why you should hire me essay examples

How To Answer Why Should We Hire You? – [15 Sample Answers Included]

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

Updated 6/21/2022.

Few questions make a job seeker feel like they’ve been put on the spot quite like, “Why should we hire you?” No matter how skilled you are or how qualified for the job you happen to be, it feels like one of the dastardliest questions around.

Even strong candidates may doubt what they bring to the table. Plus, it feels incredibly tough to come up with a good response if you don’t like to brag.

Luckily, by checking out our tips and some why should we hire you answers, you can get a better grip on this question. Are you ready to take a look? Great! Here’s what you need to know.

How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You/Why Should I Hire You?”

Before we dive into the why should we hire you answers, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what this question – and others like it, including “Why are you a great match for this role?” – is all about. Mainly, the hiring manager wants to see why you feel you’re a great match, “see” being the operative word.

Every company or organization has a certain type of person in mind when it comes to the position they are interviewing for. This person will usually need to have one, two, or even more specific qualities that the organization believes in or emphasizes.

Overall, 42 percent of job applicants don’t meet the skill requirements for a job. Since the hiring manager is looking for someone who brings the stuff they need to the table, they’re hoping you’ll show them exactly why you’re a stellar match, and they will normally select the person who best exemplifies the specific qualities they’re after.

This job interview question is the perfect opportunity for you to pitch yourself to your potential employer and reinforce the idea that you are the perfect candidate! How do you show them that? By using examples, of course.

What kind of example should you use? Usually, you want to showcase one that matches a specific job duty or skill you saw in the job description/job ad. When you do that, you know for a fact you’re speaking to the hiring manager’s needs. So, reference what you saw in the vacancy announcement specifically to show the alignment.

Top 5 Tips for Answering Why Should We Hire You?

1. stay achievement-oriented.

Simply listing capabilities is rarely enough if you want to impress with your “why should we hire you” answer. Instead, you want to be achievement-oriented. Discuss accomplishments that showcase the best of what you have to offer. Also, quantify the details to make your responses extra impactful.

2. Feature Hard AND Soft Skills

When you create your answer, you don’t want to focus solely on the technical capabilities listed in the job ad. Instead, make sure to bring some soft skills into the mix, too.

If there aren’t any features in the job description, go with classics like communication, leadership, and teamwork. By including those in the achievements you discuss (alongside some hard skills), you’ll look like a stronger candidate.

3. Show Culture Alignment

Hiring managers aren’t just looking for specific skills; they want candidates that will mesh with the company culture. Make sure to show you’re a fit by bringing in aspects of the company’s mission and values into your answer. That makes the connection ridiculously clear, making you seem like a strong fit.

4. Express Excitement for a Specific Duty

One simple way to make your answer stand out is to express excitement for a specific duty (or two) listed in the job ad. If you can show that you’re passionate about a core responsibility, it’ll make you a more appealing candidate.

5. Embrace “I” Statements

While a job interview isn’t all about you, your answer to this question generally should be, at least in one key way. You need to use “I” statements in your answer. Saying “we” muddies the water, making it unclear whether it was you or other colleagues that accomplished certain goals or possessed specific skills. By using “I” instead, you remove those doubts, making it easier to show why YOU are a great match for this role.

Just remember, this is just one question the hiring manager could ask you in your interview! That’s why we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview.

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Top 15 Why Should We Hire You Answers

Okay, now is the moment you’ve been waiting for: our fantastic why should we hire you sample answers.

But before we dig in, a quick word about these answers. While these why should we hire you examples can give you a solid idea of how to approach the question, they are for inspiration only.

Why are they only inspiration? Because they aren’t targeted to the job you’re trying to land, that’s why.

When you interview a job, you need to use the Tailoring Method to speak to that exact hiring manager’s needs. When you do that, your answers are even more impactful, increasing the odds that the hiring manager will see you as a strong match.

Plus, 47 percent of hiring managers wouldn’t offer a candidate a job if they seemed to have little knowledge about the company. By tailoring your answers, you show you’ve gone the extra mile.

So, spend some time getting to know the Tailoring Method. Then, use that to customize your answers the right way, increasing the odds that your response genuinely stands out.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into how to answer why should we hire you by looking at some stellar examples.

Sample Answer 1 – Entry-Level IT

In the job ad, I noticed that finding a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in software development, strong Java skills, and entry-level mobile app development skills is a top priority. Along with graduating with honors, during my time in school, I was tasked with designing a mobile app to demonstrate my skills. I chose to create a Java-based application that helps students refine their programming skills. After the project’s completion, I decided to launch the app. Not only is it now listed on Google Play, but it’s been downloaded more than 5,000 times and has a 4.8 rating. Plus, I’ve used feedback to make improvements, giving me experience with application updates and maintenance. I believe that my education and experience make me a strong fit for the role, and I look forward to not just applying my skills at a company like yours but continuing to grow in my next position.

Sample Answer 2 – Entry-Level Office Administration

Between the job description and what we’ve discussed thus far, it’s clear that communication skills are essential for this role. During my time in school, I’ve had the opportunity to hone my writing skills. Along with report writing and business communications, I’ve also taken coursework in technical writing specifically, which I believe manufacturing companies may find valuable. Additionally, along with taking a public speaking class in college, I also joined Toastmasters. That allowed me to boost my presentation skills, increasing my confidence when speaking in front of large groups. Together, those experiences allowed me to acquire and improve a wide range of communication skills. I look forward to using them as I take the next step in my career.

Sample Answer 3 – Entry-Level Sales

According to the job description, finding someone comfortable with cold-calling seems to be essential. While I don’t have prior outbound sales experience specifically, my time working in retail customer service has given me valuable capabilities that seem like an excellent match. Along with speaking with and assisting customers I hadn’t met previously, upselling was a core part of the job. Not only was I comfortable with upselling, but I consistently exceeded expectations, outpacing other employees by an average of 45 percent. That experience aligns with cold-calling in many ways, and I believe that makes me an exceptional fit for the role.

Sample Answer 4 – Entry-Level Healthcare

Based on the job ad and what I’ve learned about the company, you’re looking for a team-oriented candidate who can thrive in a fast-paced environment while providing exceptional patient care. As a recent nursing graduate, I’m familiar with working under pressure, as that was a necessity while I was earning my degree and completing my internship. Additionally, I’m incredibly motivated to not just assist patients to the utmost of my ability but also support my colleagues. By working closely together, we elevate the patient experience and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Plus, it creates opportunities for me to learn from more experienced coworkers, ensuring I can continue to exceed expectations.

Sample Answer 5 – Entry-Level Manufacturing

You discussed in the job posting that you’re looking for a diligent, reliable candidate for the role who is willing and able to learn quickly on the job. During high school, my attendance was immaculate, exceeding 99 percent across all four years. Additionally, I was diligent about handling my classwork, ensuring everything was completed on time and to the desired standard. When it comes to my willingness to learn, the idea of being able to launch a career with this role is incredibly motivating. I can envision growing in the position and honing my skills as I, hopefully, move up in the company. Between my dedication and desire to find a company that can become my long-term employer, I feel I’m an excellent fit for the job.

Sample Answer 6 – Mid-Level Marketing (Individual Contributor)

The job description stated that you’re looking for a candidate with at least three years of marketing experience, emphasizing the need for social media marketing skills. I’ve held my current position for the past four years, working with clients in a range of industries to refine their social media marketing strategies. On average, conversation rates for my accounts rose by 62 percent, and customer acquisition costs declined by 48 percent. With my track record and experience, I believe that I’d be an asset to any team, including in the role you’re trying to fill.

Sample Answer 7 – Mid-Level Accounting (Individual Contributor)

You’ve mentioned that finding an accounting professional with experience in accounts receivable is your top priority. Along with being a CPA, I have six years of accounts receivable experience. Additionally, I’m familiar with auditing processes, as well as account reconciliation, deposit management, general ledger procedures, and report creation. Due to my strong knowledge base, I believe I’m an excellent candidate for this role.

Sample Answer 8– Mid-Level Human Resources (Individual Contributor)

From what I’ve learned about your company and the role, you’re not just looking for a human resources team member; you’re specifically in need of a skilled recruiter. Along with my degree in human resources, I have four years of experience in the recruitment space.

During that time, I updated job descriptions, wrote vacancy announcements, and interviewed for dozens of openings each year. While the average time-to-hire at my last company was 36 days, my average came out to 27 days. Additionally, the retention rate for positions I filled exceeded company norms, sitting at 96 percent, and the selected employees – on a performance scale of 1 to 5, with three being “meets expectations” – scored an average of 4.75. Since finding high-quality matches is a company priority, I believe my expertise and track record make me an exceptional candidate for the role.

Sample Answer 9 – Mid-Level Cybersecurity (Individual Contributor)

Based on what you’ve shared during the interview and what I learned from the job ad, you’re looking for a cybersecurity professional who can help your company stay ahead of emerging threats. Along with my degree, I’ve worked diligently to further my education. I currently hold two cybersecurity certifications – the CISSP and CEH – giving me a stronger foundation. Additionally, I’m dedicated to monitoring emerging trends and learning about new solutions. Along with trade publications and following thought leaders, I spend much of my off-time researching new threats and learning about mitigation processes. That way, I can provide exceptional value to my employer, increasing the odds that the company will stay safe against the newest risks.

Sample Answer 10 – Entry-Level Finance Management

According to information I found on the company website, it appears that facilitating additional growth is a main goal for the organization. I feel that I have the right skills to help the company achieve that objective. Along with data analysis experience, predictive analysis and forecasting are two of my strengths. This makes me incredibly well-equipped when it comes to making sound investment recommendations that can spur growth. Couple that with the risk mitigation skills I discussed on my resume, and I believe that I’m highly suited to the role.

Sample Answer 11 – Entry-Level Sales Management

I understand that finding someone with a proven track record and experience guiding others toward success is a must based on what you’ve listed in the job description. In my previous role, I recommended process changes that allowed our team to exceed sales goals by 15 percent, making us the top performers in the company. Additionally, I personally seized opportunities to coach and guide entry-level hires as part of the mentorship program. As a result, I’ve had the chance to hone my leadership skills, including adapting my approach to meet the needs of each incoming employee. I think my cumulative experience makes me well-equipped for a management role such as this one and an excellent fit for your hiring goals.

Sample Answer 12 – Entry-Level Human Resources Management

When I reviewed the job posting, it seemed that finding a well-rounded candidate was your main goal. I believe that makes me an exceptional fit for the position. Along with seven years of recruiting experience, I’ve also spent five years in benefits administration. I also redesigned my last employer’s onboarding process, boosting first-year retention by 72 percent, and overhauled the performance management approach, resulting in an overall productivity increase of 28 percent. On the education front, I’ve completed a Master’s degree in Human Resources, giving me a solid foundation in many critical areas. Additionally, I earned my SHRM-CP last year and recently secured my SPHR certification. Taken together, I believe this makes me an excellent fit for the job.

Sample Answer 13 – Entry-Level Technology Management

I believe that my resume showcases the technical capabilities you’re after, based on what I saw in the vacancy announcement. As a result, I want to focus my response on the traits and soft skills that I believe make me a strong match.

Working as a manager means setting down your individual contributor hat and focusing on team development, delegation, and cumulative success. While I haven’t worked in management specifically, leading large, cross-departmental projects is one of my current duties.

Along with overseeing substantial budgets, task delegation and timeline management were core responsibilities. I also focused on promoting solid communication and effective collaboration, all while coordinating the activities of a number of professionals and coaching them toward success.

Based on that experience, I believe I’m a strong candidate for the technology manager role and would quickly become an asset at any company.

Sample Answer 14 – Upper Management

I know that finding a candidate with strategic vision is a top priority based for this leadership position. During my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a wide variety of teams and overseeing many cross-departmental initiatives. That experience has given me a unique perspective, allowing me to gather more insights about how various teams interconnect and how they stand apart. Additionally, it’s taught me how to guide a broader range of professionals, allowing me to address their concerns and secure their buy-in efficiently. As a result, I’ve become skilled at accounting for the big picture, making me an excellent fit for the role.

Sample Answer 15 – Executive Leadership Team

You explained earlier that your company is concerned that its current technology is holding the organization back. I believe that’s an issue I can address.

In my past positions, I’ve overseen comprehensive technology audits designed specifically to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Once the information was gathered, I was able to outline a technical vision, identifying improvement opportunities with the strongest ROIs.

Since facilitating growth is the goal, I believe my experience would serve the company well, making me an excellent fit for the role.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, the why should we hire you sample answers above should give you some solid ideas about approaching that interview question. Use the information above to your advantage. That way, you’ll be able to craft a fantastic answer whenever the need arises.

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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

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Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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12 Best Answers to “Why Should We Hire You?”

By Biron Clark

Published: November 16, 2023

More and more employers are asking, “why should we hire you?” or, “why should you be hired for this role?” And it can be an intimidating question if you’re not ready for it! Don’t worry – in this article, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to answer… with word-for-word answer samples, steps to follow, mistakes to avoid, and more.

Let’s get started…

Why Employers Ask “Why Should I Hire You?”

There are a couple of reasons why an employer may ask you to explain why you should be hired for their role.

First, they want to see how confident you are in your abilities. If you don’t think you’d perform well in their job and succeed in the role, why should they? So the first step to answering this interview question is to show confidence in the interview and don’t panic when they ask this question.

The next reason employers ask, “Why should we hire you?” is to make sure you’ve done your research and understand the job.  If you didn’t even look at their job description before applying, they’re not very likely to want to hire you. Employers want a job seeker who’s looking for specific things in their next job and being careful in their job search. No exceptions. This is also why employers ask why you applied for their job. They want to know if you researched their job or just applied randomly.

The last reason that hiring managers ask, “Why should I hire you?” is they want to know what sets you apart , what makes you qualified for this job, and why you’ll perform well in this role. So this is your chance to brag a bit and sell them on yourself! What are the things that make you qualified for this role? And if possible, what do you have that other candidates might not?

Watch: How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

Key steps to answering “why should we hire you”.

When the hiring manager asks, “Why should you be hired for this role?” you can break your job interview answer down into four steps, which will help you give an effective response. I’ll explain each step in more detail below, too, and then we’ll look at a couple of the best answer samples, too, so keep reading until the end.

The steps to answer why you should be hired for the role:

• Remain calm and confident, and never say, “I don’t know.”
• Show the employer that you’ve researched the job and understand what their role involves
• Explain why you’re a great fit for this position and its specific job requirements
• Show them why you’re excited about this type of work and will be motivated and enthusiastic in the role

I’ll explain each piece of the answer below.

1. Show confidence

This should be self-explanatory, but you need to seem confident and show that you believe in your own abilities in the role first and foremost. You don’t have to act like you’re perfect at every task they mention in their job description. But you need to show, through your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, that you’re reasonably confident that you have the basic skills needed and that you could learn whatever you’re missing once hired.

2. Show you’ve researched the job and know what it involves

Next, you can’t answer “Why should we hire you for this role?” if you don’t know what the company wants/needs in that role. The fastest and easiest way to know what the hiring manager needs is to look at the job description. What’s mentioned near the top, or most often on the page? If something is the first bullet point you can bet it’s pretty damn important most likely.

3. Demonstrate why you are a great fit for this job (in terms of hard skills and experience)

Now you know what the hiring manager wants and needs in a candidate because you studied the job description. Next, you need to point out the pieces of your background that are best aligned with their needs and the tasks you’ll be performing in this job. It’s okay if you’re not the perfect fit – they liked something on your resume or they wouldn’t have invited you to have a job interview. So when they say, “Tell me why we should hire you?”… give an answer that highlights the pieces in your background that are most relevant to them.

Your job when answering is to convince them that you’ll be able to succeed in this role and start contributing quickly to the team’s work.

4. Show them you’re interested in this type of work

There’s a difference between being able to do something and wanting to do it. That’s why showing interest is important – to eliminate any doubt of whether you’d want to do this type of work. If you don’t convince them you’re enthusiastic about the work, they’re going to worry that you’ll lack motivation, get bored, quit soon after starting, etc. And these are all big fears hiring managers have, which can cost you the job offer.

Bonus answer tip: Be as specific as possible

Let’s say you’re going to talk about leadership. Don’t just say, “Yes, I led people in my last job. Leadership won’t be a problem for me if I’m hired.” Instead, paint a clearer picture by getting into some details. Tell them how many people you led, what topics you guided them on, how long you’ve been in leadership , and what you learned as a leader. And then show them that you’re interested in leadership and that you enjoy it as well!

For example, you could say:

“Yes, I’ve led people for the past three years. I started with two direct reports and then hired an additional three people to grow my team to five in total. I did their performance reviews, training, and more, and it’s an area I enjoy a lot and am targeting in my next position. That’s one reason I applied for this job ; I saw this Manager role has the opportunity to build and grow a team.”

This is one of my favorite job interview tips in general. The more specific you can be when telling a story, the more you’ll show you’re a fit for this position. That doesn’t mean you should answer every question with a story. If they simply ask, “how many years have you worked with X?” then the hiring manager wants a very basic answer, like, “Five and a half years.” But when an interview question does ask for a story, this is how to respond effectively. I’ve got more example answers coming up next, so don’t worry if you’re still not 100% sure what to say when you answer this question.

“Why Should We Hire You?” Sample Answers

Next, let’s look at some sample answers so you can see what the steps above would actually sound like in a job interview.

Sample answer #1 to “Why should we hire you?”

“I read the job description before applying and it seems like self-management is mentioned a lot. That’s one of my strengths and something I’ve been working a lot to develop and improve recently. In my last job, my boss only checked in with me once a week. Other than that, his approach was to let me manage my work entirely. On top of that, I’ve been doing the exact type of work that your role involves – in-person sales – for two years. That’s why you should hire me for this role… because not only do I have the technical experience, but I thrive in an environment where I’m trusted to manage my own work. As a side note, in my own time, I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the subject of productivity and self-management, so it’s something I’m personally passionate about as well. I’ve looked up new productivity strategies and read a few books on goal setting, and I’m excited to put that knowledge to use.”

That little “side note” in the answer above is an extra piece you can add to stand out further. It’s an extra bit of story that shows you’re personally interested/passionate about a topic, or at least committed to studying and learning it. The interviewer will remember you for that comment. It’s how you make your answer stand out from all the other answers that the interviewer has heard when they ask, “why should you be hired for this role?” If the hiring manager talks to 10 or 15 people for a position, the answers will sort of blend together when they go to review each interview and make a decision. So this is a huge factor in getting hired.

