Interview Questions - “Why should we pick you over the other candidates”
January 21st, 2006 by Jennine
“Why should we pick you over the other candidates” this is an absolute dream question as long as you are comfortable with talking about yourself and selling yourself. The key is (along with every other question) is research into the role and what type of person you believe they are looking for to fill the position.
A well researched person will be able to pick out the skills that they have that would help them fit into the position straight away. For example if it’s an Administration position, highlight the fact that you have typing skills, basic bookkeeping/accounting skills, have done accounts receivable and/or accounts payable. You have worked on a Switchboard, maintained records, undertaken data entry work. Anything and everything that will make you look employable.
However, this is also a question where you get to think outside of the box and mention your personal skills that make you a better person than someone else who doesn’t mention their ability to work under pressure, sense of humour, empathetic with clients and other personal skills that make you the great person that you are.
Don’t forget to tell the panel that you are a quick learner and back up the statement with an example. Like you had to learn new software in a previous role or filing system, something that you would have to learn under pressure and in a short time frame. This also earns points.
Don’t ramble on though, don’t tell them everything about yourself, just the key points that highlight your positives. If you think you have been talking about how fabulous you are for more than say 5 minutes (without examples) then I think you have covered enough. I would aim for about the 2-5 minute mark unless they are starting to look like they are losing interest then I would wrap that question up.
Excellent comments to make for this question:
- Calm under pressure
- Don’t stress easily
- Keep my sense of humour under all conditions
- Amicable, easy to get along with
- Strong (insert skills here)
- Enthusiastic
- Quick learner
- Use initiative
- Interact well with others
- Comment on skills that you have already that is required by the position
- Ability to delegate
- Leadership ability
- Finally, the 2 R’s - Responsible and Reliable
There are plenty of other comments you can make to this question, but remember these are the one’s that the interview panel are looking for, it demonstrates teamwork ability, leadership ability (when required), you are someone they can count on and you won’t require much training as you already have key skills.
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