Master 30 tough interview questions covering pressure scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and high-stakes decision-making.
Question 2 of 30
What You Need to Know
Sales 1
Admin
Sales 2
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Marketing
Manager
Teacher
Experienced
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Community Answers

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Interviewers want to hear about that one unique skill that sets you apart from the other candidates applying for this job. Think of your answer as your "elevator pitch" or your qualifying statement. Perhaps you already know what sets you apart! This skill could include any industry accolades, exceptional achievements, additional industry-related training, a second language, or how involved you are in the community. Don't be afraid to brag about yourself a bit. In an interview, you are your most influential advocate.

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"When I started at my current company, I was the youngest salesperson they'd ever hired. Within six months of my hire date, I rose to being the number one salesperson in the company. I waste no time getting oriented, learning from my teams, studying how things are done, and I strive to contribute as swiftly as I can. I am dedicated to my craft and engaged in this industry to the point where I commit myself to take at least one business development or leadership-related workshop every business quarter. I am a competitive achiever. I can assure you, should you decide to hire me, you won't be disappointed."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"You should hire me because I would feel honored and would feel pride working with you as I am passionate about your cause. I am system-oriented, have a strong attention to detail, and am always finding pathways to increase efficiency. I promise I will do everything I can to help achieve our mutual goals. I am excited about the idea of delivering value to your organization and will hustle for the opportunity and promise to consistently go above and beyond."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"When I read the job description, I felt as though you wrote it with me in mind. This opportunity really resonates with me and I am very emotionally invested in working here. Never have I felt a more perfect fit. So, know that I would never take this opportunity for granted, would be committed to working here for the long term and putting my all in consistently. I have three years dedicated to exceeding my sales goals, inside and outside sales experience, and I know the industry. Also, I was the fastest promoted in my previous position and have led the rollout of new markets in my current job, making me ideally positioned to help you continue to build your sales organization, markets, and exceed financial metrics. Not to mention, I have long looked for a company that I feel I could easily commit to for the long haul, something that you said you value as well."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"As you can see from my resume, I have over a dozen years of experience under my belt. I have a proven track record of success, strong references, and am a knowledgeable resource of information. I offer creative solutions and outside of the box thinking, am effective at taking calculated risks. I have strong leadership skills and love coaching and mentoring. I am always focused on the customer and very capable of representing the brand. I have seen a ton of change and am extremely adaptable, always supporting the company vision."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"I believe that I am the best fit for the role because of my experience, passion for marketing, and, more specifically, excitement about your company and product. Having been a customer and fan for years, I am confident I'll bring more fire and energy to the role than most, and am certain that I am the right fit for your team. I am confident that my sales experience, my freelancing as a marketer, and experience working on different marketing campaigns have prepared me to be a great asset to your team. But more than my experience, you can count on my passion for taking the pace of our teams to the next level. I have traditionally set the pace and influenced the productivity of our teams for the better."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"You mentioned earlier in the interview process that you were struggling with maintaining staff and retaining them. I have an incredible track record for culture building, turning around workplace morale, team building, and reinvigorating and incentivizing a burned-out workforce. I have strong talent acquisition skills, and my adjustable model for my onboarding strategy took my current company from a 35% turnover rate to just 5% in twelve months. I would be honored to put my all into turning this pain point around here as well."

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"In addition to winning the 'Top Educator of the Year' award in my current district this year, I also bring an elevated level of education compared to most candidates. I have my master's degree in Education and have also taught first-year college classes for future educators. I look forward to bringing this knowledge and influence to your school."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"You should hire me because I genuinely want to work here more than anywhere, and would commit myself to working here for the long term. I would take advantage of every developmental offering, and am willing to do whatever is needed for the company, including widening my availability, traveling for work, and even relocating should the need arise. I thrive in environments such as yours where I feel constantly challenged. I work well under pressure, am emotionally intelligent, and am never governed by my stress. I'm highly motivated by overcoming challenges and finding innovative solutions. I'm passionate and I'm driven to contribute, especially to a company such as yours where I feel I share values, and where I would be proud to say I work."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
If you've already done your homework on the company, from researching their website, values, culture, and anything else you can find online, you should already be equipped with the knowledge to help you answer this question. How do they describe their people on their website? This should tell you everything you need to know about the teams they're working hard to build and the qualities that make them special. Once you know that, you should have a clearer idea of what you have to offer, which makes you uniquely suited to join their teams.
Your interviewer also aims to recruit long-term employees over short-term ones. Some of their primary goals are to avert attrition and boost employee retention. So, inform them that you are interested in long-term gainful employment, and growing and developing your career with the company. If you can't think of ways that you are unique, ask yourself what your previous coworkers or employers are going to miss about you. Recollect what they've said about you in the past. Ask a few friends or family members what they feel sets you apart from other people. Their observations may help you better understand how you are perceived by others.