Just be ready for follow-up questions when you use the “distinguisher” strategy to answer why they should hire you.  Don’t get nervous… it’s a good sign when they ask questions. You caught their interest and they want to know more because you gave them a really unique answer. So the hiring manager or recruiter may ask an additional interview question or two to learn more! But this is why you need to only say things that are true and that you’re comfortable talking more about.

Sample answer #2 to “Why should we hire you?”

“Based on the job description, it sounds like you need an experienced Data Analyst who can replace the person you’ve lost and organize some of the new processes and data that your department is receiving, too. In my last job, I was the first Data Analyst hired into the department and set up our entire data analysis process from scratch. We ended up using our internal data to save 22% on advertising costs the following year. So I think this role has a lot of similarities to what I’ve done in the past. That’s why you should hire me for the position. As a side note, I’m a bit of an organization geek, and love creating SOPs and documents for my work. So when I saw there’s a need for that in this role, too, I knew I should apply!”

In that example answer above, you can see most of the time is spent directly answering the question of why they should hire you. But you’re also including a specific example of your past accomplishments, which is great. And you’re wrapping up the answer by sharing a detail to show how passionate you are about this type of work.

Any time you can point out specific skills and experience mentioned in the job posting, and share why that interests you, you’ll “wow” the interviewer!  Why? Because this shows them you’ve done your research and really thought about what you want in your next job. Those are both things that many job seekers aren’t doing enough of. Hiring managers don’t just want someone who is a fit for the job. They want someone motivated and interested. Always. Before I wrap up the article, I’ll share one more example answer. This time, I’ll leave it as a template that you can fill in for yourself.

Best example answer formula for “Why should we hire you?” (template)

“My impression based on the job description is that you need someone who can do <key responsibility of the job>. In my last role, I did <similar task or accomplishment you’ve done in the past>, so I’m confident I will be able to step into this role and begin contributing quickly for you. As a side note, I’m also personally very <interested/passionate> about <topic related to the job you’ll be doing>, so I’d be very excited for the opportunity to step into this role.”

If you follow the steps above and organize your answer like the interview answer examples we looked at, you’ll have a great answer for “why should we hire you.” This is how you can make sure you sound confident when you explain why they should hire you in the interview.

“Why Should We Hire You?” Example Answers for Different Occupations

“You should hire me because I’m passionate about writing clean, reliable, scalable code. Having studied computer science, I’ve since built up a wealth of work experience in full-stack development. I’m certified in the use of Ruby, Ruby on Rails and associated languages and frameworks like HTML, CSS and Javascript. I can support and contribute to all corners of your dev team, from setting up a Rails environment to managing databases, systems integration and administration, and designing and building cutting-edge web apps, platforms and services.”

This works because: From this answer, it’s clear that you have a strong technical background that covers all aspects of tech administration and app development. Your confidence shines through, and it’s clear you have relevant certifications along with practical skills.

 Real Estate Agent:

“I’d be a valued asset to your team because of my advanced knowledge of the real estate market, market trends, and the local real estate business. Having completed a 12-month internship at <company name>, I had the opportunity to develop strong negotiation and closing skills. I have what it takes to build trust and long-term relationships with clients, as I’m discerning, perceptive, and skilled in appealing to clients’ needs and wishes. I’m also very visually oriented and, having completed a 6-month course in interior design, I can be of great help in staging and presenting houses for ‘open house’ days.”

This works because: This answer conveys a sense of eagerness and potential to the interviewer. It’s clear that the importance of client relationships and people skills is understood, along with the ability to ‘close the deal.’ Yet, there’s also a cherry on top added, as you offer your ‘staging’ skill that goes beyond the job description while still remaining relevant.

“I’d be a strong addition to your team because I’m reliable, technically skilled and empathic. I’d bring leading certifications and more than 8 years of 10h/day patient-care experience to the role. I’ve worked alongside both top and intern doctors at one of the busiest hospitals in the area, building up confident, actionable knowledge of patient care through a wide range of scenarios. I’m skilled at putting patients and their loved ones at ease, even in trying circumstances. With my extensive knowledge of patient assessment, monitoring and administration procedures, medications, ailments and anatomy, I can provide effective, dependable support to your doctors and nursing team.”

This works because: This answer inspires confidence because it sounds confident. It’s clear that you are ready to take on a range of important responsibilities in a stressful, busy setting. The focus on reliability is noted as this, along with empathy and technical skills, is a highly valued quality in a nurse. 

Digital Marketing:

“You should hire me because I’m proactive, trend-conscious and goal-oriented, and I have an impressive portfolio of measurable successes through all aspects of the online marketing process. From market analysis, strategy and campaign planning to multimedia content creation, I’ve spearheaded, executed and optimized winning campaigns through a range of digital platforms. I think outside the box, always leveraging the best of cutting-edge tools and solutions to maximize the reach of my work. I’m also a team player, able to delegate, support and motivate, but ready to act on instruction and feedback as needed.”

This works because: This answer describes a balanced, knowledgeable professional with strong references related to all steps in the marketing process. Besides the track record of success and experience using online marketing tools, it’s noted that you respond well to feedback, an essential quality for a marketer.

Personal Trainer:

“I think I’d be a great addition to your team because of my people skills, physique and impressive sports and academic background. After achieving my BSc in movement science, anatomy and sports nutrition, I played professional rugby for four years, working one on one with some of the best personal trainers in the country. It’s those trainers that inspired me to apply for this role. I believe my professional sports experience, and my vast working knowledge of anatomy, exercise, nutrition and dietetics make me well suited to individualized program development and transformative training and support.”

This works because: This answer mentions your impressive academic accolades, as well as your background in professional sports, both of which are a big plus. What makes this answer stand out, however, is when you mention that you have strong role models in the world of personal training. It’s plain to see that you have what it takes to practice physical movement as a career and deliver personalized training solutions for diverse clients.

Flight Attendant:

“You should hire me because of my professionalism under pressure, my attention to detail and my passion for customer service. I speak light conversational Arabic and French, along with fluent native English. I have a passion for diverse customs and people, who I know how to greet and interact with respectfully. I have both customer service and emergency medical training and, having worked in a hotel FOH, I’m a strong team player. I’m passionate about putting customers at ease and pampering them, no matter how pressurized things are ‘behind the scenes.’” 

This works because: This answer highlights your impressive language skills and cultural knowledge, which are useful in a post that involves culturally diverse communication and etiquette. The answer also indicates how well you understand the pressures and responsibilities of the flight attendant role, as you’ve mentioned teamwork, emergencies, customer service and stress, all of which are relevant.

“You should hire me because, having worked three years as a full-time retail assistant, I’ve won numerous national incentives for both sales and customer service. I’m accustomed to mall life and long hours on my feet, and I work well in a close team setting, getting on well with diverse people and teams. I have a strong work ethic through all aspects of retail work, from stock-take and merchandising to customer service, sales and breaking targets. I’m a competitive seller, always working to beat my targets, though my customers would tell you I’m respectful, friendly, helpful and never pushy.”

This works because: This answer works because retail work is not for everyone and can involve long hours standing in a stressful, competitive team environment, however, it’s clear that you have experience in a similar role and understand the pressures of long hours, teamwork and meeting targets. This answer also shows that you are dedicated to making targets, but doing so in a way that won’t make customers uncomfortable.

Customer Service:

“ I’d be a profitable addition to your team because of my discernment, tact and dedication to quality customer service. Having worked in food and beverage, front of house, and retail environments, I’ve seen all aspects of customer service both behind the scenes and in person. I know the value of confident product and process knowledge, as well as strong listening and conflict management skills. I’m empathic and good at tapping into a client’s wishes and wants. I’m a people person and a perfectionist, able to make high quality, meticulous customer service look easy.”

This works because: This answer is impressive because it shows that you know the value of product and process knowledge, and nothing is more off-putting to a customer than an assistant who’s unable to answer questions confidently. What sets your answer apart is your statement about making great service look easy, this says a lot about how you work and it’s definitely intriguing to me as an interviewer.

Answering “Why Should We Hire You?” With No Experience

If you haven’t held a previous job and don’t have a track record of delivering high quality work, you can still create an impressive answer to set you apart from other candidates. If you’re an entry-level job candidate, answer “Why should we hire you?” by talking about the following:

• Highlighting academic experience you have (if you have no work experience, then your academic experience is your work experience)
• Talking about hard skills and soft skills that you obtained through studying, internships, etc.
• Showing that you’ve put effort and time into researching the company and role, and that you understand their needs better than other candidates.

That last point is especially important if you want to have a successful job search as an entry-level candidate. Some parts of the interview process are pure effort. They don’t require any key qualifications, past experience, etc. Showing that you’ve researched the team and read the job description carefully is one of those ways to stand out from other candidates in any interview process. Another way you can stand out is by showing strong communication skills. So practice your answer at home!

Example answer to “Why should we hire you?” (no experience)

“While I just graduated and don’t have any corporate project management experience, I was successful in leading numerous team projects in my final year of university. Three teams from three separate classes decided I would be the best person to lead and delegate tasks, so I took that leadership position for each project. We were able to deliver high-quality work on all projects and earned a perfect grade in each. For two of the projects, we also delivered a presentation to our class. This helped me build confidence and public speaking skills, which I believe will benefit me in my professional career.”

Mistakes to Avoid When Answering “Why Should We Hire You for This Position?”

To conclude the article, here are the top mistakes to avoid if you want to pass the interview when you hear this question.

Answer mistake 1: Saying, “I don’t know, you decide who to hire.”

The interviewer knows it’s their decision, but they’re looking for confidence in this answer, and they’re looking for evidence you’ve studied the job and have real reasons for applying (other than just needing employment). Saying, “I don’t know,” does none of this and will likely cause you to fail the interview .

Answer mistake 2: Giving a sarcastic answer to this question.

The most effective answers to this question will be direct and serious. Avoid jokes and sarcasm when responding. When a recruiter or hiring manager asks this question in a job interview, they are looking to learn meaningful info about your background and why you want this job. Anything but a serious, direct response to, “why should we hire you for this position?” is a mistake, in my opinion.

Answer mistake 3: Naming too many reasons that you should be hired for the role.

Sometimes less is more when answering open-ended interview questions like this. If you try to name 10 different reasons you believe they should hire you, it will just make your answer scattered and make all of your arguments less convincing. So be narrow and targeted in your answer. Think about the job description and pick one or two qualifications that make you the BEST candidate for the role. That’s how to make sure your interview answer stands out and gets remembered when you’re competing with many other candidates in the interview.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What have you done that’s most similar to this job?
• What’s going to be the best proof that you can come in and succeed in this position, so that they have no concerns about hiring you?

That’s what to share when the interviewer asks why they should hire you for the role.

Answer mistake 4: Telling a lie in your answer

You may be tempted to tell a lie in your answer. There’s pressure to show them you’re the best fit for the role, and maybe you haven’t met every requirement yet in your career. I strongly recommend not lying, though. Lies often lead to more lies  and can cause you to become more nervous in the job interview as it goes on. The fact is, if they invited you to the interview, then they liked your resume and qualifications.  Most candidates don’t have every qualification, so you just need to sell the experience you do have. Research their job posting, give detailed examples, and show the interviewer that you’re confident that your qualifications are enough to succeed in their role. If you show this, plus a show positive attitude, enthusiasm , and interest in learning more after being hired, you’ll be one of the top candidates and get more job offers consistently… even without the perfect resume. Plus, you never know what any individual employer or hiring manager is looking for in the interview. Maybe they’re looking for someone with less experience who they can train and develop in their career. That happens quite often, so I recommend you never lie on your resume or in a job interview.

Conclusion: Why Should You Be Hired for the Role?

If you stay calm and confident, study the job description and show you understand their role, and then point out exactly how your past work and learning have prepared you to step into their job and succeed, you’ll have a great answer to, “why should we hire you?” Remember to share details in your answer as another way to set yourself apart from competing candidates. For example, don’t just say, “I’ve led people in the past.” Say, “I’ve been leading people for three years with teams of up to 10 people.”

And finally, practice your response at home before your interview. Nothing comes out perfect the first time you say it, so you’ll usually perform better and feel more confident if you practice. You can rehearse in the mirror or by recording yourself talking into your smartphone voice recorder app (every modern phone has one), and then playing it back to hear how you sound. That’s my preferred method for practicing interview answers.

About the Author

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This is a very helpful article. I will put this in mind the next time I go to a job interview.

Great article! I have had an interview last week and recruiter asked me the same question but i was actually confused in what to answer exactly as it was my first interview. After reading your article, now i understood how to answer this question properly and also knew what is the intention behind asking this question by recruiter.Thanks for the tips shared by you.

Great article! I have had an interview last week and recruiter asked me the same question but i was actually confused in what to answer exactly as it was my first interview. After reading your article now i understood how to answer this question properly and also knew what the intention behind asking this question by recruiter. Thanks a lot for sharing!

Hi Biron! I just came across your videos and have to say I really like the easy and simple way you break things down. Sometimes I think we can over think things, especially when your job hunting (what do they want to hear, what should I say, what shouldn’t I say etc etc). Really appreciate these videos and will be recommending them for sure!

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

Thanks for the kind words, means a lot! I’ll try to create more videos soon. My original goal was to do 10 and then see if enough people are watching for me to do more.

If there’s a specific question you’d want to see covered, let me know. I’m trying to keep it to common questions that everyone can relate to, but questions that can be tricky or uncomfortable for a lot of job seekers.

Anyway, thanks for watching and sending the feedback!

I just had a interview. Wish I saw this first. They didn’t ask this exact question, they actually made it harder and said: Why should we hire you over all of the other candidates for this position. Or something like that. It seemed odd because I don’t know who else they’ve spoken with and I don’t know if I’m the best person to hire. But your article introduced a pretty cool idea to me, the fact that I might not need to be the most qualified candidate if i can show i’m better prepared and more eager to perform well in this job. Showing interest instead of just ability, distinguishing myself so i stand out, and other tips are going to help me next time I bet. Looking forward to another attempt. Or if this company calls back I can use some of this info but it’s been 5 days so who knows.

Thanks for this video Biron. I do admit this question is a bit intimidating. Some interviewers ask it nicely but others ask very directly and it’s not always the most comfortable situation when you don’t know what to say. I still don’t think I’m going to love the feeling when I sit down and they ask pretty much right away why should they hire me for this position. But these tips did a lot to help me get to a point where at least my actual answer will be adequate and well rehearsed. Maybe that’ll squash the nervousness too.

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Why Should We Hire You? - Professional Answers for 2024

“Why should we hire you?” is still one of the most common, and yet difficult job interview questions in 2024.

What makes it so tough is that it’s a very open-ended question, and can be answered in a number of different ways.

You can, for example, go over your resume and explain how your work experience makes you a great fit for the role.

Alternatively, you can talk about how you possess certain skills that make you stand out from other candidates.

In this article, we’re going to teach you 10 different answers you can give to this complicated job interview question!

Read on to learn:

• Why Do Interviewers Ask “Why Should We Hire You?”

How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

• 10+ Why Should We Hire You Sample Answers

Let’s dive in.

Why Do Interviewers Ask “Why Should We Hire You?” 

When the interviewer asks “ why should we hire you? ”, they want to measure exactly how qualified you are for the job and what makes you a good fit for the company.

So basically they’re asking you to do a short elevator pitch and to sell yourself as a professional.

As such, your answer can focus on several different components: 

• Your work experience and achievements. You can talk about a specific accomplishment at a previous, relevant position and show the interviewer how you can achieve similar results for them.
• Your skills and qualifications. If you can prove that you’ve got all the skills that the company is looking for in a candidate, you’ll have effectively answered the question.
• Your passion and motivation. You can highlight how good of a company fit you’d be and how much you love working in your field or industry. When it comes to choosing between two applicants with similar skills and work experience , the employer will always go for the one who’s more motivated, sociable, and able to fit in with the company culture. So, talking about your passions and motivations can take you a long way!

Now that we’ve explained why interviewers ask this question, let’s talk about what’s important: how you can answer it in the best way possible!

Want a more comprehensive guide to job interview questions? Check out our article on 35 of the most common interview questions (and how to answer them)!

Interviewers can phrase the “ why should we hire you? ” interview question in several different ways, such as:

• Why are you the best candidate for this job? 
• What makes you a good candidate for this position?
• Why are you a good fit for this position?
• Why should we hire you over other applicants?
• Why do you think this position is a good fit for you?
• Can you describe why you’re the ideal candidate for this position?
• Why should we hire you for this position?

So, in case you hear either of these questions in the interview, rest assured that they’re basically asking the same exact question!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about tips!

There are 5 main tricks to getting this job interview question right, starting with: 

#1. Show off your skills and experience

The first thing you should do when answering “why should we hire you?” is to highlight any skills and professional experience that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. 

To make your answer all the more valid, make sure to always back up everything you say with examples, experiences, and achievements. 

• Because I’m very good at pay-per-click advertising! At my last job, I managed to improve return on ad spend by 12% within 3 months of taking over the account.
• I’m really good at advertising. Trust me, I am, I’m amazing.

See the difference?

Now, another aspect to answering this question right is ensuring that the skills/experiences you talk about are relevant to the job .

Applying for a job as an accountant? Then you should be talking about how great you are at numbers and staying organized, and not about your amazing sales skills.

#2. Highlight your ability to fit in and work in a team

Teamwork skills and adaptability comes in handy for practically every position out there. 

No matter your profession, you’ll likely need to work alongside others and adapt to different people and situations, so these are two skills that employers are always on the lookout for . 

Even if you’re a novelist - a predominantly solitary profession - you’ll still need to work with your publisher, a team of editors, and book designers to create a good book.

So, convincing the interviewer that you can adapt to the work environment, your colleagues, and even your supervisors, is an important part of answering “ why should we hire you? ”. 

For example: 

• I’m a great team player, and I really feel like that’s one skill that really sets me apart from other project managers. Whatever team I might be managing, I end up making fast friends. I’m also very effective at getting my teammates to be at their A-game without having to push them or be too micro-managing.

#3. Explain how you can help the company do more

At the end of the day, the goal of every job is to help an organization achieve a certain goal.

If you’re applying for a job in marketing, for example, your goal might be to generate leads. If you’re in customer support, it’s to provide excellent service to the company’s clients. 

As such, one way to answer “why should we hire you?” is by explaining how, exactly, you can help the company achieve such a goal through your experience and skills.

Let’s say that you’re applying for a role as an event planner at a small company. From reading the job description, you know they’re looking for someone to organize events in their area and get the company’s name out there.

Now you have a clear understanding of what the company’s #1 goal in hiring you is! They want to find someone who can organize events successfully, promote the said events, and improve the company's brand awareness.

Now, when answering “why should we hire you,” you can explain how exactly you’ll be able to fulfill the company's goals.

