An interview is the toughest stage in applying for a new job. Many individuals excel in tests but fail to clear an interview.There are a couple of questions devised to understand the employee’s attitude and aptitude. One such mind-boggling question is ‘what skills do you bring to the organization?’ or “what skills and qualities can you bring to this position”
Inexperienced employees often lack the knack to answer these questions. This is because they fail to look at the motive behind the question. Analyze the question to answer correctly.
What Can You Bring to the Team?
“What can you bring to the team” is a tricky question that interviewers ask the candidates during the interview process.
If you are an experienced guy, then you might have surely come across such a question but if you are a fresher then this might come as a surprise to you. So it is very important to have a look at all such common questions that interviewers ask in an interview, especially the tricky ones.
Some other tricky questions are
- What can you bring to the company?
- What Can you Contribute to the Company?
- What do you have that other candidate do not
- Why would you be an asset for the company
The main intention of asking this question is to know you better as a professional and also to see how you handle tricky situations.
By preparing well- you can provide a quality answer to this potentially tricky question.
Tips to Answer ‘What Can You Bring to the Team’ Interview Question:
Practicing a perfect answer to this question is one of the best tips you can follow. For combating such question, you need to be confident and should answer in a natural form. Here are a few things you should focus on, that will make you answer a little more effective
- What Makes You Unique
- How you apply your skills
- Provide examples
What can you bring to this company sample answer:
“I have always been an energetic worker. Throughout my work history- this energy has shown itself in my upbeat attitude and ability to keep busy. Work has always been about more than a to-do list for me. I strive to take initiative to help on special projects and day-to-day tasks to ensure tasks get done. Of course- my energy is led by my time management skills- so I work on top-priority jobs before searching for busywork. If I were to get this position- this energy- and everything that comes with it- would lead to brainstorming- innovation and efficiency.”
Source: myperfectresume
Purpose of “What Skills do you Bring to the Organization” Question:
Fresh candidates are not expected to know their skills, abilities and plus points. This question is posed simply to understand a few aspects about the candidate.
Here is a list of things the interviewer intends to derive from you by asking this simple question:
1. To gauge your confidence in your skills and abilities:
Youngsters possess multiple skills and abilities. Young minds often come up with unique ideas that change the world. Yet there are very few who dare to voice their ideas.
This question helps the recruiter understand whether you have confidence in your skills and abilities. Your reply will help them understand whether you take initiatives.
2. To assess whether you are the best candidate for the particular position:
The recruiters look for a candidate to fill a certain position. They have in mind a person who can handle certain assignments and tasks, deal with a team of employees and get the work done on time.
They have certain skills in mind which they want their ideal candidate to possess. The question is an easy way to find out whether you possess the qualities and skills they have in mind.
3. To evaluate your knowledge about the firm and the position you have applied:
Individuals who have just graduated from school or college are too eager to bag a job. They do not introspect their own abilities or research enough to find the ideal job.
The recruiters try to understand whether the candidate is casual in his attitude towards the job or whether he has done sufficient research.
Your answer should reveal your knowledge about the position of the firm and how you prove to be an ideal candidate for the position.
4. To gauge your malleability and willingness to learn:
Most jobs require you to learn new things and acquire new skills. It is essential to find out whether the candidate is malleable and willing to widen his horizon of knowledge.
Individuals who are willing to learn new things and upgrade their skills are ideal for the fast-paced modern industry.
Show your recruiter that you have been keen on learning and you aspire to learn new skills to achieve higher goals. Your answer should show that you are ready to change with the times.
5. To understand your interests and your strengths:
Some individuals have a natural liking for certain tasks. These individuals have a genuine interest in select subjects and it becomes easy to train such employees.
A question about your skills helps them discover whether you have some such hidden interest or inclination.
Possible Answers and What They Imply:
This one simple question can have many different answers and each answer has a different impact on the recruiter.
It is thus essential that you understand the impact of different answers before you venture to attend an interview.
1. Standard Phrases:
Many individuals prepare too well for the interview. Such individuals reply to the question promptly with a series of commonly used phrases. Check out the list here:
- Team Player
- Risk Taker
- Leader
- Problem Solver
- Committed
- Punctual
- Honest
- Hardworking
One may use a couple of these phrases intermittently taking natural pauses to reveal that he means what he says. On the contrary, if you parrot the list and vomit it as soon as they pose the question, it may work against you.
2. Bold Answers:
There are some positions where honesty and boldness play an important role. If you are attending an interview for such a position, they would prefer honest and bold answers over-researched and learned answers.
These may include interviews for positions in financial organizations where you are expected to maintain high-level secrecy.
Errors in this field is also not appreciated and hence the recruiters prefer individuals who openly accept their strengths and drawbacks.
3. Answers To Suit The Trade:
You must exhibit the skills and abilities you possess through your answers. Frame the answer wisely so that the recruiter feels you are an ideal candidate for a given position.
The way you frame an answer can actually decide your future with the firm.
Some candidates, in an attempt to reveal their problem-solving skills and willingness to take up challenges, say ‘I like to create new problems and solve them’.
The statement can have a detrimental effect as it literally means that if you do not have any problem to solve, you will create new problems.
The same statement can be rephrased as ‘I like to solve problems and am willing to take up fresh challenges that explore my problem-solving abilities’.
What Skills and Qualities Can You Bring to this Position?
Few other similar kinds of questions which can be asked are
What Skills Can You Bring to the Job?
Some of the top skills which you can mention in your answer to make it more impressive are,
- Technical skills
- Soft skills
- Leadership skills
- Transferrable skills
- Management skills
- Communication skills
What Qualities Would you Bring to this Job?
Qualities are more kind of characteristics which candidates usually possess, it is a little different from skills which we acquire through training and coaching. Some of the best examples of qualities are
- Sincerity
- Trustworthy
- Reasonable
- Loyal
- Cheerful
- Courteous
- Determination
- Friendliness
- Flexibility
- Dependability
- Honesty
Top 10 Qualities and Skills Employers are Looking For:
Employers always try to recruit candidates who are skillful so that they can turn out to be an asset to the organization. Some of the qualities and skills that every employer looks for in their employees are
- Communication Skills
- Honesty
- Flexibility
- Work in Harmony with Co-Workers
- Technical Competency
- Determination and Persistence
- Work Ethics
- Eager to Add their Knowledge Base and Skills
- Loyalty
- Problem-Solving Skills
Some Common Skills and Qualities Vital In Every Job:
There are a set of skills that are vital in any job you take up. These skills ascertain that you do the task well. Here is a list of these skills:
- Confidence
- Punctuality
- Organizational Abilities
- Scheduling of Work
- Superior Communication Skills
- Self-confidence and Self-esteem
- Neatness
- Personal Hygiene
These skills are revealed through your body language and the way you answer a question. Make sure your posture is perfect and your attitude emanates confidence.
Dressing in the proper formal attire shows the interviewer that you are not casual in your attitude. Make sure you reach the venue on time.
