You’ve used resume checkers and cover letter generators to help you land the interview. But, before you speak with the hiring manager, it’s essential to prepare for how you’ll answer common questions.
One of the most pivotal questions you’ll face in interviews is “Why are you the best person for the job?” or variations like “Why would you be a good fit for this position?” and “Why should we hire you?”
In this guide, we’ll outline a step-by-step process to help you describe your fit and the skills that make you stand out as a candidate for the role. Plus, we’ll provide examples of how to answer “Why should we hire you?” that you can use as a template for success.
Understanding the Question: Why Employers Ask This
Employers ask questions like “Why should we hire you?” to gauge your perception of your abilities and connection to the role. How you answer will highlight essential skills you believe stand out about yourself, your enthusiasm about the role, and how you’ll fit in with the company’s culture.
Gauging your self-awareness
You may have used a resume builder, resume examples, or resume templates to help portray your top abilities in the best possible light during the application process. However, employers still want to hear what you believe are your top skills and the conditions you thrive in. These details can be an excellent asset for employers, setting new hires up for success once they start the job.
For example, while applying for a data analyst role, you might answer that the company should hire you because of your data visualization skills in Tableau, which help communicate your findings to team members. Suddenly, the hiring manager can see the impact you could make and inform team leaders on how they can put you in a position to succeed.
Assessing fit for the role
Similar to choosing resume skills that will show you’re a fit for the role, your answer to why you’re qualified for the job can have a similar effect.
For instance, let’s say you’re interviewing for a strategic planner role at a company that wants a specialist in Lean Six Sigma. You could then outline in your answer how you believe the role will be an excellent fit to use your skills in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, where you’ve seen previous successes in your career, using it to reduce production waste and defects by 65%.
Judging enthusiasm for the position
Hiring managers want to bring in candidates who are excited to work in the position and at their company since candidates who are passionate about the work often perform the best. It’s similar to why they may ask other interview questions like “Why do you want to work here?”
Let’s say you’re interviewing for a project manager role. In your answer to why you think you’re a good fit for the position, you could discuss how you’re eager to use your project management skills while working in the company’s team-focused workplace culture or to help achieve their mission of a more efficient product development process. An answer like this shows exactly how you fit in.
Try to customize these details based on the job’s description and what you see the company emphasizing on its website.
Structuring Your Answer: Key Components
Now that you understand the purpose of asking, “Why should we hire you?” let’s review how to structure your answer appropriately. That’ll include aligning with the job description, showcasing relevant skills, detailing past successes, and showing your enthusiasm.
Aligning with the job description
When learning how to write a cover letter or resume, you likely found that looking at the job description and identifying a company’s biggest needs is an essential part of standing out in the application process. You’ll want to take a similar approach when preparing to answer why you’re the ideal fit for the position during the interview.
The job description usually details aspects like the company’s mission and the top skills they’re seeking. It may also include details about the type of workplace culture they’re building. Take note of that and connect it to your skills and achievements to make your answer stand out.
Showcasing your unique skills
With your unique skills and experiences, you offer a lot to the company that’ll make them want to hire you. For example, your unique background in customer service could show why you’ll make a great retail manager, passing that knowledge and expertise down to the staff members you’ll oversee.
For entry-level applicants or those making a career transition, you don’t need to have a ton of expertise to show why you’ll be a great fit. Tailor your answer to what you bring to the table, such as highlighting how your cash-handling experience as a cashier has prepared you to perform accurately at an accounting internship.
Connecting past successes to future potentials
Like highlighting your previous achievements in your resume or cover letter, take a similar approach here.
Try to include examples of past successes relevant to the tasks you’ll be performing in the new role. For instance, you could highlight how you successfully trained seven new hires in customer service protocols, resulting in a 25% boost in customer satisfaction. Then, discuss how you’ll use your leadership to have a similar impact as a customer service manager.
Demonstrating enthusiasm and culture fit
Every workplace needs passionate employees who will fit in well with team members. It keeps everything organized and running smoothly.
While answering why you’re a great fit for the role, consider things you’ll see in the job description, like the company’s mission and the workplace culture they’re striving to achieve.
For example, a marketing firm may value a creative team culture that fosters innovative ideas. You could use those details to your advantage in your answer, touching on your passion for creativity and your eagerness to work with an idea-driven team.