For example:

• Because I have a lot of experience using event management to promote small startups such as your company! In my last role, I held a brainstorming event with the CEO and came up with over 30 different event ideas, out of which, we executed around 10. Most of the events turned out to be quite successful, driving over 50 participants each on average.

#4. Express dedication and enthusiasm 

Enthusiasm is a critical component of workplace success. 

According to the US Department of Labor, when employees look at prospective candidates, beyond skills, experience, and training, they look for those who demonstrate enthusiasm . 

As per this study, some employers would rather train an enthusiastic but inexperienced worker than someone who is qualified but carries a negative attitude. 

So, when answering this job interview question, make sure to show dedication and enthusiasm for the company or the role. 

• I know I don’t have the most extensive work history, but what I lack in experience I make up for in enthusiasm and dedication. I’ve been into video games since I can remember and have always wanted to get into UI design! Other than my B.A. in Computer Science, I’ve also spent a big chunk of last year practicing. I even created 3 mock UI designs for some of my favorite games. I believe that under the right mentorship, I can apply the programming skills I’ve acquired during my studies and internships to meet the responsibilities of the role and more.

#5. Be honest

This tip applies to practically every common interview question, from “ tell us more about yourself ” to “ what are your strengths and weaknesses? ” and anything else the interviewer might throw at you. 

At the end of the day, you don’t want to sell yourself as someone you’re not. 

If you lie about your experience, credentials, or skills, you might get the job, but the experience will end up very unpleasant for both you and the employer.

Before we dive into some practical examples of everything we've covered so far, feel free to bookmark any of the following guides to take your interview skills to the next level: 

• Words to describe yourself
• Why do you want to work here?
• What are your career goals?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What is your greatest strength?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?

10+ Why Should We Hire You Sample Answers 

Time to put what we’ve learned into practice!

Below, we’ll cover 10 great sample answers to the “why should we hire you?” question that can help you structure yours successfully:  

1) Operations Director Answer

• From what I understand based on what I've read about the company and what we've discussed so far, you're looking for an operations manager to oversee operational activities at every level organization to ensure higher efficiency and employee performance. Well, I believe I have the right skills to make that happen for you. To give you an example, in my previous role as a District Operations Manager, I oversaw more than 100 employees, ensuring consistency across policies, procedures, and the sorts in the assigned territory. 

Why this works: It shows you have researched the company, it gives a specific example of how you possess the skills the company is looking for, and it highlights that you are aware of the company’s needs. 

2) Digital Marketing Answer

• I am confident I possess the right soft and hard skills - communication and marketing, respectively - to help you grow your business and get your company to stand out from the competition. I helped my previous company increase its social media engagement by 24% by implementing a new content strategy. I am confident that I can bring that same innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to your company.

Why this works: It highlights your quantifiable achievements, it shows you have researched the company, and it insinuates that you’re enthusiastic about working with them specifically. 

3) Tech Answer

• I believe that my experience with technology, specifically in the web design space, makes me the best match for this position. In my previous job, I was responsible for maintaining and updating our company website. This required keeping employee profiles updated and continuously posting information regarding upcoming events. I truly enjoyed what I was doing, which is what drew me to apply for this position. I would love to bring the coding and design skills I learned there to this new and more challenging role.

Why this works: It points to self-confidence and passion for the job, highlights that they have all the relevant skills for the position, and clarifies what gives them an advantage over other candidates through specific examples. 

4) Sales Manager Answer

• You explained earlier that leadership qualities are a bonus for this position. Well, in my 10 years of experience as a sales manager, I have effectively managed teams of over 20 people. I developed motivational skills that helped many of the teams I personally managed consistently meet and exceed sales goals. In addition to all my other qualifications, I will also bring said leadership abilities to this position. 

Why this works: Addresses how the candidate possesses some “bonus” skills that other candidates may not have, shows confidence and dependability and underlines their extensive work experience in the field . 

5) No Experience Answer

• The job listing states that you are looking for someone with patience and superior communication skills. While volunteering and holding an office for the Special Olympics, I learned how to be patient with the athletes and participants at our state’s Special Olympics. Helping coordinate the event also helped me develop better communication and organization skills , which are imperative when performing the responsibilities you described are necessary for the role. 

Why this works: This answer from a candidate with no experience in the industry takes advantage of the skills they acquired while volunteering to show they have what it takes to do the job. 

6) Marketing Manager Answer

• I think my extensive experience in the field is the main reason I’m a perfect match for this role! I have held this exact same position at another, slightly smaller, organization for over eight years, where I successfully managed a team of twelve employees in our marketing department. Over the first 2 years of working at the company, I completely overhauled our marketing strategy, putting more emphasis on PPC advertising. This ended up paying off big-time, resulting in a company-wise revenue increase of over 52% over the coming years.

Why this works: It shows honesty and credibility, highlights long professional experience through quantifiable achievements, and conveys enthusiasm and self-confidence to tackle bigger challenges. 

7) College Graduate Answer

• As a recent college graduate, I know that what I'm lacking is career experience. However, I have used my time at university to develop many of the required skills for this job. For example, after interning in four different organizations and managing a full course load while also working at the university's admissions office, I learned how to multitask and prioritize responsibilities. From what I understand, in your fast-paced organization, the abilities to effectively prioritize tasks and work with self-discipline are significant components of success.

Why this works: This entry-level candidate is honest about their lack of experience straight off the bat and focuses on what they can bring to the table in terms of soft skills through some real-life achievements. Moreover, their answer shows enthusiasm and willingness to learn. 

8) Project Manager Answer

• For starters, I have all the skills and experience listed in the job description, and I'm confident that I can make an immediate impact on your company. It's not just my background in leading successful projects for Fortune 500 companies, but also my passion for the industry that drives me to succeed. If chosen for this role, I will continue to deliver high-quality work for the continued success of your organization.

Why this works: Shows determination, confidence, professionalism, experience in the field, and passion for the industry.

9) Career Change Answer

• With over 15 years of leadership experience in the agency world, I am confident that I can bring my creative and strategic marketing skills to the client side with your company. While I don’t have direct experience working in a corporate environment, I have delivered results above and beyond the ask from my clients in the agency where I’ve been a key stakeholder for over 20 years. 

Why this works: This career-changer effectively highlights their transferable skills and explains how they can put them into use to meet the needs of the new company t where they’re applying successfully.  

10) Medical Assistant Answer

• I believe that my resume and cover letter offer enough information about my professional experience as a medical assistant . So, I’d like to mention how passionate I am about my profession and how important I think that is for any successful employee in the medical field. Helping people and saving lives has always felt like my life’s calling and that allows me to do my job with dedication and patience. All in all, I think my passion in combination with my experience and desire to join your team to provide the best possible medical care to patients are what make me the perfect candidate to hire. 

Why this works: This candidate aptly touches upon all the qualifications and skills they mentioned in their resume and cover letter and decides to focus on their passion, industry knowledge, and enthusiasm to set themselves apart from other candidates. 

How NOT to Answer Why Should We Hire You

Now that we covered all the DOs of how to answer “why should we hire you?,” let’s go over some of the most crucial DON’Ts . 

Avoid using any of the following topics as an answer and you’ll be in the clear: 

• Money. Yes, salary is everyone’s motivation for getting up and going to work every morning. However, “because I need to get paid to buy things and exist” is not a practical answer to “why should we hire you?” . Companies are looking for workers who are motivated by more than just money, so just don’t mention the topic at all. 
• Perks. Just like with the salary, saying that you’re in it for the perks that come with the position is not a valid reason as to why the company should hire you over other candidates. 
• General interest. By general interest, we mean being generic. Giving some vague explanation as to why you got into the industry (e.g. “my parents chose this major for me and I just went along with it, so now I’m looking for jobs in the field” ) won’t get you far - you need to show the interviewer what drives and motivates you to really make an impression. 
• Desperation. “Because I really need it” is never a good answer. While the interviewer might feel bad for you, they’re not going to hire you just because of that.

Your answer will be more impactful if it sounds natural than if you learn it by heart. As such, we recommend you practice your pitch based on everything you learned in this article, instead of memorizing it. 

Not to mention, if the interviewer hints at a specific skill that’s super important for the job during the interview, being able to incorporate it into your response on the spot will definitely come to your advantage.

Want to avoid other common interview mistakes ? Check out this guide ! 

7+ Other Resources for Job-Seekers 

To make it to the job interview, you first need to make an impact with your resume AND with your cover letter. 

Fortunately, we’ve got a ton of helpful resources to teach you how to do both!

• Guide to Professional Networking . Learning how to network professionally can help you find your ideal job much faster than applying for jobs online.
• How to Make a Resume in 2024 . This guide can teach you how to build an impactful resume that can help you stand out from the competition.
• Free Resume Templates . These tried-and-tested resume templates will save you the time and effort it takes to make a resume from scratch.
• Cover Letter Tips . Follow these 21 tips to take your cover letter from great to perfect.
• What to Wear on an Interview. First impressions matter. This guide can show you exactly how to make the right first impression on your job interview.
• Situational Interview Questions & Answers . Learn how to nail these common but sometimes tricky interview questions and get inspired by our sample answers.
• Behavioral Interview Questions . You’ll definitely need to answer at least one behavioral question during your interview. Learn how to do this effectively with our guide.
• Questions to Ask an Interviewer . Set yourself apart from other candidates not just by answering, but also asking the right questions to your interviewer.

And that’s a wrap! 

Practice all the tips we covered in this guide and get inspired by our answers, and you’ll be one step closer to nailing your job interview and landing that position you’ve been waiting for. 

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How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?” (With 15+ Examples)

Are you about to embark on a job interview and dreading the moment when an employer asks,  “Why should we hire you?”  

Don’t worry — many people feel anxious about this question, and it can be intimidating to provide a strong and concise answer that stands out from other candidates. 

However, a well-crafted response can help you put your best foot forward and show potential employers why they should choose you. 

According to experts, here are ways to answer this common interview question, along with examples, so you can confidently state why employers should bring you on board.

Kateri Waltermyer

Executive resume writer | Career Coach and Founder, Hire This Mom

No matter what job you’re interviewing for, certain skills will help you make a great impression and stand out from the rest of the candidates. 

No one knows this more than management consultants, who start new projects every few months and have had years to practice and master the skills of quickly conveying their value, asking the right questions, and hitting the ground running.

Do your research ahead of time and know the company’s culture, values, and goals

Taking the time to do your research before interviewing for a new job can be a great way to stand out as a candidate by showing that you’re interested and engaged. 

Additionally, being informed about the company’s culture, values, and goals will help you determine if the job is the right fit for you.

Doing your homework ahead of time will impress prospective employers and give you a better understanding of what to expect in the role and day-to-day work activities.

If possible, having an informational interview with a current employee is the best place to start. If that’s not possible, you can look into recent news, press releases, publications, annual plans, and even the company’s social media pages.

Prepare questions that show you’re knowledgeable about the company and the role

Asking questions in an interview can be a great way to demonstrate your interest in the company and enthusiasm for the role you’re applying to. 

Now that you’ve done your research and have knowledge about the company, I suggest compiling a list of thoughtful and informed questions about the company’s history, goals, or recent achievements.

Additionally, asking questions about specific requirements of the role not already outlined in the job description is a great way to show that you understand what will be required from you if given the position.

In any case,  it’s important to make a separate list of questions tailored to each person you will meet with.  If you know the names of your interviewers ahead of time, it’s also completely acceptable to review their LinkedIn profiles before the meeting. 

Doing so will go a long way in demonstrating your  dependability  and genuine interest  in joining their team.

Talk about your skills and experience and how you can help the company

When preparing for an interview, I take time to think about exactly how my skills and experiences can help the company reach its goals. I like to refresh myself on specific tasks or projects I’ve accomplished in my career and practice articulating how they helped the company or client succeed.

For example, if interviewing for a program management role, I might explain how my experience setting up governance structures helped to turn around a challenging project and meet an aggressive deadline. 

This approach in an interview gives me confidence that I’m bringing valuable skills and helps the interviewer understand how I would help resolve similar challenges in their organization.

Be confident but not arrogant

Remember that they want to get to know you as a person and a professional. Confidence is key when interviewing for a job, but remember that interviews are also designed to get to know the person behind the resume. 

It’s ok to share some small personal details, especially if you can relate to the interviewer on something you have in common, like a favorite sports team or alma mater.

Show humility and respect for yourself by speaking to your strengths and acknowledging your development areas while expressing a strong commitment to growth. 

This way, you’ll demonstrate that you’re confident without appearing overly arrogant. This attitude can make a strong impression on you as someone who is self-aware and internally motivated.

Related: Arrogance vs Confidence – What Are the Key Differences?

Create a dialogue during the interview

When interviewing for a job, it’s important to remember that you are there as an  equal  partner in the conversation —you’re not just there to answer questions. 

A quick way to interview for jobs powerfully and help you come across as more confident is to change the dynamic to make it more of a  two-way  conversation. 

Pretend you are meeting this person at a party: you would ask about them and ensure you’re as inquisitive as they are. Push yourself to be curious about the interviewer. 

Asking  thoughtful  questions can help you better understand what the role entails, what it’s like to work on the team, and how well your background might fit the job. 

Ask your questions in a way that helps create a dialogue with the interviewer, and then tie their answer back to your experience and how you can help them. 

Don’t be afraid to drive the conversation, especially if you’re interviewing for leadership roles

Imagine that you already have the job and you’re starting tomorrow. What would you want or need to know to ensure you’re doing a good job? 

Asking questions like this gives the hiring manager a sense that you are invested in the company’s success and understand what needs to happen to make their goals a reality. It’s also a clear indication that you would make an excellent leader.

Related: Top 7 Leading Traits of Good Leaders

No one can deny that interviews can be intimidating, but if you go in prepared with research and questions, as well as a  genuine  curiosity to learn more about the interviewer, the company, and the role, you’ll automatically feel more comfortable and confident.

Olivia Smith

Master Certified Professional Coach (MCPC) | Transformation Expert and Founder, Write a New Story

Know and be who you are

The first step in the employment journey starts within you. It’s an inside-out job! 

If you are seeking a serious employment opportunity where you will benefit your employer, maximize your strengths and talents, grow within the company, and find personal fulfillment, then you must be confident in who you are and know what types of positions for which you are naturally best suited.

A great way to better understand “ who you are ” is to take a behavioral assessment such as the DISC Assessment from a certified professional who can debrief you on your results. 

This assessment gives you an  up close  and  personal  window into your world, both how you behave naturally and in a work setting. Once you have a solid understanding of the assessment information, use it to apply for positions that are a good fit with who you naturally are. 

Seeking positions with which you are a  natural  fit is a good recipe for long-term success and personal fulfillment.

Openly and confidently discuss your strengths and how they fit with the job

Now that you are more in tune with “who you are,” both naturally and in a work environment, you can openly and confidently discuss your strengths and how they fit with the job requirements for which you are interviewing. 

In your interview, give specific examples of how these strengths will benefit the company and others with whom you will work. Also, give past examples of how you have used these strengths to accomplish the goals you have been given. 

Related: How to Best Answer “What Are Your Strengths?” in a Job Interview

It can also be powerful to discuss past positions that were not as good a fit and why, and what you learned from those experiences that make you a better judge for the job you seek.

Describe how you would go above and beyond

Once you have discussed how your strengths match the job requirements, ask the employer what top three qualities they are looking for in their new hire. Once they answer, describe how you would go above and beyond to demonstrate each of those qualities if hired. 

Give examples of how you have exhibited those qualities in your personal and/or professional life. 

Employers are looking for problem solvers. Explain to them how your strengths position you to be able to turn obstacles at work into opportunities. Let them know that when you see a problem, you will focus on solutions and not the problem!

A candidate who demonstrates confidence in who they are, articulates their strengths, how they benefit the company, and how they will exceed the employer’s expectations set them apart.

An employer doesn’t want to fill a position with anyone but the  right  person. Don’t wait for the employer to ask, “ Why should we hire you over everyone else? ” As the interview is winding down, make the statement:  “ I’d like to tell you why you should hire me over all the other candidates. ” 

Have your closing statement prepared. Be bold, be brief. The last time I used this tactic at the close of an interview for a very competitive position, I was hired. I didn’t wait to be asked.

Bruce Hurwitz, Ph.D.

President,  Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, Ltd.

Answer with: “Because you don’t want me working for your competition”

There are two types of questions in any job interview:  the expected  and  the unexpected . 

The “expected” all relate to the job description. Candidates know they will be asked to confirm their qualifications and to provide examples of what they have done in the past vis-à-vis the job requirements. 

It’s the “unexpected” that is the problem. Every interviewer has their own favorite questions. Some are “ gotcha ,” and some are just a surprise. All come out of the left field. 

For example, when I am interviewing candidates for positions with my executive recruiting clients (employers), among other things, I ask:

• “What do you care about?”
• “What are you curious about?”  

The idea is simply to get to know the candidate as a person.

When I am working with a career counseling client, I will ask the standard questions: 

• “What do you know about us?”  Meaning the company.
• “Why did you apply for the position?”
• “What is your greatest weakness, and how do you overcome it?” 
• “What was your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?”

I’ll also ask about strengths and successes. These are all standard. Usually, some are asked, but not always.

When a career counseling client or candidate with an employer-client has been interviewed, they usually contact me so we can review the questions and their answers. 

Some have come out of the left field, and the client/candidate “blew” the interview at that point. They are usually silly questions. 

One candidate was entirely thrown off track when he was asked,  “What was the last movie you saw?”  He couldn’t remember and, for whatever reason, could not concentrate, which cost him the job.

Another time, it was actually the first time a client told me he was asked,  “Why should we hire you?”  After we spoke, I thought about it and was surprised that it had not been asked previously.

When I asked him how he responded, he said, “ Because you don’t want me working for your competition. ” I don’t know why, but I thought that was an awful answer at the time. I was wrong; he was right. Because of that answer, he got the job offer. 

I honestly don’t remember why my initial reaction was negative, but today, I think it was brilliant, and that is what I advise my career counseling clients to reply to when asked. I also tell them to make sure to smile when they say it.

Colin Smith, CPA/ABV

Entrepreneur | Freelance Accounting Consultant | Career Coach, CPA Exam Maven

Demonstrate how you can add value and fit within their organization

While there’s no way to prepare for every possible question a hiring manager could ask you, one that you’re likely to encounter is “ Why should we hire you? ” or some variation. 

To answer this question successfully, consider why you were called for a job interview in the first place. The interviewer has your CV in hand and already knows about your educational qualifications, skill sets, job experience, and a sense of your background. 

