As stale and clichéd as it may sound, the question “Why should we hire you?” still is the most indispensable and crucial question in an interview. And the way you answer it decides whether you are in or out.
So what is it that your interviewer expects from you in this particular answer and how do you go about answering this question that will please the interviewer and land you the job?
From Their Point of View:
When a post is vacant and there are many candidates applying for the job, the interviewer and his team narrows down the list of candidates to a few, based on the resumes submitted.
The scrutiny is done regarding the candidate’s educational qualifications, work experiences and designation held in the previous job.
But the final one-to-one interview or interview among a panel is to ascertain your flair, your aptitude and attitude for this particular job. It is to see how the firm will be benefited by your services or whether they can really invest in you.
Questions may be put in a straight manner or subtle twisted way, but the essence remains the same.
Questions posed may be like:
Why should we hire you for this job?
How do you think the organization will be benefited by hiring you?
Why do you think we need to hire you over other candidates?
What is it about you, that you think you are a suitable candidate for this post?
Prove to us that you are the right candidate for this job?
Well, concocted and twisted, right? But the intention and the answer they expect from you would be the same. You need to prove that you are a valuable candidate over others and you would definitely be an asset to the company in the long run.
How to Handle Interview Question “Why Should We Hire You?”
First and foremost, know that you are one among the many potential candidates being interviewed for this job. That means that your education, technical skills and previous job experience is in match for the suitable candidate they are hunting. There are hundreds like you who are also in the race for this particular post.
You need to question yourself “What sets you apart from the rest?”
Yes, this is what they need from you. And this is what you need to prove to them. How good are you to take on this role? How prepared are you to meet their expectations for this job?
- The first task before you attend any interview would be to jot down a few points about yourself and your capability and work experiences.
- The next step would be to make a research about the company. Not detailed thorough research. But at least pick up points about what your role would be if employed in the organization. Details like what the company is into, what are the roles you would be given and most importantly how would you go about doing your task in such kind of a company.
- Once you have an idea about all the above, prepare a note about how you would answer the question put forth to you.
Please Keep in Mind:
You now have an idea about what role they would expect from you in the job. You now have a rough idea about why you are being interviewed for the post. Then the task now is to relate your previous work experiences into the new one. Think about how your experience could be applied to this job so that the organization will be benefited from this.
Think about how you can present yourself to be unique from others:
Yes, it is very essential. You cannot be like the rest of the flock and expect that you will still be hired. It will not satisfy the interviewer. You need to convince them how you can be an asset to the company in your own unique way. What are the qualities that set you apart from the rest? And how do you present it to the interviewer in such a way that he believes in your capabilities? Do make notes on finer points, you would like to include to ascertain your value and importance.
Pride in speaking about your accomplishments:
Being modest doesn’t pay off here atleast in such instances. And what is wrong in telling the interviewer about your accomplishments and tasks you have handled successfully in your previous firm? Isn’t that worth mentioning it to the interviewer? Otherwise, how will the interviewer know about it? Remember, you have been selected among the candidates because you are worth it.
Be confident about your answer:
Primarily that is what is expected from you. Do not fumble when you answer. The interviewer at the front already knows your capability and that is precisely the reason why you are sitting in front of him. Now what is needed or what is expected from you is how confident you are in facing the interview. Yes, this is a test to judge your attitude and confidence skills.
Narrate previous tasks handled effectively by you:
The interviewer has already invested his time in going through your resume. Now you can describe to them any previous situations you have handled which had led to you being appreciated for that task. But remember to give as much related examples as possible.
For example, if you are being asked to deal with customers and clients do not attempt giving previous situation of you having handled an employee problem effectively.
Obviously then their next immediate question would be “In what way is it going to help your post here in this organization?” and they would have made up their mind by then that you are not the right candidate for this job.
Rather any experience of you having handled customer crisis is apt. That way the interviewer knows that he is going in the right direction in case you are to be hired.
Compulsory nays:
Don’t even try answering the below sentences:
- The timings are convenient to me.
- The pay package is good.
- It is close to where I reside.
