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Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

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Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#101

Post by FT_intern »

chias wrote: post #46

This question is your friend. Don't view it as an "ok, so you did fine I guess, but you better justify your existence now and play mind games" type of thing. Instead, view it as an opportunity to end the interview with your best foot forward. Use it as an excuse to do three things. 1: Summarize what went particularly well in the interview. Your interview was probably not perfect, and this question lets you refresh th…

> Your most valuable asset to this company is your enthusiasm.

This makes me want to puke.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#102

Post by chias »

awfgylbcxhrey wrote: post #61
chias wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because your enthusiasm is your most valuable asset. Enthused employees tend to be a lot more productive, and also drive up the morale among their peers.

Because your enthusiasm is your most valuable asset. Wow, no, that's not even remotely true. My years of experience and track record of delivering completed products is my most valuable asset. Enthusiasm doesn't get the job done. Enthusiasm and passion are fleeting. Honestly, I cannot express how horrified I am by your reply.

Sorry, I should have said: besides your competence, your enthusiasm is your most valuable asset.

You have had your entire interview to demonstrate your competence. At this stage of the interview, if you have not yet demonstrated competence, no answer to this question is going to get you hired.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#103

Post by chias »

FT_intern wrote: post #101
chias wrote: post #46

This question is your friend. Don't view it as an "ok, so you did fine I guess, but you better justify your existence now and play mind games" type of thing. Instead, view it as an opportunity to end the interview with your best foot forward. Use it as an excuse to do three things. 1: Summarize what went particularly well in the interview. Your interview was probably not perfect, and this question lets you refresh th…

> Your most valuable asset to this company is your enthusiasm. This makes me want to puke.

Again, as responded to a separate (related comment):

Sorry, I should have said: besides your competence, your enthusiasm is your most valuable asset.

In more detail: assuming all other things equal, an employee who wants to be where he or she is will be more valuable than an employee who is bored. You have had your entire interview to demonstrate your competence. Assuming you have done so, when you're down to the final softball question, enthusiasm matters. Assuming you have not done so, no answer to this question is going to get you hired.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#104

Post by mbrock »

rpeden wrote: post #6

Assuming they ask this at the end of the interview after you've shown your skills and discussed your experience: "I believe I've demonstrated that I'll deliver significantly more value with my work than I'll cost you in salary and benefits." That's pretty much the reason anyone should hire you, for any role, in any industry. Most interviews are really about demonstrating the value you'll deliver. Keep that in mind wi…

If you're delivering so much more than you cost, it sounds like you should negotiate for a higher salary, no?

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#105

Post by mindcrime »

I don't think there's one "stock" answer to this, although @rpeden's response is pretty good.

My take is that you should be doing values elicitation throughout the interview (that is, asking questions to find out what they are looking for) and then you just use that question as a chance to pitch yourself as the ideal candidate based on their criteria.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#106

Post by rl3 »

dpark wrote: post #97
tqkxzugoaupvwqr wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The question is an insult to the interviewee. The interviewee can stammer around and say something about great fit, being a team player or whatever … basically re-iterating the requirements of the job and state how well he fulfils those. What is the honest answer? It all boils down to “I fulfil the requirements, and then some!” In my eyes, the question shows hostility towards the interviewee.

I completely agree it's not a good question. I don't think it's hostile, though, just stupid. Regardless, being unable to hold your temper in the face of a pointless/stupid/vaguely insulting question is a really bad sign for a candidate. If you can't handle this, how are you going to handle it when someone bluntly calls one of your designs terrible?

>... being unable to hold your temper ...

I didn't mean to suggest the candidate should launch into a tirade or anything, just that the indignation would ideally be evident yet subtle.

>If you can't handle this, how are you going to handle it when someone bluntly calls one of your designs terrible?

The flip side of this is that candidates who find nothing wrong with the question are far more likely to not mete out such critiques. The last thing you want is your organization rotting from within because nobody's speaking their mind.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#107

Post by Tactic »

rpeden wrote: post #6

Assuming they ask this at the end of the interview after you've shown your skills and discussed your experience: "I believe I've demonstrated that I'll deliver significantly more value with my work than I'll cost you in salary and benefits." That's pretty much the reason anyone should hire you, for any role, in any industry. Most interviews are really about demonstrating the value you'll deliver. Keep that in mind wi…

I have been in position to hire about 20 people in my career and have asked this question. While I would accept your response and judge accordingly you seem to miss the point of why I would ask it.