What they  don’t know  is what sets you apart from the other applicants, your mindset and approach to work, and what you can bring to the table. 

The ultimate objective is to demonstrate how you can add value and fit within their organization. You’ll want to demonstrate your ability to meet the technical aspects of the role while also appealing to the company’s culture and work ethic. 

Try to take cues from the interviewer and your knowledge of the company to gauge what types of things they might value the most out of the role. 

To illustrate how this might look, let’s examine how you might answer this question in a few different circumstances.

Highlight technical and people-management expertise gained from previous jobs

Example 1:  Let’s say the role you’re interviewing for is a managerial position and requires a high level of technical skill and industry knowledge. In that case, you’ll want to highlight your previous experience working with similar companies and your people-management skills. 

The deeper your experience, the more profound the effect will be on the interviewer.  Mention a couple of significant achievements to indicate that you can do the same for this company.

Let’s look at how you can craft a response that highlights both your technical and people-management skills:

“Throughout my 15 years with Big Time Accounting firms, I regularly managed and led 5-10 person project teams to tackle complex accounting projects with SaaS industry clients. 

I’m well versed in the unique issues that software companies face, along with the challenges that come with managing a team toward various projects and competing priorities. 

To highlight this, I’ve been recognized by my peers as the ‘work-life balance manager of the year’ for two out of the past three years.”  

Appeal to the culture of meeting deadlines

Example 2:  Meeting deadlines are integral for those working in project-based roles, so interviewers are likely to respond favorably if you can address this point. 

Hiring managers also know that meeting or missing a deadline can be the difference between keeping and losing clients or facing stiff penalties. It also affects a company’s reputation and the ability to attract new clients.

Demonstrating how committed you are to meeting deadlines and giving some insight into your project management style can give you an edge over other candidates.

Let’s have a look at how your response might look if you want to highlight your project management skills and ability to meet deadlines:

“I have 15 years of experience leading teams on project-based work and how to manage competing deadlines. 

I’ve found the keys to successfully meeting deadlines while maintaining quality are identifying and communicating potential issues and roadblocks as they arise and well before they become a problem. 

Also, clearly defining roles and responsibilities amongst the team and client helps to keep everyone on the same page and working together towards a common goal. 

However, not everything goes to plan, and things do happen. I’m flexible enough and comfortable with rolling up my sleeves to prioritize getting projects over the finish line should it ever get to that point.”

Lucia Kanter St. Amour

Employment Attorney | VP, UN Women USA | Author, “ For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation “

Show them you are discerning and learn to negotiate

What many job candidates don’t recognize is that the interview itself is a type of negotiation. You are interviewing the organization just as much as the organization is interviewing you. 

Are you feeling desperate for this job? They don’t know that. One aspect of a negotiated agreement that people want is to feel that the deal was a “hard one.” No one says that out loud (and may not consciously think it), but it’s true. 

The inevitable “ Why should we hire you? ” question usually pops up early in the interview so that they can get you talking. Flip the script. You can leverage this question strategically to make yourself stand out from other candidates. 

Here’s a response that a lot of people do not even consider, much less articulate:

“I don’t know yet that you should hire me or that I should accept an offer. It’s wise for both of us to make sure this is a good fit. 

Although I’ve done what research I can on my own, I need more information about [for example: workplace culture, upward mobility, management style, hybrid scheduling, benefits, continuing education opportunities, how assignments are made, the diversity of the workplace, who I’ll be working with, etc.]. 

So, I’m hoping to explore those questions and have an opportunity to speak with some other people within the organization, too.” 

Then stop. Don’t fill the silence. It’s their turn to steer the conversation— and even how they do that is more information for you to observe and think about.

The interviewer will not be expecting this answer. They expect you to try to dazzle them with how great you are. But “how great you are”  can’t  exist in a vacuum. 

A job involves working with other people. You can even say that if you want, with a little bit of a chuckle: 

“Look, I feel like I’m supposed to answer that by telling you how great I am, but that would be short-sighted and a little narcissistic. I don’t know yet if you should hire me…[continue with the answer above].” 

You are showing them you are discerning , and you will immediately command respect and interest. You will distinguish yourself from the other candidates at that moment.

Bonus pro tip:  If you do get an offer, negotiate it. We need to normalize negotiating a compensation package (often framed as “ salary negotiation .” But salary is just one aspect of compensation, especially for more women who are 4x less likely to negotiate an offer. 

When they present you with the offer, here are some steps: 

• Say, “ thank you! ”  Show your appreciation and excitement that they chose you.
• Ask,  “Can you walk me through how you calculated/came up with your offer?”  Understand the factors, standards, and metrics that went into it. That will help you prepare a counteroffer.
• Ask,  “When do you need an answer?”  Don’t respond immediately. Tell them again how pleased you are about the offer and that you will thoughtfully consider it, and then set a time right then and there for your follow-up. 

Then, use that time to jump for joy and call your BFF (obviously!) and for additional research to prepare your counteroffer (using their metrics and maybe something you think they left out). 

Again, this is normal and expected! And then, it will be your turn to be ready to answer the question, “ How did you come up with that counteroffer? ” So be prepared to justify it. 

Super Julie Braun

Founder & CEO,  Super Purposes™

Talk about your experience, progression, and how perfect you are for the job

Remember, this is a conversation, not an interrogation. We suggest three easy steps to answer the “ Why should we hire you? “

• Talk about your previous experience.  Keep it appropriate for the job you are interviewing for, focusing on the skills you read in the job description. 
• Then talk about today in a few sentences.  You show your progression and why you are where you are.
• Finish strong with the future and how you would be perfect for the job at this stage , placing you in the position. You can also add a little  personal  flair so that the interviewer sees you professionally and personally as a dynamic candidate.

Tip:  Interviewers want to hire a potential colleague. The idea is to make an impact on your interviewer immediately. Your job at the interview is to get them thinking about you as a new colleague as soon as possible to land the job offer. 

• Example of step 1:  If you are interviewing for a sales position, use your experience as a DoorDash delivery person.

“In the past, I was a 5-star DoorDasher. I made $60,000 in yearly revenue, which included tips.”

• Example of step 2:  

“Because I did so well as a DoorDasher, the corporate office promoted me to work with the UX (User Experience) Team. I took my best practices, which turned into training materials and blogs, and helped the DevOps team improve their processes.

I still deliver food, but now I meet with the group each week and share how my experience can help improve the whole company.” 

• Example of step 3:  

“Now, I’m here hoping to apply my skills, knowledge, and experience to help your company sell more products and services as the Senior Marketing & Sales Specialist. I’m also a forever dad to my dog Jack who has one eye and like to play the guitar on the weekends.”

Darren Shafae

Founder,  ResumeBlaze

Provide specific examples of how you went above and beyond in your current or past roles

Before you answer this question, it is essential to research the organization and position you are applying for. This will help you tailor your response to demonstrate how your qualifications, experience, and skills align with the open role.

Provide a few concrete examples that show why you are the ideal candidate for this job. Focus on what makes you unique and stand out from other applicants.

You can also highlight some of your accomplishments that showcase why you are the best fit for this position. If you have experience in the same field or industry as the organization, explain how that experience has prepared you for this role. Or you can discuss your future goals and ambitions and how they tie into the company’s mission.

Surface-level responses like “ I am a hard worker ” and “ I am very motivated ” don’t typically land. Instead, provide specific examples of how you went above and beyond in your current or past roles that demonstrate these qualities. 

Try:  “In my previous role, I was able to increase customer satisfaction by 8% within the first quarter and received recognition from senior leadership for it.” 

Results-oriented  statements like this paint a clearer picture of your capabilities and help the interviewer understand why you should be hired.

Above all, give yourself credit. The interviewer wants to know why you think you are the best candidate and why they should choose you over other applicants. 

Showing confidence in your abilities is an important part of selling yourself as the right fit for the job — as long as it is backed up by tangible evidence of your previous experience and success.

Related: How to Sell Yourself in an Interview

Brian Fenerty

People Operations and Talent Acquisition | Career Coach,  Life’s Work Coach

Respond with: “You should not hire me unless…”

I like to answer this in a way that will be remembered and shows that I am as  interested  in making a good choice as the employer. As I am a very values-focused leader who leans on my strengths, I may answer with:

“You should not hire me unless you think my values align with your company values and culture and you think there is room for me to build on my strengths and success in this role to grow here as a leader and as a person.”

The format is simple, follow  “You should not hire me unless…”  with what is most important to you and the employer. 

In this way, you will absolutely stand out from the crowd, and you are letting them know you are thinking about the next role you take and evaluating them as well.  

The question is meant to put you on your back foot and in a position where you seek the interviewer’s approval—you are too smart for that!

President,  Frank Recruitment Group

There are probably two reliable ways to handle this question:

Talk about your skillset confidently

If you know you’ve got the skills for the role, speak to that confidently. Show that you’ve understood what the position entails and a clear sense of how you would apply yourself to it. 

Communicating to the recruiter that you can visualize yourself in the role will help them feel confident in you as a leading candidate. Don’t hesitate to draw on your own relevant experience here as well.

Talk about your willingness to learn

If the position you’re applying for is entirely new to you, or you don’t have the exact skills or experience listed in the job description, talk about your preparedness to learn and grow as you progress. 

Express that it’s a role you want to take on and that you’d be excited to meet the challenge.  Genuine emotion can have a great impact when it comes to interviews.

CEO,  DataLemur | Author, “ Ace the Data Science Interview “

Connect the past to the future

A great answer to “ why should we hire you ” is all about connecting your past to your future. You want the hiring manager to think you were born for the job. 

To demonstrate this, you should logically show how your past employment, education, and skills have led toward one singular future: working for  this  company in this role. 

By showing that your future will be working a job just like the one you’re interviewing for, the hiring manager perceives a sense of inevitability, that it’s clearly logical for you to work here, and that your entire body of work was leading to this moment. 

Sprinkle in job keywords when talking about your past

A tactical way to create this sense of inevitability is to see the keywords from the job description. Sprinkle those phrases and keywords into stories about your past. 

For example, if a Data Analyst job mentioned they need expertise with Excel and SQL and they were looking for someone with past healthcare experience, you’d make sure to mention: 

• How in your past work you used Excel
• How in the past have you had healthcare domain experience
• How in the past you already learned SQL

This will make the hiring manager understand it’s only logical that in the future, you’ll work with Excel + SQL in the healthcare domain, a.k.a the exact job at hand! 

Sylwia Śmietanko

HR Specialist and Recruiter,  Passport-Photo Online

Use precise numbers and statistics 

Mentioning specific data in your answer can be very powerful in demonstrating your skills and achievements. Using precise numbers and statistics can help to give the employer a clear idea of the impact you have had in your previous roles and how you can bring similar results to their company.

When mentioning data in your answer, it’s essential to be as specific as possible. Instead of saying, “ I increased sales, ” say, “ I increased sales by 15%. ” This gives the employer a clear understanding of the magnitude of your achievement.

In addition to using specific numbers, you can also mention other types of data, such as:

• Timeframes:   “I was able to increase sales by 15% in just six months.”
• Dollar amounts:    “I was able to generate $500,000 in new business within the first year.”
• Percentages:   “I was able to reduce customer complaints by 50%.”
• Other metrics:   “I was able to increase website traffic by 30% in just three months.”

It’s also important to note that when mentioning data, it’s essential to ensure it is  accurate  and  verifiable . If the data is uncertain or cannot be confirmed, it’s best not to mention it.

Example: 

“I am a quick learner and a creative problem-solver, and I have a proven track record of delivering results. In my previous role, I was responsible for developing new business opportunities, and I was able to increase revenue by 20% in just one year. 

I am confident that my skills and experience make me a strong fit for this position and that I can bring similar results to your company.”

Andrew Lokenauth

Founder,  Fluent in Finance

Share your relevant accomplishments and how they can benefit the company

Highlighting specific examples of your achievements and how they can contribute to the company’s success can help to demonstrate your value as a candidate. 

For example:

“I have a proven track record of success in project management, having completed several large-scale projects on time and under budget. I am confident that my experience in project management can benefit your company in terms of cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved project outcomes.”

Emphasize your potential value to the company

Explain how you can bring value to the company and how your skills and experience will help it achieve its goals. 

“I am confident that my skills and experience in business development can help your company achieve its goals. My experience identifying and closing new business opportunities will be an asset to your sales team and drive your company’s growth.”

Highlight your unique qualifications

What sets you apart from other candidates? This could be a specific skill, a unique accomplishment, or an industry award. 

For example: 

“I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work with your company because of my experience in developing innovative mobile apps. 

I led the development of a mobile app that received over 1 million downloads and the best app of the year award from my previous company. I am confident that my skills and experience will bring value to your company’s mobile app development team.”

Tailor your answer to the specific company and position

Research the company and the job description, and highlight how your skills and experience align with their needs. 

For example:  

“I am excited about the opportunity to work with your company because my experience in digital marketing and data analysis aligns perfectly with the responsibilities outlined in the job description. 

I am confident that my skills and experience can contribute to the growth and success of your marketing team.”

Show enthusiasm and passion for the job and company

Express your excitement and enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with the company, and demonstrate your understanding of the company’s mission and values. 

Related: Why Is Passion Important for Success in Life?

“I have been following your company for years, and I am impressed by your commitment to sustainability and innovation. I am excited about working with a company that shares my values and passion for making a positive impact in the world.”

Share your passion for the field and how it motivates you

Expressing your passion for the field can help to demonstrate your commitment and enthusiasm for the role and the company. 

“I am passionate about the field of human resources, and I am excited about the opportunity to work with your company as an HR professional. 

I am motivated to help your company create a positive and productive work environment for employees, and I am confident that my passion for the field can benefit your company in terms of employee satisfaction and retention.”

Show your willingness to learn and grow

Demonstrating your willingness to learn and grow can help show that you are a proactive and adaptable candidate committed to personal and professional development. 

“I am excited about the opportunity to work with your company as a marketing intern. I am a fast learner and eager to learn new skills and take on new challenges. 

I am confident that my willingness to learn and grow can benefit your company in terms of my potential for professional development and my ability to adapt to changing industry trends.”

AJ Silberman-Moffitt

Senior Editor,  Tandem

You’re looking for a new job. You’ve posted your resume on various sites and updated your LinkedIn profile. You’ve had some companies reach out to you, and then, suddenly, it happens. You get invited to an interview. But interviewing for a new job can be scary. 

First, you need to dress appropriately and make a good first impression. Then you start to worry that you won’t know what you will say. You even think about the questions they might ask when you are there. 

One question looms over you like a black cloud because you know it will be asked. You wonder how you should answer, “ Why should we hire you? “

Explain your experience

If you already have experience in the field, this can be a significant benefit to a company. The more you already know, the less they will need to train you. 

But even if your experience isn’t exact, you should still mention it. Try to highlight how you can use your experience in this new position.

Tell them why you would be a good employee

When possible, employers don’t want to hire people who just “phone it in.” They want people who are passionate about their careers and want to help improve the company; what better way to illustrate to them that you are this person than by telling them why you would make a good employee?

Related: What Are You Passionate About?

Discuss similarities in past positions

Though the job you are after now might be something you haven’t done before, that doesn’t mean that it’s something you can’t do. 

If you can find ways in which the job requirements align with other positions you have held, you’ll instill some faith in the interviewer that you can accomplish whatever you set out to do.

Tell them the truth about yourself and what you are looking for

Above all else, honesty really is the best policy, and this is especially true in interviews. Don’t say that you have experience doing something if you don’t, and don’t say that you want to do something that you know will make you unhappy. 

Instead, tell them the truth about yourself and what you are looking for. Ultimately, if you lie in an interview, any lies might be uncovered after you are hired.

Though there are many ways you can answer, there are also ways that should be  avoided , including:

• Telling them your life story
• Not giving enough details and making them assume things
• Only telling them the basics or failing to explain what makes you unique

Going on an interview can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. If you prepare yourself with answers to common interview questions like this one, you’ll be ahead of the curve. And when you are ahead of the curve, you might get where you are going faster than you thought you could.

Joshua Rich

CEO and Founder,  Bullseye Locations

The question “ why should we hire you? ” is quite direct in its nature and is more often not foreseen as it should be. Here’s a gist of what the candidates I tend to want to employ say in response to this. 

Elaborate on your latest professional role

In my opinion, one’s first response should always be to keep in mind their current circumstances—nothing from too far down memory lane and nothing aspirational that has not yet materialized. All of that comes a little later. 

Before that, elaborate on your latest professional role. And make it a point to prominently convey how you believe your previous experience and skills can be translated into the position you have applied for. 

Let them have a sneak peek into your professional and even personal past

Try to tie this information up with the values you have espoused since the recent past and how you see them carrying you and the company into the future. This is where you let them have a sneak peek into your professional and even personal past. 

What informs the person you are today? And why does that make you the right person for the role you are considering? 

For example, if you are considering applying to a Psychologist’s position, you could say you have been through challenging times in your life or sought professional help yourself. 

This portrays the notion that you have played your part in ridding the world of mental health from the stigma that it has to contend with. This suggests that you will be a  non-judgemental  and  effective  therapist yourself. 

Comment on how your personal values can contribute to the company

You do not want to miss out on the short and long-term future with respect to the company and yourself. Do your due diligence and see what values the company embodies and its broad mission. Then, comment on how your personal values can contribute to realizing those goals. 

Related: How to Answer “What Are Your Values?” in an Interview

CEO,  Champion Leadership Group LLC

Focus on how your skills fit the job, not how much better you than other applicants

While the question may appear generic, it somehow remains an absolute favorite among recruiters because your answer indicates much about your personality and skills. Always have a few responses prepared in case the question arises. 

Sell yourself without coming across as arrogant or timid.  Hiring managers, in my experience, select candidates they like and trust. So try to maintain a personable and likable demeanor throughout the interview. 

However, it is difficult to market yourself without meaning to sound arrogant or cocky. The best strategy I have discovered for this instance is to focus on showcasing how your skills can fit the job, not how much better you are than other applicants. 

Even the best hiring manager may mirror your attitude if you arrive either too nervous or too confident, triggering a negative feedback loop. 

So instead, try to focus on the interviewers and use this as an opportunity to show that you can be trusted and then share your skills with them. Demonstrate to the recruiter that you possess what it takes to succeed in the role and that you will fit in well with the company culture.

Sean Stevens

Director, Immerse Education

Provide as much detail as you can

So, you want to have a conversation about leadership. Be more specific than “ Yes, I led people in my previous position ” or “ If I am hired, I will not pose a leadership challenge. ” 

Instead, provide more specifics to help the reader visualize the scene. Include details such as: 

• The number of individuals you were responsible for
• The kind of advice you gave
• Your tenure as a leader
• The lessons you’ve learned along the way

Also, demonstrate your enthusiasm for leadership and your desire to assume such responsibilities. 

