When interviewing it’s important to practise your answers to the most common questions employers are likely to ask. One of these common questions is ‘why should we hire you?’. In this blog, we’ll explore why employers ask this question and how you can answer it.
Why do employers ask the question ‘Why should we hire you?’
Employers ask questions in an interview to assess how good a fit you are for both the role and the company itself. By asking the question, ‘Why should we hire you?’ employers will gain a better understanding of how well you understand the job description and whether you have conducted any research around the company.
Some of the answers employers will look for include:
- You have a passion for the industry or type of work.
- You have unique experiences or skills that set you apart from others.
- You believe in the company's values and mission statement.
How to answer ‘Tell us why we should hire you’
When answering the question ‘why should we hire you?’, there are a few things you should do:
Be specific
Employers are looking for your answer to be specific and detailed. To identify why the employer should hire you, it’s a good idea to explore what sets you apart from other candidates - this could be your skills, experience or passion.
Research, research, research
Research is one of the most important things you can do when preparing for an interview, as it lays the groundwork for crafting a tailored, compelling answer. Look into:
- The company’s values, mission statement and culture - This can be found on their website and social media pages.
- The job requirements - This will allow you to pick out key skills and experience the employer is looking for, allowing you to align them with your answer.
- View current employee’s progression - Look at people associated with the company on LinkedIn. This will allow you to see how people grow in their career when working for the business you’re interviewing at.
Prepare your answer
Once you have completed your research, the next step is to prepare a structured, evidence-based answer that clearly shows why you're the right person for the job. When doing this, you should:
- Make a list of your transferrable skills and qualifications.
- Note down any networking or industry events you have attended.
- Make a list of any relevant experience. Use the STAR method to help form this into an example you can easily recall.
- Gather any relevant stats to highlight your reasoning for being hired. For example, if you’re interviewing for a sales related role, it’s a good idea to collect information on how much revenue you’ve made for a previous company.
- Remember to talk about how you could benefit the company.
Examples of how to answer ‘why do you think we should hire you?’
Here are two examples of answering this question for different types of roles:
Marketing Manager
“I believe you should hire me as I have 5 years of experience working within marketing in both in-house and agency settings. I have helped clients increase sales and conversions, with one client making a sale of £25,000 as a result of the customer finding them through the content I wrote for their website. Due to this, I believe my skills and experience would make me a great fit for this role. What really excites me about this opportunity is how closely my own values align with yours — particularly your focus on [insert specific company value]. In my previous roles, I’ve consistently looked for creative ways to solve problems and deliver measurable results, which I believe reflects the kind of forward-thinking mindset your team values.”
Office administrator
“I believe you should hire me, as I’m a highly organised person with a background in office management. I’ve worked alongside the owner of my current agency to implement time tracking software that ensures staff are working the correct hours, resulting in higher productivity and reduced time theft.
What draws me to this role is how your company values [insert value, e.g. ‘efficiency’, ‘integrity’, or ‘continuous improvement’] — values I’ve consistently demonstrated in my work.”
Answering “Why should we hire you?” is your chance to confidently showcase your value. With the right research, preparation, and a tailored response, you can leave a lasting impression and show the employer exactly why you're the perfect fit for the role.
For further guidance and advice on obtaining a job, explore our employment services today.
