Employers ask you this question for a few reasons. Because younger job candidates may have limited work experience, they want to pinpoint whether you have the skills they’re seeking. They also want to know whether you understand the basic expectations of the job. Beyond that, employers are assessing your emotional response to the question. Do you answer with confidence or are you flustered? Are you assertive or are you self-effacing? Prepare an answer to this question ahead of the job interview to highlight your skills and make the best possible impression on the hiring manager. Here’s how to do it.
How to Answer the Question “Why Should We Hire You?”
When answering this question, be sure to think of the requirements for the job, and how your skills and experiences match those requirements. You also might want to emphasize your long-term interest in working for the organization. Before you don your interview clothes, sit down with a pen and paper and answer the following questions. Once you have done so, you will be able to pull the answers together to formulate your own tailored response to the question, “Why should we hire you?”
Pre-interview Practice Exercise
Examples of the Best Answers
Here are some examples of answers to interview questions about why you should be hired when you’re applying for your first job. Be sure to tailor your response to fit your personal circumstances.