So, one might say:

“Certainly, I have been in a leadership role for three years. I had two reports at first, and then I added three more to bring the total to five. I was in charge of their performance assessments, training, and more. 

HR is a fascinating field, and I hope to work in it again in the future. One of the main draws for me in this position was the possibility of contributing to the development of a team in the manager position.”

I consider this to be one of the most valuable pieces of advice I’ve ever received on the job interview process. In your narrative, it will be easier to show that you are right for the job if you can give  specific  examples.

Lori Taylor

Founder and CEO, The Produce Moms

Always be truthful

This advice applies to all interview questions, including “ Tell us more about yourself, ” “ What are your strengths and weaknesses? ” and any other questions the interviewer may ask. 

Related: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview

You don’t want to pitch yourself as someone you aren’t . You might land the job if you lie about your experience, credentials, or skills, but the experience will be  unpleasant  for both you and the employer.

Convey your commitment and passion

It is essential to achieve a successful career in the workplace. According to the US Department of Labor, employers search for individuals who exhibit excitement in addition to abilities, experience, and training. 

Therefore, be sure to demonstrate commitment and excitement for the organization or the position when responding to this interview question.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What if i’m nervous about the interview.

It’s perfectly normal to be nervous in an interview, especially when faced with a tough question like “ Why should we hire you? ” Here are some tips to help you stay calm and focused:

– Practice your answer in advance and be prepared to tailor it to the job and company at hand. – Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you have prepared for this question. – Make eye contact with the interviewer and try to convey confidence with your body language. – Don’t be afraid to pause and collect your thoughts before answering – it’s better to take a moment to collect yourself than to rush your answer.

Remember that a job interview is a two-way conversation. It’s important to be yourself and ask questions showing interest in the company and the job.

How can I use body language and tone of voice to improve my response?

Nonverbal cues can help convey confidence and enthusiasm: – Maintain eye contact with your interviewer – Use hand gestures to emphasize important points – Sit up straight and adopt an open posture

Control your tone of voice: – Speak clearly and at a moderate pace – Use a friendly and enthusiastic tone to convey your passion for the role – Avoid sounding monotone or overly rehearsed

What if I don’t get the job?

If you don’t get the job, don’t take it personally. There are many reasons why an applicant isn’t selected, and it’s not always because of your skills or experience.

Take the opportunity to reflect on the interview and consider what you could have done differently or done better. Use the feedback (if it was given) to prepare for future interviews.

Remember that every interview is a learning experience and that each interview brings you one step closer to the perfect job. Keep a positive attitude and keep working on your skills and experience, and you’ll soon find the right job.

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How to Answer: “Why Should We Hire You?” (+12 Examples)

• Noel Rojo , 
• Updated October 19, 2023 10 min read

The amount of people who freeze when asked the job interview question “Why should we hire you? ” is too damn high! 

For no reason too. 

Sure, the question is a bit tricky, but with the right approach you should be able to breeze through it. All while impressing your recruiter. 

In short, when an interviewer asks the question "Why should we hire you? ", they want to know why you, of all the candidates, are the right fit for the job, their company and their overall bottom line. In other words — are you the one?  

We’ll go over this question in detail and offer you tips and answer examples that will help you formulate the perfect response. 

Table of Contents

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Best general answer to “Why should we hire you?”

12 sample answers according to your job position/experience.

• How to answer the question “Why shouldn't we hire you?”

Similar job interview questions

Other common job interview questions.

There is a simple 6 step formula that career coaches recommend when answering the interview question “ Why should we hire you ?”.

Step 1: Study the job listing. Understanding the ins and outs of the job at hand is a great way to put together a response that aligns with the company’s demands. Ensuring both you and the employer are on the same page. 

Step 2: Make it about them. Yes, your answer should be about how you are the right candidate for the job . However, it should be answered in a way that fulfills your potential employer’s needs . In other words, give them what they want.  

Step 3: Start the answer with a brief statement. A good way to do this is by stating you understand what they're searching for in an employee (skills, experience, and character).

Step 4: Voice your experienc e.  Although you have listed your experience on a resume . We advise you to pick 2 to 3 things that stand out to you from the job listing and restate how your experience can fulfill those requirements. 

Step 5: Present your benefits .  Don’t just state the skills you possess (features). Instead, talk about how your noteworthy skills , experience and personality traits can bring improvements into the job, team, or company (benefits). 

Step 6: Be humble. Fight the need to over embellish your accomplishments. Sure, you might have the proper technical skills for the job , but you also need to show them your soft skills, for example answering this answer with tact. 

Best general answer (example)

In the end, a general answer following the statement, experience, benefit formula should be something along these lines:

“I am well aware of the importance (company name) places on (skills, experience or values). I have (x amount) of experience in this field and the credentials (education, certificates, courses) to back it up. I believe (company name) would benefit from hiring me as I’m reliable, flexible and am able to adapt even under stressful situations.”

Or, another way to answer this question:

A good general response can take you a long way.

However, when replying to any interview question it’s always wise to tailor your response to the job at hand.  

This is especially true if you're conducting your interview online, as recruiter’s tend to have back-to-back interviews and therefore limited time. (Quick virtual interview tip :  In order to avoid speaking over the recruiter due to internet delays, try to pause for a second or two when responding online).  

Basically, the more you show you understand the job, the company, and its work culture. The higher the chances of you coming ahead of your competition. 

Here are a few answer examples from different job positions and experience levels that can help you formulate an impressive response.  

Best answer for a customer service job #1 (example)

“I know the value you place in providing excellent customer service in this company. I have over 3 years of experience providing exceptional customer service and various certifications on how to treat the customer, in fact I had over 95% customer approval in my previous job. I  believe my approach can benefit the company’s bottom line, as a happy customer is more likely to return.” 

Best answer for a customer service job #2 (example)

“I’m a people person. It doesn't matter if I have to talk with a customer through the phone or work together with a colleague towards a common goal, communication has always been one of my strong suits. So much so that in my previous job I was able to teach these skills to my peers and we were able to improve our customer approval rate by 25% in less than 3 months. With those numbers I would be a great asset to your company.”  

Best answer for a fresher #1 (example)

“From what I understand the role requires someone who’s a good team player. I had an internship where I worked for 2 years with different teams and diverse people from various walks of life. I believe I would be a great candidate for this role, as my experience would allow me to get into the job with minimal training and supervision.”

Best answer for a fresher #2 (example)

“Wow, where do I start? I have always wanted to work in such a great company. I have been preparing for years for this opportunity; with school, internships, and also part time jobs. I understand that I’m a fresher, but I can guarantee you that I'm that right candidate for the job and as you can see from my resume I have the dedication to pursue what I set my mind into. If you hire me I  will apply the same dedication to this job.” 

Best answer for a teacher #1 (example)

“I went over and read the school’s mission and I have to say it fits perfectly with my vision as a teacher. I believe that as a certified teacher with 4 years of experience I will be able to contribute immensely to this mission as I’m someone who has the track record of going above and beyond. I think you should hire me as I am someone with the ability to create a perfect learning environment with your mission in mind.” 

Best answer for a teacher #2 (example)

“I saw in the job listing that the school is searching for a candidate who can adapt to constant change. I have been teaching for years and I have always been resourceful and kept up with the changes of the modern world. In fact, I wouldn’t consider myself a traditional teacher. However, it is because of my unconventional ways that students take a liking of me. I’m positive your students will appreciate you hiring me.” 

Best answer for a nursing job #1 (example)

“If i’m being honest, I have all  the skills and experience that you’re searching for in a nurse.. Apart from having years of experience and the technical skills, I am also a very motivated person and always go beyond what's expected for the job. Lastly, I have always taken pride in my professional and amicable relationships with my colleagues. I’m pretty confident that I am the best candidate for this position.” 

Best answer for a nursing job #2 (example)

“Great question, I have always been someone who commits fully to the job and the overall idea of  nursing. Since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a nurse and now 5 years later I still think it is the best decision I have ever made. For me, being a nurse is more than a paycheck, I get tremendous satisfaction in providing my patients with excellent care. I think you should hire me because I sincerely believe I’m the best candidate for this job.”

Best answer for a fresh graduate #1 (example)

“As soon as I read the job description I knew I was the right person for the job . That is because even though I'm a fresh graduate, my volunteering and internship work has allowed me to gain the skills and experience you’re looking for. I am sure that I will be a great contributor to the company and I can assure you that you will not regret hiring me. ”

Best answer for a fresh graduate #2 (example)

“It has always been a dream of mine to work in this company and when I saw you hiring for an entry level position I knew I had to apply. The truth is that I’m very passionate about what you do and as you can see in my resume my skills and goals align with what you’re searching for. At this moment I am rather fresh, but that doesn't mean I haven't put in the work. I am a very passionate and motivated person and I believe I am the right candidate for this job.”  

Best answer for accountant #1 (example)

“Keeping up with the changes in technology is a must for an accountant . I have always been passionate when it comes to learning new programs. Apart from knowing the basic accounting softwares, I have also taken the time to learn Python, as I think it will open up more possibilities for me in the future. If you hire me, know that I will always be up to date with the  latest accounting trends.”

Best answer for accountant #2 (example)

“I know your company is searching for someone with great attention to detail. I believe I am your candidate as I possess years of experience with the accounting softwares you use. Knowing the ins and outs of these programs will allow me to limit the amount of errors that slip by. On the other hand, I understand accidents happen and if they do I am able to quickly limit the damage they can cause. I believe I am the most capable candidate for this job and you will not regret hiring me.”

How to answer the question “Why shouldn't we hire you?”

Sometimes recruiters like to throw oddball questions you don't find in your average job interview guide like, “ Why shouldn't we hire you? ” or “ What is your biggest weakness ?”.  

Usually, such questions are asked in order to gauge your limits, strengths and weaknesses, and to observe how you handle yourself in stressful situations. 

Hence, why a good way to answer these question is to:

• Keep your cool . 
• Collect your thoughts . Now’s a good time to take a sip of water (Reason to always  say yes when they offer you water). 
• Reverse the question . Pull out your reverse UNO card and flip that weakness into a strength.  
• Be honest . Even Superman has a weakness. If you’re to show one, show a weakness you overcame. 
• Don’t be too negative . Negativity is not the best of traits and is definitely not good as a first impression. 

With that said, here's an answer example if the company you're applying for values creativity and self guidance: 

“If you’re looking for someone who should perform each task with management supervision, then i’m not the one you should hire. As I tend to work better when tasks are given with an end goal and I have a bit of leeway to complete it. With that said, I have a good track record of meeting deadlines.”

The question “ Why should we hire you ?” comes in many variations, but with similar intentions. Such as:

• Why do you want to work here? 
• Why are you fit for the position? 
• Why do you want to work for us? 
• What will you bring to the position? 
• Why are you the right candidate
• Why should we take the risk in hiring you? 

Christy's word of advice

“Because I’m the best!”  probably won’t cut it 😉 A better way would be to briefly reiterate why you’re a great fit by summarizing what they’re looking for vs. what you bring to the table:  “As well as over a decade of experience as a fine dining chef, I believe my resume and our interview today demonstrate my passion for creating and serving incredible food, leading teams to success, and putting restaurants on the culinary map. As a customer, I’ve had excellent experiences in your restaurant and fully believe in what you do. I’d be thrilled to be part of your growth and continued success!” .

Christy Morgan, Resident HR Expert

" Where do you see yourself in 5 years? "

“ Where do you see yourself in 5 years ?” is a question asked by recruiters in order to gauge if a potential employee has the ability to commit long-term, especially to a job, project, or company. A good general answer to this interview question is:

“Within 5 years, I see myself in a position that continues to challenge me and that provides me opportunities to grow my skill-set.” 

"What are you passionate about?" 

When answering the question “ What are you passionate abou t?” it’s important to be as specific and honest as you can. R ecruiters ask this question in order to see what you’re truly into and how you think. Also, how you answer this question might also affect where you get placed in the company, so embellishing could backfire.  

"Why did you leave your past job?"

In regards to the question “ Why did you leave your past job ?” What you don't say is just as important as what you do say. Here are the do’s and don'ts:

• Answer truthfully 
• Reframe question back to job prospect
• Show right amount of details
• Slander your past employer
• Overdo It with details 
• Lie about why you left

If you really want to come prepared for the interview, here is an article that teaches you how to answer 100+ common job interview questions . Or simply watch the video guide below.

That’s all, good luck in your interview! 

A documentary photographer and writer. Noel has worked for International publications like Deutsche Welle in Germany to News Deeply in New York. He also co-founded the global multimedia project Women Who Stay and collaborated as a journalist fellow with the University of Southern California. He went from traveling around the world to sitting on a couch thanks to the pandemic, but he got a nice job working for Kickresume thanks to that, so he won't complain.

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How to perfect your “Why should we hire you?” answer

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Why ask, “Why should I hire you?”

The 6 components of a perfect answer, sample answers to “why should we hire you”, tying it all together.

Job interviews can be nerve-wracking. And why shouldn’t they be? Whether you’re looking for your next pay raise or you’ve spent the last few months unemployed, the interview process can certainly feel high-stakes.

We’re told since childhood that first impressions matter , and this is one of the biggest first impressions of them all. Over half of interviewers make their decision within the first 5 to 15 minutes of an interview, so it’s important to knock it out of the park.

But, if you’re well-prepared, you’ll have less to worry about. You’re a rockstar, and you know it — you just have to show it.

The whole point of an interview is to find out why an employer should hire you and why you should work for them. That’s why one of the most common interview questions is, “Why should we hire you?”

On the surface, this seems like an intimidating question. But let’s try reframing it: this is the best possible question you could hope for. Why? Because if you have a great answer, it sets you up perfectly for the rest of your interview. It gives you a chance to state clearly what you’re made of and why you really are the best fit for the role.

Responding to this question is something of a balancing act. You want to self-promote and show your competence without seeming arrogant and highlight your skills without bragging. And most importantly, you want to honor your authentic self and your skill set. 

Let’s dive a bit deeper, shall we? Here are some interview tips for the perfect “Why should we hire you?” answer.

There's more to the “Why should we hire you” interview question than meets the eye. Sure, it may seem simple at first: of course they want to know why they should hire you! That’s why they booked this interview.

But, more than that, they’re on the lookout for other types of information. They want to know that you:

• Are prepared for the interview. Your answer should show them you’ve read the job description, studied the organization, and know what skills are required for the role. You should also have those skills already, proving you can hit the ground running from day one. 
• Understand the job requirements. You won’t know the tiny details of a job until you’re hired to do it. But you should have a general understanding of what’s required to succeed in that position.
• Know how your skills and personality fit the job. You should demonstrate a deep understanding of your skills and why they make you the best fit. And, even if you don’t have all the necessary experience, you should show how your personality will match the company culture . Your dedication to your own self-betterment will also prove to them you’re interested in growing in this position. 
• Aren’t overqualified . Employers are afraid that if you’re overqualified for a role, you’ll be bored at work and leave quickly. It’s important for you to explain why you’re interested in such a job, especially if it’s entry-level.

If you can tick these boxes for an interviewer, it could seal the deal for you. It shows that you’re focused on the company and have the skills for the job, making you a no-brainer for the role.

Other versions of the question

Sometimes, your interviewer will be less than direct in their approach. They’ll find another way to phrase the question and get the necessary information. Here are some alternate “Why should we hire you” examples: 

• Why would you be a good fit for this position?
• Why do you think you’re the best person for the job?
• What makes you unique?
• How do your background and work experience make you a good fit for the role?
• Tell me about yourself .

No matter how they ask the question, your approach is the same. Your interviewer’s main takeaway should be that you’re prepared, competent, and self-aware .

It’s your time to shine

Remember, this question is your chance to make your sales pitch and show why you’re the best candidate. Assuming they read your resume and cover letter , they already understand what certifications and skills you offer. Now’s your chance to tell a good story about those skills to drive the point home.

As you prepare for your interview, ask yourself: “Why should a company hire me?” Create a bullet-point list of every reason you can think of. Write down your success stories from your previous jobs, technical skills, communication skills, and exemplary personality traits.

Everything about you can help you reach your career aspirations . Talking yourself up can be difficult. It’s too easy to linger on past mistakes or why you’re not worthy of a job. If you’re struggling to feel confident , BetterUp can help .

Our coaches can provide you with an outside perspective on your work history and help you identify skills you didn’t know you had. And, if you’re truly not ready for your dream job, we can help you make a plan and set goals to get there.

So what makes a perfect answer? Here are the essential components you should include.

1. Focus on your achievements

It’s one thing to list your skills; it’s another to prove you have them. Employers want people who can deliver, so highlight your track record of bringing the goods. Emphasize your best moments in “Tell me about a time when…” or situational interview questions .

2. Talk about hard and soft skills

Hard technical skills are important for most roles. But, more often than not, there’s more to a job than simply performing tasks. You’ll have to work with people, solve problems, and make decisions — all of which require soft skills like communication and being a fast learner. They can set you apart from other candidates with similar technical abilities.

3. Highlight culture alignment

Employers aren’t just looking for the right worker; they’re looking for the right person. Companies often have tight-knit teams with members who have worked together for years. They want to know you’ll be a good match and connect well with your new colleagues. Be sure to demonstrate how you form relationships and build rapport in a workplace.

4. Show how your skills fit the job

Don’t assume the recruiter immediately sees how your skills fit the role. Paint a picture for them — especially if you’re from a different field or industry. Make sure to highlight your skills transfer to this new role.

5. Show your excitement

It’s tempting to remain stoic in the name of professionalism. But let’s be real: you applied for the job for a reason. Highlight specific tasks and responsibilities that set this role apart from others you’ve applied to. Talk about why this position gets your motor revving. This shows you’re passionate about the work and care to do high-quality work.

6. Use “I” statements

Hiring managers want to know your exact involvement in your previous team’s achievements. Avoid saying things like “We achieved our goal of X.” Instead, highlight your specific contributions.

Were you the team leader? Did you write all of the marketing material? Did you help keep a project within budget? Giving credit to your colleagues is nice, but don’t sell yourself short in the process.

What does a good answer to this question look like? Here are three example answers to this job interview question and why they work.

Example 1: project manager at a software company

“I think I’m the right person for this job because, through my previous work as a computer engineer, I learned to speak the language of software developers. I’ve collaborated closely with developers to design hardware that worked well with their operating system. Our product went on to sell millions of units. 

I think this collaborative approach is what you need in project management. I know how to work with people with expertise different than mine and can bring out the best in their work to build a successful product.”

