Are you the right person for the job? With every interview question they ask, hiring managers are trying to find this out. It’s why they’ll often come out and ask you specifically why they should hire you. Not only do they want to assess how quickly you think on your feet, but why you see yourself as a good fit for the role.
Unfortunately, this question has a tendency to make many candidates become flustered and stressed out. First, they don’t like talking about their accomplishments and promoting their skills and abilities. Secondly, they’re not quite sure what the perfect candidate looks like for the position. This can cause candidates to freeze or stumble their way through an answer.
How can you avoid this happening to you? The best way is to think of an answer ahead of time and practice it. Hiring managers want to know a few things when they’re asking this question, such as what makes you unique and what areas in your background make you a good fit for the job. When it comes to answering this question – and acing it – here are some tips to approach it:
Review the job posting ahead of time.
This way, you’ll know what skills and qualifications are most important to the company and the position. When you’re doing so, ask yourself a few questions, such as:
- What are the most important skills and experiences for this position?
- Which areas are my strengths?
- What are my most impressive achievements that are most relevant?
- What makes me different from another candidate?
Connect your background to the position.
Come up with a list of 2-3 examples of skills, projects, or accomplishments you’ve worked on that are most relevant to the position. Don’t forget about awards and accolades or education and training.
Promote your interpersonal skills.
While it’s critical to talk about hard skills and quantify your background as much as you can, don’t forget those soft skills that are important to the role, like work ethic, collaboration, and creativity.
Practice your answer.
Don’t to create a script and memorize it. You won’t come off as authentic. Instead, loosely jot down notes relating to your background and why it’s a good fit. Then practice what you’d like to say about each point, so you feel comfortable talking off the cuff during the interview. The more you can offer specific examples or share a story, the better. Focus on being concise, too, answering this question within one to two minutes.
Here’s an example: Administrative Assistant
“I read the job description and thought it was a great fit. I have eight years of experience as an administrative assistant and am highly organized, focused, and literate in all the different software systems you use. At the same time, interpersonal relationships are my strong suit. I love getting to know people, what they need, and then going above and beyond to ensure I’m assisting them in a way that works best for them. For instance, one example is…”
The more prepared you are, the more comfortable you’ll feel. When you get asked this question, you’ll be able to answer it with confidence and enthusiasm, standing out in the process.
Do you need more help getting interviews or finding job leads?
Future Force is your local source for access to new opportunities. We’re one of the leading temp agencies in Orlando, FL, but also fill full-time positions, as well. We can evaluate your background, skills, and goals and connect you with a great new position. Search our jobs now to get started.
