How to answer "why should we hire you?" (with examples)

“Why should we hire you?” may seem like a simple job interview question, but it’s a great opportunity to highlight your value as a potential employee. In this article, we give you a step-by-step guide on how to effectively answer this question. Read on to find out why interviewers ask this question and what pitfalls to avoid when answering. Check out some sample answers as well to help you get started.

• Step 1: Understanding the question
• Step 2: Preparing your answer
• Step 3: Crafting your answer
• Step 4: Practicing your answer
• Step 5: Delivering your answer
• Sample questions and answers
• Summary
• Frequently asked questions

Step 1: Understanding the question

The first step to answering the question is understanding its purpose. 

Why do employers ask "Why should we hire you?" 

The question shouldn’t be taken at face value. Interviewers ask it so you reveal certain details that aren't apparent through your resume or cover letter, such as:

• What sets you apart from other candidates: What are your strengths, accomplishments, and other distinguishing qualities? How can these qualities make you an asset to the company?
• How well do you solve problems: The question itself is a problem because it's so direct. So, if you can deliver an awesome answer, it shows that you can overcome a tough situation. 

What kind of answer do interviewers want to hear? 

The complete form of the question is actually "Why should we hire you and not this other person we're also interviewing?" What the interviewer wants to hear is how the company can benefit from hiring you. To that end, your response should include these key points:

• Your unique selling points
• How your skills match the job requirements
• An example of how you've used those skills 

Be broad in your self-examination to find unique selling points and qualifications. If you've been recognized at work, in any capacity, tell the interviewer about it. If you've contributed to the completion of a successful project, tell the story behind it. Even if you're a fresh graduate, talk about your accomplishments at school. Maybe you were the president of a student organization, the team leader in a class presentation, or a reliable ate or kuya to your juniors.  

Step 2: Preparing your answer

The second step has to do with analysis and strategy. It will help if you approach this from a marketing point of view. Think of the company you are applying for as the "customer" and yourself as the "product" you're selling. The other job seekers are the "competitors." 

Research the company and role 

To convince an employer that they should hire you, you'll need to gather as much information as you can about them and the job. The company is looking for more than just a person whose skills tick all their boxes. They need somebody who can fit seamlessly into their organization.  

Explore their website and social media for information. It also pays to know more about the position you’re applying for and the industry you're trying to join. If you know anyone who's employed at the company or works a similar job, talk to them. Get up to speed on current trends and events – anything that can clue you into the "customer's" needs and preferences. 

Assess your skills and experience 

You've studied the company. Now study yourself. Look for areas where the "product" and "customer" can intersect:

• Identify your strengths and accomplishments.
• Match your skills to the job requirements. 

You already have this information listed in your resume, but, for better results, you may need to provide more. That is, you should explore not only your hard, technical skills but also your soft skills.  

Develop a unique selling proposition (USP) 

Your USP is a combination of your knowledge, skills, strengths, and experience, which you should tailor to the job and company. The purpose of your USP is to appeal to the "customer" while clearly distinguishing yourself from "competitors." Follow these pointers to craft the USP of your personal "brand":

• Understand what your "customer" wants. This will directly come from your research into the job and the company.
• Identify your strengths. Note the overlaps with the company's and job's requirements. In particular, note any attributes that make you unique.
• Substantiate your key selling attributes with facts. Don't just say you are an ambitious overachiever. Instead, you could say: "In my 10 years in sales, I've always exceeded my sales targets. I have consistently been on the top-five list of performers at the companies I've worked for. I even won Employee of the Year at our sales convention last year. I aim to bring the same value to your company."
• Finally, make your USP simple and memorable. Cut any technical jargon your interviewer might be unaware of. 

Step 3: Crafting your answer

Step 1 was about understanding the question. In Step 2, you did your research and prepared your answer. Now, in Step 3, write your answer down, on screen or on paper. The idea is to visualize it and see whether it's really the best answer. Imagine you're the interviewer. Does your answer convince you that you're the best choice for the job? If the answer is no, keep working on it. 

Show enthusiasm and interest 

Your answer should convey how pleased you are for being invited to an interview. To that end, try to:

• Explain why you want to work for the company.
• Convey passion for the industry. 

Take every opportunity to connect yourself to the company. Make it clear there's no better candidate for the role than you. 

Be specific and relevant 

Again, Step 1 and Step 2 should have given you what you need to know and what you need to say.

• Tailor your response to the company and role.
• Use examples to demonstrate your skills. 

