Why Would You Be A Good Fit For This Position?

Interviews and the hiring process for any job can seem quite daunting and difficult. It would be nice to have a “cheat sheet” or answers memorized for interview questions. Unfortunately, that’s just not possible, but there are several things that you can do to be better prepared and less nervous for an interview.

One of the best ways to be better prepared for an interview is to know what they will ask you and how to answer in the best way possible. A key point to grasp is to consider the point of view of the hiring manager. What would you ask to ensure that you chose the ideal candidate for the position?

In most cases, the potential employer would also be assessing your abilities as a leader and a team player and leader. With that in mind, you could think about questions to ask new employees if you were the team leader and the responses you would be looking for. If you can understand what the hiring manager is looking for, you will be in a better position to answer their questions.

The “Why would you be a good fit for this position?” Question

The purpose of interviews is to gather information about the candidates applying for a certain position. The hiring manager wants to know more about you to determine whether you will be a good fit for the job or not.

One of the most common questions an interviewer will ask you is; “why would you be a good fit for this position?” They can also ask the same question in many different ways or with slightly different phrasing. For example, why should we hire you? What makes you a fit candidate for this role, or what unique skills or work experiences would you bring to this position?

The hiring manager takes on a big risk when hiring a new employee, they need to ensure the candidate will meet the company’s needs and will prove to be an asset in their position.

Interviewers utilize this question as a tool to compare potential employees and make sure that the candidate that will be the best fit is hired for the position. All the candidates that are selected to interview, are all qualified for the job, this means the hiring manager needs to select the most qualified candidate.

What should your answer to “why are you a good fit for this position?” contain

As someone who is preparing for an interview, you should expect to answer this question or a variation of this question. Therefore, you should prepare and refine your answer to ensure you hit the points that the human resources manager is looking for.

When answering this question, the interviewer wants to know why you would be the better choice as compared to the other candidates. Are you confident in your abilities as a worker and is your skillset a good match with the position? The interviewer needs to be able to see that you as a prospective employee are aware of what the company is looking for.

Your answer to the question “why are you a good fit for this position?” should show the hiring manager the following:

You are fit for the job; equipped with skills and experiences and are capable of providing outstanding results
You have unique skills that will be an asset in the position and that most likely cannot be taught, which ensures that you holder a higher value in comparison to the other candidates
You will be an asset to the company and bring value with your contributions and that you will be a good fit with the team

It is important to read the job description and utilize the job expectations and required skills to highlight how you meet these criteria and how they align with your future plans.

How to answer, “why are you a good fit for this position?”

Although there is a multitude of ways that you can approach the answer to this question, it is important to proceed cautiously and with a critical thinking approach. To start comparing your resume, skills and experiences to the requirements on the job description.

It is best to consider your answers to the following questions:

What skills or experiences help me qualify for this position?
What areas of my education, skills or experience would best apply to this position?
What skills or accomplishments will make me unique or stand out?
How can I generate value for the company based on my knowledge, skills or accomplishments?

Once you have answers or these questions it is a good idea to put these answers into the perspective of result or value-oriented action statement e.g. STAR method (situation, task, action and results). This will help you highlight your skills and showcase how you would bring value to the company.

Consider the following example:

I am a highly social individual and possess strong interpersonal skills which have allowed me to develop meaningful connections resulting in increased sales prospects and results.

For example, in my previous job, I was able to communicate with and develop long-lasting client relationships which lead to an increase in my sales, and I was consistently able to not only meet but exceed my required targets.

If provided the opportunity I am confident that I will be able to help exceed targets and provide excellent results based on my skills and experience in this field.

Mistakes you should avoid

The job market can be highly competitive, so it is important to avoid silly mistakes that can cause you to lose an opportunity. The following are some common mistakes to avoid and they can be effectively controlled through practice.

Don’t be vague or provide general answers

It is important to provide answers that are detailed, specific and that show your personality. You don’t want to sound monotone or like you are regurgitating a memorized answer. Study your answers well but don’t repeat or memorize them word for word. Ensure that your answer is tailored to the position.

Don’t be modest or hold back

This is your chance to show the interviewer that you have skills and sell yourself as the ideal candidate for the position. Don’t underplay your achievements.

Conclusion

Why would you be a good fit for this position is an important interview question, it is crucial to be well prepared. Answer this question by highlighting your skills and experience. Avoid being vague and holding back, this is your opportunity to sell yourself as the best candidate.