"Why should we hire you?" This is actually one of the most common questions asked in a job interview. If you're feeling upbeat and glad this question is being asked, you're at a good starting point because it's a question that gives you the opportunity to specifically inform the employer what you have to offer, why you make a good fit, and continue to sell, sell, sell to seal the deal to a job offer.
When answering this interview question, there are several things you need to think about:
1. What Do You Have To Offer That Others Can't?
Often, when you're asked, "Why should we hire you?" the thinking is to simply respond with relevant skills and experience. But if you really want to win the employer over, you need to take it a step further.
One of the most important questions to ask in an interview is: "What is the biggest challenge someone will face in this position in the first six months?" Knowing this, answer as to how you have faced these challenges before and stress the results you have achieved. Also think about not just the relevant skills and experience you have to offer, but how those skills and experiences differ from what other candidates may be able to offer.
2. Why Do You Want To Work For Them?
Employers want to hire talent who will be excited to work for them, so when you respond expressing your interest in the company and the business, make sure it's backed up with information. You don't just want to say a blank statement like: I like the company and its culture. Offer details on it like: "I've seen how the company has maintained its competitiveness with the product launch of X, Y, and Z and infiltrated new markets like Asia and Europe. I believe in the company's approach and that it will be a long-standing leader in the industry, and I'm passionate about the product and the company's mission, so I'd like to be part of it. I believe I can add value with my previous experience and success in…"
This latter response informs the employer more on why you want to work with them and how you can bring value to them. Of course, you will have to do some research ahead of time on the company and business to be able to provide such a response.
3. Where Do You Want To Be In Three Years?
The last thing to consider when asked, "Why should we hire you?" in a job interview is where you want to be in three years. This is where you have to show that you want to stay with the employer since retention is key to them. It is also a great opportunity to ask the hiring manager about career growth. Good answers include: "I like to stay challenged and learn new things and I think your company can give me that opportunity. What kind of positions have others who started in this role moved onto?"
Whether you're asked, "Why should we hire you?" in a job interview or not, be prepared with a response to this question by thinking about these three areas. Either way, you'll want to make it a point to talk about what you have to offer as an employee and business-of-one, why you want to work for the company, and where you see yourself in three years. With this strategy, you'll secure the job offer in no time!
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
For some, the job interview question, "What makes you unique?" can stop you in your tracks. You know you have the qualifications and the skills to do the job, but how are you supposed to know how you're different from anyone else?
The answer is: you don't have to know. And you don't have to be Superman to deliver a job-winning answer to this question.
Here are three surefire ways to answer the "What makes you unique?" interview question that will impress your interviewer.
How NOT To Answer This Challenging Question
To come up with a great answer to this interview question, first you need to know how notto answer. The hiring manager absolutely does not want to know that you play in a band on the weekends, you can solve a Rubik's Cube in 30 seconds, or that you have a pet rat.
When interviewers ask, "What makes you unique?" the real question is: Why should I hire you? Or, why should I choose you over the other people I'm interviewing? That's what you should answer.
A personal answer may be interesting, but it won't help to convince them to hire you. All of your job interview answers should focus on telling them what they need to know in order to say, "You're hired!"
Think about what makes you valuable to have in this role and why it's valuable. Those are the qualities you want to draw attention to, and now is the time to brag about them. Ultimately, employers want to know how you will save or make the company money. Prove your value, prove you have a track record of saving or making companies money by being successful in past positions, and they'll absolutely want to hire you.
Here are couple of great ways to answer the uniqueness question based on things employers really care about—your background, your experiences, and your personality or soft skills (that pertain to the job.)
Explaining Your Career Background
Here's a sample answer of what you might say when responding to this question:
"My background is a little different from others in the field, which gives me a unique perspective that has allowed me to see solutions that are creative and resourceful. For example, I came up with X solution [tell what it was] to solve Y problem, and it worked out beautifully. [Use evidence in the form of numbers, dollars, or percentages that really highlight the success of your solution.]"
Sharing Your Previous Experiences
Here's an example of what you might say when responding to this question:
"I believe that my education in X [name your degree or classes here] combined with my work experience in Y give me an especially great advantage when approaching [a typical or critical problem this job addresses]. I draw on both to solve everyday issues and special challenges. For example, in [name a situation], I took [name the action you took] and got [name the results you got—again, in the form of numbers, dollars, or percentages if you can]."
Selling Your Skills Sets/Personality
If the job description or things the interviewer has said so far let you know that soft skills like communication or organization are important for the job, you can say something like:
"I believe I have exceptional organizational skills. In my last job, I created a new system for task assignments that streamlined our productivity and improved it by 20%."
