the smartest, question an employer can ask is simply why they should hire you. Here are a few of the best ways you can approach this blunt question, as well as a few suggestions of how to avoid answering it poorly. You want to leave them with a solid first impression, and here’s just the way to do it.
1. Understand What An Employer Is Really Asking
When a hiring manager asks you point blank why they should hire you, they’re really asking you to tell them what it is that is unique about you as a candidate. Many hiring managers hire hundreds of employees over the course of their careers. Some of those hires are good ones. Some are outright bad. Knowing whether a candidate is going to be a good fit for a role or not often comes down to what is discussed in an interview. It’s often those soft skills that can make a difference in a candidate’s success. Are they a team player? Do they have strong communication skills? Are they a creative problem solver, etc. These things are what can differentiate you from other similarly skilled candidates, so make sure to weave them into your reasoning of why an employer should want to hire you.
2. Refer Back to the Job Description
When answering what makes you the best fit for the job, it’s important to refer to the skills and knowledge requested in the job description. A good response will match those requirements that the employer knows are important to success in role and the skills that you have proven in past experiences. Interviewers want to know how you can help them solve their business challenges. Tie your future responsibilities back to past successes and you’ll be sure to gain the confidence of your interviewer.
3. Show Don’t Tell
When it comes to evaluating candidates, you can expect interviewers to be a little skeptical. So make sure you prove your success with referencing anecdotes and outcomes of past examples of your work. Rather than say you took a leadership role, say you lead your team to meet an aggressive deadline and work through challenges that came along over the course of the project. Follow the rule of thumb from film and storytelling. Remember to show don’t tell when possible.
4. Show how you will add value
Most employers don’t have a lot of time to waste in looking for the diamond in the rough when it comes to candidates. So make sure you stay focused on showing how you would add value to their business and their team when you answer this question. Make sure that you are telling a story of not only how you were successful for past employers, but even more so on how you will bring your unique perspectives and experiences to drive business value for your new employer.
For more career tips like how to find weekend jobs in Murfreesboro, connect with the recruiting team at All-Star Personnel today.
