How to Answer "Why Should We Hire You?"

Among the standard interview questions, recruiters often explore your motivation for applying, your career aspirations, and what you seek in a new role. Beyond understanding if they can meet your expectations, they’re also gauging whether you’re the right person for the job.

A particularly strategic query that recruiters often use is, “Why should we hire you?” This allows them to assess how well you understand the role and align with the company’s goals. It also tests your self-perception and ability to effectively sell yourself as the best candidate.

Because of its open-ended and direct nature, it can sometimes catch candidates off-guard, providing recruiters with valuable insights into your confidence, readiness, and fit for the team.

Not to worry—in this article, we’ve gathered tips on how to structure your response plus sample answers to express why you want a job.

How to respond to “Why should we hire you?”

It’s best if you can create a response strategy before the interview. Think of what a suitable answer may be according to the position and the responsibilities. Answering this question is a bit of a mind game–anticipating what recruiters want to hear and aligning it with your genuine attributes and career goals.

Here are some tips you can use regardless of the position:

• Before the interview, review the job listing and research the company to identify key skills and tailor your response to align with their needs.
• Have specific examples ready that showcase your accomplishments and how they translate to the new role. This could be projects you’ve led, challenges you’ve overcome, or initiatives you’ve driven.
• Relate your skills and experiences to the company’s current objectives or challenges. If possible, demonstrate knowledge of the company’s industry standing or recent developments and how you can contribute.
• While content is crucial, so is your delivery. Practice articulating your response smoothly and confidently and be mindful of your body language to avoid sounding rehearsed or nervous.

Let’s look at how this applicant handled the situation:

They directly tied their previous successes with customer feedback systems to what the company is looking to improve, making it easy to see how they’d fit in and add value.

What not to say to “Why should we hire you?”

Even if the question catches you off guard, there are strategies to keep your answer structured and to the point.

Here are some general points you can use:

• Avoid generic answers by preparing specific examples that show your alignment with the role.
• Keep your answer focused and relevant to the job. Avoid sharing unrelated personal stories or broad statements that don’t directly connect to the position or the company’s objectives.
• Overly long responses will confuse recruiters and steer you away from the main point. Also, they’ll make you look like you’re not sure what to say and are just babbling away.
• Avoid comparing yourself negatively to other candidates or criticizing previous employers. Highlight your positive attributes and what you bring to the company.
• Don’t focus on what the company can offer you, like salary or benefits, but on what you can contribute.

The example below wouldn’t work. While the candidate talked about their passion and studies, they didn’t connect those to the specific job tasks or show how they’d solve problems for the company.

Follow-up questions

Sometimes, the why-shoul-we-hire you question might be the last in an interview, but depending on your answer and the recruiter’s disposition, it could raise some follow-up queries. Such as:

What are your salary expectations?

A real interview classic that can feel tricky to navigate. Employers often ask this after you’ve outlined your qualifications, as they want to ensure your expectations align with their budget.

To prepare, research the average salary for your role, industry, and location using reliable resources like Glassdoor, Payscale, or LinkedIn Salary. This will help you provide a realistic and informed range during the conversation.

When answering, clearly state your expectations, framed as a range, and express your openness to discussing the overall compensation package, including benefits, bonuses, and growth opportunities. This approach demonstrates that you’ve done your homework and are willing to collaborate on finding a mutually beneficial agreement.

Why is this job your top choice?

This question is relatively easy if you’re interviewing for your dream role. However, even if it’s not, it’s important to remain polite, professional, and positive.

Focus on aspects of the role, company, or industry that genuinely excite you. Perhaps it’s the opportunity to grow your skills, contribute to impactful projects, or align with a company culture that resonates with your values. Avoid giving the impression that you’re indifferent or that the role is a fallback option.

Why do you want to work with us?

To give a genuine answer, identify key aspects of the company’s mission, values, or goals that you can relate to personally or professionally. Expressing a shared vision shows that you’re likely to be a committed and harmonious fit.

Discuss how you can contribute to the company’s success, referring to your skills and experiences that are relevant to the company’s current needs or challenges. This turns your response into a value proposition for the employer.

Conclusion

Answering “Why should we hire you?” effectively requires preparation, confidence, and relevance. By aligning your skills and achievements with the company’s goals, you can position yourself as the ideal candidate for the role.