This little bit at the end—"by 20%"—transforms what would be a good answer ("I streamlined our productivity") to a standout answer. It grabs attention and tells them exactly how much you mattered. Remember: in the job search, it's all about quantifying your work experience, on your resume and in your job interviews.
Overall Strategy In Your Career
If you have any experience or skills that would make you valuable in the role, now is the time to mention it. Worry less about "uniqueness" and focus on value. Add impressiveness to your answer and make them remember you by incorporating proof of how what you have is valuable, and describe it in terms of numbers, dollars, or percentages.
Next time you have a big job interview, try using these tips to answer what makes you unique. That second phone call could be coming faster than you think!
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
As a former hiring manager in several consulting firms, I often wondered if candidates were cognizant of the impression they made on employers. Even small things, such as the frown displayed by an applicant upon arriving at an interview, or the worn-out jeans on an applicant in a roomful of suits, gave me pause as I worked to screen candidates.
Ironically, many of the issues I spotted could have been easily fixed by taking care of seemingly minor issues. In some cases, these corrections would have made the difference between hiring the job candidate and taking a pass on the applicant!
Here are 10 “little" things that make a big difference to hiring managers in your job search.
1. Your Digital Identity
Yes, recruiters and hiring managers will be checking out your LinkedIn presence and verifying that your Facebook and Instagram activity is not violating their corporate policies. But have you stopped to think about your tweets or the content you're creating on TikTok?
Even the most realistic employer will need to assess your liability as a potential new hire. Therefore, your online activity must be sufficiently toned-down and presentable to a potential company—long before you enter the job market.
If you've kept up a website on your middle-of-the-night gaming habit or constantly tweet your distaste for political candidates, these items can offend hiring managers—and cause them to rethink bringing you in for an interview.
2. Your Honesty
Struggling to hide employment gaps in your work history on your resume? Failing to mention that new job you just took (that isn't working out)? White lies or sins of omission on your resume and in your interviews will come back to haunt you in more than one way.
If interviewers don't catch lies during the resume screening process, there's still a chance that your background check will reveal all. Even after you're hired, your record of impeccable service won't make up for less-than-forthright stories on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Stories abound of high-profile executives, entertainment professionals, and sports coaches who attended college but didn't graduate—and who paid the price for fudging these resume details years down the road.
3. Your Accessibility
Are you open enough on LinkedIn that others can contact you? Or, did you forget to make your email address (and possibly mobile number) visible to other users? Here are best practices for ensuring you're more easily reached on LinkedIn:
From the "Edit Profile" menu, look under the box with your name and headline for "Edit Contact Info." Here, you can fill in your email address and phone numbers.
Joining Groups is also an important step in becoming accessible to employers. Sharing a Group with another user means he or she can reach out to you for free (important to recruiters maximizing their LinkedIn budgets).
Don't forget the "Contact Information" section. Select "Privacy & Settings" from the top right (hover the mouse under your name). Choose the "Communication" tab at the bottom left, and "Select the types of messages you're willing to receive." Add a paragraph in the "Advice to People Who Are Contacting You" box that includes your preference for email, phone, or LinkedIn messages.
4. Your Job Search Follow Up
Sent in a resume, but failed to take any action beyond pressing the "Send" button? If you didn't spend some time following up or identifying company insiders for further networking, your job search will take longer.
Doing some homework on the employer's business needs and identifying key people for personal follow up (through LinkedIn or an online search) shows them you're truly interested in a career opportunity, and that you've given thought to solving their business problems.
Be sure to use formal channels when applying to a posted job, then reach out to your newly found contacts to reiterate your interest in joining the company. Better still, connect and network with employees at the companies on your interview bucket list well before you start your job search. That way, you'll already have connections at those companies when it comes time for you to apply for a job.
5. The Tone Of Your Cover Letter Or LinkedIn Message
Cranking out LinkedIn messages or cover letters at top speed—with just a few adjustments here and there? Hiring managers can smell a "form letter" approach a mile away. Nothing says "I'm desperate and don't care about your needs" more than a disjointed cover letter or a LinkedIn message that simply asks for a job.
No matter how you're getting in touch with employers, take the time to write a brand-specific message of value to them—helping them discover who you are, what you offer, and why you're interested in a position with their company. This means customizing each LinkedIn message and writing disruptive cover letters.
You may not be able to crank them out as fast, but you'll be sacrificing quantity for quality. And, in the job search, quality is always better than quantity.
