Resume Writing Guides

Browse By Industry

Accounting and Auditing Administrative and Clerical Animal Care Art, Creative and Design Business and Sales Business Strategy and Analysis Construction & Building Education and Childcare Engineering and Mechanics Fashion and Beauty Finance Resumes Fitness and Sport Food & Drink General Health Therapy Hospitality Human Resources Information Technology IT Developers Law Enforcement, Military and Security Legal and Law Logistics & Transportation Maintenance and Repair Management Manufacturing and Processing Market and Retail Marketing Media and Journalism Medical care Nursing Physicians

How To Answer Why Should We Hire You

The funny thing about job interviews is that you know what questions the Hiring Manager will ask you, yet the answer you give might be a career life or death situation. The truth is, there’s no one way to answer each of these questions.

Because each company has different needs and expectations of its ideal candidate for the position, your answer must fit what the employer is looking for. One such question that helps HR find the ideal candidate for the company is “Why should we hire you?”

Why Hiring Managers Ask “Why Should We Hire You?”

From the time we wake up, the day becomes a cascading stream of choices. When you get to work, there are tasks outlined for you to do. You choose which ones to do first and the thought process for choosing one over the other could be different tomorrow.

Even if you go to a supermarket armed with a shopping list, you’ll still end up checking the labels between brands and comparing prices.

Why? Because you want to arrive at a decision that gives you maximum return or results in the most ideal outcome.

The job interviewer who asks you “Why should we hire you?” is the same way. He wants to find the candidate who best encapsulates or fits what the company is looking for.

This time, you won’t have your “cheat code” – the resume – with you. The Hiring Manager wants to find out in your own words and at this moment in time why you believe that you’re the ideal candidate for the job.

The resume did its job and got you the interview. Now, it’s up to you to land the position by acing the interview. And your response to “Why should we hire you?” might do just that.

How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

A job ad can easily attract hundreds of applicants with varying levels of experience and qualifications. While a solid resume can distinguish the best candidates, it cannot identify the most ideal candidates.

The job interview is the part of the recruitment process that qualifies each candidate in terms of organizational or company fit.

Remember, you weren’t the only job applicant who was invited for an interview. You weren’t the only one whose resume impressed the recruiter. There were others as well – some of whom might have more impressive credentials than you.

If you believe you’re “The One”, then follow our tips on how to answer the interview question “Why should we hire you?”

Tailor-fit Your Answer

So you only have 24 hours before your job interview? It’s always a good idea to prepare for your interview in advance.

Do research on the company by visiting its website, and social media pages, and by reviewing the job ad. Take it a step further by running a Google search on the company. You might find news online about the company and get valuable information such as its latest projects or accomplishments.

Research gives you a better idea of what the company is about – its needs, goals, and targets in the future. Not only will you gain an understanding of what the company is but also develop a feel of who they are – the people behind the organization.

Armed with these types of information, you’ll be able to tailor-fit your answer:

“I’ve been following your company since I was a freshman in college. Back in 2015, I read about your plans to invest in sustainable technology that would improve efficiency in the Oil and Gas industry. Since then, I planned my career toward one day working for your company. As you’ve read in my resume, I focused on networking IT systems, learning multiple operating systems, and becoming more competent in mobile technology to be effective as a Systems Engineer for IIOT. I also spent 2 years with Petro Mundial, your main competitor, to get immersed in the industry’s culture and contribute my knowledge and experience to your continued success, if given the opportunity. You should hire me because I’ve committed my career to build one with your company.”

Lead-off With Your Strongest Qualifications

Yes, the Hiring Manager is already aware that you’re qualified for the job. After all, you’re in the interview room, right?

However, it won’t hurt your chances of getting hired by giving a quick summary of the technical skills that make you one of the best-qualified candidates for the position.

“First of all, I meet all of the technical qualifications that are required for the job. I’m a Certified Public Accountant. I passed the CPA exams 4 years ago and recently got the required permissions to allow me to practice in your state. I also have credentials in Tax and Public Accounting plus I passed the Civil Service Exam, all of which are requirements to work in any government agency. So for sure, I check all the boxes to qualify for the position. And that’s why you should hire me. Accounting is a profession where attention to detail, organization, and accuracy are important qualities to ensure results are delivered consistently without mistakes.”

