How to answer ”how are you a match for this job” in an interview

In any interview, your ultimate goal is to show that you’re a great match for the job. There is a good chance you may get asked… “What makes you a great match for this role?” or “Why are you a good candidate for this position?” or even ”Why should we hire you?”

So many people find it hard to boast about themselves, even in a job interview but this really is your chance to ”sell yourself” and its so important that you are able to do this.

In reality, you don’t need to objectively prove that you’re the number one candidate in every way. Instead, interviewers are looking to see that you’ve put thought into how you’d thrive in this job and understand how you’re uniquely qualified for the position.

 

Why Do Interviewers Ask Why You’re a Great Match or Candidate for a Role?

When they’re considering whether you’re the right person to fill a position, interviewers “want to see if you fully understand what they are seeking in a new hire and in return understand their business”

If you are working with a recruiter its important to note that recruiters can only do so much when it comes to lining up your background with the job. When interviewers ask this question, they want to know that the interviewee has connected the dots between their skills and the requirements of the role, and be sure that they have taken the initiative to do research on the company.

Show that you’ve taken the time to really understand what you specifically will bring to their workplace. Not only will it tell employers what they’ll get from hiring you, but it will also demonstrate that you care enough about the position to really consider it.

Additionally, interviewers are looking for an applicant who is confident in their ability to perform, After all, confident employees will often need less guidance and spend less time second-guessing themselves.

 

If you want to be prepared to answer this question well, there are a few tips you should follow:

1. Understand What the Company Needs

Again, interviewers want to know that you understand what the company is looking for—both for this specific position and for any employee on their team. You can’t answer this question if you don’t first know exactly what a great match for the role would be. So study the job posting and research the company ahead of your interview. You can do this by going through the company website and social media and by networking with people in the company on LinkedIn or others who are in the same or similar roles as to the one you are applying for.

Also, remember that your answer isn’t set in stone. This question often comes up toward the end of an interview, so you can incorporate things you’ve learned during the conversation. This shows you have listened to what is being said about this position.

 

2. Determine How You’re Uniquely Qualified

Once you know what a company needs, you can figure out how you fit the bill. With your answer you’ll want to “try to demonstrate why you’ll succeed in the role and be a value add to the team—and why you’re excited for the role,” So think about it: What pain points are you going to solve in the job? What additional skills do you bring to the team or company beyond the requirements of the job description? Do you have a unique perspective on the industry or the company’s product? Are you aligned with the company’s values in a way that will help you thrive, support the mission, and add to the culture?

 

3. Incorporate Examples

It’s not enough to just know what qualities and traits you want to mention. “Don’t just rattle [off] a bunch of adjectives,”. Stories resonate much better than just listing all of the skills for the position.

Strong examples will back up what you’re saying and help you stand out. W

Come to your interview prepared with several stories that demonstrate different skills and qualities, so that you can select the most relevant one (or ones) to incorporate into your answer to this question.

 

4. Keep It Concise

Make it memorable but not a long list of things. For example, you might use one story to emphasize two key skills you bring to the role.

Make sure you only provide information that is relevant and necessary for the interviewer to understand your response. Avoid going off on tangents, providing too much information, or being too vague.

 

5. Don’t Be Afraid to sell yourself!

Remember interviewers are looking for hires who are confident in their skills, and job interviews are meant for showing off your accomplishments.

However, if you’re someone who has trouble talking themselves up, you can:

  • Mention how others have praised your skills and found them useful.
  • Back your points up with examples, details, and numbers.
  • Make objective connections to the role. If you know that a company or team is looking to launch a new project or struggles in a certain area, for example, you can mention these things and then talk about how you might be able to help based on what you’ve done before.

 

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