6. Your Demeanor When Arranging The Interview
When setting up any kind of business meeting, there's a certain amount of give and take required for coordination. No matter how in-demand your skills may be, you'll be expected to acquiesce to interview timing and location parameters set by employers. That can mean dealing with less-than-helpful receptionists or HR personnel, all of whom will be taking notes on your reactions.
Your phone etiquette and email communications will be watched closely; a courteous and respectful tone will go miles in reinforcing your personal brand and potential as a job candidate.
7. Your Appraisal Of The Interviewer
Feeling put out by the fact that your interviewer appears younger, more inexperienced, or otherwise beneath you in the professional hierarchy? Be careful how you convey this disapproval. You may believe you're hiding these feelings, but as one of those younger-looking interviewers, I often picked up on this tone very quickly!
Even if you decide mid-interview that you're not interested in the company, remember to display a high degree of professionalism. You never know how well-connected your interviewer might be.
8. Your Discretion
Polarizing, hot-button subjects such as politics or religion should make their way out of your resume, LinkedIn profile, interview discussions, and side conversations.
No matter how neutral or popular you consider your stance to be on these topics, there's bound to be someone who disagrees with you—and who votes against hiring you.
9. Your Post-Interview Actions
Yes, you should be sending a thank you note to employers after your interviews! Whether a short, handwritten card, LinkedIn message, email, or even hard-copy letter, a thank you note gives employers the impression that you're a gracious and appreciative job candidate.
A post-interview note can also be used to address lingering questions, counter potential objections ("Regarding our discussion on your new Western region, I can assure you that I'm accustomed to handling accounts in person for maximum effect—and therefore open to travel"), or mention a fond memory you have of the experience (a conversation, for example) to highlight a connection you made with the individuals at the company.
Be sure to address your notes to each person you've encountered in the interview process (or at least mention their names in the note), especially if you've met with a panel or group.
10. The Frequency Of Your Messages
Just because social media lets you send messages faster than ever doesn't mean you should pester employers. Following up once or twice after applying for a job should suffice to let them know you're still interested in the position. The same is true of the post-interview period.
Hiring managers have companies to run and customers to serve, in addition to the process of choosing you. They may also have other candidates to consider. Staying on an employer's radar is important, but so is professional discretion. Aim for somewhere in between silent and stalker in your follow-up activities.
There are numerous ways employers can be put off by your job search practices or approach. Ensure you're taking steps to satisfy their need for information and put your best professional foot forward.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Receiving a job offer after a long job search is one of the best feelings in the world. Before you say "yes" though, it's important to determine whether you're making the right decision for you and your career.
After an incredibly difficult job search, it can be tempting to take the first job offer you receive. Of course, there are many factors that go into whether you should accept that job offer, but for most professionals, it's not wise to blindly accept your first one, unless it's a position at one of your bucket list companies.
The decision to accept a job offer shouldn't be taken lightly. In order to advance your career, you need to make sure each job you take provides you with opportunities to grow as a professional, while also factoring in work-life balance.
Here are four questions you must ask yourself before accepting any job offer.
1. Do I Like The People I'd Be Working With At This Company?
It may be hard to know if you'd work well with the people at a particular company just after a few interviews and handshakes. But it's important to make an effort to get to know the people you'd be working with before moving too far into the hiring process.
Your co-workers can make or break your experience at a company. If you didn't get a good vibe from the people you met during your interviews, then maybe you should think twice about accepting the job offer. We're not saying you should be friends with your co-workers. You just need to be able to work well with them.
By getting to know as many people as possible early on in the interview process, you won't only learn who they are and whether you could get along with them, but you'll also strengthen your network within the company.
2. Will I Be Able To Leverage My Strengths In This Position?
Part of your job during an interview is asking the right questions so you can learn as much about the company and the position as possible in order to make an informed decision if a job offer comes your way.
After a couple rounds of interviews, you should have a clear idea of what you'd be doing every day if you were to accept the job offer. Are you excited about those projects? Will you be able to leverage your strengths to help the company meet their goals? If not, then you probably won't get very much satisfaction out of the job.
An employer will offer you the job if they believe you can add value to the company. But if the way they want you to add value doesn't align with your career goals or strengths, it might not be the right position for you.
3. Can I Relate To The Company's Values And Beliefs?
This question is an easy one to forget to ask ourselves when we're offered a job.
Although you should always feel connected to a company's mission or values before you apply for a job there (so you can write a disruptive cover letter and actually land an interview), maybe you haven't considered the company values and beliefs until this stage in the hiring process. If you haven't done so, you should research the company until you know what its purpose is. Why does the company exist? What problem is it trying to solve? Could you work towards this mission every day?