Real Examples of Successful Answers
Just as a resume outline or cover letter template can help you portray a well-structured overview of your skills, so can having some “Why should we hire you?” sample answers that you can use as a template for success.
This section will show you examples of how to answer why you’re the best fit for the job in various industries and for different places where you may be in your career, such as looking for an entry-level job compared to moving up into a management role.
Example for a Marketing Role
Scenario: You’re interviewing for a digital marketing internship with a trendy fitness clothing line, FlexForm Activewear. The company highly values a team-focused environment that facilitates growth. Their mission is to provide athletes with the high-performing clothing they need to maintain their active lifestyles. During the interview, the hiring manager has just asked you, “Why would you be a good fit for this job?”
Your position: You’ve been working on a career transition over the past few years. You began your career as a personal trainer, and while learning how to promote your services, you identified a skill in digital marketing. After going back to school for your marketing degree, you’re looking for an internship to break into the field.
Your answer
- My previous experience in the fitness industry and the digital marketing skills I’ve built while obtaining my bachelor’s degree from Illinois University will make me a good fit for this position. During my studies, I picked up many skills I’m eager to apply in this internship, such as brand positioning and crafting compelling display ads. During one of my class projects, I collaborated with three classmates while creating a mock social media campaign for a fitness brand during a clothing launch. We received a 98% overall grade on it. Working on that project reinforced why I wanted to transition into this field, and results like that are how I know I can make an impact for a team-focused brand in the fitness industry like FlexForm to promote the right clothing to athletes that’ll help them succeed.
Example for a Tech Position
Scenario: You’re interviewing for a technical support specialist role at SwiftNet Communications. They’re a new mobile phone service provider trying to compete with some big-name options like Verizon and AT&T. They believe their customer-first approach and efficient service will make them stand out. During the interview, the hiring manager just asked you, “Why should I hire you for this position?”
Your position: You’ve been an IT support specialist for the last three years and are excited about getting in on the ground floor at an up-and-coming company. You’ll want to showcase how you can provide effective customer service and educated support to help SwiftNet Communications achieve its goals.
Your answer
- My combination of customer service skills and knowledge in mobile hardware troubleshooting is why you should hire me for the technical support specialist role at SwiftNet Communications. During my previous role as the IT support specialist at Elevate Consultants, I consistently worked on mobile device troubleshooting for our field sales team. I ended up developing a seven-step diagnostic process that helped me get devices back up and running 45% faster. While providing customer support, I understand just how frustrating having your phone stop working can be. I’m excited to work with a growing organization that wants to have its customers’ backs, and I know my systematic guidance will help you provide the best possible experience for your customers.
Example for a Leadership Role
Scenario: You’re interviewing for a logistics operations manager role at Apex Electronics. They’re a consumer appliance company that ships to over 500 retailers across the U.S. Their mission is to provide fast service and reliable home appliances that are affordable for the average person. During the interview, the hiring manager asks, “Why are you a good candidate for this job?”
Your position: You’ve been a logistics coordinator for the last three years and are looking to move up into an operations manager role. In your answer, you’ll want to showcase your leadership abilities and explain why your technical skills will make you effective in overseeing national shipping and receiving processes.
Your answer
- My expertise in large freight transportation optimization and leadership skills will make me a good fit for this position. At Global Freight Solutions, we managed tons of heavy freight shipments with furniture and appliances. I’m well-equipped to manage that on a national scale, having led a 21-person team on a shipping consolidation project where we were able to reduce costs by 15% and carbon emissions by 20%. I’d be excited to apply the same detailed practices at Apex Electronics and am confident I could make an impact in helping you provide fast shipments and affordable products to customers.
Example for a Healthcare Role
Scenario: You’re interviewing for a CNA position at Sunset Haven, a nursing home that strives to provide a caring and comfortable environment for all residents. During the interview, the hiring manager asks, “Why are you the best person for this job?”
Your position: In the healthcare field, you want to ensure your answer reflects the patient care skills and technical abilities you’ll apply to be effective in the role and help Sunset Haven achieve its mission.
Your answer
- After working at nursing homes for the past five years, I’m well-versed in working on collaborative nursing teams, from keeping detailed records to identifying patient needs. I originally got into this field after seeing the care that was provided to my grandma at a local nursing home during the end of her life. It made me want to contribute and provide top-notch care for other people’s loved ones who are in a similar position. It’s why I work hard to communicate with patients and their families to maintain 98% positive satisfaction scores and comply with all medical standards for 45% more effective treatments. I’m confident I’d be a great advocate for your patients at Sunset Haven to help them achieve the best quality of life.
Example for an Engineering Role
Scenario: You’re interviewing for a biomedical engineering role at Pinnacle Research. They perform clinical trials and develop artificial organs and limbs for organizations that treat complex medical conditions and veterans who are wounded in combat. Pinnacle Research aims to innovate in the medical field with tech-focused solutions to complex problems. During the interview, the hiring manager asks, “Why do you think you’re the best fit for the job?”
Your position: After completing your master’s degree in biomedical engineering, you’ve been working in entry-level roles at research labs for the past three years. You’re now ready to take a step up in your career and are excited about the opportunity to work on complex medical engineering tasks with an innovative team. You’ll want to present that effectively in your answer.
Your answer
- After completing my master’s degree and growing my lab testing and CAD systems skills at the Genesis Research Center for the past three years, I’m ready to take on the challenge of solving complex medical problems that your team at Pinnacle Research works on. At Genesis Research, I collaborated with our lab testing team while working on improving quality control standards during prosthetic limb development. That research led to designs that treated patient needs 57% more effectively. Seeing the impact that my work can have, I’d be excited to work on the positive projects for wounded veterans and complex medical conditions you help with at Pinnacle, and I’m confident I’d be able to help you push the boundaries for what is possible in modern medicine.
Example for a Food Service Position
Scenario: You’re interviewing for an entry-level crew member position at Chipotle. Their mission is to revolutionize the fast food experience and make better-quality options more accessible to everyone. Chipotle is seeking crew members to add to their team who are customer-focused and eager to learn. During the interview, the hiring manager asks, “Why are you a good fit for this position?”
Your position: You’re a high school student with no previous work experience. However, you’ve performed well in your studies and have two years of experience volunteering as an assistant youth golf instructor. You’ll want to give an answer that highlights the skills you have and shows how you’ll be capable of growing in this entry-level role.
Your answer
- I’m a good fit for this position because of my abilities in communication, applying what I learn, and following instructions. While volunteering as an assistant youth golf instructor at the Fairway Academy, I’ve learned how impactful communication is on success. I’ve taken direction from the head instructors and worked with students to ensure they applied the skills we were working on for 40% better performance. I’ve also worked hard to continue growing my knowledge at school by applying what I’ve learned to class projects to maintain a 3.8 GPA. I’m confident in my abilities to learn and know that I could apply instructions to continue building my skills at Chipotle.
Example for a Manufacturing Role
Scenario: You’re interviewing for a production associate job at Ace Manufacturing. They produce parts for vehicles and are seeking detail-oriented applicants who can read blueprints and efficiently perform assembly on production lines. During the interview, you’re asked, “Why should we hire you?”
Your position: You have five years of experience working on production lines. You’ll want to craft an answer that shows the expertise you bring to the table and how you’ll be able to perform accurately in this fast-paced role.
Your answer
- You should hire me because I’m accurate, self-motivated, and have the skills in blueprint reading and assembly you require. After working on the production line at Tufco for the past five years, I’m comfortable in fast-paced manufacturing environments. During my time there, I inspected, assembled, and packaged machine parts while ensuring they were clean and error-free, which helped to improve quality ratings by 49%. I’m confident I could apply the same detail-oriented practices while working at Ace Manufacturing to achieve top performance when these parts end up on vehicles.
Example for a Creative Role
Scenario: You’re interviewing to be a graphic designer at Media Spark. They work on branding campaigns for national corporations, helping them redesign logos and images for their websites and social media profiles. Their mission is to help companies build a brand they’re proud of that accelerates company performance. During the interview, you’re asked, “What makes you a good fit for this position?”
Your position: You’re returning to the industry after taking a two-year break to work through some health issues you were dealing with. You’ll want to address the gap in your career during your answer while showcasing how your skills will make you a great fit for Media Spark’s efforts to help companies develop stand-out branding.
