The most commonly asked question in interviews is ‘Why should we hire you?’. But what’s really the best answer to this frequently asked interview question?
This question can open up a minefield of potential pitfalls—will a candidate come across as arrogant if they big themselves up, or will introverted interviewees stumble at this opportunity to sell themselves? What if the candidate mentions money, perks or cheekily asks whether they can bring their cat into work? Big no nos.
Here, we look at the best (and worst answers) to this near-universal interview question, providing a guide for jobseekers. We’ll also look at what employers and recruiters should listen out for in responses to this question, helping you get the most out of this (still extremely useful!) interview cliche.
“Why Should We Hire You?”: Let’s Break It Down
The most common interview question also happens to be one of the hardest interview questions to answer. The most challenging questions in an interview often invite the candidate to ‘big themselves up’, which can feel like a taboo in our stay-ever-so-humble-and-polite culture.
It’s not quite as bad as “How do you feel your life has worked out for you so far?” (a real question posed to an unsuspecting graphic designer), but “Why should we hire you?” can feel like one of the worst interview questions to be asked.
Silence those alarm bells. The best way to think about it? What is the employer really trying to get from a candidate by asking this question? Most (that’s most, not all) interviewers aren’t trying to trip up a prospective employee—they really want to know what you can bring to the team table, what you can contribute that makes you a unique asset, whether you’ll be a good fit for the company, and why your skills and credentials place you above others in the interview pool.
This type of interview question should actually be seen as your opportunity to make your sales pitch—a concise and compelling answer that convinces the interviewer that you have something others don’t, and makes their selection job much easier. Let’s look at some model answers to this frequently asked interview question…and some examples of bad interview answers to avoid.
The Worst Responses to Give to “Why Should We Hire You?”
The toughest interview questions can send any unprepared candidate into a spin. Knowing how to pitch your answers to even some of the worst interview questions will give you the confidence to respond calmly in an interview situation. So let’s take a look at examples of bad interview responses to “Why should we hire you?”, and see why they represent an ill-advised route to go down. You might be surprised by a couple.
Sure, you might think this question is your opportunity to shine, but there’s a fine line between putting forward your achievements and simply showing off. Nobody’s perfect, and people generally respond better to those who communicate ‘I’m just like you’. This taps into a human need to feel common connection.
Of course, you still want to put forward some of your best assets, and there’s a good way of phrasing this without either showing off or selling yourself short.
We’re not saying you should hide your light under a bushel, but instead balance a low-key boast with something that keeps it real and relatable. For example, a better answer might be “I think I’m particularly good at communicating complicated ideas to people in a simple and direct way, but I would also like to develop my skills along these lines to make my presentation style even more effective.”
What this answer says is that the person is probably great at communicating and pitching, but is eager to grow within the company and develop these skills further. It shows both existing capabilities and a more humble acknowledgement that even more good stuff could be added in if they were to get the job.
“I think I have the ability and experience to lead a team, and have developed excellent communication skills over my x years in the industry, but I find I can only excel in this if I have a great team around me.” This is another example of veiling a ‘show off’ moment with humble turn of phrase, and highlights the fact that the person is not an island but willing to collaborate with others to achieve company goals.
We’re not ones to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm, but can we move away from the word ‘passionate’? Even if it’s genuine, it somehow still sounds phoney.
A better way of phrasing this type of answer might focus on why you’re attracted to this industry, how you got into it, and most importantly, why you want to remain in it. Think future growth and development, not static statements, and how this would benefit your new employer.
A better answer might be: “I enjoy working in [industry], and want to continue along the career path I have planned for myself. I believe I would be an asset to your company because I have both a high level of existing expertise in [said industry], and an enthusiasm to develop further in this sector, while bringing what I know now and will learn in the future to benefit the business.”
Even if all of these are true, this type of interview answer falls into the ‘social butterfly’ category. Employers will always see it as a bonus if you get on well with others, but more than anything they want to know you can do the job in hand above all else. Anything that hints you might be more interested in the office social scene than the actual role is a red flag.
Goes without saying, but we’ll say it. This is NOT a good interview answer. Just NO.
The Best Responses to Give to “Why Should We Hire You?”
The best interview answers balance professionalism with a sense of personality. After all, employers aren’t simply hiring a candidate for their credentials, they’re also often looking for a good culture fit, someone who will gel well within an existing team and company culture.
The very best job candidates will give a memorable answer to “Why should we hire you?”, that covers multiple touch points, including skills, experience and role compatibility, while also leaving the interviewer with a positive, lasting impression.
Let’s look at some good interview answer examples.
This is a confident interview answer that touches on both the need for ticking those essential job spec boxes (e.g. skills, qualifications, level of experience), and the desire to find someone who will be a good cultural fit.
The candidate can build on this answer, giving evidence to support each side of the coin, and showing how both could be met by the candidate by citing examples from experience. For example, “I reach my full potential when working within a smaller team, which has been the case at my current place of employment, and I believe I have an easy-going yet direct working style which helps me to manage a small team effectively.”
In some ways, this is kind of emotional blackmail. This person is responding to the interview question by trying to appeal to the investment the interviewer may have in the business.
This is the type of answer that would pull at the heartstrings of a smaller company or startup, which are likely to value the emotional investment of employees more than a larger corporate. It appeals to that ‘we’re all in it together’ mentality, and when given in the right context it can be really powerful.
Obviously, you’d expect a candidate giving this answer to know your company ethos inside-out!
Most people don’t apply for a new position because they don’t hit all the criteria in the job description, with this trait becoming even more marked based on gender (women are 16% less likely to apply to a job if they don’t meet 100% of the criteria).
This confident interview answer addresses this issue head-on. What most employers want to hear is that they are hiring somebody capable, who meets most of the criteria on the job specification. Consider that it’s rare to find someone who ticks absolutely every box (and even if they do, they might not be the best culture fit), and there might even be additional skills or traits that the employer might not even have thought about.
For example, let’s say a candidate doesn’t have a university qualification, but they do have years of experience working in the relevant industry. In some cases, the latter might totally trump the former in terms of usefulness for the business. So if the candidate can bring something extra to the table, the interview response above is a great way of communicating how that candidate stands head-and-shoulders above the competition.
This is a risky interview answer that unexpectedly diverts attention onto the candidate’s own personal—even selfish—aspirations. Turning the table on the interviewer, this interesting interview answer gives the impression of someone who knows their worth, and isn’t afraid to show the employer that they are also the ones being interviewed.
In certain contexts, the candidate here would risk being viewed as self-interested and perhaps a little arrogant, but if a company is looking for someone who is highly driven and applying for a more autonomous or leadership-based role, this answer actually reveals the person to be looking for something that goes beyond the usual 9-to-5 job.
Companies are sometimes wary to hire strong personalities with big ambitions, but the trends for hiring in Big Tech are actually starting to move towards individuals who are like this, and away from the traditional corporate ‘cog-in-the-wheel’ candidates. This answer also has an element of flattery, saying they would prefer to work for you rather than stay stifled at their former company.
