Almost ten years into professional life, having
been answering twenty to thirty interview calls per year on an average, the
question which I still feel the toughest in an interview is “Why should we hire
you?” It has always been a puzzle since the time I started my career: Should I
start answer it with the subject matter qualifications or should I get along explaining
personal strengths I possess? I found there is no perfect answer; as it is apt
to say, the situation demands the type of response. But for the most times, as
I think, one should start answering this question by discussing their strengths
and weaknesses clubbed with anecdotes to give the bigger picture of themselves,
so that making an interviewer’s job less hectic.
In simple, I would say practice picking up keywords
with respect to strengths and weaknesses that mentioned in your portfolio (to make
employers know a little more on some of your important characteristics and how
are they going to help their organization), which have continuously been a
driving force for you while approaching a professional task. I feel those could
be the best possible reasons that answer why an employer should hire you and me
as well. Some of those strengths are:
Adaptability:
This particular strength can possibly help an
interviewer learn how easy you (interviewee) are to gel up with the working
conditions and with the team. In my case, I have worked for various industries
since the time I took up writing as a career.
Workplace
Anecdotes: “since 2002, the year I have started my career, I’ve worked for
various industries viz. Dotcom, IT, and Rich Media. The people were different. And
so was their approach to arrive at a task done. Irrespective of the industry I
was working for, I tried to be suitable to organization’s culture and working
conditions at any given point of time and know what! I am happy with what I
have been experiencing at work, so far.”
Adverbial:
‘Adverbial’ could be one of the best possible reasons
why an employer should hire you as it showcases the flexibility and learning
curve of you (an employee) or his/her ability to move around irrespective of organizational
hierarchy. It might not be understood by all as it sounds more linguistic while
reading and hence I had given a lot of thought before correlating with strengths
and weaknesses. However, I am pretty sure that it fits any portfolio with ease
for its best possible ability of fitting anywhere irrespective of hierarchy.
Digging deep into its roots, to my little knowledge
adverb, by large, is the only section of parts of speech in English language
which has the ability to move around in a sentence, refer to position of adverbs. Before the main verb; as
a mediator as in between the auxiliary and main verb; and (or) after the verb
used to. But wherever it is, it works hand in hand with the main verb.
Workplace
Anecdotes: Once, I was ordered to look after on-page optimization techniques of
one of our employers’ website for a very short period. But my interview-time
responsibilities were to take up writing related to tasks only i.e. related to content
writing. Instead of being reluctant to take up the task out of my job, in a
quick gesture, I took up the challenge and had proven a point to my manager that
put me in any position; I will work towards the best practices of an
organization.
On the contrary, I will not recommend this specific
trait for everyone as some may feel that it is not wise to change your mind set
for someone’s sake. Many feel, sometimes, it may mislead your career but, I
would say, often times it will help you to be resourceful and could save you at
layoff times.
Go-Getter
Attitude: Most times what any employer would look for in an
employee is the latter’s attitude towards work; the go-getter attitude.
Organizations not only look for the loyalists but also the doer’s. Show that
killer act which you have achieved. It’s not such an alien thing. Everyone,
indeed, has it in-built – the zeal to accomplish. You just have to show that up
to your interviewer. You might have walked a tight rope while solving an issue;
you might have helped someone to solve something; or, at least might have tried
something against the mundane to get the work done. Just brush up your memory
and put up the best possible go-getting situation you’ve experienced
professionally to be productive and deliverable as well.
For instance, I would proudly say that I am
deliverable looking at my track record as…
Workplace
Anecdotes: A couple of years ago, while I was working with Suchirindia Group, we had to develop a microsite for a
proposed sky scrapper in Sri Lanka. The brief given was nothing but a few words;
about what and all the facilities would come up and on which floor. And the
time we were given was just 24 hours. I must say, the task was completed with 8
hours in hand, that too with a green signal from our CEO.
Ending
note: Instead of cutting the conversation right away, make
it a justified one. Sum it up and try to pacify the interviewer by putting up
the answer he is looking for. Give him/her the bottom-line why you have chosen
those strengths to be discussed and felt that are the best reasons why one
should hire you. I would probably say: “With the strengths discussed above, I
am not trying to boast up my mettle but would like to assure you that my stint
with XYZ (particular organization) is going to be a qualitative and fruitful
for me and that particular organization as well.”
That’s it. Have a great interview call ahead. Good Luck.
Cheers!!!
My opinion on this topic might differ with yours. If
it does so, I shall request you: kindly post your opinion below.