Jun’s Startup Life

I have a big problem with companies or people who give job seekers very general information about interviewing.  Yahoo Jobs writes about how the “Why Should I Hire You?” question can make or break your interview chances.  This is true, but they don’t really do anything to prepare a nervous job seeker.  They give general advice like “use the story approach” or “demonstrate your accomplishments.”  If you are a nervous job seeker, does this advice ease your nerves?  Most likely… No.

So I’m here to tell you how to really approach this question and score big points with your interviewer:

Overview
This question tests how you handle yourself under pressure, your level of self-confidence, and your ability to be clear, concise, and direct. Be calm and self-assured when you respond. Believe in what you say. Sometimes this question is the tipping point, and the interviewer will make a decision based on what you say. At other times the question is merely a way to test for additional characteristics. Either way, it is among the most important questions you can receive, so develop a strong response.

Key Points

1. Talk directly about your strengths and how it will bring value to the company
2. Stay cool, calm, and collected
3. Differentiate yourself from your competitors
4. Confidence is everything minus 1.  Smile, be enthusiastic about yourself and passionate about working for the company
5. Your answer should be about 2 minutes (You want to keep it short because you want to be clear and memorable about why your interviewer should choose you for the company

Approach

1. Offer one concrete quality that can bring value to the firm
   • Show how your strength is real and “stronger” than those of your competitors by describing a key example of how you used your strength
   • Choose a quality that is unique and shows your personality.  A few examples are ones that relate to work ethics, technical skills, or a real passion you have for the firm and its work.
2. Tailor your response to the firm and its industry
   • Each firm and each industry values different characteristics, so share the ones that are relevant
3. End with passion
   • Be enthusiastic throughout your answer and end with passion for the company
   • If you believe in your response, then the interviewer will believe in your response

Remember, the interviewer is only looking for two things:

1. Can this person bring value to the firm?
2. Can this person fit within the company culture?

If you can demonstrate these two qualities effectively, then the job is yours.