How to respond to the question, “What makes you the right candidate for this position?”
Your qualifications will inevitably come up during the interview. The question “Why do you think you are qualified for this position?” is a standard one for any employer. Some people find it difficult to discuss themselves, but questions like these provide excellent opportunities to highlight their most impressive abilities. Spending some time practicing before hand can help ease anxiety.
If you want to give a great response, you need to fully grasp the question.
Reasons why prospective employers want to know why you’re qualified
When trying to determine which job candidate is the best fit for their organization, employers often ask, “Why do you think you are qualified for this position?” Your potential employer believes you have the necessary skills for the job, so they’ve invited you in for an interview to see if you’re also a good cultural fit.
Learn the actual questions asked in interviews for hundreds of different occupations
Methods for Responding to Qualifications Questions
Interviews can be difficult, especially if you feel you have something to prove. Explaining your qualifications for a job is like outlining your strengths to a potential employer, except it needs to be more specific to the duties listed in the job posting. Here are some guidelines for articulating your suitability for the job:
Learn as much as you can about the business.
Get familiar with the history and values of the company, and make a list of the skills and experiences listed in the job posting that you already possess. To better understand a company’s identity, peruse their social media channels. Keep a list handy during job interviews to help you emphasize the ways in which your values and those of the company align.
Brainstorm
In your cover letter, you should explain why you think you would be a good addition to the company, what you can do to help the team or the company’s brand, and anything else that would make you stand out from the other applicants. It’s best to be ready, but you shouldn’t sound scripted. To help you organize your thoughts and deliver them fluently, it can be useful to write down everything you want to say and then say it out loud a few times.
Keep an ear out for the interview!
If you’re thinking about your response to the interviewer’s questions instead of what they’re asking, it can be hard to give your full attention to the interview. Taking notes as the interviewer speaks is a great way to guarantee that you’ll remember everything they say.
Details, please
The interviewer will gain a more complete understanding of your skills and experience if you back up your claims with specific examples from your own life. List your skills and experience, and then provide an example of how you put those skills to use in a professional setting. In the event that you want to highlight a skill you have but don’t have much professional experience using it, a personal story will do just fine.7
Guidelines for composing a convincing response to the question, “Why do you believe you are qualified for this position?”
Remember that the interviewer is interested in seeing that you have done your research on the company, that you have faith in your own abilities, and that you can articulate how you will use those abilities to contribute to the company’s success when you are asked, “Why do you think you are qualified for this position?” The underlying question is, “What can you do for us that no one else can?”
Some basics to keep in mind are as follows:
- Show how much you can contribute to the company. Consider your transferable skills and how they align with the needs of the advertised position. Think of other abilities of yours (both professional and personal) that could set you apart.
- Tell a tale. Make sure that you expand on each skill you list by providing a specific example of how you used that skill to accomplish a positive goal. Make a direct link between your experience and the needs of the company whenever possible.
- Be succinct and to the point in your responses. Take a few of the characteristics from your list and expand on them. If you must list things, avoid making lists that are too long and lack sufficient description.
- Pay special attention to the position you are applying for. Your potential with the company is important to a potential employer. Show that you know how to put your skills to use in this particular job.
When asked, “What makes you the best candidate for this role?” Replies as an Example
If you’re wondering how to respond to the question “Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?” here are some answers to use as models:
Example 1: Applicable skills
The best way to make an impression is to talk about your relevant skills and back them up with brief examples of how you’ve applied them in professional settings. You can increase your chances of getting hired by describing in detail how you have used a skill that is central to the position you are applying for.
Given what I know about your company from our discussions and my own independent research, I can tell you that you need a skilled communicator and someone with extensive marketing experience to help your business grow and distinguish itself from the competition. During my first two months on the job, I increased online activity by 36% by using social media for targeted advertising. Since your company’s expansion and success are two of my top goals, I can guarantee that I will bring my drive and creativity to the table.
Example 2: Leadership
Leadership skills may or may not be required for the job you’re applying for. Strong leadership qualities, however, often translate to other valuable skills such as self-sufficiency, communication, or patience, even if the job won’t require you to lead or manage a team.
As an example of a response, I was a sales manager for five years and an assistant sales manager for two years at the same company, where I oversaw and assisted with the management of teams ranging in size from ten to fifteen members. Over the course of my four years there, I worked tirelessly to find novel approaches to inspiring my team, and we were named “Store of the Year” each year. My ability to combine leadership with excellent interpersonal skills is what makes me stand out from the competition. Interacting with people and seeing them through to the end is important to me, whether they are customers or colleagues.
Example 3: Non-professional experience
There will be times when a potential employer lists a requirement that you simply do not have but would be an asset to the company nonetheless: a specific set of skills or qualities. They should be able to find common ground between your outside experiences and their requirements. Here is your chance to highlight your transferable skills outside of the workplace.
While I’m new to the industry as a whole, I bring extensive experience in customer service. The emphasis on customer service and client relations in your job description and my research into the company appealed to me. During each of my four summers of high school, I volunteered with the YMCA and a local charity that organized community cleanups and fund-raising events. Working with these groups taught me how much I enjoy assisting others, providing information to guests, and ensuring that they have a pleasant and memorable experience.
Example 4: Teamwork
In almost every job, you’ll be expected to collaborate with others, even if doing so isn’t explicitly part of the job description. The ability to get along with others, offer and take criticism constructively, and keep a positive attitude no matter the situation is a valuable skill for any employee.
As an example response, I have always been good at figuring out how I can contribute most effectively to a team and then doing what I can to back up everyone else’s efforts. Before leaving my last position, I was in a supervisory role that required me to lead teams on a regular basis. As a result, I was able to quickly identify each team member’s strengths and put them to use in roles where they could shine. This position appears to require significant teamwork, one of my greatest areas of expertise.
No matter what field you’re looking to break into, when asked “Why do you think you’re qualified for this position?” interviewers want to hear about the value you’ll bring to the company. Always remember to do your homework and concentrate on your strongest, most pertinent selling points.
