Why Should We Hire You?

Why Should We Hire You?

D-1:    Why should we hire you?

D-2:    What do you know about our company? 

D-3:    Why do you want this position?

D-4:    Why do you want to work for this company?

D-5:    When can you start?  

D-6:    What is your commitment to this job?  

D-7:    Aren't you overqualified for this job?  

D-8:    What salary are you expecting?

D-9:    Why should we pay you the salary you're requesting?

D-10:  Are you considering offers from other employers?  

D-11:  Do you have any questions?

D-12:  Is there anything else about you I should know?

D-13:  What have you heard about our company that you don't like?

D-14:  What aspect of this job appeals to you the least?

D-15:  How will you handle the parts of this job you like the least?

D-16:  What are you looking for in your next job?

D-17:  What did you do at your current (or last) job that increased profit, reduced expenses,         or improved efficiency?

D-18:  Do you know who are major competitors are?

D-1:  Why should we hire you?  

Take several minutes to answer this question, incorporating your personality traits, strengths, and experience in to the job you're applying for.  A good answer is to focus on how you can benefit the company.  You can best do this by matching your skills and qualifications to those needed for the job and be ready with examples of how your skills, talents, etc., mesh with the needs of that particular company.  

Sample answer 1:  "You should hire me because I have considerable experience and success in marketing software products to small companies.  I know that your organization has not done well serving the small business sector and would like to greatly expand sales in this segment. At Acme, I was able to increase small business accounts 60 percent in just two years. At XYZ Corporation, I single-handedly brought in 260 new small business accounts in just three years, which was a company record.   Currently, your company has a very high turnover rate among sales recruits, approximately 60 percent.  I succeeded in reducing employee turnover by more than 30% at both Acme and XYZ.   I also had great success in leading and motivating new sales recruits.  A large percentage of those I have trained have gone on to be stellar performers.  This is why you should hire me.  I can make a positive impact on sales and help reduce your labor costs, making this company more competitive and profitable."

Sample answer 2:  "I believe I am the best person for this position because you need an office manager who can work effectively with diverse employees in a very fast-paced hectic environment.  I have more than a decade of experience supervising clerical workers from diverse cultures, helping them to become more productive and efficient.  I have reduced employee turnover by more than 20% in the past three years, which saved my employer more than $1 million in related hiring and training costs each of those three years.  I also eliminated the need for 10% of the office staff by automating several processes, saving my employer a small fortune in labor costs.  I am confident that I can resolve your current labor problems, reduce your labor costs significantly while improving worker morale and productivity."  

D-2: What do you know about our company?    

Those who answer this question with, "Not much," will probably not be offered the job.  You should always research a company before the interview.  Learn about their products / services, size, plans, current events, etc.  If you cannot find information about a particular company, call their offices and ask the receptionist to send you information about the company in the form of a brochure, etc.  You should also research the industry in which the company operates so you are up on what's happening.  You can find links to research sites at http://www.resumagic.com/interview_preparation.html.  

D-3: Why do you want this position? 

Your answer should offer what you think are the most interesting aspects of the position.  More responsibility and opportunity, including a higher salary, are acceptable answers, but state them in a way that isn't blunt.  For example, "because it pays more" is not a good answer.  However, stating that, "The position offers more responsibility, challenges and interesting opportunities, as well as a higher salary," is a good answer.

D-4: Why do you want to work for this company? 

Don't answer this question with, "Because you advertised for an X at monster.com."  Your answer should offer what you think are the most interesting aspects of the company, for example, "because it is on the cutting edge of technology" or "because you are the industry leader".  The research you do on the company in order to prepare for the interview should give you an answer to this question.   

D-5:  When can you start?  

It is customary for most employees to give at least two weeks notice to their current employer.   Those in management positions are expected to give longer notice.   You will not earn points if you express disrespect toward your current employer by telling the interviewer that you plan to quit your present job without giving sufficient notice.  He will assume you will show his company the same amount of disrespect.   It is also a good idea to tell the interviewer you plan to start learning about your new position / employer on your off-hours (i.e., reading employee training manuals, etc.)  Telling the interviewer you can't begin work for a few months because you want to take some time-off is not a good idea.  

