In this article we are going to talk about the How to answer “Why should I hire you?” This is in fact a question to check your personality and attitude but, you always give an answer to this question as a dumb nerd, some of the common mistakes are I am the most suitable candidate for this job. Really? You are going to project yourself superior to the others? Once we had a competition in our school and my favorite teacher told me that I am hardworking and my family thinks I am hardworking, I am hardworking.
You know in my childhood I always dreamt to be a Software Engineer, so here I am, pursuing my dream. Why is the recruiter going to listen to your dumb crap for 15 minutes? And by the way, if you think those answers aren’t real then you are wrong, Recruiters often complain about these frustrating statements that have no relevance to their question and no experience or history to back up the question.
Top 10 Ways to answer “Why should I hire you?”
You are going to get a job, you are not a toddler anymore that you used to talk with your friends and parents 10 years ago. Let us set you up to ace your next job interview. Let’s begin…
1. Be humble
While you are in the interview or the video meeting, the primary reason that the interviewer is interviewing you is to judge your personality. Are you arrogant? Do you lack confidence? Do you respect your interviewer? The question Why should I hire you? is a psychological question to judge your personality. When you answer this question start your answer with “With due respect, all of the candidates have the potential to get this job but my skillsets ……. And my experience in…. makes me a better candidate for this role”. Never downgrade your peers, The interviewer has years of experience asking questions to candidates like you every day and if you behave cocky there, then your chances of getting the offer will reduce drastically.
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2. I am a fast learner (Back this statement with proof)
Let us suppose you have applied for a software engineer job then you can answer like “Sir/ Ma’am, according to my previous experience in …. Internship or college I was assigned… task and I completed my task in the given deadline which proves I am a fast learner and I respect deadlines.” Always support each and every answer with solid proof to backup else the recruiter will be like ”I have heard this statement since the morning and you are the 20th candidate telling me this murmuring on his head”.
3. If you give me an opportunity
Tell your interviewer that your skills are relevant to the profile, your previous experience, and academic profile can add value to the company and if I can get an opportunity to prove that I will work hard, a complete task in the deadline, learn new things and I will be the best pick in this recruitment drive. You are asking for this opportunity to prove your competence and asking for an opportunity shows your humility and seriousness.
Read Also: What Makes You Fit For This Job?
4. Tell how you can add value to the company
If you went for a job interview maybe 20 more candidates are waiting outside the interview room for their turn, everyone needs an opportunity but who will get it? The person who expresses their skills, knowledge, and experience. Let the interviewer understand how you can bring value to the company, what unique things you will bring to the table?
Read the job description properly and highlight the unique expertise that you can offer that is relevant to the role and give you an edge over your peers.
5. Highlight your achievements in the form of a story
When I was in the first year of my undergrad degree, I was elected as a member of the entrepreneurship cell, and eventually, I got promoted to the Vice President of the Entrepreneurship cell in college, The point here is maybe you have done some internships, got some prizes as a sportsperson or did dramatics, highlight those achievements as a story so that You are looked up to as a determined and a legit candidate to them. Everyone is faking in the interview to some degree, so if you associate your achievements in the form of the story, the panelist has a higher chance of believing in you.
Read Also: How To Be Happy in a Stressful Job?
6. Highlight your skillset with your work
Your skill set is the reason that they are hiring you. But are you able to portray your skills to them? Are you showing your skills to some of your projects? Or using your skillset to complete work as a story? Suppose you are applying for an accountant role and in your CV it is clearly written you know accounting. Do you just tell them I know accounting? Or you should highlight it as a story that I used my accounting skills to do an XYZ internship or helped my neighbor to file taxes? Which one looks better? I am a graphic designer and I helped my college make posters for the cultural festival as I have the expertise, my college chose me to do the design work? Do the 2nd and 3rd statements seem more appealing to you compared to the 1st one?
7. I am hardworking (with a reference point)
Everyone will tell the recruiter that they are hardworking, What makes your answer different and real to believe? I am hard-working because when I was studying in my college, I had to learn a foreign language and it was difficult to understand and score on that subject, so I took the help of XYZ person and seniors and still managed to score well, or In my previous company when it was required to achieve “XYZ” target on a limited time, I used to devote 2 hours extra every day for a week to complete the task. A statement with solid evidence will always impress the second person and the interviewer will definitely gain your trust.
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8. I am a team player / I can handle the work alone
Different roles have a different kinds of needs. Some professions like writer, accountant, editor, designer can be done solo. However some profession like software engineer, Sales, Operation, HR needs constant interaction with team members and clients so, you need to frame this statement according to that, for example, you applied for a Software Engineer position and you answer I am a team player and I work very efficiently on a team, I am great in assisting and understanding instructions. Bring out the relevance needed for the profile you have applied for.
9. I am comfortable working under high pressure
In the current scenario every company whether it is an early-stage startup or an established company like Amazon, every company is looking to hire people who can handle pressure comfortably which means someone who has a familiarity to work under pressure and still managed to give the desired output. Frame your statement as I am comfortable working under pressure because I would complete the syllabus in the fastest way possible when I was in college, or I used to do a part-time job along with college which proves that I can handle pressure efficiently. Again, associate this statement with your past with solid evidence.
Read Also: Why Do You Believe You Are Suitable For This Job Role?
10. I handled this tough situation efficiently
Highlight some incidents that were a tough situation for you or your team and how you helped yourself or your team to go out of that situation. It can be a personal situation as my family could not afford to pay my college fees but I worked part-time to fund my college fees or professional situation that Once our client was very angry as we gave the late delivery and it was me who talked with the client to get our team out of that tough situation. Finding out solutions when you are going through a difficult phase is needed by everyone, so whether the situation was personal or professional highlight that point properly.
Bonus tips
I possess leadership skills
If you were the captain of your cricket team in college or you were responsible to lead a team who was managing to organize a college fest highlight even the smallest achievements of your leadership skills because leadership shows responsibility and stability and every company would look up to hire someone who can grow as a leader someday.
I am a people’s person
Based on the current scenario, every role, every company, every situation needs people skills. I worked at a call center to sustain myself and the experience of handling people will add up to this organization. I was the person who used to bring the best clients for our startup, so, my skill to talk with people will add benefits to this organization
Remember, you become better at something when you do that again and again, And if you are going through rejection then have patience and understand that you are getting better every time you are appearing for an interview, you are very close to getting that job.