Why it works: This response highlights one of your previous contributions to your team’s success. You also tied this example to the role’s needs, showing that you understand the new job’s requirements. Your example also illustrates your ability to collaborate — a key soft skill for this job.

Example 2: grant writer at an environmental research company

“I think I’m perfect for this job because I have completed a master’s degree in environmental policy and years of experience as a climate journalist. I’m a strong writer and know how to communicate complicated research to audiences outside of the field.

I once wrote a feature for a local news website about how trees can cool our city. It became one of our best-performing stories that week. 

Communicating complex ideas in clear language is important because many grant evaluators aren’t subject matter experts. They want to know what their money is funding, and I can help them connect the dots.”

Why it works: Here, your response draws attention to your technical abilities (writing), transferable skills from your last job (climate journalism), and expertise (master’s degree in a related field).

You also back up your claims with an example story, showing that you have past experience with the relevant subject matter. In the second part of your answer, you tie it all together by explaining why these skills will be helpful in the role.

Example 3: administrative assistant at a seniors’ hospital

“Based on what I know about your organization, your patients, and what we’ve discussed so far, it seems like you need someone great with people, understands what families need, and knows how to handle sensitive information. 

As a previous volunteer at a local nursing home, I often worked with families to learn more about their grandparents to make their stay more comfortable. Once, a family told me they appreciated how much effort I put into learning about their grandma’s needs.”

Why it works: This response demonstrates that you’ve done your homework. You know the hospital deals primarily with older adults, so you highlight your experience with this type of patient and setting.

You also offer an example that shows your interpersonal skills with patients’ families because you’ll be booking appointments for them and interacting with them daily in your new job.

Crafting the perfect “why should we hire you?” answer takes work. It requires a lot more than simply listing your key qualifications. You’ll have to release your inner student and study the job posting, learn about the company, and understand your own skills and competencies.

Once you’ve done that, it all comes down to your presentation. Don’t be afraid to talk yourself up. As the job seeker, it’s on you to paint a picture for your employer; help them see why you’re the best choice for the role. Pull it all together into a well-organized and thoughtful answer, and they'd be wrong not to give you a job offer.

Ace your job search

Explore effective job search techniques, interview strategies, and ways to overcome job-related challenges. Our coaches specialize in helping you land your dream job.

Maggie Wooll, MBA

Maggie Wooll is a researcher, author, and speaker focused on the evolving future of work. Formerly the lead researcher at the Deloitte Center for the Edge, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Maggie is passionate about creating better work and greater opportunities for all.

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Why Should We Hire You? 19 Best Example Answers

“Why should we hire you?” is an interview question that requires an answer that must convince the interviewer that you are a perfect match for the job position.

If you are in a job search and you want to attend an interview, you should know your unique selling proposition and be ready to answer this question.

What is it that confirms you can perform on the job better than other applicants?

You should identify it and use it as a priced weapon in pulling down any doubt from the minds of your interviewers that you are the right person for the job

To be able to answer the “why should we hire you?” question effectively, you will need to do some homework on the employer and the job description they provided in order to match your skills, education, personal qualities, and experience with their specific requirements.

Familiarity with the job description, as well as with the company culture is essential.

You may possibly not possess as much skills, experience or qualifications as the other candidates, but things like energy and passion might set you apart from the others.

Portraying yourself as a motivated, energetic, and confident person ready to assist the company achieve their aim will boost your chances at the interview.

Now, here are nineteen examples – our best answers – to the why should I hire you question that you will likely be asked at a job interview:

Example 1 : I have the experience and the attitude to excel in this production assistant position. I have been on television production for almost two years now — including two summers interning at The Ellen Show, where I had good exposures to various aspects of TV production.

I worked so hard and performed excellently in the first summer that they had to invite me back the second summer, and assigned me more responsibilities.

I have been working part-time for a production company during my senior year at UC San Diego, where I have served as an assistant.

I’m used to getting things done — and with all happiness. That’s because I’m fond of working in the television industry, and I am always eager to learn and acquire experience along the line.

Example 2 : Because I have the relevant experience you are looking for – 3 years in taxation. I have exceptional knowledge of taxation, and I deliver what I promise.

Example 3 : You should hire me for several reasons. If your company hires me I would make efforts to effectuate a perfect work output in an immense way. My hard work will yield great results that could effect the growth of the company.

Example 4 : When I read the job posting I noticed that you specifically mentioned you were in need of someone with proven experience in project management.

As you can see in my resume , I have over 10 years of experience as a project manager; and what I believe really sets me apart from others and will make me a valuable addition to your team is my ability to combine that with skills I learnt from people.

I really value lasting relationships and actively seek to build them with developers, vendors, and senior managers alike.

Example 5 : I believe that I am a great match for this role. I’m bringing more than 12 years of experience managing over 100 employees, and providing high-quality training, in addition to a degree in management. These helped me to improve staff productivity by 30% and reduce employee turnover for my last employer.

I have no doubt whatsoever that I will achieve even higher targets for your organization, and would be a great addition to your team.

Example 6 : Well, the skills and experience that this job requires is something that I completely possess.

I am confident that I will bring much more value to your team than you have ever had, and I will shine as a project manager in your company.

It is not just about the successful projects and top companies that I have been a part of, but also the skills I have developed over the years, which have helped me build effective network with senior managers and clients.

I have passion for the job and I’m highly motivated to perform my best.

Example 7 : The reason you should employ me is because I have the right skill set, the experience, as well as the knowledgeable to produce good, adequate, clear, and concise work.

I have been proven to have a good track record of outstanding performance, including multiple awards and achievements.

I’m sure working with the team, we will be able to expand the operations of this company and take it to a greater level; and this is the reason why you should hire me.

Example 8 : I believe my expertise and experience will be a great contribution to the institution’s reform process on the provision of nursing care.

As a result of my dedication to the nursing profession, I will make sure that I provide high-quality nursing care with all diligence.

With the plans in my mind, I really would love to be part of the effort in making your facility the center of quality nursing care.

Example 9 : You should definitely hire me. I have been proven to be successful throughout my education, and this position requires someone who is capable of solving problems quickly and adding value to the job, which best describes me.

I believe my skills and abilities are a perfect match with the requirements for this job; and my passion towards my work and industry will certainly be of great value to achieving success in it.

So, I’m confident I’ll be the best candidate for this position.

Example 10 : I believe I bring success with me to any company I work for. And as highlighted in my resume, all the companies where I worked previously have prospered with my contributions.

I think it is good to have such a worker in your team who can bring the progress the company is looking for.

Example 11 : Throughout my career, I have consistently strived to become the very best in whatever I’m involved with. The accomplishments I have achieved in my prior positions are the result of possessing the qualities you are looking for in an employee.

Example 12 : I am not just a Linux administrator but a programmer, and I know multiple languages like Go, Python, Ruby, and more, which is what the company needs to achieve its goals.

Example 13 : Because I have the required skills, and also as a fresher, the energy that I have when coupled with experience can create the best of performances.

Example 14 : You should hire me because I have broad knowledge and experience in software design, and with my exceptional teaching skills, I will provide quality training to new staff, which will reduce external training programs and cost to the company.

Example 15 : I am a diligent person and social with all kinds of people. As a fast learner who is always curious of new challenges, I will easily overcome the challenges expected on the job with little or no supervisor.

Example 16 : I am naturally a hard working person with experience – who will always render 100 percent service. I would be a great value to your company.

Example 17 : I have what it takes to work with proficient mind. I will bring positive changes to this company just as I do anywhere I go. With my experience and skills I would help the company to grow.

Example 18 : My success in the field is confirmed by my improving of revenue by 150 percent in just a few months with my last employer, Godson LTD. As a team leader I have worked and succeeded on several projects backed by my ability to learn and adapt to new situations. These are the reasons why I’m fit for this work.

Example 19 : I’m always ready to learn new things, and I also have the capacity to abide by the rules guiding the operations of the company while moving ahead with necessary plans. Just give me a chance to prove my competence and you will see what I can do.

The above example answers to the question: “why should we hire you?” show you how to emphasize your strengths for the interviewer to see the value you will be bringing to their organization if hired.

However, do not lie simply because you are desperate for a job. All you need to do is to highlight your strengths, skills, experience, and competence while answering the question.

Remember that you are selling yourself tying to convince your interviewers that you are the best candidate to hire and no one else.

So, make sure to explain why you think you should get the job. Your story should be concise and natural; and don’t make the mistake of comparing yourself to other interviewees. Good luck!

Did you find our answers to the common interview question, “why should we hire you?”, useful? Please leave a comment in the box below. You can also share other answers that worked for you at an interview

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You have an interview scheduled, but wait for a second. Do you have an answer to the most expected question, ‘why should we hire you?’

Interviewers will inevitably ask you this question irrespective of the position you are interviewing for. They want to gauge your response to determine if you are a good fit for the company.

While listing out the skills and unique qualities in your response, you need to be careful not to go overboard or sound like you are boasting. A clever response can give you an edge over other candidates and land you your dream job.

Read on to know more about how to answer why should we hire you question in an interview, along with the following topics related to it:

• Why do employers ask why should we hire you?
• What are some ways to ask why should we hire you interview question?
• How to answer why should we hire you question?
• Why should we hire you example answers
• How to answer why should we hire you with no experience
• Why should we hire you answer for freshers
• Tips for giving the best response to why should we hire you
• Common mistakes while answering why should we hire you interview questions

Why Do Employers Ask Why Should We Hire You?

Employers often ask why should we hire you question to know what distinguishes you from other candidates. They also want to test you with a challenging question to see how you would react to them.

Why should we hire you interview question checks the confidence level of the candidates. Most of the time, the question can baffle the candidates as they might not know how to answer without sounding overly arrogant or meek.

With this question, the interviewers want to know how you could be an asset to the organization, what sets you apart from other candidates, and what your strengths are in terms of the job description.

Also Read: How to answer why do you want to work here in an interview?

Ways to Ask Why Should We Hire You?

There can be different ways in which the interviewers can ask why should we hire you. These are mentioned below:

• Why are you a great match for this role?
• Why do you want this job and why should we hire you?
• What sets you apart fromy do you feel we should choose to hire you over other candidates?
• Explain why your background and experience would be a good fit for this job.
• What makes you a good candidate for this position?
• Why do you think you are qualified for this position?
• Why you are an ideal candidate for this position?

Also Read: How to impress the interviewers while answering why are you a good fit for this job?

How to Answer Why Should We Hire You Question?

Answering why should we hire you requires some work. Simply listing your skills won’t help much. You need to plan and prepare an answer that convinces the interviewer and hiring managers.

Given below are some steps that you should take if you want to come up with an effective answer to why should we hire you:

Go Through the Job Description

Studying the job description can be highly beneficial if you want to understand what the hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. Pay special attention to the key sections in the job description, such as experience, education, and requirements.

Going through the job description will help you locate the skills and knowledge required for the job you are applying for. You can use those skills, qualities, and knowledge while framing your response. It will also help in crafting the answers to other questions like tell me about yourself, how would you describe yourself, and what motivates you.

Learn About the Company

Researching the company can give you an edge over other candidates. If you understand the company goals, values, and vision, it will become easier for you to provide a convincing answer to why should we hire you.

Through your answer, you can tell them how you can add value to the company and help them achieve their overall goals. Companies always look for candidates who resonate with their mission and can take it to higher levels of success.

Recognize Your Skills

Possessing the right skills is crucial to impress the hiring managers. Refer to the job description to identify if you have the required skills.

Once you recognize your selling points, you can use them to answer the question why should we hire you. Remember that your skills will help you excel in the job and hence, speak of what you truly possess.

Also Read: What are the top skills that must be put on a resume?

Quantify Your Accomplishments

Simply listing your skills will not impress the interviewers. You must tell them how your skills helped you accomplish specific targets. For example, you can tell them how you increased the territory sales by 12% within two years and generated a revenue of 3 million in your previous job.

Quantifying your experience will suggest that you have a proven ability to utilize your skills efficiently Interviewers would like to have you on their team as you can be a safe bet for the company.

Create Bullet Points

Remember that you cannot give vague or general answers to why should we hire you. It is your chance to get selected, and your response should reflect that you have carefully considered answering every question.

You can jot down all the bullet points about your skills, experience, education, awards, etc., and frame an impressive answer for the question.

Practice Your Response

Once you are ready with your response, you must practice it in front of people. It can be your family, friends, or anyone who can offer you constructive feedback on improving your response or demeanor while answering.

You must ensure that you do not sound robotic or someone who is reciting a poem after memorizing it word to word. Practice until you sound natural, fluent, and confident. Your tailor-made response should flow like dripping honey.

Why Should We Hire You Sample Answers

Given below are some sample answers to the question of why should we hire you. You can use them as a guide to frame your response:

Example 1: For Administrative Assistant

Based on the job description, your organization is searching for an administrative assistant with both strong technical abilities and interpersonal skills, and I think my experience of working as an office assistant previously will align with the responsibilities that I would be shouldering. I have reduced office supply costs to 25% by reorganizing the supply closet. I am a good communicator with experience making phone calls, giving presentations in person, and exchanging emails. I'm also proficient in various pertinent software packages, such as spreadsheet applications and content management systems. If given a chance, I would like to contribute my broad range of skills to your organization.

Example 2: For Sales Manager

I am happy you asked this question. You mentioned before that this role requires strong leadership abilities. In my five years as a sales manager, I have successfully led teams of more than 15 people, and have been awarded manager of the year for my creative approaches to motivating colleagues to reach and exceed quarterly deadlines. I will apply my leadership skills and tactics to this post if hired.

Example 3: For Special Education Teacher

In the job description, you stated that you are seeking a special education teacher with a tonne of patience and compassion. For the past three years, I've worked as a special educator in an NGO with dyslexic children, where I have honed my skills to be incredibly patient while still helping my students make academic progress. I have tailor-made lesson plans per the children's needs that focus on cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. My experience in teaching the English language to children between the ages of 6 and 15 has taught me how to interact positively with students of all ages and skill levels.

Example 4: For Kitchen Manager

I am particularly suited to thrive in this kitchen manager role due to my expertise in effectively controlling inventory input and designing efficient, simplified schedules. I am aware that you are looking for a candidate that is well organized and has a keen eye for detail. In my prior position, I effectively managed 15 employees' schedules and reduced food waste to 20%. I am eager to contribute my organizing abilities to your restaurant.

Example 5: For Social Worker

Because of my shown capacity to counsel and provide support to people who are socially excluded, you should consider me for this role. I realize you are looking for someone who is self-driven and empathetic. My commitment to helping people in need in my community keeps me inspired and driven to perform at my best. In addition, I can bring leadership experience to your team, having trained over 20 new hires to become familiar with day-to-day tasks and to feel comfortable in their new roles.

Example 6: For Marketing Manager

I successfully oversaw a team of 12 in our marketing department after spending more than five years in the same role with another company. I was in charge of approving and managing budgets and creating innovative campaigns. In fact, in one of the campaigns, I was in charge of increasing target audience awareness by 14%. I'm keen to utilize my leadership and creative skills for this role.

Also Read: What are the top marketing manager interview questions in 2022?

Answering Why Should We Hire You With No Experience

If you do not have any previous work experience and are wondering how to answer why should we hire you question, fret not; you can still create an impressive answer that will impress the interviewers.

You can talk about your academic experience in the absence of any work experience. However, try to highlight your relevant education to the job. This will convey the interviewers that you have the knowledge for the job and, given a chance, you will be able to bring that into practice.

Your response should contain information about the internships that you have done in your college time. Your internship will be your professional experience during the interview, and it will suggest that you have some real-world experience in doing a job.

You must also convey to the interviewers that you have done your research about the company and how the overall goals of the company align with your aspirations. Even though you do not have professional experience, you should be able to convince the interviewer that you are the most suitable person for the job due to your knowledge, internship experience, and skills.

As a fresher, you must go through the job description thoroughly to understand the job role and what the company is looking for in its ideal candidate. This will help you frame your answers in a better way and stand out from the crowd when you will execute them using effective communication.

Why Should We Hire You Answer for Freshers

If you are a fresher, you can draw out experience from internships or college events in which you volunteered. Given below are some responses that might inspire you to draft your own:

Example 1: For Software Engineer

I am a strong fit for this role because of my technical expertise and, in particular, because of my proficiency in updating and maintaining websites. My most recent volunteering experience in the college coder’s club required me to take care of our department's website. I had to do this by updating the student and teacher profiles and posting details about future activities. I studied JavaScript and Swift coding in my spare time and redesigned our webpage using my coding knowledge, for which the college dean praised me for taking the initiative. I want to contribute my coding talents and my zeal for learning new technologies to this role.

Example 2: For Digital Marketer

With my recent bachelor's degree in media communication, I can introduce cutting-edge email marketing techniques to your business. I gained the ability to write persuasive marketing copy during my internship as an email marketer for a digital software start-up. I was able to help out with an email campaign that increased interaction by 10%. I am convinced I would be a great addition to your digital marketing team based on my expertise and the knowledge I acquired in college about developing and promoting effective messaging in both traditional and digital contexts.

Example 3: For Nurse

Since you are looking for an applicant who can handle pressure and succeed in a fast-paced environment while delivering first-rate patient care, I believe I possess the mentioned qualities. As a recent nursing graduate who had to work under time constraints to complete my internship and acquire my degree, I am accustomed to handling pressure. In addition, I'm truly driven to help my colleagues and patients to the best of my capacity.

Example 4: For Graphic Designer

By going through the job description, I could understand that you are looking for someone highly creative and possesses technical skills. I can create original designs as I have a solid grasp of themes, typography, and color schemes. Additionally, I’m proficient in using designing applications like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. As part of college coursework, I created original artworks for inter-college contests and have won awards too. Because I have the necessary skills, potential, and desire to learn, I think I should be hired.

Example 5 For Project Manager

Though I just completed my graduation and don’t have any corporate project management experience, I successfully managed multiple team projects in my last year of university. I took the role of project leader for various projects after three different teams concluded that I would be the best person to lead and assign duties. In every project, we produced top-notch work and received an ‘A’ grade. As a result, my confidence and public speaking abilities have improved, which I think will help me in my professional career.

Also Read: What kind of questions are asked in a project manager interview?

Tips for Giving the Best Response to Why Should We Hire You

Given below are some tips that you can consider while answering why should we hire you:

Express How You Add Value

For every skill that you mentioned, you must convey how you utilized it in a circumstance to get desired results. Ensure to mention any achievement, volunteer activity, or previous professional experience that suits the job you are applying for. After all, you must convey that you are an excellent fit for the company.

