3 Best Ways To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?” In An Interview

By Lilian Wamaitha
“Why should we hire you?”
Apparently this is one of the most common interview questions that you will encounter. For most of us, this is the most difficult question we can be asked in an interview, because we do not know how to answer it or what the interviewer wants to hear exactly.
However, from my experience, this is a good question that allows you to sum up why you are the best candidate and why they should hire you instead.
Let’s look at three ways you can answer this question to help you nail that interview.

3 Better Ways To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

1. Find a common ground
The best way to answer this question and to nail that interview is to find a common ground. What’s in it for you and what’s in it for the employer? What is the recruiter likely to gain if they employ you and not the other candidates?
Start from there. This is where you summarize the talent you will bring to the company that they can’t find anywhere else.
The worst mistake you can do at this point is forgetting to talk about yourself. Any recruiter is looking for someone who wants to work for the betterment of the company and at the same time gain something from this experience.
Talk about your ambitions and what you will gain if they employ you. This is the most important part of the puzzle.
2. Become the company expert for a few minutes
Chances are when you attend an interview; you are competing against other qualified candidates. Your goal is to stand out and make the employer want to hire you over others.
Most employers will not be direct about this but when they ask this question; they are simply looking to know why they should hire you and not any other candidate out there.
How do you then go about it? Rise above this and position yourself as an expert. You will have already done your research about the company and you have a few things up your sleeves.
Show them that you understand their business and then go on to explain how you fit in all that. They are likely to be impressed because for one you did your homework and two; you have their best interest at heart.
3. Be the problem solver
Most often recruiters will advertise a position because they have a problem that needs to be solved otherwise most companies would be advertising jobs all over every single day. It is only when a problem arises that they feel the need to bring in a person to solve that.
Understand this and use it to your advantage. Understand what their problem might be and explain how you will offer immediate relief to that particular problem.
However, be very careful not to spend all your time talking about the past and the problems they have had. Focus instead on the future and what you are likely to bring to the company. This shows that you are thinking forward, are already playing part of a team and are ready to begin work immediately you are hired.
When you attend an interview, high chances are that you will always encounter this question, just approach it in any of the three ways and you will create an impression that the recruiters will not forget in a long time. This might even lead to you getting that job. Trust me.
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Lilian is a Communications & Digital Marketing Officer at Career Point Kenya. Contact her via lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke