Why should we hire you?
Most times when recruiters ask this question, job-seekers are mostly thrown out of balance. Most times it is like putting the job-seeker in the position of the recruiter. This question will make many job-seekers ask themselves this question; “If I were the employer, why would I hire myself?”
Often times when recruiters ask “why should we hire you?” they indirectly want to know why you are the best fit for the job.
As straight forward as the question may look, you still have to be very careful when answering the question. Don’t be in a hurry throw the answer back at the recruiter, you might end up giving a negative impression about yourself.
You should always avoid answers like:
“You should hire me because I know you urgently need someone to fill this position, and I think I can do the job”.
It is very important for you to take your time to think of a concise and effective answer to this question. Before you attempt to answer the question, you should know;
Why recruiters ask why should we hire you?
how to answer the question
The response to give
Why recruiters ask “why should we hire you?”
Job-seekers may feel that recruiters ask this question just to make them feel uncomfortable, but that is not the case. Recruiters ask this question because they want to know why you are the best fit for the job.
Recruiters simply want to know how you fit into the position they are recruiting for.
How to answer the “why should I hire you question?”
Since the whole interview boils down to this one question, then it is worth preparing for. You should always understand that the interviewer wants to know how you fit into the position. Make sure your response clearly states why you are the best person for the position.
The best response to give
Since every hire is a risk to the recruiter, then you should be ready to prove to the recruiter that;
You can perform the task excellently
You will perfectly fit into the position and be a great addition to the team
You possess the right skills and experiences that makes you stand out from other candidates
Hiring you will add a great deal of value to the company.
Sample Answers
If you are applying for a marketing role;
“From your job advert, I understand that your company is looking for an experienced marketer that will grow the business and help the company stand out from its competitors. At my previous company, I increased the sales by 30% within the space of one year by devising targeted social media advertising strategy. I will definitely bring in that spirit of ownership and innovation to this company if I am given the opportunity.”
If you are applying for the role of a web developer;
“I believe that my experience in technology, specifically in web design makes me the best person for this position. In my previous job, I was responsible for updating the company’s website. This required me to always make sure everything goes on well on the web page, update employee profile and ensure proper content upload on the site. I enjoyed the role, which was what attracted me to this company, I would love to bring in my skills to this position”.
How to answer the question if you are a fresh graduate with no work experience:
Getting your first job after graduation may not be as hard as you may think. It is true that employers are about getting the right talent to fill their positions, but being a fresh graduate is not a disadvantage if you prepare well for the interview.
If this question comes up in an interview, chances are it will be the only valuable opportunity for you to prove that you are the best candidate for the job.
Remember to stay away from answers that will remind the employer that you have no experience and probably not a good fit. Answers like:
“You know it is really hard to find a job especially when you have no experience, I don’t want to stay idle, and I want something that will keep me busy”
This kind of response doesn’t show the employer that you have a special interest in the job and the company at all, and you have also succeeded in reminding the employer that you don’t have any experience.
Instead of answering like that, you can phrase your answer in such a way that it will show your interest in that particular position, your enthusiasm to be a part of the organization, your interest in learning and development, and your vision to contribute to the overall growth of the company.
Your response should look like this:
“I am a very driven and open-minded person that can really learn fast. During my volunteer with a local retail outlet, I discovered how much I enjoyed solving customers’ problems and rendering service in general. Looking at the job description and what I have learned from the interview, I think this position will support my interest and will also give me the opportunity to contribute positively to the organization, and am very excited about this opportunity”.
This kind of answer will give the employer an idea that you are passionate about the position, and a passionate person is someone that can learn fast. Every employer would love to hire someone with the right spirit.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This is one question that employers use to trap you in a corner and you may not even recognize it at all. Employers don’t just ask this question because they are really interested in what you want to do with your life in 5 years’ time. Employers ask this question for two reasons:
The employer wants to know how long you plan to stay in the position.
The employer wants to know if your vision aligns with that of the company.
As much as the employer want know your plan in the position and the company, it could be tempting for you to pour out your sincere intentions, but saying it out like that may not be the best approach to the question.
This is the response that your mind will likely prompt you to give, and it is probably what the interviewer doesn’t want to hear:
Plans about how you would love to take the position of the hiring manager in 5 years.
Strategies about how you would be promoted in a few years.
Your aspiration about owning your own business in a few years
A straight “I don’t know”, “I don’t have any plans for the future, I just want a job now”
I know you would be anxious to ask “then what does the recruiter want to hear?” You should never forget that the business of a recruiter is that he wants to get the right candidate that would stay and grow in the position.
So when recruiters ask “where do you see yourself in 5 years” they simply want to know your career goals within the position.
The hiring manager is interested in knowing how satisfied you are with the position and the company and how hard and long you are willing to grow and stay in the company.
Sample Answers
This is how your answer should look like:
“In 5 years, I would love to complete my internal and external training program for my position. I have read about it on your website, and I think it is an amazing opportunity for me to learn. I don’t only look forward to getting the right training for my role, but it will quicken my journey to becoming a marketing manager which my career goal. My ideal track would be creating awareness in rural areas. I learned that getting your product to rural places is of great value to you.”
Answering the question like this expresses two things to the employer:
With this answer, you have given the hiring manager the impression that you are satisfied with the position, and also enthusiastic about developing in the position.
This answer also shows that your personal career goals align with the company’s vision.
More responses
“I am propelled to be the best at what I do, and I want to work in an organization that will give me the opportunity to develop my skills, handle interesting projects, and be part of a team that I can really learn from. A good number of creative thinkers in the industry work here, and that is a big reason why I would love to build a career here”.
“My current goal is to fit into a position at a company where I can grow and take on new challenges and responsibilities over time. Moving forward, I would love to assume management responsibility and get involved in pushing the brand. Ultimately, I would love to be a part of an organization where I can build a career”.
Since this question is very tricky, it is very important for you to be careful not to just speak out words that come to the mind immediately the recruiter asked the question. Be careful not to give answers like: “I have never settled for less all my life, so in 5 years’ time I would be working my way through to becoming the CEO”.
See preparations you should make before attempting to answer the question:
Know the long term goals that can grow from the position.
Do a good research on the company and the position to know; the career path for the position, research if there are development opportunities, if there are interesting projects that you would love to be a part of, and finally if you share the same values with the organization.
Always keep these in mind when you are answering this question:
No recruiter sincerely care about what you want to do with your life in the next 5 years, and they don’t expect you to have the exact picture of where you are going to be in 5 years.
Recruiters ask this question because they look forward to getting a hire that would take the role seriously.
Recruiter wants to find out if you would be available for a long time to do the work.
In all sincerity, all a recruiter wants to hear when they ask “where do you see yourself in 5 years is “HERE”. As funny as this may sound, this is the truth, employers look forward to getting someone that would love to build their career in the company.