Why should Morgan Stanley hire you?

Your response should be original and unique. There are some simple ways to ensure that your answer stands out from other candidates:

1) Avoid giving a resume review. Your response should highlight the best reasons why your achievements, skills, and characteristics are a match for Morgan Stanley's most pressing needs. Provide a snapshot of your background, not a complete biography.

2) Think about value. Think of how you will add value to the firm now and in the future. Help the decision-makers picture you working at Morgan Stanley for years to come.

3) Sprinkle in achievements. Mentioning specific numbers, percentages, awards, and accolades is an excellent way to grab the decision maker's attention. These soundbites will make you a memorable candidate.

4) Tell a story. Psychology tells us that offering a compelling, relatable story makes us more memorable and persuasive. Some studies show that telling a story makes us 22X more memorable. If you could be 22X more memorable than the next candidate, think of the impact it could make on your interview outcome!

First, think about your best skills and qualifications. Ponder on a mix of hard skills and soft skills.

- Hard skills: Specific knowledge gained through training and education.
- Soft skills: Traits you possess, such as emotional intelligence and sociability.

If you can't think of ways you stand out, ask a few trusted friends, family members, or coworkers what sets you apart from others. Their observations may be helpful. If you already know your stand-out skills, that's great! Either way, don't be afraid to brag about yourself a bit. In an interview, you are your greatest advocate.

Also, take your time reviewing the job description. It's essential to approach this question with less focus on your needs and more on Morgan Stanley's needs. Looking at the job description or job posting for the role, you can quickly dissect what the hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. Once you know the firm/department's primary needs, you can frame a precise answer to this question.

The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the HireVue parameters set by Morgan Stanley, the asynchronous interview platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.

"The Project, Risk & Accounting Associate job posting mentions requiring an accountant with demonstrated experience in finance processes, controls, and reporting. Having worked as a senior accountant for the past fifteen years, I've developed these skills and more. I am a certified accountant and am currently earning a certification in Internal Auditing. Some of the reasons Morgan Stanley should hire me are because I have exceptional risk awareness and good guardianship skills. I also have the flexibility to change priorities as new situations present themselves. I will work tirelessly while applying this knowledge, skills, and relevant experience to meet the firm's risk agenda and project management needs."

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.