Your answer
- I’ve always been passionate about crafting creative visuals to make brands stand out. During my time at Astro Technologies, I used my skills in Photoshop and Illustrator to help create visuals for social media posts, resulting in 30% more engagement from their followers. Plus, after taking a two-year break to work through some health issues, I’ve also taken a refresher graphic design course at the Atlanta Technical College to ensure I’m up-to-date on current trends like using abstract gradients and textures. I’d be eager to apply my design skills at an organization like Media Spark, and I’m confident in my abilities to help you facilitate top performance for the companies you work with.
Crafting Your Narrative: A Step-by-Step Guide
Effective answers to why you’re the best fit for a position should tell a story and feel engaging to grab a hiring manager’s attention. If you’re struggling to identify the right experiences to highlight or how to shape the details into a well-rounded answer, here are some tips and tricks that will help.
Identifying key experiences
It’s not uncommon for job seekers to struggle to identify experiences that will make them stand out during the hiring process. To prepare for your interview, take a step back and brainstorm, asking yourself, “Why should they hire me?” or “Why would I be a good fit for this job?” Some questions to ask yourself to identify key experiences you can highlight from your career are:
- What experiences do you have that align best with the job’s description?
- Have you solved a problem that the company you’re interviewing with is facing?
- How have things you’ve learned helped you grow in your career?
- How has your education impacted you?
- What hobbies and interests, volunteer work, or projects shaped your expertise or passion for the role you’re seeking?
Highlighting achievements
Like identifying experiences to showcase, you might also feel like you’re drawing a blank on achievements you could highlight to show you’re the best fit for a position. Here are some ideas to brainstorm:
- Consider projects you worked on or moments from your career where you felt proud of what you achieved.
- Think back to times when your managers complimented your skills or customers gave you excellent feedback.
- Did you ever exceed the goals you were given?
- What about awards or commendations you received?
- Have you achieved something in your local community that you could highlight, such as helping meet donation goals while volunteering?
Narrative crafting strategies
When answering what makes you the right fit for the job, you can use a couple of narrative methods to highlight your experiences and achievements. They’re called the CAR and STAR methods.
CAR stands for challenge, action, and result. STAR stands for situation, task, action, and results. They have a similar impact, outlining what you did and achieved during a relevant workplace scenario. Here’s an example of how you could use this effectively:
“I believe I’d be a great fit for the role because I’m a problem solver and thrive in any filming environment I’m given. While working as a videographer with Dynamic Visuals, we were filming an outdoor commercial segment and were struggling with inconsistent lighting. Needing to wrap it up in two hours to avoid going over budget, I used a light meter to help adjust the camera’s exposure and get an ideal result in an unpredictable environment. The commercial ended up being a success, boosting consumer engagement by 35%. Experiences like that will make me an ideal fit for filming marketing materials for your team at Ridgebound Outfitters, and I’m excited to take on the challenge of consistently working in outdoor production environments.”
This is a good example using the STAR method since it presents:
- Situation: Struggling with inconsistent outdoor lighting while filming a commercial.
- Task: Find a solution to wrap up the project in two hours.
- Action: Used a light meter to adjust the camera’s exposure.
- Result: Successfully filming a commercial that ended up boosting consumer engagement by 35%.
Why Should We Hire You FAQs
A good way to tailor your answer is to mention instances where you demonstrated compatible values and skills that fit a company’s culture. For example, if you were applying for a project manager role at a company valuing teamwork, you could discuss how you’ve encouraged team brainstorming in previous roles to boost employee satisfaction and production efficiency by 56%.
Some common mistakes to avoid in your answer are being too vague, not giving examples, or having it sound overrehearsed. Review the job description and the company’s mission to brainstorm how your skills connect with the role. It’ll help to think of examples beforehand but not rehearse too much so your answer still sounds natural.
Try to brainstorm and think about what makes you excited about the position. You can mention how you’re excited to use specific skills the company is seeking in the role, your passion for their mission, or reference projects the company is working on where you’d be eager to contribute to the team.
In general, it’s best to focus on your strengths during your answer. That said, you could mention previous weaknesses you had and how you’ve grown in your career to overcome them. For example, you could talk about how you struggled with sales presentations and found using solution-selling skills helped you overcome that to boost your conversion rates by 46%.
Generally, your full answer to why you’re a good fit for the position should be 100-150 words. Within that, adding some concise examples that are about two or three sentences will be ideal. You want examples to focus on key skills you’d like to highlight without providing too many details that lose a hiring manager’s attention.