It isn't to be told that you are a good value proposition. That is obvious. Just as it is obvious that the reason you want the job is to pay your bills.

The point of the question (like many of such generic questions) is to learn more about you than your skills.

You response would tell me that you are business-oriented. Tend to prefer to work with facts. Strive to be technically correct. Probably don't BS a lot and may have some issues working in teams that are sensitive to such types.

Of course I would integrate that with other indicators during the interview.

Be aware though, many of these soft questions aren't really about what they are asking.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#108

Post by Tactic »

rpeden wrote: post #6

Assuming they ask this at the end of the interview after you've shown your skills and discussed your experience: "I believe I've demonstrated that I'll deliver significantly more value with my work than I'll cost you in salary and benefits." That's pretty much the reason anyone should hire you, for any role, in any industry. Most interviews are really about demonstrating the value you'll deliver. Keep that in mind wi…

I have been in position to hire about 20 people in my career and have asked this question. While I would accept your response and judge accordingly you seem to miss the point of why I would ask it.

It isn't to be told that you are a good value proposition. That is obvious. Just as it is obvious that the reason you want the job is to pay your bills.

The point of the question (like many of such generic questions) is to learn more about you than your skills.

You response would tell me that you are business-oriented. Tend to prefer to work with facts. Strive to be technically correct. Probably don't BS a lot and may have some issues working in teams that are sensitive to such types.

Of course I would integrate that with other indicators during the interview.

Be aware though, many of these soft questions aren't really about what they are asking.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#109

Post by dpark »

rl3 wrote: post #106
dpark wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree it's not a good question. I don't think it's hostile, though, just stupid. Regardless, being unable to hold your temper in the face of a pointless/stupid/vaguely insulting question is a really bad sign for a candidate. If you can't handle this, how are you going to handle it when someone bluntly calls one of your designs terrible?

> ... being unable to hold your temper ... I didn't mean to suggest the candidate should launch into a tirade or anything, just that the indignation would ideally be evident yet subtle. > If you can't handle this, how are you going to handle it when someone bluntly calls one of your designs terrible? The flip side of this is that candidates who find nothing wrong with the question are far more likely to not mete out…

> I didn't mean to suggest the candidate should launch into a tirade or anything, just that the indignation would ideally be evident yet subtle.

I don't think that subtle indignation is a healthy response. If you're so bothered by this question, I think you should say so. A direct, honest response is far more mature way to handle it than acting annoyed by the question. I could respect a candidate telling me directly that the question is insulting. It would be harder to respect a candidate who responds to the question with snark or sarcasm or an eye roll or any other indication of "subtle indignation".

> The flip side of this is that candidates who find nothing wrong with the question are far more likely to not mete out such critiques. The last thing you want is your organization rotting from within because nobody's speaking their mind.

I don't follow this connection at all. I don't think that being annoyed by this question is very related to giving blunt feedback.

Re: Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

#110

Post by anonbanker »

zardo wrote: post #90
kohanz wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your reasoning makes perfect sense, but the answer is a bit dry and, I don't know how to describe it, robotic? As someone who has sat in the hiring chair, if I heard "You'll make more money from my work than I'll cost in salary and benefits.", I'd get the impression of that person someone who maybe views themselves as a profit-generating widget in the grand scheme of the company. I'd wonder a bit what enjoyment/passi…

>Your reasoning makes perfect sense, but the answer is a bit dry and, I don't know how to describe it, robotic? A good answer to a bullshit question just demonstrates your skill at bullshitting. If that's what the company is looking for, hopefully you can find employment elsewhere. My advice, when you get asked a stupid interview question, tell them why you think it's a stupid question. You'll either blow the intervi…

What's your biggest weakness?

"Kryptonite."

Then thank the interviewer for their time, and end the interview; They've failed your counter-interview.

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