‘What makes you qualified for this job position?‘ It is a common interview question. One could term it one of the ‘favourite’ interview questions for interviewers. This question could stand as a summary of what the entire interview process is all about. If you can make them see that exact quality that makes you stand out from the rest, then you have the highest chance of getting the job.
This question could be rephrased in different ways, but all points to the qualifications, skills, strengths, and attributes you have that qualify you for the job and will make you succeed in that job position.
How to Answer Interview Questions About Qualifications
When this question comes, your first impulse may be to get offensive and lash out at your colleagues. But, that would hardly do you any good. Leave other candidates out of this and focus on yourself.
Take note that your interviewers would want to know your level of self- awareness and your personal attributes. They will be paying close attention to both while you sell your pitch.
Emphasis on your job interview preparation
There is no better way to answer this question effectively than to prepare for it. You should already anticipate questions on your qualifications before your interview comes up because they are questions that are inevitable for job interviews. That is more reason why you should practice them and get your response ready.
Read up the job requirements as indicated in the job posting and take note of them. Go through your resume one more time and match your skills with their requirements. Make an example with at least one using your past experience.
It will also be wise to research the company, so you don’t pick out irrelevant skills. You should be able to discuss strong skills and qualities that will benefit the company and not one that the company can easily do without.
Listen and take your time to answer questions about your qualifications
Listening is one important aspect of communication. You also connect with people when you listen to them. It shows you value them and that what they are saying is important to you. You may be tempted to ramble off once the question comes through without paying close attention to get all that the interviewer is saying.
You must know that sometimes interviewers tend to elaborate more on their questions so that the interviewee will get a better grasp of the question. In a situation when you don’t listen, you are likely to miss out on this elaboration which would make you give a non-satisfactory answer.
If you can’t answer immediately, you can take a few seconds to ponder on the question. You don’t have to roll out the first words that your lips were able to form because they might come off as unreasonable.
Use anecdotes
Don’t just list your qualifications and leave it that. Always use examples and illustrations whenever you can. Rather than just saying, “I am qualified,” you ‘show’ them you are qualified, and that keeps you a step ahead of others that just ‘say’ or ‘tell.’
There is no better way of showing your abilities than using stories. Highlight more on those strengths of yours by using an example of how you used them to solve a problem, resolved an issue, or added value to your company in the past. This story could be about you managing and completing a project on time, which benefited your company, it could be about you bringing up an idea, which helped increase your company revenue.
Focus on your superstar soft skills and achievements
When shortlisting for interviews, employers usually select those applicants that they feel have the necessary skills, experience, and academic qualification. So your aim in the interview should be to bring the unique qualities you possess to limelight. Otherwise, you are just like every other candidate that came for the interview. If you are being general here and just stating general qualities anyone can possess without even backing up your claims then, nothing makes you stand out from the rest.
You should narrow down your qualities to the ones that would effectively and efficiently meet their demands and solve their business problems.
Avoid portraying a negative attitude
First, do not talk ill of your past employer, your superiors, your former colleagues, and your former place of work or even your fellow job candidates! Doing such will give your interviewer an insight into your type of person, and such attribute is not good for business at all.
Also, show you have a positive attitude to work by letting go of past hurts and past mistakes. Even if you were treated badly at your former place of work, you should let it go. If you made mistakes in the past, learn from them, and move on. Employers want employees that exhibit positivity at work and would motivate others to do better even when it does not seem convenient.
What is the bottom line?
Talk about your abilities as if you really believe in them. You can hardly convince someone else to believe in you when you don’t even have confidence in yourself. Therefore, you should speak with confidence and remember to keep your answer concise, apt, and straight to the point.
Example qualifications interview questions
- Tell me about yourself
- Why are you the best candidate for this job?
- Can you briefly describe your best skills?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What skills and attributes can you bring to this position?
- What do you have to offer this job position?
- In what ways do you meet the qualifications for this position?
- How do you handle the stress and pressure that comes with work?
- What value can you add to this company?
- How do you handle a heavy workload?
- How have your strengths helped you in performing your work?
- What type of working environment do you prefer?
- What motivates you?
- How do you develop a relationship with new colleagues?
- What makes you impatient about a co-worker?
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!
- Accomplishments
- Adaptability
- Admission
- Behavioral
- Career Change
- Career Goals
- Communication
- Competency
- Conflict Resolution
- Creative Thinking
- Cultural Fit
- Customer Service
- Direct
- Experience
- Government
- Graduate
- Growth Potential
- Honesty & Integrity
- Illegal
- Inappropriate
- Job Satisfaction
- Leadership
- Management
- Entry-Level & No experience
- Performance-Based
- Personal
- Prioritization & Time Management
- Problem-solving
- Salary
- Situational & Scenario-based
- Stress Management
- Teamwork
- Telephone Interview
- Tough
- Uncomfortable
- Work Ethic
