You’ll see this question come up in interviews. It genuinely stumps some people — and some see it as a kind of strange or even obtuse question.

To others, it’s excessively direct. But answering this question well can be a good part of acing the interview.

Here are some of the things you can respond with when you get this question in an interview environment.

Show Your Qualifications

Yes, of course, the go-to response is to show why you’re qualified for the job, but in the words of some job experts, this is actually an opportunity to lead into your skills and experience and basically talk yourself up. So in some ways, we should be thanking hiring managers for posing this question in the interview.

It’s not a stumbling block. It’s really an open door to the job applicant, to really lay out what he or she can bring to the table. Make sure your qualifications are in line with the job ad and what the job entails, and you’ll be a leg up on the competition.

Show Your Passion

Another good value proposition when you’re at the interview table is to outline your passion for a particular field. Great talent isn’t built in a vacuum – it’s built with passion and practice. So if you have demonstrated a great interest in a particular field, whether it’s journalism, technology, business management or production, put that into play when employers ask you the “why should I hire you?” question.

Show You’re a Good Fit

Contrary to what you might think, the interview is not all about you. It’s also about what the people on the other side of the table are trying to do.

So when you get this interview question, show them that you do understand their company and what it does. Show them that you are the right fit for their corporate culture, and demonstrate your unique knowledge of their business. If you’ve done your homework, you can make this part of your response pretty compelling and impressive.

Outline Your People Skills

Here’s another aspect of promoting yourself that often gets overlooked.

Companies need people with technical expertise, and they need people with experience, but they also need people who have people skills.

People skills make you able to network with others, to learn and promote the goal-oriented outcomes. People skills are what separate high achievers from people who tend to stay stuck in a certain position because their personalities get in the way. If you’re not a toxic person, not a chronic complainer, not an underachiever and not a narcissist, let the company know that you have good people skills that it takes to work with them on common goals.

About Full Steam Staffing

Full Steam Staffing is a full-service employment agency focused on providing clerical and light industrial staffing solutions to manufacturers, distribution centers and other organizations that need qualified, reliable workers. If you are looking for a new job in Modesto, California, browse our available opportunities or contact our team today!