An interview is a short window for companies to assess whether the candidate is the right fit for the job he or she is applying to which is why they as many different questions relating to their qualifications, experience, skillset, and even their overall personality and attitude. These questions play a vital role in determining whether the person will fit right in with the organization or not and whether they have the required skills and attitude for efficient performance.
Among the ton of questions, one of the most common yet dreadful interview question that most employers ask is “Why should we hire you?”
Well, to answer this in a way that would get you the job, first you must understand the question to find out what the employer is really trying to assess. This article will walk you through on how you can prepare a thoughtful response that will make your employer say, “We need to hire this person right away.”
Well, then what are you waiting for, let’s dive in so you can start preparing for your next job interview.
How to Answer “Why should we hire you?”
Understanding the question “Why should we hire you?” from the employer’s perspective is important to analyze what answer he or she is looking for from you. In a highly-competitive job market, it is crucial that you don’t only meet the qualifications but stand out from the rest with your analytical thinking and communication skills. It is a big decision involving risk for both the company and even the interviewer as the hired candidate can make or break his reputation through his or her performance.
Keeping this in mind, you have to come up with an answer that would convince the interviewer that you are the right person for the job. Consider the following points below and answer each of them based on your qualifications to be the winning candidate:
- You will deliver exceptional results by performing efficiently.
- You will fit in with the organization and be a team player.
- You have skills that make you stand out among the crowd.
- Hiring you will uphold the interviewer’s reputation.
The key here is to practice answering this question before going to the interview. You have to prepare beforehand what points you can say during the interview to convince the interviewer that you are the perfect candidate. Here are a few tips to consider when you are crafting your response.
1. Carefully study the job posting:
To know what skills, qualities, and experience the employer is looking for in the right candidate, the first yet most important step is to study the job posting carefully. You have to thoroughly go through the important sections to analyze commonalities between what you have to offer and the requirements of the employer.
2. Research the company intensively:
Go through the company’s history, mission, goals, and recent announcement, so you know what the current position of the company is and what you can contribute to it. This research phase will help you connect to their goals and answer what you can offer to make them achieve their business objectives.
3. Quantify your accomplishments:
Supporting your accomplishments with the help of numerical values can significantly improve your overall profile for the job. A simple example of this considering an interview for the position of social media marketing is that you might explain how you were able to increase their conversion rate from one rate to another through the implementation of different strategies.
4. Go above and beyond to stand out from the crowd:
Think of any experience or quality that sets you apart, relevant to the job duties. This will distinguish you from the rest of the candidates, and make you a viable candidate for hire.
“Why should we hire you?” Example Answers:
Here are a few example answers to inspire you when you prepare your response to the question “Why should we hire you?”

Example 1: For the job of Office Administrator:
“Honestly, my passion and proven professional abilities display my office efficiency. In my last role, as an administrative assistant, I planned to reorganize the office supply closet by category, which helped the organization save up to 30% on office supplies year over year. I am excited to bring my skills and experience to the table.”
Example 2: For the job of Programmer:
“You should hire me because I feel this job was written with me in mind. With my programming experience of over 6 years, a track record of successful projects, and proven expertise in agile, I am capable of working on high-profile, cross-department projects and communicate effectively with senior managers. I have sufficient experience to begin contributing from day one. I am excited to be a part of the company. ”
The bottom line…
To be the winning candidate you must stand apart from the others. Preparing a concise summary of top reasons to hire you will enable you to answer the question and others too, as you the interviewer might approach the question in different words but might require the same answer from you. So, you should be prepared to tell the interviewer why you are the best candidate for the job and what you bring to the table.
Really nice article.
I would like to share my experience of my very first interview.
The very first question (after the intro of course) that my interviewer asked me was that the person whom I interviewed just before you is more experienced and more qualified than you. Why should I hire you?
Me: I will work on less salary.
Interviewer: I care more about the productivity and growth of my company.
Me: As you said sir, that the other person is experienced. So, he is molded into doing things in a specific way. I am a fresher. By default, I will have to do things in an out of the box way.
I did not get that position, but I got the job for a short-term project. I ended up working for that company for 3 more years before I started my venture.
Nice post with some great tips. Always ask what you can bring to their company, but also do not be afraid to tell them what you hope to gain from joining their firm. It shows confidence if you can explain why you want to work for them and what you will get out of it too. That way they know that you will give your all to the position.
Really very very helpful post not only for job seekers but also for employers like me
Thank you for giving us some good information in this post.