Why Should I Hire You?
That's a typical question you might get asked at the end of an interview. I have some tips on the best way to answer that specific question(validated from a couple of friends - some of the best experts on career-building and job-hunt advice) via the Internet.
When an interviewer asks the question, "Why should I hire you?" It's usually for three basic reasons: one - your resume does not indicate clearly that you are qualified. Another reason could be that you may be over or under-qualified. The last reason could just simply he or she is exhausted from conducting too many interviews and wants to cut to the chase.
Nowadays, with so many of us looking for jobs in an increasingly shrinking job-market, it's best that we're prepared to answer the question "why should I hire you?" with confidence.
Answer the question with a real-life experience, not with a list of qualifications - your resume should have that list. For example, instead of saying, "I was the top-selling Financial Center Manager of ABC Bank," give an experience that reflects that, maybe something like, "My branch has raised sales 23% from one year to the next and the packaged I created has brought an additional 4% per month nationwide." You see, the latter says "why" you were the top-selling FCM instead of just stating so. Just make sure that your "experience" is an actual one.
If you are over-qualified, you have to express why would you take a position that is way under your merits. A reason could be, "I will be attending Law School next year and so I would like a position, different than I'm use to, where I can excel at both - work and school. I realize that I'm qualified to do other things, but I want to have a better work/life balance." What the potential employer is really worried about is, if hired, are you going to bail when a better offer comes along . They want a commitment. I usually give one if I know (and they know) I'm overqualified. A 2 year commitment is a great starting point.
If your under-qualified (or if they feel that you are) you have to be able to answer the question, "Why should I hire you" with as much finesse as if you were overqualified. You have to be able to dictate why your past "experiences" are relevant to the current position. For example, did you know that waiting on tables and getting food to your customers is highly congruent to meeting deadlines in the corporate world? Sharing what you have done to "get your food out on time" may make a hiring manager see you as a person that works well with people under pressure and that you get things done - no matter what. It may be the traits he or she is looking for in a candidate. Explain with real-life experiences why you are qualified for the position in question.
Your experience(s) may also make you a perfect fit for jobs that you may be overqualified for or under-qualified for, and so it makes you very "lateral" across many differing positions in different job-markets. Take me for instance, I have managed law-firms, banks, corporate health-club facilities, international shipping companies, and even a non-profit business. My strong selling points is that I know how to manage people well (both employees and customers) and so I'm viewed as I can "manage" anything that has to do with groups and sales. So, I should be able to manage hospitals, psychiatric medical offices, universities, or even a car-wash.
I also have been on interviews where it appeared that the hiring manager was just "spent" from looking at candidates all week. I was told more than once, "I must say, you have an impressive resume, so instead of asking you all the questions I usually ask, in a nutshell - tell me, why should I hire you?" Those are my favorites. I turn that to my advantage every time. This is where your personality (I hope you have one) takes over the interview. You must be able to convey in 12 minutes or less, while smiling and engaging the interviewer, that your "experiences" has prepared you for the current position. I also give a hint of a tone that says, "You must be out of your mind if you do not hire me - and your competition will snatch me right up!"
Author: www.hluizpresents.com, Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009
