The best answer to the question “why should we hire you?”

How your prospective employer closes off an interview is a sure way of knowing whether or not you have made the cut.

Heading off to an interview can be a nerve-wracking process. Especially the part where you need to explain what makes you better than another prospective candidate. You are basically being judged by another person based on their preconceived notions about you. From the moment you walk in the door you are being evaluated and it’s up to you to put your best foot forward.

The make or break question

After answering all the questions given by the interviewer, there is one answer that seals the deal. Have a short summary in your head as to why you are the best for the job. This question can be asked in many different ways such as:

• Why are you the best candidate for the job?

• What would you bring to the position?

• Why should we hire you?

• Why are you the right fit for the position?

The importance of this question

The obvious answer would be that it’s in the best interest of the company to hire the best person for the job. All the candidates that are asked to come in for an interview are qualified for the job, but the outstanding one is the one that’s more than qualified. The market is very competitive and every hire can have a serious impact on a company. Not only is it a risk to the company, but also the person recommending the candidate to hire. If the candidate performs well the interviewer looks good, but if the candidate does poorly, the interviewer’s judgment may come under fire.

So, when you’re answering this question bear in mind that you are not only selling yourself, you are also proving to top management that they are making a sound decision in the hiring process.

Convince the interviewer of the following

There are basic key points that the interviewer wants to know  in order to make their decision an easy one. If they don’t hear the following, the chances of you being hired are slim:

• The interviewer wants to know that you can do the work and deliver exceptional results.

• They want know that you can be an asset to the company and fit in well with the team.

• They want to hear that you possess a combination of skills and experience that make you stand out from the other candidates.

Mention your strong points

Do not by any means write down a script of your strong points and try to memorise it. The best approach would be to be write down bullet points of your strengths and practice them until you feel comfortable talking about them. You’re not being checked if you’ve gone on emotional intelligence training courses, they simply want to see what you have to offer. Your answer will sound a little bit different each time, but it should always cover the points that you want to make. Your strong points should cover at least three of the following:

• Industry experience

• Soft skills

• Technical skills

• Key accomplishments

• Awards

• Education and training

• Excellence in performing certain tasks or duties

You must be prepared for any scenario as it can make or break the chances of you being employed by the company.