- Commuting will be a lot easier than the previous one.
- I have a double degree with distinction.
Well, well. Don’t even do the mistake of trying to insert these sentences in between your prepared answer like”…. Moreover the timings are also convenient to me”. If you end your answer with such a statement then your interview is going to be a disaster.
All your hard prepared answers are surely going down the drain. And after the interview gets over, you will be left wondering where you had gone wrong.
You had given such a good answer at first that all the interviewers were nodding their heads in appreciation and then at the last if you would say that the pay package is also good then all your prior efforts and answers become meaningless. So be very cautious while answering such questions.
Try thinking that if you are a product how will you sell yourself?
Isn’t that what you are meant to do? When there are hundreds of similar products in the market what is it that the customers look into? Some unique features, isn’t it? Or atleast one thing that sets it apart from the rest. Try relating to this. How do you lure the interviewer when he is seeing candidates with similar profiles? What is it that will set you apart that the interviewer will be inclined to employ you for the job? Yes, here you are selling yourself. And try to pick up that one unique quality or experience which will get you the job.
Excessive bragging is a strict no-no:
As mentioned earlier, take pride in your previous accomplishments and present them effectively to the interviewers. But know the fine line between taking pride and boasting about your skills. Pinch yourself to land back if you feel that you have gone overboard with your success and accomplishment list.
You must be aware that the person in front is more experienced and capable than you and that is why you are being interviewed by him. And don’t keep bragging upto the instance that the people in front of you stop believing in the real you and think that what you are answering is all fake and made-up. You wouldn’t want to risk yourself being branded as boastful or full of nothing.
Be truthful at any cost:
Don’t try to give false answers at the interview. It doesn’t sound good and there is every risk of you losing not only the job but also your reputation. It is always okay if you haven’t had many accomplishments to narrate. You could always tell them that this is exactly the platform where you look forward to improving your skills and learning to do the job effectively.
The interviewers sure do give importance to how honest you are and how willing are you to learn new things on the job. In fact there are several instances when candidates have landed jobs on the sole basis of them being truthful and honest.
Exaggerating or being brief?
Time is an essential factor during any interview. So when selling off your accomplishments keep it simple and brief. The interviewers like to hear it that way. Cover up all the essential points and keep the narrative interesting. Don’t be modest, but don’t be boastful too. Show exuberance and passion while answering the question. Never be toneless or dull or lacking in enthusiasm. And remember to always keep a smile on your face no matter how your interview is going.
Tell what you could do and not what they can give:
How will the company benefit from employing you? That is the vital answer they would want to know from you. So tell them how you would be an asset to the company and not vice-versa. Tell them how you would go on about accomplishing your tasks if employed.
Yes, you can incorporate sentences about how this job may give your career a boost and that you would learn many things from this job. But keep in mind that they aren’t hiring you to provide you benefits. It is the other way round.
They are hiring you because they want the company to be benefited by you. So at the most, just try avoiding sentences like how beneficial this job would be for you. Rather concentrate on telling them how your skills can be used to benefit the organization thus enhancing your capability also.
While Answering “Why You Should Be Hired?”
- Know about the company, its work culture, its strategy and goals.
- See how your skills set and technical or managerial knowledge and experience can benefit the company.
- Explain to them how you will fit into the firm.
- Narrate instances from previous situations which will help in highlighting your role in that particular situation.
- Make sure that you prove how you have an edge over the rest by telling some unique roles you have managed.
- Don’t exaggerate. Keep it transparent and truthful.
- Be confident of yourself and that shows in the way you answer all the queries put forth to you.
- Even if you are a fresher, point out some courses you have completed and the unique projects you have undertaken.
If you prepare beforehand when appearing for an interview, it helps you to get doubts sorted out. More importantly it shows your commitment and preparedness for facing any kind of questions. It gives the interviewer the impression that you have a sense of clarity in mind about your job preferences and the role you would play in the organization if employed.
As the saying goes, ‘Well begun is half done’. When you are confident and prepared for the interview, know that you will come out with the task accomplished and that you will be successful in landing the coveted job.
