What is the 'best' way to answer the question Why should we hire you? in an interview
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Hey,
So this question is really trying to figure out two things: your spikes and whether you can tell a story. First of all, don't fall into the trap of trying to cover everything: you're a leader but also a team player, detail-oriented but also big-picture, analytical but also creative. This doesn't sound very distinctive :)
My suggestion is starting from three blocks:
- Recognize the pool. Start by admitting you share traits with other strong candidates (international experience, big companies, and so on). It keeps you credible and stops you from sounding arrogant.
- Mention two specific spikes. Pick two things that genuinely set you apart. Each spike needs a concrete skill plus proof with measurable impact.
- Close on fit. Tie the spikes back to why they matter for that specific role and that specific firm.
An example could be:
"Look, I share a lot with other strong candidates: international experience, time in large companies, the usual. But two things have really defined me.
- The first is advanced data analytics. I come from an econometrics background and I've already applied ML and AI to hard problems that generated hundreds of millions in impact, from Company X in Country Z to Company Y in Country W.
- The second is empathetic leadership: I'm the person who lifts the team up. My goal is always to get people performing at 120% of what they thought they could do. During my MBA, everyone was drowning before the Data Analytics exam. Over one weekend I built an 8-hour course from scratch, 30% of my class showed up, and nobody failed.
I would love to work at McK/Bain/BCG because I would be excited to apply my advanced data skills to the largest companies in the world, at a time where AI is creating significant performance differences between leaders and followers. Moreover, I love getting high-performing team to perform even better, and there's no better place to express this skill of mine"
Hope this helps! Feel free to DM me to continue the conversation and make it tailored to your story :)
Best,
Tom
