Interview Question: ‘Why Should We Hire You’ (+Answers)

Why should we hire you could be a tricky interview question if you don’t understand it and channel your answer in the right direction. It is an inevitable question during job interviews. So how should you answer the question ‘why should we hire you?’. Read all about it in this blog.

Because the whole interview process is about why you should be selected instead of other numerous candidates that came for the interview, employers take this question seriously and so should you.

This question could come in other formats even though they all mean the same thing. The ‘Why should we hire you?’ question can be asked in several ways, for example:

• What do you have to offer to this position?
• Why do you think you are the best candidate for this job?
• What makes you the right fit for this job?

Learn more about tough interview questions and how you should answer them!

Summary of the response to: ‘Why should we hire you?’

In the answers that you give to the question of why the recruiter should choose you, there are several points that you should try to bring across. Try to explain through examples according to the STAR method that;

• You are passionate about the work and your abilities
• Show that are highly motivated and that you’re determined to attain success
• You have exceptional skills that make you stand out from other candidates
• The experience that you have in this career field is exceptional
• You can relate to the company goal and feel a connection to the company culture
• You concur and believe in the company’s mission and vision

Here, we would talk about how to say the question “why should we hire you?” in a manner that would impress your interviewer and why interviewers ask the question.

How to answer the question: ‘Why should we hire you?’

Remember what is actually implied by this question is “what makes you the best candidate for this position?” So, you have to sell your pitch in a straight forward, concise and impressive manner.

Start with preparing a response

Preparing for an interview can be overwhelming however, with preparation and practice you can make things a lot easier for yourself. Read up the job requirements as it is in the job posting and start with brainstorming the relevant skills that you have that are in line with the requirements

Match your qualifications to the job requirements

List out the requirements for the job position starting from the qualification to the skills and personalities. Also, list out your own qualities and characteristics that fit into the requirements.

You can use those strengths that correspond to the job requirements as the basis for your answer but do not limit your response to those. You can always go beyond what is listed in the job description and touch on other unique qualities you have that make you a better candidate for the position.

Don’t just say it but ‘show’ that you are qualified

Rather than just saying, “I have strong leadership skills”, talk about the team you led or the office you headed and what you were able to achieve during that period. It is easy for anyone to claim to have good qualities even when they don’t. What makes you stand out is that you are able to back up that claim with a relevant illustration.

The whole qualification, strength, and skills you listed can be termed useless if you do not have a relevant example from your experience to back them up. How then do you know you have those qualities if they have not been put to test and confirmed that you possess them?

Remember always to conclude your illustrations with positive results and outcomes. No matter how unpleasant the situation is, the actions you took should be able to remedy it, if not totally, then partially. The most important thing is that at the end you left the situation better than it was.

Focus on your uniqueness and the extra qualities you possess

Standing out means there is something spectacular about you, there is something you have that others do not have. The interviewer wants to know those qualities, skills you have that other candidates do not have, or that is rare to find.

Think of other skills, training, qualification, professional or personal experiences you possess that would add extra value to the company. Those unique qualities of yours will surely give you an edge over others.

Keep your answers concise, comprehensible and straight to the point

Your interviewers do not have much time to spare to listen to your long stories especially if they are not related to the question. Therefore, to make things easier for you, select one or two essential and unique qualities from your list and emphasize on them during the interview. To help you make this selection, look up the job description, then think critically about the ones that would be of more value to the company and to the industry.

Find a suitable situation that took place in the past and back up your claims. Explain how you were able to fulfill a need or solve a problem using those unique skills.

The idea of brainstorming and practicing before the interview is not so you cram the answers but it is for you to get a general idea of the likely questions and how you would respond to them. This way you won’t be taken by surprise or thrown off balance when questions come that you’ve prepared for.

Why do interviewers ask this question?

The general idea behind this question is to find out if you are the best candidate for that position. Other reasons are:

• They want to be sure you understand what the company stands for and you are a fit for the company culture
• They want to ascertain if you really know what they want and if you are in the position to provide it

Sample question and answer

Interviewer: why are you the best candidate for this job?

Job applicant: I read through your job posting and found out you were in search of someone with intermediate supervisory experience, to work at your restaurant. I just knew I would be the perfect fit for it. In my resume, I stated that I have 4 years of professional experience in restaurant management.

During that period, I was able to increase sales by 50% while cutting overhead. I also played other roles in the restaurant that made me more conversant with how the system operates. I have worked as a receptionist and as a waiter and during those times have gathered the much knowledge needed for running and supervising a restaurant.

All these professional experiences coupled with my good communication skills, high interpersonal skills, work ethics, and friendly attitude make me a perfect fit for the job.

Job Interview Topics – Common Job Interview Questions & Answers

Below you can find a list of common job interview topics. Each link will direct you to an article regarding the specific topics that discuss commonly asked interview questions. Furthermore, each article discusses why the interviewer asks these questions and how you answer them!

1. Accomplishments
2. Adaptability
3. Admission
4. Behavioral
5. Career Change
6. Career Goals
7. Communication
8. Competency
9. Conflict Resolution
10. Creative Thinking
11. Cultural Fit
12. Customer Service
13. Direct
14. Experience
15. Government
16. Graduate
17. Growth Potential
18. Honesty & Integrity
19. Illegal
20. Inappropriate
21. Job Satisfaction
22. Leadership
23. Management
24. Entry-Level & No experience
25. Performance-Based
26. Personal
27. Prioritization & Time Management
28. Problem-solving
29. Salary
30. Situational & Scenario-based
31. Stress Management
32. Teamwork
33. Telephone Interview
34. Tough
35. Uncomfortable
36. Work Ethic