Welcome to the third blog post in our series about how to answer interview questions. In the first post in the series, we addressed how to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." In the second post in the series, we addressed how to answer the question, "Why do you want this job?"
 
In this post, we'll be exploring another common interview question. That question is as follows:
 
"Why should we hire you?"
 
As we've discussed on many occasions, the face-to-face interview is all about value. Specifically, it's all about the value that company officials believe you can bring to the organization if they were to hire you. So, as you can see, this question strikes right at the heart of the matter.
 
Also, as we've discussed in previous blog posts, one of the best ways to brand yourself during the interview is as a problem solver. The main reason that the company is hiring in the first place is that its officials want to solve a problem—or multiple problems. So, with that in mind, what they're really asking is this question:
 
"How are you going to help us solve our problems and provide real value to the organization if we hire you?"
 
It's a fair question, to be sure. So how should you answer it? By following these steps:
 
Step #1 - Tie your skills and experience to the position.
 
This is an important step in just about every response to an interview question. That's because it immediately conveys the value that you can bring to the organization.
 
Basically, the job description says, "This is the value that we need from the person that we hire for the position." With this step, you're essentially saying, "This is the value that I can bring if you hire me for the position." The value that you're promising to provide should match the value that the company is seeking as close to 100% as possible.
 
Step #2 - Mention value that you've provided in the past.
 
One of the best predictors of future success is past performance, and that's why you want to mention the successes that you've experienced in the past. If possible, back up those successes with raw data. In other words, make them quantifiable.
 
If you saved a past employer a certain amount of money, state how much money (or the percentage). If you streamlined a process or made it more efficient, try to quantify that with numbers or statistics, as well. It makes your successes more tangible and concrete.
 
Step #3 - Focus on what makes you unique.
 
Obviously, you want to set yourself apart from the other applicants for the position. One of the ways to do this is to mention what makes you unique. This means when you're tying your skills and experience to the position for which you're applying, also be sure to highlight any unique skills or traits that will stand out. Remember that what makes you unique might also make you valuable. And if you're considered to be valuable, there is a better chance that you will be hired.
 
Are you currently conducting a job search? Time Staffing can help! Contact us today to find out about the employment opportunities that are available in your chosen field.

When you head into a face-to-face interview, you're not going to know every question that will be asked of you. However, there are some questions that are asked more than others. As a result, you can almost expect that one (or more) of them will be asked at some point in the proceedings.
 
In our next few blog posts, we're going to explore a few of those questions. Specifically, we're going to address how you as a job seeker should approach them and answer them. The first question in our series is this one:
 
"Tell me about yourself."
 
Okay, this isn't technically a question. After all, there's no question mark at the end of it. However, it basically is a question in the form of a command or statement. In other words, you will be expected to provide an answer.
 
And let's start with how you should NOT answer:
 
Mistake #1—Talk about personal matters.
 
The hiring manager is asking you to tell them about you at a professional level. It’s usually an "icebreaker" type of question. They don't particularly want you to discuss your family or hobbies at this early juncture in the interview.
 
Mistake #2—Talk about problems in your current job.
 
First, nobody likes to hear about problems. They like to hear about solutions. In this particular situation, they want to hear about solutions that you're going to provide for their organization. Second, talking in this manner brands you as somewhat of a negative person. You don't want that.
 
Mistake #3—Read your resume.
 
They can read. They don't need you to do that for them. They want to know how well you can answer the question without reading anything.
 
So now let's move on to how you should answer this question:
 
Tip #1—Do your homework.
 
This means researching the position and the company. By studying the position closely, you should know it inside and out. The company might be a different matter. However, there is plenty of information on the Internet, specifically on the organization's website and through their social media presence. (Hello, LinkedIn.)
 
Tip #2—Make a list, check it twice.
 
There are a LOT of things that need to go on this list, starting with how you're qualified for the position. So, you'll need a list of your skills (both hard and soft) that line up with the job requirements. In addition, you'll need to write down the reasons that you're applying for the job. (These are reasons that are specific to the job itself. "My current boss sucks" is not an acceptable thing to write down. Or to say.) Lastly, write down the reasons that you want to work for this organization that are not related to the job itself.
 
Tip #3—Create a script.
 
In this final step, take everything that you wrote down in the previous step and create a coherent and compelling script that basically tells the story of why the company should hire you for the position. It's important to keep the script brief, focused, and to the point. Don't ramble on and on. You want to keep the attention of the people interviewing you, not lose it.
 
Are you currently conducting a job search? Time Staffing can help! Contact us today to find out about the employment opportunities that are available in your chosen field.