Tell a Story

Use your qualifications to tell a story about how you used them in your previous job. Going through the job description can be extremely helpful in understanding what the employer is looking for, and then you can tell them how you fulfill that need.

Keep Your Response Short

Pick one or two of the most relevant skills from the job description and use them in your answer. You must keep in mind that your response should not be over two minutes long. You do not want to bore the interviewers by bragging endlessly about yourself.

Add Your Hard and Soft Skills

Skills are an essential factor that can decide your suitability for the job. While answering, ensure that you elaborate on both hard and soft skills for the job.

For example, if you are interviewing for an executive assistant job, you can elaborate upon how you used MS office knowledge to make the most of your time. It will convey that you have the technical skills required to be an executive assistant and time management abilities as well.

Also Read: What are the necessary soft skills to put on the resume?

Convey Excitement

Another important but lesser focussed aspect during an interview is your energy level. You wouldn’t want to come off as a person who is least interested in the job.

While answering the questions, you must sound confident and enthusiastic so that the interviewers can perceive you as a candidate who is passionate about responsibilities.

Common Mistakes Answering Why Should We Hire You

While giving why should we hire you answer, you also need to avoid common mistakes that candidates generally make. These are mentioned below:

Memorizing the Answer

Do not present your answer in a memorized manner. While practicing, be flexible to change your response if required and present it coherently.

Being Arrogant

While stating your skills, achievements, and education, do not sound arrogant. Try to be humble and respectful in expressing how much you have accomplished and what you can offer to the company.

Exaggerating Your Achievements

You might have accomplished a lot in your life, but you don't need to state it all in your interview. Think of the job description and one or two essential qualities or achievements that make you the most suitable person for the job.

Giving a Long Answer

You wouldn’t want to bore the interviewers by giving a long, never-ending answer to why should we hire you. Keep your response short, to the point, and relevant.

Key Takeaways

Interviewers ask why should we hire you to understand what makes you different from others. If you are preparing an answer to this question, keep the points mentioned below in mind:

• Answering why should we hire you would help the interviewers understand how you can benefit the company , and an impressive response can take you to the next selection stage.
• Go through the job description to understand the skills, experience, and qualifications required for the job you want.
• Ensure to quantify your skills and experience as it suggests that you can adequately use your abilities.
• Focussing on both hard and soft skills will be an added advantage while responding to why should we hire you question.
• Keeping your response brief to about a maximum of two minutes and pertinent to the questions will keep the interviewers interested in listening to you.
• Rehearsing in front of people and seeking feedback can help to improve your confidence level and increase your chances of selection in the interview.

Visit Hiration's Career Activator Platform for round-the-clock chat support if you need assistance crafting a tailored response to the interview question why should we hire you.

You may also get in touch with us via email at [email protected] .

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5 Ways to Answer 'Why Should We Hire You?'

Such an easy, simple question. Such a difficult one to answer – if you're unprepared.

How to Answer 'Why Should We Hire You?'

It's a question that’s often asked during a job interview: Why should we hire you?

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It’s a perfectly reasonable question, and yet, it can feel impossible to answer. After all, the entire reason you’re doing the job interview is to answer that question. And if you try to answer the question without really thinking about what you're going to say, you can easily sound off-putting.

Like stammering and offering up a lot of awkward pauses would probably not be a convincing argument. But if you go the other way and say, “Well, I’m the best person for the job,” you could end up sounding arrogant. Or, sure, you might sound confident and sincere. It’s a tricky balance.

So if you want to be prepared for the “Why should we hire you?” question, here are some types of answers you might want to start preparing to give.

1. The 'I Am a Problem Solver' Answer

“The best answer to 'Why should we hire you?' should first address the employer's primary concerns,” says Gena Cox, an organizational psychologist, executive coach and founder of Feels Human, LLC, a business consultancy in Tampa, Florida.

Because you want to answer the employer’s main concerns, Cox says, “the applicant should address what the candidate can do to help the employer solve a problem the employer has not articulated, but the applicant has perceived. Then, the applicant can talk about the benefit they will derive from being hired.”

Granted, this is hard to pull off if you don’t see an obvious problem that you can help solve, and you don’t want to invent some issue. But if you do see something you can help the company fix, then you could really make a strong, positive impression.

“A response like this makes the applicant's value explicit, demonstrates thoughtfulness, and suggests that the applicant is interested in the organization beyond the immediate job opportunity,” Cox says.

Example of a good answer: “You mentioned that your customer service is lacking. Back at my old company, we had a similar problem. Here’s how I solved it. …”

Or you could always bring up a problem that your old company had unrelated to the business you’re interviewing with, and talk about how you solved it, if you want to sell yourself as a problem solver.

2. The Sales Pitch

Jennifer Preston is an HR consultant with Flex HR, a human resources consultancy in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.

She argues that you might want to answer the “Why should we hire you?” question with a sales pitch. You are, after all, selling yourself in a job interview.

“A candidate should have a well-articulated, unique and structured 30 to 45 second elevator pitch with a brief introduction of self, work conducted, work desired and a selling point as to how to deliver results,” Preston says. So if you get that question, “Why should we hire you,” that would be the time to deliver your elevator pitch – unless, of course, you’ve already delivered it, in which case you’ll need to wing it.

Still, as Preston says, “An interview is a sales pitch. While not selling a product, a candidate needs to confidently – not arrogantly – sell themselves and how being hired will make a difference for the company and for those around them.”

Example of a good answer: “I think I’d be great at this job. Here’s why. …” And then do that elevator pitch. Starting off with something like, “I think I’d be great at this job” is a true statement and not arrogant. You think you’d be great; you’re not saying that you absolutely know you would be great. You’re also not saying that you’re the best person for the job, just that you think you would be great. It’s a confident statement without being arrogant. Whatever you say, though, have an answer ready. The moment you overthink how to answer the question, you’re going to be lost.

3. Tell a Story

Preston also likes this strategy.

“A strong response should include an example of a past performance situation, as this often predicts future performance and how one’s experience will address a primary facet of the role being filled,” Preston says.

So whether you offer up an elevator pitch on why you should be hired, or whether you don’t, she suggests citing a specific example or two of prior work you’ve done and the results, to demonstrate what you can do for your future employer.

Example of a good answer: “I think you should hire me because I’ve been searching for this job for as long as I can remember. I have an interesting story about that, in fact. … ” And then launch into your interesting story.

If you think about it, nobody expects you to answer the question so brilliantly that they’re going to stop the interview and hire you on the spot. They just want something to think about. So entertain your interviewer with an insightful story that tells you something about why you’d be such a good fit for this job.

4. The 'Heavy on Specifics' Strategy

You could do an information dump. Why should we hire you? Well, let’s lay out the facts, shall we? Travis Lindemoen, founder of jobs marketplace Enjoy Mondays and managing director at staffing agency Nexus IT Group, likes that approach. Here are a few areas where you could highlight some specifics to explain exactly why you should be hired:

• Know the specifics about the company you’re interviewing with – and how you would fit in. “Make sure you have thoroughly researched the organization prior to your interview so that you can explain how your background aligns with their mission, values and goals. You should also be able to name specific areas of expertise that would enable you to succeed in the role,” Lindemoen says.
• Offer up some specific, preferably unique, skills. “Be sure to highlight experiences or skills which make you stand out from other candidates for the job, such as fluency in another language or technological expertise related to the job duties at hand. It's okay if these skills aren't strictly job-related. Any advantage that sets you apart is something employers will take into consideration,” Lindemoen says.
• Offer up specific accomplishments. “Provide examples of past successes which demonstrate an understanding of what it takes for a business to progress efficiently,” Lindemoen says. For instance, if you can say that you reduced costs in your department by 15% or improved customer satisfaction ratings by 20%, you’d want to highlight that, Lindemoen says.

Example of a good answer: “I think I have a strong track record of doing well at my job, and I think I can bring the same success to this position. Back at my old position … ” And then you would start offering up statistics, similar to what Lindemoen suggested, that make the argument that you know what you’re doing.

And there is a bonus to actually being able to offer statistics or specific examples of what you’ve accomplished. It should make you seem very prepared for the interview.

5. The 'Because This Is Such a Good Fit for Me' Answer

Making it all about you may not sound like a great way to answer the “Why should we hire you?” question at first. After all, your employer needs a problem solved or somebody really competent to join the team. They’re looking to be fixed, rather than looking to fix somebody else’s life.

But don’t discount good old-fashioned enthusiasm.

“Companies want their candidates to want their job,” says Kathleen Quinn Votaw, the CEO of TalenTrust, a staffing solutions and recruitment agency in Golden, Colorado.

However you comport your enthusiasm and whatever you say, Votaw says, ““Above all, make it memorable and personal.” For instance, she says that you could say something like: “I have dreamed of working in this (specific industry).”

If you position this job as your dream job, assuming that it actually is, your employer will know that you have the enthusiasm, at least, to take on the role. Hopefully your resume and background will help make the case that you also have the skills to take it on.

Example of a good answer: Votaw suggests saying something like: “You should hire me because I want to make a difference in your company. I have the necessary skills to be successful. I want to learn and grow with this company, and your job is the one that fits me best.”

It's hard to imagine an employer not responding positively to that.

Final Thoughts on the 'Why Should We Hire You' Question

Obviously, a combination of all of the above is probably the way to go. You should give some specifics about why you’d be great at this job. You obviously want to offer up some passion and enthusiasm for it. You certainly do want to sell yourself. Well, you get the idea. You can mix your strategies up and probably should.

And, of course, you’ll want to distill the perfect answer to "Why should we hire you?" in a minute or two, so you can move onto answering the next question. No pressure.

It’s a good question for all interviewees to try and craft the perfect answer to. If you can’t think of a good answer to “Why should we hire you?” and find yourself really struggling to come up with something intelligent to say, that may be a sign that you should start asking your own questions, like – “Why am I applying to this job?”

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Impress Your Interviewer With These 10 ‘Why Should We Hire You?’ Answers

I n today’s competitive  job market , acing an interview is a big deal because a lot is at stake. One question that often catches job seekers off guard during the interview process is, “Why should we hire you?” Although this question can seem intimidating, this is your moment to shine and convince the interviewer that you are the best fit for the job. Here are 10 solid examples of responses that will help you stand out and secure that job.

Passion About The Role

Express your passion and interest in the role and the company, and take it a step further by adding: “I believe in the company’s mission, and I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity to contribute to it. My passion for the role will drive me to excel and make a meaningful impact.”

Relevant Experience

There’s nothing wrong with highlighting your experience and the number of years you have invested in your career growth. This makes you a stronger candidate.

“With (X) years of experience in [relevant field], I’ve honed the skills necessary to excel in this role. My track record (including relevant achievements and transferrable skills) speaks for itself.”

Strong Team Player

Managers are always curious about how new team members will get along with their co-workers; this is a time to touch on that.

“I work well in collaborative environments. I believe in the power of teamwork and know how to leverage my strengths to contribute effectively to a team’s success.”

Quick Learner

A new work environment requires learning new skills, so sharing your  affinity for hard work  is a good idea.

“I’m a fast learner and adapt quickly to new challenges. In this dynamic industry, my ability to pick up new skills and technologies will be an asset to the team.”

Cultural Fit

The culture and vibe of a company matter, so it’s helpful to speak on how you would fit into that workplace environment.

“I believe in the company’s culture and values. I see myself as a perfect fit, and my dedication to upholding those values will contribute positively to the team.”

Results-Oriented

“I’m results-driven and have a proven record of achieving and exceeding goals. I’m confident that I can deliver tangible results for the company.”

Effective Problem Solver

“I excel at tackling complex problems. My approach involves breaking down issues into manageable parts and finding practical solutions.”

Excellent Communication Skills

“Effective communication is key in any role. My ability to convey ideas clearly and listen actively will help foster a productive work environment.”

Strong Work Ethic

“I’m known for my strong work ethic and dedication. I’m committed to giving my best effort day in and day out, which aligns perfectly with the company’s values.”

Adaptability

“In today’s ever-changing world, adaptability is crucial. I thrive in dynamic environments and can pivot when needed to meet evolving challenges.”

Remember, when delivering a response to this age-old question, it’s essential to personalize it based on the specific job and company you’re interviewing with. Tailor your answer to align with the company’s values, mission, and the requirements of the role. Remember to back up your statements with real-life examples from your past experiences. This not only makes your answer more credible but gives the interviewer concrete evidence of your abilities.

The author’s content and opinions have not been pre-reviewed, approved or endorsed by Discover.

This article Impress Your Interviewer With These 10 ‘Why Should We Hire You?’ Answers was originally published on HerAgenda.com

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Personal interviews play an important role in the hiring process as they allow managers to gain a better understanding of your personality and expertise. By preparing for questions ahead of time, you can ensure that you stand out from your competitors and give the best impression possible.

Some common questions that you may be asked include “ why should we hire you ” or “ why should you be hired for this role? ” While these questions may seem difficult to answer, with some preparation, you can easily craft an answer that will impress the interviewer. When answering these types of questions, be sure to focus on your unique skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the job. Additionally, try to avoid using general phrases like “I’m a people person” or “I work hard.” Instead, focus on specific examples that illustrate your personality and strengths. By preparing for personal interviews in advance, you can increase your chances of impressing the hiring manager and getting the job you want.

Why is the question, “Why should we hire you?” asked during interviews?

The personal interview round is usually the last stage of the hiring process. By this point, the employer has already seen your resume and is familiar with your education and work experience. However, they still need to learn more about you as a person to decide if you’re the best candidate for the job. In many cases, equally qualified candidates can differ significantly in terms of their personality, values, and fit with the company culture. As a result, a personal interview is an essential tool for employers to use to make the best hiring decision. Candidates who can effectively sell themselves and demonstrate their fit with the company are more likely to be successful in this round.

Questions such as these are asked to know:

• what distinguishes the job seeker from their competitors
• if your exceptional skills and expertise will benefit the organization
• and produce positive outcomes
• if you work hard to fit in with the team and the culture.
• if you will meet the deadline in the shortest amount of time possible.
• if you are always learning and growing as a professional.
• if you accept criticism and feedback positively and learn from your mistakes

How to Answer “Why should we hire you?”

When preparing for an interview, it is essential to have a strong answer to the question, “Why should we hire you?” This is your opportunity to sell yourself and make a lasting impression on the interviewer. There are a few key elements that your answer should include.

• Your qualifications and skills. You should state three to four significant reasons why you are qualified for the position and list the skills that make you stand apart.
• Your exceptional qualities and strengths. Make a point of emphasizing your most exceptional qualities and strengths relevant to the position.
• Your achievements and accomplishments. You can talk about your accomplishments at your previous organizations and how you can achieve similar results for them. Give specific examples of how you would benefit the company.
• Your enthusiasm and excitement . Finally, express your excitement for the opportunity and explain what you hope to accomplish in the role.

By following these guidelines, you will be able to craft an answer that will set you apart from the competition and increase your chances of landing the job.

Experience Specific to the Industry

Holding experience in the same industry in which you are interviewing shows that you are committed to that field. It is also impressive because it demonstrates that you have the relevant skills and knowledge for the job. The hiring manager will be impressed by your commitment to the industry and will see you as a valuable asset to the company. If you have held multiple positions within the industry, be sure to highlight your progression and how you have gained additional skills and knowledge over the years. Your experience is what makes you a unique candidate and sets you apart from other applicants, so be sure to emphasize it during your interview.

Experience Specific to Handling Responsibilities

Extend on your experience handling responsibilities that are not typically part of your job description. Explain how you handled those functions and how well you performed. It is critical to highlight something that will set you apart from the competition. For example, most candidates for the position of a software engineer are likely to be proficient in programming and coding. To differentiate yourself, you can discuss your project management skills and experience in addition to the prerequisites.

Technical Skills

Being able to use technical skills is always a necessary component in any job. However, other skills are just as important in any role. For example, interpersonal skills are essential in any customer-facing role. This is because it allows you to build rapport with customers and earn their trust. As a result, they are more likely to do business with you. Similarly, teamwork is another important skill that employers value. This is because it shows that you can work well with others and are a team player. Therefore, when asked “why should we hire you,” be sure to highlight both your technical skills and your soft skills. Doing so will show that you are a well-rounded candidate who is capable of meeting the demands of the job.

Soft Skills

In the corporate world, it’s not just about what you know, it’s also about how you work with other people. That’s why soft skills are so important. They can help you get along with diverse teams, resolve conflicts and showcase your managerial abilities.

For instance, let’s say you’re working on a team project and there are some disagreements among team members. If you have strong conflict resolution skills, you’ll be able to navigate the situation and get everyone back on track. Or, maybe you’re up for a promotion and your boss is looking for someone with leadership potential. If you can talk about a time when you successfully managed a team, you’ll be in a much better position to get the job.

In today’s competitive job market, employers are looking for employees who have more than just technical skills. They want workers who will be a positive force in the workplace and who can work well with others. If you’ve got strong soft skills, you’ll be well on your way to success in the corporate world.

Main Accomplishments

Provide information about the major projects or clients you managed in your previous job or internship. Discuss what you consider to be your most significant professional achievements. It could be anything from developing new processes that yielded excellent results to successfully handling a workplace crisis. You can even discuss awards, accolades, or client appreciation for excellent performance at your workplace.

Educational Background and Certifications

When it comes to job interviews, it can be difficult to know what to say when you’re asked about your experience. If you’re a fresher with no work experience, you may feel like you have nothing to offer. However, there are still plenty of things that you can talk about that will show off your skills and qualifications. For example, you can discuss your education and any relevant certifications or training you have received. You can also talk about any projects you worked on in college and what you learned from them. By highlighting your skills and abilities, you can show potential employers that you have the potential to be a great asset to their team.

Steps of Preparing Your “Why Should I Hire You” Answer

When you draft your answer to the common job interview questions in an interview, it is crucial to brainstorm and develop clear insights and arguments for your candidature.

• Consider what skills or points will help you stand out. Include any potential points that may pique your interviewer’s interest.
• Then, write a detailed script that covers all of the pertinent topics while emphasizing your skills, experience, and expertise. Be thorough with your responses so you don’t stumble when asked a follow-up question.
• Another important aspect of preparation is to practice and participate in a mock interview. It will assist you in determining where you are lacking and where you need to improve. Continue giving mock interviews to help you gain confidence and overcome issues such as nervousness and a lack of self-awareness.

Why should we hire you? Sample Answers for Freshers

Let us look at 10 different ways to answer, “Why should we hire you?”

Possible Answer 1

“As I have just started my career in data science, I don’t have many practical achievements to talk about. This gives me the liberty to explore my potential by giving my best to this organization. I am confident that I can make significant contributions to the team and help achieve the company’s goals.

