Congratulations! You’re almost at the end of the interview.
You’ve gotten past the “Tell me about yourself”, and the “Give me an example of a time you should initiative”.
You think you’re in the clear, the tough questions are over and you’re reminding yourself to make the final handshake firm, maintain eye contact and smile.
Then, the inevitable happens. The interviewer looks directly at you and says, “So, tell me why are you the best candidate for the job? Why should we hire you”?
Why Should we Hire You?
The “Why should we hire you”, is a common ending question for an interview and can be looked at from both perspectives. For the interviewer, hiring you is essentially taking a chance. You most likely are not the only applicant for this position. Who knows how many shining resumes, well-pressed suits and hopeful promises the interviewer has heard that day?
Asking a candidate, “Why should we hire you” is essentially saying why should I ignore all the other educated and experienced contenders I’ve see today? What makes you the right fit for the job? Most importantly, If I hire you, what value or benefit I can anticipate from you that I will not get from another applicant?
The interviewer is telling you here, “Make my job easy, why are you right for this”? This is your final opportunity to convince them you are indeed the right contender for the job.
How to Answer, “Why Should we Hire You”?
Your interview should be treated like a sales pitch. You are selling yourself to the interviewer. This is the part of the interview where you close the deal. Your answer, therefore, must answer the real, underlying question– “What’s in it for me? What do I get from hiring you”?
To answer this question effectively, you must keep it relevant to the job. Before the interview, study the job description and examine the tasks and responsibilities. Only then, can you formulate an answer.
You’re a Problem-Solver
Emphasise you have the experience, industry insights and education to successfully execute responsibilities. Pick one or two of the job description responsibilities and briefly tell a story how you’ve handled similar situations in the past. When closing your interview sales pitch, let the recruiter know that the tasks at hand are not foreign to you. You have managed them before, you have achieved results and are more than capable of recreating the same success in their company.
You’re a Problem-Solver with Skills
Skills are the measuring stick of one’s calibre in the 21st century. Provide examples of your skills in action. Having high education and capability is great. Lots of other candidates will. Not everyone though will be able to definitively articulate how they apply their problem solving skills and create value. That is the cornerstone of your answer to this question.
You’re a Problem-Solver who Will be a Great Fit.
Often, applicants with prestige degrees and industry experience may not get the job because the interviewer thinks they lack the proper fit. An organisation is run and made up of people. It is critical that they see you as being able to fit in with their culture and be an asset to their team.
When answering, “Why should you hire me”, remember, it is very unlikely you will be working in isolation. You will be required, to work and interact with colleagues. Therefore, acknowledge teamwork as being a necessary reality of the job. Let the interviewer know how the entire team will benefit from your employment.
How to Answer “Why Should I Hire You” Without Job Experience?
Without job experience you are going to have to put in extra work and get a little creative in order to convince the interviewer. What is essential is that you prove to them that you are the problem-solver they need and while you may be slim on the work front, you have the life experiences, soft skills or atleast potential that will benefit them.
Offer Your Life Experiences
Any volunteer, freelance or student course work you may have been involved in, this would be a great time to capitalise on that. Did you do any extensive world travelling? What lessons have you learnt during this time that you can apply towards this job? What skills have these lessons allowed you to develop?
Offer Your Willingness to Learn
The interviewer may see this as a gamble, but if you can embrace the fact that you lack experience yet are willing to gain it and prove yourself enthusiastically, you may win over the recruiter. Make it clear to the interviewer you are there to learn and work hard. The fact that you lack experience means you will be loyal to the job for some years because your options at this point are limited.
Build a Connection to The Company
Lacking experience is one thing, but no experience and knowledge of the company is essentially a slap in the interviewer’s face.
Learn everything you can about the company – their mission statements, products, departments and industry news. Can you pinpoint a way you can fit in? A rich knowledge of the company’s operations may signal despite lack of experience, your investment in learning about their organisation and preparation for the interview indicates a deep and sincere interest. They just may be willing to take a chance on a candidate who takes the initiative to educate themselves as opposed to someone with basic knowledge just looking for a job.
“Why Should we Hire You”? Sample Answer
This is a critical question which I thank you for asking. Based on the discussion we had here today and from the research I’ve done, your company is looking for a skilled communicator, problem-solver and team player and experienced marketer to grow your business and help your organisation stand apart from competitors in the industry.
I have had a very successful track record at my previous company, where I was able to, along with the team increase sales and profitability for consecutive quarters. I understand your market. I understand your company and I will bring that innovative and entrepreneurial spirit recreate higher levels of success. I firmly believe my skills, experience and personality will be a great fit within your organisation, where I can offer fresh ideas and solutions to scale your business results and contribute value and success to the team.
