Getting hired for a job is hard. Many people apply for the same job. So companies need to find ways to choose the best person. One way they do this is by asking tough questions in interviews.
“Why should we hire you?” is one very common tough question. When you get asked this, the company wants to see that you can sell yourself. They want to know why you are the best fit for the job.
Coming up with a good answer can be hard! But in this blog post, I will help you. First I will explain why companies ask this question. Then I will give step-by-step tips on how to give a good answer. I will also share examples of bad and good answers.
By the end, you will know how to sell yourself and stand out when asked “Why should we hire you?”. This will help you get the job you want!
Why Companies Ask “Why Should We Hire You?”
Companies ask “Why should we hire you?” because they want to see if you match the job. They are looking for people with the right skills, knowledge, and experience for that role.
Also, hiring the wrong person is expensive! It costs money and time to train people. If the new hire is not a good fit, the company loses even more money.
So hiring managers want to make sure they choose someone who will perform well and stay with the company. That’s why they ask tricky questions like “Why should we hire you?”.
When you get asked this, it puts pressure on you. You have to come up with reasons fast why you are the best choice over all others. This shows how you react under stress. It also tests your ability to sell yourself. Both are key skills needed for most jobs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Answering “Why Should We Hire You?”
Answering this question well is hard! But following these 7 steps will help you give a winning response:
1. Stay Calm and Confident
It’s normal to get nervous with tough questions. But try to speak calmly and confidently. Stress shows the interviewer you don’t work well under pressure.
So breathe and collect your thoughts before answering. Remind yourself you have great skills that match what they want!
2. Restate Your Top Skills
Quickly think of your best skills that fit what the company needs. Then restate these skills when answering. Say something like:
“I have 10 years of experience doing XYZ, which allows me to perfectly fit your need for ABC.”
Point out how your biggest strengths map to key parts of the role. This directly shows why you are a great match.
3. Pick 1-2 Key Achievements
Think of major accomplishments that prove you have those key skills. Turn those into stories that sell your strengths.
For example: “In my last job, I increased sales by 30% over 2 years by doing XYZ.”
Use facts and data to back up your claims whenever possible. This builds your credibility and proves you truly have those skills.
4. Show You Understand the Company’s Needs
Do some research beforehand into what the role requires. Reference those needs tied back to your skills and experience.
For example: “Based on my research into your expansion plans, you need someone experienced with rapidly scaling a business. With my background doing XYZ at 123 Company, I have exactly that experience to help you meet your growth goals.”
This directly shows why you can deliver what they want in that role!
5. Connect Personally
Share why you are personally interested in or connected to that company and job. This could relate back to their mission, products, culture, leadership etc.
Explaining your passion and fit here makes you stand apart more as a candidate. It’s not just about your skills – you will also be a great culture add!
6. End With Confidence
Wrap up your answer by confidently restating why your skills, achievements and interests perfectly fit what they want:
“I’m confident my XYZ background and my passion for ABC make me a terrific match to help drive your growth in this role.”
Smile, make eye contact, and convey excitement to work there. This leaves a strong final impression that you are the right choice over all others!
7. Practice Out Loud
Practice answering mock interview questions out loud to get better. Have a friend play interviewer and ask you common questions like “Why should we hire you?”.
Hearing your answers out loud will help you be more clear and concise. It also builds confidence for the real thing!
Examples of Bad Answers
Here are 2 common bad examples of how people answer “Why should we hire you?”:
Example 1
Interviewer: Why should we hire you?
Bad Answer: Umm well..I really need a job right now and I think I could do this one. I don’t have a lot of experience but I’m a hard worker and willing to learn!
Why It’s Bad: This answer is too unsure, generic and makes you appear desperate. It doesn’t sell key skills and achievements or explain why you specifically match what they want.
Example 2
Interviewer: What makes you the best choice over other applicants for this sales manager role?
Bad Answer: Honestly, I was one of the top salespeople at my last company. I always crushed my targets which shows I can do well. Your products also seem cool and I think I’d like working here.
Why It’s Bad: While this highlights high sales performance, it’s too focused just on you. It doesn’t show understanding of what they specifically need or match your skills to those needs. Also seems more casual over confident.
Let’s now look at examples of good answers using the 7 step framework:
Examples of Good Answers
Example 1
Interviewer: What makes you a great match for our open nursing position?
Good Answer: With over 5 years experience as an ER nurse, I have strong skills in triage assessment, patient care coordination and rapidly responding in high stress environments – which seem crucial for this role. For example, in my last ER we served an area hit hard by COVID. By spearheading new response procedures, we were able to double our patient treatment rates during some of our busiest months. I have a passion for public health and serving patient needs quickly, which would enable me to fulfill key parts of this role very effectively.”
Why It’s Good: Hits all main steps – restates relevant nursing skills and achievements, connects to healthcare organization’s needs, ends strong stating she’s the right match.
Example 2
Interviewer: Why should we hire you as our next sales manager versus another applicant?
Good Answer: “Based on my research into your sales organization, you need someone who can motivate teams to hit aggressive new targets – which I have a proven track record doing. For example, in my last sales manager role, I built a training program focused on positive competition that boosted our annual targets achieved by over 37%. With your big expansion plans this year, you need someone who can rally teams behind big goals – and my leadership style fits. I combines data-driven techniques to stretch targets with emotional intelligence skills to support reps. So I am confident I have the exact mix of technical and interpersonal skills you need to lead high-performing sales teams to the next level.”
Why It’s Good: Explains key skills matched back research on their needs. Gives achievement example proving ability to motivate sales teams to stretch goals. Finishes with confidence she is what they need.
I hope these examples help show what makes an answer good or bad! Use them as models when practicing your own answer out loud.
Over time, answering “Why should we hire you?” will get easier. Preparing stories ahead that sell your top skills and achievements is key. With practice, you will have confidence to ace this tough question on interviews and land the job you want!