I have always been dedicated to my academics and data science projects, and I always complete them well in time. In college, I was appreciated for my dedication and hard work. I am confident that I can bring the same level of dedication and commitment to this organization. I am also willing to learn new things and explore my potential. I believe that I have the skills and abilities to be a successful data scientist.

I am excited to start my career in data science, and I am confident that I will be a valuable asset to this organization. I am looking forward to working with you and contributing to the success of the company. Thank you for your time and consideration.”

Possible Answer 2

“As a fresher, I bring a lot to the table in terms of skill and ability. I am very flexible and adaptive to learning new things, which means I will be able to contribute something capable to the growth of the company. My last project in Operations taught me how to be a team player. Additionally, I always play by the rulebooks and follow company guidelines, so you can be confident that I will always be acting in the best interest of the business. All of these factors combined to make me confident that I will be a valuable asset to your team.”

Possible Answer 3

“Out of all the subjects I studied in college, computer science was always my favorite. That’s why I took on projects involving building mobile applications. I know this knowledge will help me form a foundation and build more knowledge. I am reliable and hard-working, with a thorough understanding of all processes. I’m also good at maintaining relationships with people. My career aspirations are to be a full-stack developer, and I am confident I will achieve this dream with your company. You can count on my loyalty and dedication, knowing that I will never cross a line. I will be honored to join your team and help contribute to its success.”

Possible Answer 4

“I have always been skilled at communication. In college, I was an excellent orator and made a lot of friends. Even though I don’t have work experience in the field of digital marketing, I am confident that I can learn quickly and become an asset to any company. I am hard-working and a quick learner, so I am confident that I can easily adapt to any situation. I also have a good understanding of processes, so I am confident that I can perform well as a digital marketing executive. Overall, I believe that my skills and abilities make me well-suited for the position of digital marketing executive.”

Possible Answer 5

“I have always been passionate about graphic design and have been using various tools like Adobe, Corel Draw, Paint, etc. up to an advanced level. I am excited to be a part of this field and hope to utilize my skills and experience to contribute to the organization. I have taken this job out of deep passion and interest in this field. Although I don’t have much experience to demonstrate my skill, I have done a couple of freelance projects for digital marketing agencies while in college. I believe that my passion and skills will help me excel in this field.”

Possible Answer 6

“Throughout my academic and professional career, I have consistently been praised as a fast learner who possesses good grasping skills. My ability to quickly learn new concepts and put them into practice has allowed me to excel in many different roles. For example, during my internship, I was often tasked with quickly learning new software applications and then training other employees on how to use them. Thanks to my strong work ethic and punctuality, I was able to complete all of my training assignments on time or ahead of schedule. In addition, my long-standing interest in computer science has helped me to develop strong computational skills. Consequently, I am confident that I would be able to make significant contributions to your company if given the opportunity.”

Possible Answer 7

I could be essaying the role of a content strategist for the very first time, but I must add that I make for an avid reader, and I will be synergizing analytic and logic skills and creatively embodying them in order to create a compelling digital campaign. Considering I have little experience in the field I come with the ability to absorbing your company values with greater ease. I promise to emerge as a team player who will be working at upskilling my skill-set in order to enhance my performance from time to time.

Possible Answer 8

I am keen on profiling the role of a digital marketing personnel. Though I have little experience in the field, I have taken the liberty to create an interesting portfolio for you to have a look and get a better understanding of my skill set. Be rest-assured that I have compelling communication skills to comprehend the nuances of your esteemed clients ideas and create something that they like and also add value to the same.

Possible Answer 9

Switching my profile from the non-tech space to the tech space, will prove to be a career leap. But I am very ready to take challenges in my strinde, and addapt to a an advancing and progressive environment in the tech space. I will emerge as a promising professional, as I will work towards enhancing my skill set and bring more value to the organization.

Possible Answer 10

I am a new age professional, who would like to play by the rulebook, and also synergise my expertise with constant learning from the practical environment. This will make me a better professional and a good team-pleayer. I hope to emerge as a value addition to your esteemed organization as I am equipped with the ability to diving business to the organizaton.

These are some genuine responses to the much-feared question, “Why should we hire you?” that, when given, can leave a lasting impression.

Why should I hire you? Answers from the Top Candidates

Real-world examples of how their skills and experience can contribute to your company’s success.

Nitin Ahire said: 

“I should be hired for this role because of my relevant skills, experience, and passion for the industry. I’ve researched the company and can add value to its growth. My positive attitude, work ethics, and long-term goals align with the job requirements, making me a committed and valuable asset to the company.”

Akarsh Kavuttan said:  

“You should hire me because I’m a creative and innovative thinker who enjoys exploring new ideas and finding creative solutions to complex problems. I believe that this kind of approach can help your organization in making a real impact in their field making me the perfect fit!”

Shailesh Khedekar said:

“You should hire me because I’m a team player who is always willing to collaborate with others, contribute my strengths and ideas, to support my colleagues in achieving our goals. I strongly believe that effective teamwork is essential to success in any project or organization.“

Nitin Manchanda said:

“Because I believe that effective communication is a key ingredient in any successful organization. I’m a strong communicator who can listen actively, express my ideas clearly and persuasively, and work collaboratively to ensure that everyone is on the same page.”

  Hiten Sangani said:

“You should hire me because I have a proven ability to lead teams and drive results, through my experience in project management and my natural ability to motivate others. I’m committed to creating a positive work environment and am always looking for ways to help my team grow and succeed.”  

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“Why This College?” Essay Examples

May 17, 2024

As you apply for college, you’ll notice that there are several different essay writing genres you’ll need to familiarize yourself with. There’s the Common App Essay , of course, along with many specific supplemental essays like the Community Essay and the Diversity Essay that will be required by particular schools. In particular, there is the “Why This College?” Essay. The “Why This College?” Essay can be an important component in your college application, as it’s an opportunity for you to describe why you specifically would be a good fit for a particular school. It’s a popular requirement for many colleges and universities and in this article, we’re going to show you a few “Why This College?” Essay examples, and share some tips and tricks for how to write a “Why This College?” Essay.

As you peruse these examples and tips, remember that there’s no one perfect way to write a “Why This College?” Essay. Rather, there are important generic conventions you can work with and build upon to craft an essay that is unique to you as a specific college candidate. Think of a novel. You can expect a novel to have a title and chapters and contain a fictional story. At the same time, novels are written across a plethora of genres, have characters that are as different as Vladomir Harkonnen and Elizabeth Bennet, and can be short reads or thousands of pages long. It’s the same in this case. As you learn how to write a “Why This College?” Essay, you’ll see that some elements of the essay will be fixed, while others will be entirely up to you to create!

What Kind of Prompts Are There for the “Why This College?” Essay?

Many schools require some form of the “Why This College?” Essay for their supplemental application materials, and the prompts can be general or specific.  Take these extra general ones from Yale and Dartmouth , for instance:

• What is it about Yale that has led you to apply?
• In short, why Dartmouth?

These open-ended prompts can feel like both a blessing and a curse. Without particular guidelines, you might feel freer to describe your particular fit within a university and it might be easier to brainstorm about the content you’d like to highlight in this essay; however, beware of open prompts: they can make it tempting to veer into generality!

In other instances, the “Why This College?” Essay prompt will be specifically tailored for many schools, and this specificity can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Take, for instance, these two examples from Northwestern :

• Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
• Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why? [i]

“Why This College?” Essay Examples (Continued)

The positive side to specific prompts like these is that they’ve given potential applicants a couple of springboards to begin diving from as you write – you can immediately begin detailing your specific interests and likes about Northwestern that make you an ideal candidate for the school. A potential downside is that you’ll honestly need to do research here before you can even begin brainstorming about either of these questions authentically! Specific prompts may also mean that you’ll need to totally start from scratch with each “Why This College?” Essay (for these Northwestern prompts, you certainly couldn’t plug in a different “Why This College?” Essay where you’ve written about your dream of editing for the Harvard Crimson or your hope to network in nearby New York City!).

So, with prompts like these, how to even begin writing a “Why This College?” Essay? Check out our tips and “Why This College?” Essay examples next!

Also, check out our list of college application essay topics to avoid .

Tips on How to Write a “Why This College?” Essay

Regardless of the prompt, your response needs to be specific. This is possibly the most important thing to remember as you learn how to write a “Why This College?” Essay.

First and most importantly of all, focus on fit. Remember that this is your opportunity to showcase why you’re specifically a good match for a college – not why a college is a great general choice for anybody. Ultimately, this is an essay about your potential relationship with a school. If you were writing an epic love poem, you might obsess over your beloved’s hair, eyes, etc. – but obsession isn’t a relationship! On the other hand, if you were asking someone out, you might want to focus, instead, on why you’d have a great time together because it’s more persuasive (and that’s ultimately what you’re trying to do: persuade this school’s admissions committee that you belong there!).

Here are a few tips on specificity that we’ll review below as we analyze a few “Why This College?” Essay examples:

• Before writing your “Why This College?” Essay, do your research on each school to which you’ll apply. This means finding particular programs of study you’ll pursue, looking up course titles you’d like to take and even professors you’d like to study under. It means researching clubs and extracurriculars you’ll partake in, internship programs you’ll apply for, and details about the school that will further your goals as a student there.

At the beginning of your “Why This College?” Essay, you can include a brief anecdote or bit of personal information that will make your essay stand out. As with any college application essay, this is an opportunity to brag about yourself! For instance, if you’re going to mention a particular club or extracurricular you’d like to join at a university, you can use this anecdote to briefly remind your reader that you were the president of that extracurricular at your high school (especially if that detail doesn’t appear elsewhere in your application materials). NOTE: Including a personal anecdote like this is sometimes dependent upon word length. For longer “Why This College?” Essays, it’s a great choice. For shorter ones, this hook may be a feature you’ll have to reduce or skip altogether.

Don’t linger on the general features of the school, or on school qualities that apply to everyone. Don’t focus on the school’s reputation, rankings, or student-to-professor ratios. The school knows this stuff already! Everybody paints the rock at Northwestern and paints the fence at Carnegie Mellon and these schools’ admissions counselors have read about these sorts of traditions approximately a billion times. Avoid general features and focus, rather, on detailed aspects of the school community that are particularly compelling to you .

Details about campus culture or school location are okay to write about, but remember that you’re not trying to be John Keats here. Don’t just talk about the beauty of the leaves changing in the fall or the way the palm trees sway on the school’s tropical campus. Rather, focus on what the school’s location can do for you as a scholar . Is there something particular about the school’s locale that can further your scholastic goals? Perhaps it’s situated in a region known for a particular area of study, with the best professors in the field nearby (e.g. Silicon Valley for computer science). Or maybe its setting can provide ample internship opportunities for a student with your major (e.g. Washington, D.C. for political science majors).

Edit for details. As you write your thousandth college application essay, it can be so tempting to simply copy-paste and go through the motions of writing unique drafts. While it’s okay to have a little carry-over between essays, it’s essential that you don’t have any major bloopers (like getting the school’s colors or motto wrong) in a “Why This College?” Essay.

Honesty is the best policy! It’s better to write something authentic to you than something you think the school wants to hear. After all, no matter how prestigious a school or program might be, if you can’t think of why you’d fit in there, you may want to reconsider whether a school is meant for you!

“Why This College?” Essay Examples

Below, we’ve included three fictional “Why This College Essay?” examples. The first two are good examples, along with commentary on what makes them strong and what these authors might improve upon to make them even better. The third essay is an exceptionally poor one, designed to help you see common pitfalls within this essay genre so you can think about how to avoid them yourself (or even how to correct mistakes you’ve already made in drafts!). Think of this third, poor essay as a way to test how well you’ve familiarized yourself within the genre.

Good “Why This College?” Essay Example 1:

As current Editor-in-Chief of my school magazine The Clarion , I’d like to pursue a Journalism major at the College of Northeastern Ohio, where I will deepen my experience in writing and design through classes such as “Reporting with Visual Journalism” and “International Writing.” Additionally, CNO’s Amanpour Journalism Project will give me hands-on experience as a journalist working in a newsroom. There, I’ll explore aspects of journalism such as digital storytelling and broadcasting, along with elective courses like “Feature Interviews” and “Documentary Television.”

My love for writing and communication stems from my multilingual upbringing. In high school, I explored Latin America on a study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic, where I relied on my Guatemalan heritage to further my Spanish-speaking skills. Through CNO’s International Language Studies program, I hope to attain a Spanish minor and explore Spanish-speaking countries in their study abroad program while immersing myself in international media.

With the interdisciplinary emphasis at CNO, I’ll additionally have the flexibility to study politics through a Political Science double major. I’ve written many articles on global communication for The Clarion , and I hope to further my writing on political communication with the Amanpour Project’s “Writing in Conflict Zones” class and other interdisciplinary classes with Professor Joan Walters. CNO’s robust communications offerings give me the opportunity to specifically study my interests in writing, politics, and Spanish simultaneously with the resources of multiple departments.

This essay does a great job of both showcasing the writer’s unique experiences and exploring how the college will specifically help her pursue her major and career goals. Additionally, the author has done a dynamite job researching particular classes and programs within the university that she’d like to take, listing several by name and course/program details.

How we might fix it up:

This essay primarily focuses on academics. Since academics are usually the most important reason why you’d want to attend a particular university, this definitely isn’t a major problem! However, the writer could potentially explore other extracurriculars or campus offerings that might make her a great fit for this university.

Good “Why This College?” Essay Example 2:

Data. From our politics to what we binge on Netflix, data collection and information systems have become part of the fabric of our lives. But when we think about sports, we don’t always think about numbers – and I want to do just that. The Massachusetts Institute of Stanford Mellon offers a top-ranked Data Science and Information Systems major, which will provide me with transferable skills that can be applied to my dream career path: sports marketing and data analytics.

I would like to go to a university where I can immediately participate in research. In high school, I created an algorithm that helps me predict how much fans will spend on team gear, based on their previous purchases and levels of engagement with games, betting, and online searching. The MISM Data and Numbers Lab allows undergraduates to access their databases and start conducting research right away (without having to wait until grad school!) and courses like “Analysis of Algorithms” and “Marketing and Numbers” provide the tools to conduct research on issues like sports marketing. At MISM, I hope to study with mentors like Professor Bill Jobs, whose work on information systems and regional spending might facilitate my own independent research. Additionally, MISM has alumni networks that facilitate internship and job placement in both Silicon Valley and with major sporting equipment stores like Rick’s Sporting Depot.

Finally, MISM offers a variety of extracurriculars that I would love to join, particularly the Little Pucks program, which provides community outreach to aspiring hockey players with physical disabilities. Since my sophomore year, I’ve volunteered at our local rec center, volunteering with kids who have special needs and helping them learn about and play sports. As I pursue a career in sports marketing and data analytics, I want to make a positive impact on companies and consumers alike. I’d love to live up to MISM’s motto: “Knowledge for service.”

Again, this writer does a fantastic job showcasing his own strengths and specifically demonstrating how this university has particular offerings (courses, labs, professors, extracurriculars, etc.) that will help him in his chosen major and career path. The generalities of this essay (like the school motto) are also used for a purpose: to illustrate how the writer hopes to use his education to give back to the community.

This is a great draft. To make it even better, we might consider how this essay focuses a lot on what the school can do for the writer. The writer might want to consider: how will I, in turn, contribute more to the campus community?

Poor “Why This College? Essay” Example:

When I took a campus visit at Princevard University last year, I was sure to stop at the Wishing Fountain in the middle of the quad. There, I threw in a penny and recited Princevard’s motto, “Veritas in vota” – “truth in wishes” and made my wish: that I will get accepted into Princevard this fall. I’ve known that I wanted to attend Princevard ever since I was a little boy and found out that my Great Uncle Howie graduated from there in 1965. At Princevard, I would study in their English program so that I could pursue my dream of becoming a novelist and a teacher when I graduate.

Ranked at #7 in the nation, Princevard’s reputation is another reason why I would like to attend; a degree from Princevard will open up doors to jobs and internships that many other schools could never open. Finally, I hope to join one of Princevard’s fraternities because the school offers more Greek organizations than any other university on the East Coast.

Well, it’s a start. If you’ve written a similar draft to this one, which breaks many of our “Why This College?” Essay writing rules, don’t despair! Instead, use this draft as a springboard for your next one.

How we might fix up this essay:

You’re probably familiar enough now with the genre conventions of the “Why This College?” Essay to think of a few reasons why this essay is a poor one. Now, let’s see how we can take even a poor first pass and turn it into a viable essay:

Our main goal with a draft like this is to turn all of this generality into an essay that specifically tells the school why this student would be a good fit there. Hint: avoid the sentiments about ranking and general location!

While this essay begins with a personal anecdote, it doesn’t tell us anything about this particular student. Instead, it focuses on a vague campus tradition. Remember that personal anecdotes serve as an opportunity to hook your reader and tell them something unique and positive about yourself.

There’s not much need to mention that a family member attended a university unless a) you are such a strong legacy there that your name is literally on a building (in which case, you should probably have a donating family member make a call on your behalf to the admissions department) or, b) your family history is somehow relevant to your future career and attendance at that school (e.g. your mother went to law school there and you want to become a lawyer and join her firm). If the latter, be sure you’re using this detail as a vehicle to demonstrate why this university is right for you.

While it’s great to talk about your major and career aspirations, be specific! Most schools have English departments so it’s not super useful to point this generality out. Writing that “Princevard University offers a unique dual English program with concentrations in both Creative Writing and Literary Theory, which would enable to me to pursue an ultimate graduate degree in literary and cultural studies while honing my craft as a novelist,” on the other hand, is a much more useful and detailed statement that demonstrates fit and brags a little about the applicant’s writing aspirations!

Similarly, many universities have Greek life organizations. If you’re going to mention an extracurricular, name which ones and why. Perhaps a particular Greek organization on this campus is affiliated with your major; maybe a chapter is politically motivated with a cause you’ve previously championed; maybe a fraternity is historically associated with your ethnicity or race and you’d love to take part in that community.

Closing Thoughts on the “Why This College?” Essay

As you write a “Why This College?” Essay, remember that this essay is perhaps the first conversation you’ll have about your relationship with a university – a relationship that, if you’re accepted, will be a formative one for the rest of your life. Good luck!

[i] “Completing Your Northwestern Application,” Application Materials: Undergraduate Admissions – Northwestern University, 2024. https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

• College Essay

Jamie Smith

For the past decade, Jamie has taught writing and English literature at several universities, including Boston College, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Carnegie Mellon, where she currently teaches courses and conducts research on composition, public writing, and British literature.

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