D-6:  What is your commitment to this job?  

Most people would respond with an answer avowing a deep commitment to the company and the job; however, a better answer would be to state that your commitment would grow as you get to know the company and the people in it.   

D-7:  Aren't you overqualified for this job?        

Note that employers don't like to hire overqualified people because they won't stay around long.  But since it is probably obvious that you're overqualified, admit that you are, but also emphasis the positive.  For example, "I am overqualified in some ways.  I have more experience that is required for this job, but you are looking for someone who is an expert in X, and that's me.  However, that doesn't mean I'm completely overqualified.  I feel that I have much to learn in the area of X, which is a big part of this job and I know it will keep me challenged . . . ."   

D-8:  What salary are you expecting?  

Don't sell yourself short when asking for a specific salary.  Studies have found that those who negotiate for a higher salary often get it.  You should do some research before the job interview so that you don't ask for too much or too little.  You might be asked to justify why you are worth the salary you are asking, so be prepared with an answer (i.e., tell them how your skills and experience will benefit the company so much that your salary will be a bargain for them.)  

The best salary resource on the Internet is Salary.com where you can find out what people earn at various experience levels and in every region of the USA.  At the time this was written, you could search the Salary.com database free.  You also need to consider the cost of living in the area you will be relocating to, if applicable.  There are cost of living calculators on the Internet.  A good one can be found at Homefair.com.  With a cost of living calculator, you can find out how much you will have to earn in your new location to maintain the same standard of living you enjoy in your present location.

A good answer:  "After doing some research at Salary.com and a few other sites on the Internet, I am asking for a starting salary of $100,000.  I base this figure on the fact that I have seven years of experience in the field and have proven myself a great asset to my past employer.  I realize that this figure is $20,000 more than I am presently earning; however, the cost of living is considerably higher in the San Francisco area and I have included an amount to cover the higher costs I would have to pay if I relocated here."

D-9:  Why should we pay you the salary you're requesting?      

Answer this question by convincing the interviewer that you deserve the salary you're requesting.  The best way to do this is to point out how you have benefited your past employers in terms of increasing profit, reducing expenses, improving efficiency, etc.

Good answer:  "Last year I exceeded my annual sales quota by $500,000 and gross profit by 30 percent.  I achieved over $3.5 million in sales in a two year period setting a company record for most new accounts created in one quarter.  I intend to bring in much more each year for your company than I will earn.  Therefore, I believe this is a very fair salary."

D-10:  Are you considering offers from other employers?  

It is recommended that you NOT disclose any other offers you have received or discuss the companies with whom you have interviewed.  Therefore, a good answer to this question is to state that you do not have offers from other companies.  (Of course, if for some reason you believe you would have a better chance of getting the job offer if you disclosed this information, then do so.)  

D-11:  Do you have any questions?  

This question is usually one of the last questions an interviewer will ask, as it is a logical way to end the interview.  Never go to an interview without preparing questions to ask beforehand.  Avoid asking about salary, vacation time, employee benefits, and such until you have asked a number of other questions that demonstrate your interest in working for the company.  Good questions to ask the interviewer:

Why is this position available?

Is this a new position?  How long has this position existed?

How many people have held this position in the last two years?

Who would be my supervisor?  To whom would I report?

Whom will I supervise?

With whom will I be working most closely?

What do you like about working for this company?

What are the current plans for expansion or cutbacks?

What kind of turnover rate does the company have?

How financially sound is this company?

What projects and assignments will I be working on?

What happened to the person that held this position before?  Was he promoted or fired? What is this company's culture, (i.e., is it rigid and formal or relaxed and flexible?) What are the current problems facing the company (or my department)?

What do you like the most about working for this company?  The least?

What is the philosophy of the company?

What do you consider to be the company's strengths and weaknesses?

What are the company's long and short term goals?

Describe the work environment.

What attracted you (the interviewer) to this organization?

Why do you enjoy working for this company?

Describe the typical responsibilities of the position.

What are the most challenging aspects of the position?

Describe the opportunities for training and professional development.

Will I receive any formal training?

What is the company's promotional policy?

Are there opportunities for advancement within the organization?

