Job Interview Question: Why Should I Hire You?
Simply Hired Staff
Sometimes interview questions can reach a surprising level of boldness, which is definitely the case when an interviewer asks you point blank, “Why should I hire you?”
For those of us who tend to avoid any pretense of being egotistical, this question can feel abrasive. After all, people who speak forcefully about what others should or shouldn’t do tend to be hard to work with, and telling someone about how awesome you are can feel downright awkward.
Whether or not you look forward to an opportunity to address why the company should hire you it’s important to prepare for this question in advance. That way you are prepared to provide an answer that will speak to your ability to do the job that you’re there to win.
Reframe the Question
The key to answer this question without feeling uncomfortable is to reframe what the interviewer is asking. So when you sit down to an interview for a new position and the hiring manager asks why she should hire you, answer in a way that restates what she is looking for and how you align with that desire.
For example, in an interview for a management position in the 3-D printing industry, your answer might look something like this:
“You’re looking for someone who can use mechanical design tools to design and modify materials for 3-D printing products in the aeronautical space. But not just that, you’re also looking for someone who can be a team player within a large company that services a wide range of clients. From our discussion about your project management style and your five-year goals as a company, I can see that I am a strong fit for what you’re looking for because of my proven skills in aeronautical applications for 3-D printing and my experience working with clients as an account manager within this industry.”
Focus on the Benefits
Another way to answer this question is to focus on what the company will receive if it decides to hire you. This response answers the question of, “Why should I hire you?” by detailing how hiring you will benefit the company.
For example, in an interview for a retail position in the clothing industry, your answer might sound something like this:
“The kind of praise I’ve received most at my former jobs revolved around how polite I was to the customers who then became recurring customers and how reliable I was when it came to creating the work schedule for the team. By hiring me you’ll be able to focus on achieving your goals as a manager rather than wondering if your staff will show up on time or if your team members will treat the customers with special care.”
As you can see, both of these responses take away the pressure of telling someone to do something while also highlighting how you meet the needs of the company in a unique way.
Have you ever been asked this question within an interview? How did you respond?
