‘What makes you the best candidate for this position?’ in an interview
During a job interview, you will most likely be asked several questions, one of which may be ‘Why are you the best person for this job?’ Employers ask this question for a variety of reasons, including assessing your skills and qualifications as well as your confidence in yourself for the position. More reasons why hiring managers ask this question, how to answer ‘What makes you a good fit for this position?’ in a job interview, tips, and examples answers for this type of interview question are covered in this section.
Why do employers ask, ‘What makes you the best candidate for this job?’
An employer may ask, ‘Why are you the best fit for this position?’ for a variety of reasons. or a question phrased similarly. These are some of the reasons:
- Determine what makes you unique in terms of your job qualifications.
- Make certain you fully understand the position and what they are looking for in a job candidate.
- Examine your own self-assurance in terms of your ability to do the job.
- Examine how you handle difficult situations.
How to respond to the question, “Why are you the best person for this job?”
The steps below will help you prepare for and provide a strong answer to the question, “Why are you the best person for this job?”
Examine the job posting
Understanding what the job entails and the qualifications required to perform the job is the first step in preparing for this type of interview question. Take your time reading over the job posting, especially the sections that list the experience or qualifications that the company is looking for. Look for skills, experience, or education that are similar to your own and make a note of it to mention when answering this question in the interview.
Investigate the organization
Before attending an interview, you should also do some research on the company to gain a better understanding of its goals and mission. By researching the company, you can also learn more about the company culture and the employees who work there. Look for similarities between the company’s values and goals and your own.
Concentrate on your strong points.
Once you’ve determined the skills and experience required for the job, as well as the company’s mission and goals, you can narrow down your strengths that relate to the position and company. Write down up to seven professional qualities or strengths that are relevant to the position. Use these as the foundation for your response to the interview question, “Why are you the best person for this job?”
Use measurable examples.
Provide quantifiable examples of your strengths and accomplishments that make you a good fit for the position. Instead of simply stating that you have strong communication skills, describe an instance in which you used your communication skills to solve a problem at work.
Practice your response
Practicing answering interview questions is a great way to shake off the nerves and ensure you’re ready with appropriate responses that will set you apart from the competition. Consider practicing with a coworker, friend, or family member and soliciting feedback on your responses.
Tips for answering the question, “Why are you the best person for this job?”
Here are some pointers to consider when answering the interview question “Why are you a good fit for this position?”
- Avoid giving a memorized response. While you want to give a polished and professional response, you also don’t want it to sound memorized word for word. This may appear unprofessional or inauthentic, reflecting poorly on you rather than helping to distinguish you from other candidates.
- Keep your response brief. If possible, keep your response to less than two minutes. An answer that is longer than this length of time may result in the hiring manager losing interest and attention.
- Use only relevant examples. It is critical to only include skills, accomplishments, and qualifications that are directly related to the job you are applying for. You may have a variety of skills, but if they aren’t relevant to the position, you should leave them out of your response.
- Mention any rare or unique skills you have. Include any skills you have that make you a good candidate for the position and that not many other people have in your response to this interview question.
- Maintain your focus on how you can assist the organization. When responding to this question, focus on how your qualifications and skills will benefit the company rather than why you want the job. Before the interview, conduct research on the company to ensure you respond in a knowledgeable and relevant manner when referring to the organization.
‘Why are you a good fit for this position?’ examples
The following are some sample answers to this interview question that you can use as inspiration when writing your own:
- My skills and qualifications are a perfect match for the requirements of this position. My communication and leadership abilities, in particular, make me a strong candidate for the position. In my previous position, I managed a team of ten employees and implemented a new communication system that increased productivity by 15% in three months. I’m confident that I can bring this level of success to this position.
- I am confident that I am a good fit for this position for several reasons, the most important of which is my commitment to going above and beyond in my work. I am committed to self-learning any new skills required to succeed in this role. In my previous job, for example, I educated myself on how to use Adobe Photoshop in my spare time. This enabled me to incorporate graphic design into my marketing role, reducing costs for the company. I understand that you are looking for a self-motivated candidate for this position, and I am that candidate.
