How to Stand Out and Answer: Why Should We Hire You?

I was asked this question last Spring at the final round of interviews for an internship. The interviewer said “We’re interviewing a number of people for this position today. What makes you the best candidate for the job?” …gulp.

“I’m a very positive person. I really enjoy learning, and I try to make sure I….” was how I started my reply. Turns out I was already on the wrong track – I was more focused on what the company could do for my career than on how my skills and experience could be an asset to the company. Even though the rest of the interview went great, I didn’t finish with my strongest possible impression. In short — It’s not about YOU, it’s about THEM.

Turns out this is a pretty popular interview question among employers. So how should you answer this question? As with many other interview questions, the key is preparation. Consider the following:

– Industry experience (i.e. Internships/co-ops, customer service experience, etc.)
– Soft skills (i.e. Teamwork, time management, enthusiasm, etc.)
– Technical skills (i.e. PhotoShop, Salesforce, Basic Java, Bloomberg Certified, etc.)
– Awards you’ve won or key accomplishments

Brainstorm how a combination of your skills and experience combine into a package that would be a huge asset to an employer. How can you help them achieve their business goals? Strengthen their team? Fill a need they didn’t even know existed?

To learn more about how to approach this question as you prepare for interviews, attend a Chase Career Center Ninja Training!

In the meantime, check out this post about answering it on BigInterview.com!

Article By Gabriel Sehringer