The bottom line: If your values and beliefs don't match up with the company's, then you won't be truly invested in what you're doing, and your performance and career happiness and satisfaction will suffer.
4. Will The Location Of This Job Work For Me?
A commute is a bigger factor in your career than you think. A lot of people underestimate the kind of toll a long and difficult commute will have on them. That's why it's important to be honest with yourself: Do you really want to spend an hour or more on the road every day?
Before saying "yes" to a job with a long commute, consider your schedule, lifestyle, and family commitments. Are you willing to sacrifice and compromise on certain areas of your life for this opportunity? Will you still be able to achieve some type of work-life balance with a long commute?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more professionals want to work remote jobs, and companies are listening, offering more remote work opportunities to attract top talent. If you'd prefer not to commute at all, then you should probably apply for jobs that offer the flexibility to work from home (at least some of the time). Being a remote or hybrid employee definitely has its perks when you consider how stressful, expensive, and time-consuming a commute can be, and it absolutely should be a factor in your decision to accept a job or not.
By asking yourself these four questions before accepting any job offer, you'll be sure you're making the right decision—for you and your career.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
The prospect of bringing someone onto the team is one that is exciting and full of possibility. I love talking with candidates. I enjoy learning about them and their passions and aspirations. Hiring should be something that is exciting and fun. The problem is it remains a process and processes are generally less fun and exciting. But, I can say that there are some things that candidates do that truly make the process more fun and exciting.
So, what are some things hiring managers love to see from a job seeker? Here are the six things that a candidate can do that make a hiring manager want to say, "You're hired!"
1. Following The Instructions
It is refreshing when a candidate does exactly what we ask when applying for a position. At my company, we require you to join our database. We only use our own tool to identify talent for our open positions. We don't take resumes. We don't believe them. That's our requirement. So, when people do what we've asked, we are happy. We look at their work samples and try to find the best hire based on what they've done.
On the flip side, when people send me a resume...I get really frustrated. It makes me unhappy. I feel it ignores what we are trying to do and that makes me feel like the candidate doesn't respect what we are trying to do. It also gives me the impression that they don't pay attention to details. So, the candidate that simply follows the directions is one that brings me delight.
2. Having Focused Communications
When a candidate tells me exactly what they are going to bring to the table to solve my business challenges, I pick up the phone and call them. And who doesn't love it when the hiring manager calls them directly to talk about their experience?
When you are writing your resume, try to keep the following in mind: "What's in it for the employer?" The best way to answer this question is by quantifying your work experience so the hiring manager knows exactly how you'll add value to the organization. When you focus your communication on solving the business problems, I love you for it. I can imagine you doing the job right away, because you get it.
If this makes you wonder what's in it for you, the candidate, well, when we get to the interview, it is up to me to convince you why you'd want to work for the company. So, keep your communications focused on how your skills will solve our problems.
3. Being On Brand With The Company
Our company has a sense of humor. We like funny. So, I love it when people send me connection requests or inquiries that sound like someone here wrote it. This tells me three things: First, you took the time to research our company and understand our personality. Second, you understand our brand enough that the learning curve when you start isn't steep (I can already see you working here when you write in our voice). And finally, it tells me that you also see alignment.
Companies hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience. How you fit into the company culture is a huge factor in a hiring manager's decision whether to offer you the job or not. Therefore, being on brand with the company and having a real connection to what they do and being passionate about their mission will all signal to the hiring manager that you'd be a great fit.
4. Showing Examples
Nothing beats examples! Examples are awesome and help you stand out.
If you have a portfolio, SlideShare, CredHive, links to documents, spreadsheets, reports, project plans, ideas, and presentations from Dropbox, send them. I love to see examples of what you're passionate about and what you are good at. It helps me see what you've done so that I can better imagine you working on our team.
5. Asking Good Questions
The interview and its precursor communications should help you make a good decision during each step in the process. You should be curious about our company, its trajectory, my management style, and the team. You need to ask good questions to help yourself make a well-informed decision.
When you ask good questions, I can tell you are curious and that you are thoughtful. These are my top two desired soft skills.
6. Following Up Smartly
Nothing seals the deal like a smartly crafted follow-up message. First, there's the follow-up thank you note. Always send a thank you note. But everyone knows that.
After sending a thank you note, when a little time has passed after the job interview, the best way a candidate can stand out is by sending me a news article or blog post that is thought-provoking based on our conversation. This type of follow up almost always elicits a follow-up email from me.
If you're wondering what a hiring manager really wants to see in a job candidate, just remember the six points above. Follow these tips in your next job search and hiring managers will love you!
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
