How to Answer the "Why Should We Hire You?" Question

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.
 
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