"Why Should We Hire You" - The Most Important Interview Question

Out of all the potential interview questions you might face, there's one that's more important than the rest. Why should the company choose you to fill the position? It's a question that could make or break your interview, so it's essential you're prepared to answer it.

Make Sure You're Prepared

Before your interview, prepare yourself for this question. While you could easily come up with a list of 50 interview questions, a hiring manager might only ask you a handful of those questions. But there's almost a guarantee you'll be faced with one question - "Why should we hire you?".

A hiring manager may hope to catch you off guard with some questions. Because of that, they give you some leeway. They don't expect the perfect answer to everything and won't hold a bad answer against you. However, they do expect you to answer this one question correctly. If you hesitate or have a bad answer, the employer might decide to offer the position to someone else

When it comes to your interview, preparation is key. Take some time to consider what makes you an ideal candidate. Is it your experience, education, or skill? Perhaps it's a combination of all three. Think about what qualifies you for the position and how you stand out from the rest. Saying you need a job isn't enough to get you to the next step of the hiring process.

How to Answer the Question

Obviously, your answer should show the employer why they want to hire you. But that's difficult to put into a sentence. There are a few ways in which you can come up with an answer to the question.

For one, think about how you can solve the employer's problem. They're hiring a new employee because they're understaffed or replacing another worker. It's your job to prove that you can make their issues better.

More importantly, you need to show that you're the best person to fill the position. To do this, consider the company's needs. The employer doesn't want to hear about you but instead wants to hear about what you can do for them.

Don't Focus Solely on Yourself

By the time an employer asks you why they should choose you, they know a lot about you. Now isn't the time to go through a laundry list of accomplishments or skills. Rather, it's better to focus on what you have to offer the company.

Explain how your past experiences make you qualified for the position. While you should mention specifics, don't keep the spotlight on yourself.

Tie Into the Company's Needs

Before you go into your interview, do extensive research on the company. Check out the company's website, quarterly reports, and social media accounts. You can also rely on press releases and news stories to learn more about the business' needs.

As you come up with an answer to the question, think about the company's vision for the future. Will your skills help the company accomplish its goals? When you answer the question, tie your skills and the company's vision together. In addition to showing why you're qualified, your answer will demonstrate your interest in the position.

Use Specific Examples

It's not enough to tell an employer that you're qualified for a position or that you have certain skills. For a truly effective answer and interview, you need to be specific. Of course, you probably can't come up with detailed examples on the spot. It's best to prepare yourself with a few examples before the interview.

If you're having a hard time being detailed, look back into your records. Do you have sales records or any other concrete numbers? At times, you need to dig deep to find specifics to back up your claims.

Use Buzzwords

When you read the job listing, pay attention to buzzwords. There may be a few skills or duties repeated once or twice in the listing. Generally, those are the words your employer wants to hear. Mention those buzzwords as you answer the question, and follow all the tips above.

How to Not Answer the Question

When you answer the question, there are a few missteps you can make. Avoid doing all of the following to maximize your chance of success during the interview:

Don't Use Cliches

Most hiring managers spend hours interviewing candidates for one position. Because of this, they hear the same things over and over again. Using a cliche won't do any favors, so you should avoid them at all costs.

Think of common cliches and come up with alternate words or phrases. For instance, most job applicants say they're hard workers. You can skip on using those words and discuss examples that show an example of how hard you worked for a previous employer.

Being Full of Self-Doubt

If you're not confident in yourself, an employer won't have any confidence in you. One of the worst things you can do while answering the question is to doubt your abilities.

Confidence isn't something you can develop overnight. However, it is a trait you can work on in the days and weeks before the interview. Prepping for your day is a great way to build your confidence, as is reminding yourself of your accomplishments. With a little confidence boost, you can better answer the question.

Giving a Short or Non-Answer

If you aren't ready for the interview, you might be caught off-guard with this question. But don't make the mistake of ignoring the question or giving a simple answer. An employer doesn't want to hear, "Because I need a job" or "Because I'm experienced."

Will a bad or wrong answer immediately disqualify you from the position? Probably not, but it will hurt your chances of getting a job offer. Typically, employers ask this question towards the end of the interview. Your response may be one of the last impressions you make on the company. If you take the time to answer it professionally, you greatly improve the chance of a job offer.