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How to answer the “Why should I hire you?” Interview question

Written by: Charlotte Rogers
Published on: 28 Feb 2020

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If you are asked this question in an interview, you shouldn’t panic. More often than not, the interviewer is looking for a concise summary of reasons stating why you think you would be a good fit for the job. The answer you use for this question should act as a sales pitch. They want to hear about your best qualities and to see that you believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t take this time to brag about every good thing you have done, your answer should be completely tailored to the job you are interviewing for. So, as usual take some time to do some research, prepare an answer accordingly and have that ‘elevator pitch’ ready!

What do they want to know?

The main points the interviewer will want to hear may include;

  • Are you qualified for the role?
  • Can you deliver results?
  • Will you fit in with the team?
  • Can you successfully demonstrate your skills in this role?

Overall, the interviewer is going to want you to answer some, if not all of those questions in your answer. They are not trying to put you on the spot and make you question yourself. They simply want you to explain why YOU think you are a good enough candidate. Sometimes, this question can feel a little intimidating. But that is often when the candidate has not prepared an answer, or you don’t quite understand what they are asking. Sometimes you may want the job for financial reasons, and this is a valid reason. However, you want to make sure that you are talking about more than just money, they want to hear that you are enthusiastic about the role and that you are going to put the effort in from day one.

How do I begin to organise my answer?

In order to answer this question well you need to assess and believe in your own abilities. Some of the questions you should be asking yourself may include:

  • What are the most important skills for this job, and do you have them?
  • What are your proudest achievements?
  • What makes you different from other candidates?

Remember, you should be creating a kind of sales pitch, so be prepared to talk yourself up to the interviewer. Once you have asked yourself those questions and you are confident that you are the right person for the job, it will be easier to prepare an answer.


How to structure your answer

You should begin by writing down some ideas of things you may want to include. Think about whether you have any achievements in your previous role that would be of interest to the interviewer. What experience do you have that will back up your claims? Think hard about this and prepare notes or a guide to help you remember what you want to say.

It’s good to have some notes ready, but make sure you aren’t memorising a script word-for-word. Often when you are nervous, it can come out very staged and you want to steer clear of this. You may want to have your CV in front of you as a reminder, but you should not be sitting with written answers in front of you.

Most importantly, you want to speak confidently about yourself. You want to have a concise answer that presents you in a positive way. Don’t be afraid to talk about your achievements, it is not showing off.

Example answer

“Your job description states that you want a candidate with 5 years’ experience in this field, in addition to meeting that, I also believe that I have the right skill set that you are looking for. I am confident that I will be able to provide the skills as well as demonstrate them in this role. I have numerous successful projects in my previous role, where I played a significant role. I can honestly say that I will work efficiently and effectively on similar future projects that will be a significant part of this job. I have learnt a lot in my career so far and am eager to continue developing my communication and leadership skills. I am passionate about this industry and am willing to put in the work to exceed the quality of work asked of me.”

Above is an example answer, you can use this as a base for your answer if you don’t know where to start. You can add or take things away and really make it your own. You need to make sure that you have read the job description thoroughly and really know what you are applying for. Take time to think of an answer and make it your own, but ultimately, have faith in yourself and show the employer that you are the right person for the job.