Because “you have everything I'm looking for” might need a little work
As you prepare for your upcoming job interview, you may come across the common question “why are you a great match for this role?” Many employers ask this question as they want to hear in your own words why you would be a better hire for this role than another candidate.
Read on to find out what this interview question means, how to answer it, example responses to “why are you a great match for this role?” and alternative questions.
What the interviewer wants to know
If the interviewer asks “why are you a match for this role?”, it's because they want to make sure that you understand the job description and requirements of the position. They also want to know whether you have the ability to do the job to the required standard, should you be successful.
Because you've landed an interview, it's likely that the hiring manager decided that you're a good fit for the role from your CV, but they need to double-check this. In turn, you also need to ensure this job is a good match for you and your career ambitions. Remember, an interview works both ways.
Be aware that there are a few ways the interviewer may ask “why are you a great match for this role?” including:
Why would you be a good fit for this position?
Why are you the best person for this job?
Why do you think you are qualified for this position?
What makes you a good candidate for this position?
Why should we hire you?
Your objective when responding to this question is to convince the interviewer that you're the right candidate for the role, by selling your relevant achievements, abilities, and experience. If you're confident in your abilities to do the job and can portray this effectively, then the interviewer will be confident in your abilities too.
How to answer “why are you a great match for this role?”
Answering the interview question effectively is simple when you know the correct approach. Here are a few ways you could respond:
1. Highlight your relevant accomplishments
During your interview preparation, review the job description again. Like when you tailored your CV, scan through the job spec and identify the requirements that your experience and accomplishments align with, that make you qualified for the role.
When answering the interview question, draw on your most impressive accomplishments that showcase your candidacy. Top tip: usually requirements in a job description are listed in priority order. If you can, choose to reference an accomplishment that matches the most sought-after requirements.
2. Emphasize your unique skill-set
Another way to respond to the interview question is by accentuating the relevant skills that make you a strong applicant – especially if your skill-set is unique or comprehensive. You'll present yourself as a rare breed, which is extremely appealing to prospective employers.
3. Explain your personality and work ethic
And finally, you can also answer this question by explaining how your personality traits make you a great match for the job. You might find hints of what the ideal personality or work ethic looks like from reading the job description. But if it doesn't go into specifics, you can always look at the “About” page on the company website, to identify the values that align with your own.
Tips for giving the best answer
1. Practice, but don't memorize word for word
Practicing your answer is an essential part of job interview preparation. But you don't want to memorize your response by heart in its entirety for two main reasons.
Firstly, you could end up sounding robotic and awkward. The interviewer wants to see the authentic you and how you could interact in the workplace day to day. Secondly, if the interviewer asks the question in a slightly different way, such as “why should we hire you?”, then this might catch you off guard, cause you to panic, and stumble through your answer.
When you prepare, start by writing your response down, to paint a picture of what your answer looks like in full. You can cross reference it with the job description along the way if you wish. Then, convert the response to bullet points, which will act as prompts. Then practice your answer out loud. Top tip: record yourself and play it back, to identify any areas for improvement.
2. Keep your answer concise
The ideal response time is two minutes. If it's any longer, the interviewer may switch off or lose the point you're trying to make. And if it's any shorter, the chances are you won't have covered enough detail.
When you're practicing your response aloud, try to fit it into this two-minute window. Again, recording yourself is an ideal way to check that you're on time and aren't speaking too slowly or quickly.
3. Use the most relevant examples
Relevance is of the utmost importance for this question, as the interviewer has specifically asked you why you are aligned with the role. Anything that you include as evidence of your candidacy in this response must refer to skills, accomplishments, and qualifications that are directly related to the vacancy.
4. Focus on the value you have to offer
The interviewer's aim for the interview is to ensure that you have the right level of skills and experience to fill the gap in the organization. As a result, you should always focus your response to this interview question, and every other question, on the value that you can contribute rather than what you hope to gain from the organization.
5. Don't throw shade on other candidates
You need to highlight why you're the best match for the role by explaining the accomplishments, skills, or personality traits that set you apart. However, don't criticize other candidates while you do so. Maintain a positive tone and keep the response focused on what you can offer, rather than what others can't.
“Why are you a great match for this role?” example answers
Here are a few example responses that you can customize as part of your interview preparation:
Example 1: Accomplishment-focused
“I believe my managerial skill-set, which I developed over the last few years in my previous role, makes me a great match for this position. For example, in the last quarter, I brought on my seventh team member and they commented that this was the smoothest onboarding process they'd ever experienced, because their monthly goals were clear from the beginning. As a result, they knew what they were responsible and accountable for, enabling them to hit the ground running.”
Example 2: Skill-set-focused
“My most recent role as an office manager has provided me with the ideal experience for this position. Every week I organized meetings, managed databases, booked transport and accommodation, organized company events, ordered equipment, and dealt with several types of correspondence and administrative systems.”
Example 3: Personality-focused
“I feel that one of my greatest strengths is my ability to listen, communicate, and empathize. In my last role, I often found myself defaulting to a pseudo-leadership position because I listened carefully when working in a team and as a result, people rewarded me with their trust. While I acknowledge this is a manager position and I haven'tt formally held a manager title before, I believe I have the qualities and the drive to step into this role, upskill fast, and fulfill your needs.”
Possible follow-up questions
“Why are you a great match for this role?” is a popular interview question, and there are additional common interview questions that could be asked in tandem that you should consider preparing for. They include:
Why do you want this job?
What are your salary expectations?
Why did you leave your last job?
Preparing an answer to “why are you a great match for this role” is straightforward when you know how. If you're unsure whether your response is showcasing your enthusiasm for the position, or whether you are conveying the right amount of detail to answer the question effectively, our TopInterview coaches can help you to find the right balance.
Recommended reading
How to Answer Situational Interview Questions
Pick Three Words to Describe Yourself: How to Answer It and Ace Your Next Interview
Is It Alright to Bring Notes to a Job Interview?
