What to say in an interview when asked Why should I hire you

Why should I hire you Interview Question (What the employer wants in your answer)

Interviewers ask the open ended interview question “Why should I hire you?” to see what case you will make to be the person hired. 

When the interviewer asks “Why should I hire you?” they are looking for an answer that gives them indisputable reasons to end the hiring process and hire you. 

Interviewers want concrete and specific details that make it easy to hire you.

The worst way to answer this question is to provide a general answer. 

General answers such as…

“I’m a hard worker and love the industry” or 

“I feel my skills and experiences have led me to this opportunity” or 

“I’m a team player and get things done quickly” are absolute flops. 

When the interviewer asks you “Why should I hire you?” you want to be very specific about what you’ve done in your work history that provides indisputable facts that explain how you are a “hard worker,” “team player,” and “get things done quickly.” 

More importantly you want your Why should I hire you interview answer to make it clear to the interviewer what outcomes being a “hard worker,” “team player,” and “getting things done quickly” achieved for previous employers. 

The 5 Details A Good Answer to Why Should I Hire You Must Have 

A good answer for Why should I hire you should:

1. Connect the dots between your experience, achievements, and the position
2. Detail why you will not require a lot of training and will quickly produce outcomes
3. Emphasize that the information on your resume is true 
4. Detail how you will add to a positive work environment
5. Detail how hiring you will reflect positively on them

Each of the five interview answer details above addresses the mindset of the interviewer and makes it easy for the interviewer to say “You’re hired!”

“Why should I hire you?” is Actually One of the Best Questions for Interviewees 

Interviewees should not fear the Why should I hire you interview question or over think what to say in an interview when asked why should I hire you. 

Being asked this interview question gives the interviewee an opportunity to make it very clear to the interviewer that they:

• Are an eager and interested candidate 
• Did their homework on the company
• Did their homework on the position and understand the requirements of the job
• Understand how they will use their previous experience, achievements, and talents to meet the responsibilities of the position 

What to Say in an Interview When Asked Why should I hire you (Fill-in-the-blank Template)

I am passionate about the [INSERT INDUSTRY] industry.

I want to find a position at a company that [INSERT SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMPANY] where I can contribute my experiences and achievements.

I understand that this position requires [INSERT THE NUMBER ONE JOB RESPONSIBILITY].

I previously [EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DID IN ANOTHER POSITION] this achieved [INSERT POSITIVE OUTCOME WITH METRICS]. 

If hired I would apply the skills I’ve learned to achieve similar results by [INSERT HOW YOU WOULD APPROACH THE JOB RESPONSIBILITY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS]. 

I also see that this position [INSERT THE NUMBER TWO JOB RESPONSIBILITY].

I previously [EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DID IN ANOTHER POSITION] this achieved [INSERT POSITIVE OUTCOME WITH METRICS]. 

If hired I would feel comfortable working with the team to [INSERT HOW YOU WOULD APPROACH A TEAM JOB RESPONSIBILITY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS]. Together we’d be able to [INSERT OUTCOME].

The position also requires [INSERT THE NUMBER THREE JOB RESPONSIBILITY].

I previously [EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DID IN ANOTHER POSITION] this achieved [INSERT POSITIVE OUTCOME WITH METRICS]. 

If hired I would be able to quickly [INSERT HOW YOU WOULD APPROACH THE NUMBER THREE JOB RESPONSIBILITY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS] to [INSERT THE THIRD JOB RESPONSIBILITY].

As someone who has a growth mindset I welcome opportunities to learn skills and approach challenges with a positive attitude. This position would give me an opportunity to [INSERT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN]. 

My previous employer and team can provide additional reasons why you should hire me. I’m happy to put you in touch with them. Would you like me to make an introduction to them? 

Why this interview answer helps you ace the interview

The Why should I hire you interview answer above includes each of the five details a good answer to Why should I hire you should have.

The Why should I hire you interview answer makes it very clear:

• How the interviewee’s professional background relates to the job
• Why the interviewee would be able to hit the ground running (and require little training to start making an impact)
• That the interviewee is telling the truth (because they offer introductions to employers and former colleagues that can vouch for them)
• That the interviewee is a team player
• That the interviewee put in the work to prepare for the interview, has credibility via references, and is very likely to reflect positively on them if hired

Create your own Why should I hire you answer

I’ve made it very easy for you to create your own job specific answer to the interview question, “Why should I hire you?”

Use the “Why should I hire you?” Interview Answer Generator below to help you create a stand out answer to this interview question.

What to say in an interview when asked Why should I hire you (Sample Answer)

The sample answer below was created using the fill-in-the-blank interview answer format above. The format works for any industry. The sample answer below is for an Account Manager position in the advertising industry.

Practice Your Why Should I Hire You Interview Answer

While the Why should I hire you interview answer generator creates you a “script” when never want to answer the question sounding like you memorized a script. 

You want to sound knowledgeable, professional, prepared, capable, and confident. 

Use your interview answer “script” as a foundation of talking points to hit when answering the question.

The interview answer talking point framework consists of:

• Three examples that connect your professional experience and achievements to the responsibilities of the position
• One example that shows how you collaborate with team members to achieve outcomes
• One credibility enhancing statement
• One statement about your growth goals as they relate to the position

Use the provided Interview Answer Practice Recorder to practice your Why should I hire you answer aloud.

Play back each practice recording.

To begin, listen specifically for the content of what you answered.

Did you hit each of the talking points provided in your “script?”

When you hit each of the talking points start listening to your Why should I hire you interview answer for how you sound.

Do you sound natural and clear?

When each point of your Why should I hire you interview answer is clearly and naturally delivered you will have created a job specific, confident, stand out interview answer.