When can I expect to hear from you?

Is there any reason why you can't offer me this position today? (see question D-12 below)

You can also ask questions regarding information you found when conducting research about the company.

D-12:  Is there anything else about you I should know?             

This question is usually one of the last asked.  Don't answer with a simple, "No."  Instead, use this question to try to get the job offer.  You can do this by answering, "Yes, you should know that I really want this job.  After talking with you today, I feel that this is a position that would provide me with lots of opportunities to grow and stretch my wings and I feel I could really contribute to this company.  I have the sales experience and ability you're looking for and the required supervisory skills as well. Is there anything that prevents you from offering me this position today?"

D-13:  What have you heard about our company that you don't like?

You will probably have to do research to answer this question, particularly if the company isn't well known and you haven't heard anything about the company.  If you don't know of anything negative, then answer "I honestly haven't heard anything negative about your company.  I did do some research on your company before answering your classified ad and I didn't come across anything negative."  If you have heard some bad news about the company, such as the fact that it is unstable or operating in the red, then say so, "I have heard that last year's profits were way down and I am concerned about this."  

D-14:  What aspect of this job appeals to you the least?

In asking this question, the interviewer is trying to determine if you dislike doing a major part of your job.  For example, if you're a file clerk, you obviously don't want to answer by stating that you hate to file.   Like most people, you probably hate doing the routine, boring administrative tasks that everyone has to do; therefore, you might want to answer accordingly, "I don't particularly like compiling the monthly sales reports.  I love the sales process, meeting and negotiating with clients, working out in the field all day.  Sitting in front of a computer for a few hours each month doesn’t particularly appeal to me.  I know it needs to be done, and I've always done this task as required in my previous jobs, but I don't particularly like doing it."   

D-15:  How will you handle the parts of this job you like the least?

This question is very similar to D-14 and should be answered positively, "I will perform all of the tasks my job requires on time and to the best of my ability regardless of whether or not I enjoy them."

D-16:  What are you looking for in your next job?          

A good way to answer this question is by expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to grow and develop and be promoted to the next level. In addition, your answer should be relevant to the job you're seeking.  A good answer:  "In my current position, I have worked on numerous teams designing computer software products and on occasion have acted in the capacity of project manager. I am looking for a position where I can be project manager on a regular basis as I have excelled at doing that whenever I had the opportunity.  I enjoy the process of leading the team, organizing and strategizing and managing the workflow in order to develop an effective product."

D-17:  What did you do at your current (or last) job that increased profit, reduced expenses, or improved efficiency?

Sample answer 1:  "I increased profit 30 percent my first year on the job by developing a new training program for the sales agent.  Not only were sales increased, but employee turnover was cut in half."

Sample answer 2:  "As file clerk, I was in charge of maintaining client records.  The sales staff was having problems locating files when clients called in, so I reorganized the filing system and computerized it so that they could locate a client's file within 10 seconds without leaving their desks.  This greatly improved efficiency."

Sample answer 3:  "The restaurant was losing a large amount of inventory every year through employee theft, so I told the owner he should install a new security system.  He took my advice and as a result employee theft was reduced significantly and the restaurant owner saved more than $30,000 the last three years in lost inventory.  The owner was also losing a lot of money due to employees submitting fake orders and such.  I recommended a computerized ticketing system that reduced employee theft to almost zero and increased profits $10,000 last year."

Sample answer 4:  "As secretary at Acme, it is my responsibility to make travel arrangements for all the executives in the office.  I researched travel packages on the Internet and negotiated with several vendors for discounts and was able to save $18,000 last year in travel-related costs."

D-18:  Do you know who our major competitors are?

You do not want to answer this question "No."  In fact, being able to discuss who their competitors are in-depth can only help you get the job.  You need to research this question before the interview and know who their top competitors are.  A good answer:  "Yes, your three major competitors are A, B, and C.    Currently, you are the industry leader, however, B has plans to enter the X sector and challenge your dominance in this market."  You might want to learn about each company's strengths and weaknesses as well. If they are publicly traded companies, you can learn more about them by examining their SEC papers.  Visit http://www.resumagic.com/interview_preparation.html for links to websites.