Focus on your USP and talk about the amazing things you can offer. Use the STAR method to paint a compelling picture of a specific instance when you did something great. 

Keep it concise 

Make every word count. Avoid rambling or excessive details, and stick to a clear and focused message. If you waste words, you risk losing the interviewer's interest when you deliver your answer.  

Avoid common mistakes 

Candidates often make three common mistakes when crafting their response to "Why should we hire you?" Avoid these mistakes to ensure you deliver a top-notch answer:

• Being too general: Avoid clichés and general statements. Answers that are too generic are less likely to help you stand out. Instead, tailor your answer to the role and company, be specific about your qualities, and use fresh, lively language.
• Neglecting to mention accomplishments: While you should avoid sounding arrogant, don't be afraid to toot your own horn (magbuhat ng sariling bangko). Highlight your successes, and, if possible, use quantitative data to back your claims.
• Focusing solely on yourself: Your USP should present an intersection between you and the company. Remember to address the company's needs and explain how it can contribute to its success. 

Step 4: Practicing your answer

Practice makes perfect. Rehearsing your answer can boost your confidence and reduce the risk of stuttering or stumbling over your words. 

As you rehearse your answer, ask yourself these questions:

• How does my voice sound? Is it steady or shaky? Too loud, too quiet, or just right?
• Are my pronunciations correct? Am I even using the right words?
• What about my tone – is it confident and convincing? 

Be prepared for follow-up questions 

Your job interview is more than a series of questions. It is also a conversation. As with any conversation, if you say something interesting, the other person may want to learn more and start asking follow-up questions. An interview becoming so dynamic may seem daunting at first, but it's probably a sign that you're doing great. The interviewer is engaged and wants to know more about you. 

Why not try: Interview practice tool

Step 5: Delivering your answer

Now that you're confident in what you're going to say, continue practicing. Rehearse in front of a mirror and observe your nonverbal cues. Alternatively, assemble an audience of trusted people, like friends and family members, and deliver your answer in front of them. As you do so, take note of these points:  

Stay confident and be authentic

• Maintain eye contact and good posture.
• Speak with conviction and sincerity. 

If you practice in front of an audience, adapt to reactions 

• Gauge people's responses.
• Be ready to adjust your answer if needed. 

Be honest. Be respectful. Be mindful. Be flexible. Be yourself. Be your best. Good luck! 

Sample questions and answers

When employers want to know why they should hire you, they don't always ask, "Why should we hire you?" Sometimes they phrase the question differently, but it means the same thing. For that reason, we've provided variations on the question along with sample answers. Study both the questions and answers so that you're fully prepared for your interview. 

How does your background and experience prepare you for this role? 

“My previous job in a call center primarily had me handling complaints from dissatisfied customers. I quickly learned the value of de-escalating situations and working with customers to find solutions. Not only did I help retain customers, but I also developed important qualities like emotional intelligence and situational awareness. These skills are difficult to acquire if you haven't directly had such interactions. 

"The company's customer satisfaction rating went up 12% in my time there. I know it wasn't all because of me, but I'm certain that I played a significant role. And because one of the primary objectives of this role is to improve how customers view the company, I'm confident that I'm the perfect candidate for the job." 

(Call center, mid-level employee) 

What can you bring to this role? 

"I can bring my willingness to learn and enthusiasm to help you achieve your goals. I can bring my determination to master the role as fast as I can so I can become a contributing member of your team as soon as possible. I can also bring my unbridled energy and disciplined focus to solve problems, should any arise. On top of that, I can bring my strong hunger for improvement, which will allow me to help you discover new ways to grow your sales." 

(Sales, fresh graduate)  

How do you believe you can add value to our organization? 

"I have a proven track record of designing lean process flows. For example, at my previous job, I streamlined the workflow between the front room and the back room. This led to 50% fewer instances of miscommunication, which led to a 25% decrease in turnaround time and a 20% reduction in operational costs due to overtime. If given the chance, I'll be more than happy to use that same process-efficiency mindset to deliver significant value to your organization." 

(Business process executive, mid-level employee) 

Why are you a good fit for this role? 

"I believe my extensive knowledge of graphic and animation software makes me a great fit for this job. I'm proficient in all of the Adobe apps, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Animate. Also, I make a point of updating my knowledge every time a new version is introduced. 

"Not only that, but I'm also used to coordinating with different teams and departments, and I've only missed a deadline once in my entire career, which was when I was hospitalized after an accident. I believe my expertise, combined with my interpersonal skills and devotion, can make me an asset to your fast-growing organization." 

