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Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?: Why It Is Asked & How To Answer [With Sample Answers]

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We’ve all been there before—you’ve landed the interview, and then you’re asked the all-important question…”Why are you the best person for the job?”

If this question stumped you, you’re not alone! Many people struggle with how to answer without over or underselling themselves.

Thankfully, there are a few tricks to help you respond in an informative and elegant way.

Keep reading to learn why employers ask this question and how you can succeed at standing out in an interview.

Why Do Interviewers Ask, “Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?”?

How you answer this question lets a hiring manager know if and how well you understand the role you’re applying for, but that’s not all. They can gauge your interest in the position and if you believe you’re a good fit.

What Is the Interviewer Looking For?

The hiring team wants to know that you have the skills and qualifications to succeed in the role. They want to see a candidate who understands what the role requires and how their background fits within those parameters.

The most pressing thing they’re trying to learn is what makes you distinct from everyone else. Interviewers desire to know what stands out about you and what they can get from you that they can’t get from the other candidates.

The open-endedness of the question will grant the employer insight into who you are and how you can help the company. Here are a few specific examples of what they might be looking for:

  • See instances of your skills and past experiences and how they can help them in achieving their goals
  • Clues on how well you’ll fit in with the established culture within the company
  • Evidence that you research the company and know a lot about it.

Now that you know the why, it’s time to figure out how to construct your answer appropriately.

How To Answer “Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?”

There are a few ways to approach this question, but they all require a basic understanding of the role and at least minimum qualifications to do the job.

Even if you don’t possess every attribute the posting lists, you need to be able to fill in the gaps or emphasize key strengths that match specific aspects.

What To Focus On When Answering This Question

Below you’ll find key things to focus on when answering this question:

  • Skills and Experience: Firstly, highlight all professional experience and skills relevant to the position you’re going for. Use examples that include specific situations, achievements, and quantitative results.
  • Provide Quantifiable Examples: Highlighting past accomplishments with specific examples demonstrates your understanding of the role and how you’ve faced similar situations in the past. It allows the hiring manager to see how you would fit into their team and what they can expect from you.  
  • Honesty: This tip should be applied to every interview question. You want to be yourself and refrain from presenting yourself as something you’re not.
  • Dedication and Passion: If there are two candidates with similar work experience and skills, employers will always choose the one that is more sociable, enthusiastic, and passionate about working for the company.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Here are some things that you want to avoid saying as they could jeopardize your candidacy:

  • Money: Companies want their candidates to be motivated by more than just money; it’s best not to mention the topic unless they bring it up.
  • Perks: Similar to salary, saying that you want the job for the perks is not a good reason for the company to hire you over other qualified persons.
  • Desperation: Admitting to an interviewer that you really need a job is never a persuasive answer.

Examples: How To Answer “Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?”

Here are a few examples of how to answer the question based on various scenarios, such as focusing on skills and experience, not having any experience yet, and fitting in with the company’s culture.

Example Answer 1 (Skills and Experience)

I possess extensive experience as a Marketing Manager for a slightly smaller company, so I believe I can also excel in the same role for this company. With over ten years as lead manager, I was in charge of 15 employees in the marketing department.

Within my first two years there, I successfully revised the company’s marketing strategy, boosted customer engagement by 12 percent, and increased sales by 29 percent the following year. I’m ready for a more challenging role in this field.

Why This Answer Works

This answer works because it shows tangible results based on your skills and experience. It shows the employer how you’ve handled leadership in the past, your knowledge of what works, and your eagerness to take on a higher level of commitment.

When possible, you always want to use quantifiable examples to illustrate your success at a previous organization. It gives the interviewer confidence that you’ll be able to succeed in a new position since you’ve done it before.

Example Answer 2 (No Experience)

Despite being a recent college graduate, I’m confident that I can apply myself to the position.

Aside from committing to my education, I interned at five different organizations while managing a full-time course load. Those experiences taught me how to work with others, including customers and coworkers.

I see this position also requires someone who can work well under pressure, is enthusiastic, and adapts to constant changes.

As a club athlete and student body representative, I managed several commitments and still maintained a part-job, internships, and earned excellent grades.

Aside from the ability to multitask, I am self-motivated, able to adapt to a fast-paced environment, and I learn quickly. I believe I can be an asset to this company if given the opportunity.

Why This Answer Works

As long as the candidate delivers this answer with confidence, it works well. By highlighting the ability to balance a busy schedule and a willingness to learn, they overcome the lack of professional experience.

Frequently, an employer will consider someone with a strong educational background and solid work ethic for positions that don’t necessarily require a higher level of knowledge.

It may help to ask for a letter of recommendation if you think it’ll bolster your chances of getting a job without experience.

Example Answer 3 (Understanding of Company Values)

I noticed that this company does a lot of community outreach and service projects, which is something near and dear to my heart. It is admirable to see an organization doing so much for the community.

For the past several years, I’ve dedicated time each summer to Habitat for Humanity. I also volunteer at the local food bank and spent a year working with the Peace Corps after college. It would be nice to continue my community service in this role and be around like-minded people.

Why This Answer Works

This answer works because you’re showing that you did your research on the company and understand the importance of community service as a pillar of the team’s values. It draws comparisons to yourself and how you’ve committed yourself to a similar mindset.

While the comparison does not have to be about community service, it’s essential to let the employer know that you’ve envisioned yourself in the role and already know how you’ll be able to contribute.  

Additional Tips for Impressing an Interviewer Asking Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?

In addition to being confident about everything you’ve achieved, there are a few key ways to impress the interviewer when answering this question.

You could always ask somebody to be a reference so they can vouch for what you’re saying, but it’s also possible to go at it alone.

Here are our top tips to impress your potential employer:

Research the Company

Researching the company you want to work for is a key to devising the best answers to any question. Understanding what they do, who they partner with, and what their values are allow you to create more organic, on-topic answers.

This approach will help you show why you’re perfect for them, not just the general field. Take the time to review the company’s social media pages, website, and any other information you can find online.

Focus on the Employer’s Needs

Instead of emphasizing why you want the position, try tailoring your answer to describe why you can help them fill in the gaps.

You should take the time to describe soft and hard skills that not only add value to the company but give concrete examples of how you can help them reach certain objectives. Make your response as specific to the job description as possible.

Quantify Your Accomplishments

When possible, support your accomplishments with quantifiable results. For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job as a Social Media Manager at a company looking for someone to improve brand strategy.

Additional Questions to Be Aware Of

An interviewer could ask a few additional important questions, so it’s good to be prepared to give the best answer possible.

Check out these related questions:

Wrapping Up

Remember, when the interviewer asks, “Why are you the best person for the job?” they’re ultimately trying to gauge whether hiring you is a good business decision.

You can answer the question in several ways, but ensure that whichever route you take includes relevant skills, experience, and a desire to work for the company.

It’s equally important not to be too modest as it is not to sound cocky when presenting yourself. With some research and preparation beforehand, this daunting question won’t be so challenging to answer. Good luck!

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