Relate the Job with Your Current One

Your resume lists down your experiences, skills, training, educational attainment, and other information that describes how you worked. But it doesn’t give a clear idea of how you would perform if the company hired you.

When asked by the Hiring Manager why you should be hired, use the opportunity to relate the demands of the position with your current or most recent employment by citing examples. Conducting research will help you come up with the best answer.

Visit their website and run a search on Google and find the latest news about the company. Check out their social media pages and read up on the issues that are generating the highest levels of engagement.

Here’s an example:

“I read that your company has been in the process of diversifying its business toward finance, particularly in the acquisition of other businesses, negotiating strategic partnerships with key suppliers, and the possibility of getting listed as a public company. As you’ve read in my resume, my core competencies lie in these areas of finance. I planned and negotiated the biggest acquisition in the history of Belfore Industries when it acquired LTI Systems in 2019. Likewise, I was the consultant of the underwriting team when Belfore decided to go public in 2020. I believe that by hiring me, I’ll be able to effectively contribute to the accomplishment of your company’s goals.”

Listen Carefully to the Question

Not all hiring managers will ask you “Why should we hire you?” They could spin the question in different ways that could throw you off but if you listen carefully to the question, the context remains unchanged.

Here are examples of how the job interviewer could paraphrase “Why should we hire you?”

  • “Why do you believe you’re the best fit for this job?”
  • “Do you think you’re the best candidate for this job?”
  • “Explain why you believe you have the best qualifications for this position.”
  • “If you come across someone with these credentials as yours, would you hire that person? If yes, why?”
  • “What makes you better than the other candidates for this position?”

The question is worded or phrased differently but its intent is the same – to find out why you think the company should hire you over others.

Listen carefully to how the question was phrased. If they’re asking specifically for the qualifications that make you the best candidate, follow our advice in tip #2 and lead off with your strongest credentials.

If the Hiring Manager is asking you why you would be a better choice than the other candidates, keep a positive vibe, and stay humble. Don’t use the opportunity to put down the other applicants for the position but focus on your own:

“I can’t speak for the other job applicants who were also invited for an interview. Clearly like me, their resumes impressed you enough to grant them the same opportunity. However, I can speak for myself and say with 100% conviction that if hired, I will deliver your expectations. I’m confident because I do have the technical qualifications and required years of experience for the position. I understand that my statement is self-serving but if given the opportunity, I will give your company my best.”

Emphasize Key Soft Skills

One way to differentiate yourself from other job applicants who share the same hard skills is to emphasize your key soft skills when asked why the company should hire you.

Hard skills are the technical skills that are acquired from formal school and practical work experience. Soft skills refer to the personality traits – the attitudes – that make you who you are and define your approach to work.

HR professionals have been giving soft skills more, if not, greater importance in the last few years because cultural fit has become a priority concern of many companies.

Here’s an example of how you can bring your soft skills to the forefront of the interview:

“I believe you should hire me because my personality and how I’ve conducted myself in my career make me an ideal fit for your organization. ‘Competence’, ‘Respect’, and ‘Trust’ are my non-negotiable core values. Without competence, you cannot hope to earn the respect or gain the trust of your employer and customers. Without ‘respect’, you won’t do enough to be competent in the job. And without ‘trust’, no one will give you their respect. These are the same values your company lives by. You invest in the development of your people, go the extra mile for your customers, and continue to introduce the best innovations in the industry. For this reason, I’m confident we can have a long-term successful and sustainable relationship.”

Conclusion

Don’t be intimidated when asked, “Why should we hire you?” Look at it as an opportunity to create distance between you and the other candidates. This is your chance to stake your claim for the job.

Companies are no longer looking for candidates with the most glowing credentials. HR managers want candidates the company can work with and invest time and resources to develop future leaders.

Take the time to do some research about the company, list down the possible questions, draft the best answers, and practice your responses in front of the mirror.

Last but not the least, show up early for the interview. Arriving 30 minutes ahead of schedule should give you enough time to relax and get last-minute practice sessions in.

If you show up late, that’s one reason the company won’t hire you!

Did you enjoy this article, we can create similar content for your website. Our blogs are optimized for search and regularly generate views and engagement for our clients. Give us a call or drop us an email if you’re interested in having us do the writing for you.

Feel free to share this article with your friends who are about to go through their job interviews!

Discover other  job interview questions and how to answer  them

Author