(Graphic designer, mid-level employee)  

Why do you believe you are suitable for this role? 

“I have always prided myself on being a go-getter and a quick learner. With limited financial means, I had to juggle several web-based jobs as a full-time student to make ends meet. From this experience, I learned how to manage my time effectively, allowing me to accomplish all my work while completing all my school requirements. Despite my circumstances, I graduated in the top 25% of my batch. 

"I also interned with Analytics Web Marketing Agency for six months. As a result, I gained valuable knowledge and skills in various aspects of marketing, such as market research, content creation, email marketing, and analytics. More importantly, I realized that this field was a perfect fit for my interests. I'm sure that I'll be able to overcome whatever new challenges come my way, in whatever tasks I may have to do.” 

(Marketing Assistant, fresh graduate) 

How will your skills and experience benefit our team? 

“I'm very meticulous and detail-oriented. As a web developer, these traits have helped me and my team in identifying corner cases and bugs. For example, at my previous job at Software Inc., the website my colleague was working on suddenly stopped running. He spent quite some time trying to fix it, to no avail. Even though it wasn't my responsibility and I had my work to do, I just couldn't ignore his plight. So I looked over every line of code and found the mistake. I told him the issue, and he was able to get his website running. 

"Continued focus on understanding details has also helped me develop expertise across the full stack. I am fully proficient in using technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and MySQL." 

(Web developer, mid-level employee) 

Other angles you can take 

If you need further inspiration, consider any of the following angles to get started on developing some unique responses.

• You are passionate about the industry or line of work.
• You will always do what's necessary to succeed and help the company succeed.
• You are outstandingly ambitious and eager to learn.
• You have shown the ability to improve those around you.
• You admire and believe in the company's mission, products, or operational philosophy.
• You can bring creativity and innovation to help the company get and stay ahead of its competitors.
• Your values and vision align perfectly with the company's.
• Your education, experience, and skill set are unlike any other's. 

Prove that you're the right candidate

Answering the question “Why should we hire you?” requires clear thinking, thorough preparation, and ample practice. It may seem tricky at first, but with the right response, you can show your potential employer that hiring you will be the right choice.  

Frequently asked questions

1. How long should my answer be? Keep your answer concise and to the point. Avoid rambling about irrelevant details. If the interviewer needs elaboration, they can always ask a follow-up question. Generally, try to keep your response under two minutes. 
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2. What if I don't have much experience in the field? Own up to the truth, but do so confidently and explain how another quality of yours makes up for your inexperience. Below is an example of such a response. Use it to guide your own. "While I don't have much experience in the field, I'm a fast learner and I am confident that I can both handle the responsibilities and surpass your expectations." 
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3. How do I showcase my soft skills? Set up a situation, describe your role in it, explain what soft skill you used to resolve the situation, and discuss the outcome. Soft skills often involve your influence on others, so your response should show how your personal qualities helped facilitate productivity or positive dynamics in an organization. 
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4. Should I focus more on my past achievements or my future potential? Sometimes it depends on your age and the sort of job you're interviewing for. If you're young in a fresh, fast-paced industry like technology, past achievements may not matter much, so you should focus on the future. Broadly speaking, however, you should refer to your past achievements to indicate your future potential. Your past achievements are evidence that you can gain concrete results, and if you've done it before, you can do it again. 
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5. How do I address gaps in my work history or skill set? Again, honesty is the best approach. Point out the gaps and explain why they exist. If it's about your work history, you might also show that you were productive during the interval. Maybe you sought professional development, kept current in the industry, or gained skills. If it's about your skills, you may want to demonstrate that you're working on filling the gap. 
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6. Is it appropriate to discuss salary expectations in my answer? ⁠No, not in this answer. Salary expectations have nothing to do with answering why an employer should hire you. Aside from that, the initial interview is usually too early to talk about compensation unless the interviewer brings it up first. 
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7. How do I remain confident if I'm nervous? ⁠Preparation, strategy, and a new perspective are the best ways to counter nervousness. First, make sure you're well-rehearsed. Then, on the day of the interview, be early so you'll have time to calm yourself. Finally, try to think of the interview as just a conversation. In the meantime, try some anxiety management strategies like deep breathing, meditation, and positive self-talk. 
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8. What if I'm overqualified for the position? Being overqualified does not require a different approach. However, when you reach Step 2 of our recommended preparation process, your USP must take into consideration your unique situation. Your reason for applying is very important. 
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