Job interviews can be nerve-wracking experiences, and one question that we often hear candidates become nervous about is: "Why should I hire you?"
It might seem like a straightforward question, but not being caught off guard, and giving a thoughtful response is critical. Below, we share some strategies that will help you master answering this question.
Take a step back. If you’re being asked this question, it’s likely you’ve made it through a decent number of interviews already and already have some thoughts on if you would accept the role.
It’s fine if you’re unsure but be honest with yourself and make sure you want to continue interviewing. If you’re not taking the time to prepare for interviews and reflect on questions like this, you may be caught off guard give an answer you wouldn’t have – or too short of an answer that’s not compelling.
Your response should focus on what makes you stand out from other candidates. Reflect on your skills, experience, and accomplishments that directly relate to the role. What can you bring that others can't? Are there specific achievements that demonstrate that you're suited for the job?
For example, let’s say you’re a marketer interviewing at a B2B healthcare company that’s starting to branch out to consumer products, like a fitness app.You may want to say something along the lines of: “I believe my consumer marketing background, paired with my passion for healthcare and fitness, would make me an excellent candidate for this role. I’m excited to recommend marketing strategies I’ve seen have great success in the consumer world and apply these toy our business.”
Research the company's mission statement, recent projects, and any public statements by company leaders. You can also check out their recent posts on LinkedIn, or anything they’ve shared on social media.
For example – does the company help make software more sustainable, or do they help address an important issue for consumers, like financial wellness? Let’s say you’re interviewing for an engineering role with a company that helps young, first-time investors invest in the stock market.You may give an answer like, “You should hire me because I’m passionate about helping people take control of their lives through finances. I’ve had family members close to me struggle with investing because they were too intimated to ask questions, and I’ve seen firsthand the power that more financial knowledge can have on stress and health. I would be excited to join a company like yours who puts this mission first.”
While technical skills are important, don't underestimate the power of soft skills. Communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving are qualities that every employer loves. Not to mention – being agreeable and easy to work with! Share anecdotes that illustrate how your soft skills have positively impacted previous teams and projects.
For example, a sales candidate for a hardware company could say: “I believe I not only have the right amount of experience, but also the ability to personally connect with people in the semiconductor industry that would make me an excellent fit for this role. I genuinely enjoy meeting new people, hearing about their problems, and coming up with solutions together on how to solve them.”
Employers want to hire candidates who are genuinely excited about the opportunity. Express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Discuss what specifically excites you about the job and how it aligns with your career aspirations. Your genuine passion can set you apart from candidates who provide only generic responses.
For example, a candidate could say: “I’m excited about everyoneI’ve met who I’d be working with, and my fit with the team. For example, I really hit it off with [name of another interviewer] in our discussion on[topic], and I’d be excited to work on this problem with them if offered the role.”
Ideally, tie in Strategy #4 with any of the four above strategies if you can. Expressing passion and enthusiasm is never a bad idea.
One of the reasons why it’s important to practice interviewing is so you don’t give too abrupt of an answer or too rambling of one. Remember – you don’t need to give a lengthy speech about how much you love the company. That may come off as ingenuine. But similarly, you also don’t want to give a short three second answer which could be interpreted as a lack of passion.
If you’re unsure of what you’d say, write it out and read it aloud. Practice makes perfect!
Want more interview prep? Check out our posts on:
Interview prep for Founding Engineers
How to answer the interview question, what do you bring to the company
How to talk about a career change
How to talk about your long-term career goals
For other interview tips, check out our other posts on interviewing on the blog.
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