Why Should We Hire You?

Preparation is the key to success in any interview, helping you to convey your answers confidently and concisely. One of the most common and possibly the most important questions is, “why should we hire you?”

While, at first, this may seem daunting to answer, it offers the perfect opportunity for you to sell yourself and really showcase why you would be an asset to the business.

Our article will guide you through the crucial points to keep in mind when preparing for this question, helping you to leave a lasting impression on your interviewer.

Why Should We Hire You? Answer This Question & Win Over Employers

So why does the interviewer ask such a broad question? The answer is simple; to help them to understand why you stand out from the crowd. Your resume would have already proven your experience, qualifications and skills; this question is all about understanding your drive, work ethic and individuality. Interviewers want to uncover your mindset towards solving problems, maintaining workplace morale and building relationships – in other words; it’s your time to shine!

Ready to get started? Here’s what our guide will run through:

• What to Mention in Your Answer
• What to Avoid in Your Answer
• Examples of the Perfect Answer

What to Mention in Your Answer

First and foremost, every component of your answer must add value. If you mention a qualification, strength or past experience, explain how you have inputted this into your working life and the value it brought to the situation. This is the ideal chance to talk about any volunteering you have done or events you have organised; this gives a better insight into your personality and soft skills.

It is also beneficial to spend time analysing the job description and dissecting any key traits it is clear that the employer is looking for. Subtly integrate these into your answer, again giving examples of real-life situations where you have adopted these attributes. Some qualities that are guaranteed to stand out include:

• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to learn and adapt
• Self-motivation and drive to grow
• Integrity, transparency and trust

Although it can be easy to get wrapped up in a loophole of nerves during an interview, try to keep your answers short but concise. Avoid repeating yourself as this is going against the rule of always adding value. Perhaps spend time practising your answers with a friend or family member and ask for their feedback.

What to Avoid in Your Answer

Yes, preparation is ever so important, but it is also vital to strike a balance between being prepared while also being natural. Remember, this question is designed to showcase your personal skills, so giving a monotone, ultra memorised response will suppress this. It also creates the impression that you are giving the same answers to every company you interview with, making no real effort to show enthusiasm for the business. Instead, keep in mind the key points you want to mention and tailor this around how the interview is going – even if you take a few seconds to process the questions before answering.

This leads us nicely to our next tip. When talking about your strengths, always ensure that you alter them to the business. While it is true that the interviewer wants to know about you personally, their main focus is determining whether you are the right fit for their business. Avoid revolving the answers around what the company can do for you but instead what you can do for them.

Examples of the Perfect Answer

There are many directions you can take when faced with the “why should we hire you” question. We always recommend focusing on your strongest skills, those in which you feel 100% confident and can give detailed evidence, should the interviewer ask additional questions. Just some directions you can consider include:

“Based on everything we have discussed today and the research I’ve done about your company, you’re looking for an experienced Iteration Manager who can clearly communicate and promote the objectives to both the team and interested parties. In my last position, I held weekly meetings with the team to ensure the project would remain on schedule, eliminate any blockages to the team’s progress and optimise delivery. When there were changes or delays that altered the previously agreed delivery schedule, I communicated this immediately via email and, if I did not receive confirmation of acknowledgement, I would follow up within 24hrs so we would always be on the same page. With this routine, the project was completed on schedule and each contributor had a clear understanding of their tasks, deadlines and involvement. Clear, consistent communication is very important to me.”

Why does this work? This answer not only adds personality but also offers precise results. The interviewee has spent time researching the exact skills the company is looking for and backs up their examples with evidence.

“I believe that my 6 years of experience in technology gives me a great advantage as I have seen how the industry has evolved and have been able to adapt my skills to meet the demands. In my previous role, I was responsible for innovation, which meant that I spent lots of time implementing and overseeing new processes, which helped the company to stay ahead of competitors. I would love to bring the innovation skills I learned to this position and watch how your company grows.”

Why does this work? This answer has focused on a trait that every business is always looking for; innovation. It directly shows the interviewer that you are experienced in bringing something new to the table, and from here, they are likely to ask for examples, so be prepared!

“In my last company, I found that we were experiencing a large number of bugs in our software. To overcome this, I reassessed the quality assurance process and found that, as it was not thorough, some of the developers were trying to cut corners and were not efficiently reviewing code. I encouraged the team to use best code development practices and checked in regularly. Since then, our error rate went down by 65%. Problem-solving is something I really enjoy, and seeing a positive outcome is, of course, very rewarding!”

Why does this work? This answer is not only descriptive but also accurate, providing set statistics to the interviewer to back up their problem-solving skills. The interviewee has carefully chosen a statistic above the industry standard, setting them apart from other applicants.

“I’m really passionate about keeping up morale and think it’s ever so important in a growing business like yourselves. I noticed in your job listing that you are looking for someone with strong teamwork and communication skills. In my previous company, I was responsible for arranging team-building activities, and it’s something that made a huge impact on the business. It instantly boosted collaboration and also helped me to perfect my organisation skills.”

Why does this work? This answer is brilliant for showcasing your “bonus” skills, those that will make you an asset to the company. As always, ensure that you have a specific occasion in mind, perhaps something new that you can introduce if you were to join the business.

“Since finishing my studies around 10 years ago, I’ve made a conscious effort to continue learning and took the time to complete additional IT qualifications. In my last position, I completed ITLR Foundation Certification and also did a few training sessions with Microsoft, helping me to introduce new technology into the business. I think these have definitely given me the knowledge and skills to progress onto a company of your size that deals with finance companies of ranging demands.”

Why does this work? Any additional qualifications instantly add an edge over other applications, but the ability to relate this back to the company is what the interviewer is looking for – it will definitely earn you extra credibility points!

“Having recently graduated from university, I’m really excited to put my full focus on growing my career and learning new skills. I’ve spent the past 4 years managing my university studies and a part-time job as a Systems Engineer while also volunteering. This helped me to learn great organisation and multitasking skills, which I know will be useful when working in a fast-paced organisation like this.”

Why does this work? This answer straight away notes the interviewee’s lack of experience but diverts this into their positive attributes. It highlights important soft skills and also a determination to work hard, both attractive traits for entry-level positions.

Ready To Smash Your Next Interview?

“Why should we hire you?” is an incredibly vague question that, while initially may make it appear daunting, can be a blessing in disguise. A broad question allows you to steer the interview in any direction you wish, using your strongest skills to your advantage. As mentioned previously, preparation will be your best friend; note down a handful of situations that stick out to you and will make you stand out from other applicants.

If you would like more interview support or are looking to take your career to the next level, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our recruitment specialists. With over ten years of experience, we have built strong relationships with leading partners who have open vacancies ready and waiting for you to apply!