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
One way to answer this question before it is even asked is how well you answer every question that precedes it. Be enthusiastic. Start strong. Practice your answers beforehand to ensure your response is clear, concise, and delivered with confidence. Organize your responses in a structured manner, from question to question. Consistency is key. Convey your genuine interest in the opportunity and the company. Demonstrate your company knowledge, connect your skills to the role, and showcase the alignment between your qualifications and the needs of the company and the position. Stress how the company's values and work environment resonate with you, emphasizing your strong cultural fit.

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Anonymous Answer
You should hire me because I am a uniquely strong employee. At my last company, I was promoted within one year and was the only woman working in the team. I am an extremely dedicated employee who takes pride in their work. I am goal-oriented and aspire to complete projects efficiently and meticulously. I believe I possess many positive qualities that would be quickly realized and utilized.

Lauren's Feedback
This is a positive and impactful response. Great job!
Anonymous Answer
I feel like my extensive experience in banking makes me the best candidate. I'm very community and service-oriented (volunteering at church), which I know is essential to Huntington. Also, in my years in banking and sales, in general, I have worked to meet and exceed my sales goals consistently. Which I know is a big part of this position.

Alexandra's Feedback
Great answer!
Anonymous Answer
Because I am a very focus individual, who's engaged and eager to achieve results.
I also love your company, and I would be proud to be part of it.

Lauren's Feedback
Great start. I assisted in expanding your response slightly. See my suggestion below.
I am the right fit for this position because I possess a high level of skill, focus, and eagerness to succeed. I have explored areas of improvement, and I am dedicated to exceed expectations and grow my career through this opportunity. I have a strong affinity for the company and would be honored to be a part of it.
Anonymous Answer
Because, with my almost five years of experience within the same team, I can hit the ground running. I got the knowledge of the structure and functioning of the organization, and the tools needed, I achieved an amazing balance within the team, building a relationship of trust and mutual respect not only with my colleagues but all across the organization. I have also developed a network of very positive working relationships with delegates, who turn to me for assistance because they trust me to solve the issues at hand. As the section is approaching the most intense period of the year, my capacity to be 100%operational as of day one would be a great asset.
Secondly, because I love this job, I think my team is great, and I am genuinely passionate about the work of this organization. I have been working some of the tasks within the job description for a few years so, and I know I would be excited to keep doing it. This position is a natural step forward for me.

Rachelle's Feedback
These are all great reasons to hire you! The most compelling statement should come first, so I have offered a slightly shorter revision below.
"As the section is approaching the most intense period of the year, my capacity to be 100% operational as of day one would be a great asset. Secondly, because I love this job, I think my team is great, and I am truly passionate about the work of this organization. I have been working on some of the tasks within the job description for a few years, and I would be excited to keep performing these tasks. This position is a natural step forward for me."
Anonymous Answer
Integrity, accountability, people, and performance are values that are who I am as a person and professional. I bring Stryker a vast amount of experience and skills that would contribute significantly to this role being a partner in delivering a consistent experience to all leaders, coaching and mentoring managers, and empowering engagement.

Rachelle's Feedback
You make an excellent case for yourself! It's great that you tied in what Stryker needs from the person in this role, and what you can offer.
Anonymous Answer
I regard myself as a fast learner. I can always pick up things quickly, and I believe it is an important quality in every industry. I majored in corporate communication, so I believe my professional knowledge and ability to communicate with others effectively can make me stand out in such a competitive industry. What's more, I am a big fan of the brand, and I have been a loyal customer for years. It is my great passion that drives me to grow with it and work for it.

Rachelle's Feedback
You make some excellent points for hiring you - a great response, indeed.
Anonymous Answer
I believe you should hire me because I will bring in with me my years of experience in customer service, leading and managing teams and working with people of diverse backgrounds, making me a great leader and team builder. In addition to my customer service background, I hope to build more relationships with clients and shareholders to create loyal relationships and gratitudes.

Rachelle's Feedback
You make a great case for being the chosen candidate :)
Anonymous Answer
I have been in the Manufacturing and Production for over 20 years. I can quickly adapt to any situation. I am a team player, I can take criticism well, and I always obey leadership.

Rachelle's Feedback
This is a great start, and these are all excellent reasons to hire you! Are you able to go into further detail by describing a situation in which you leveraged all or some of these characteristics? You could also dive further into the ways that 20 years of manufacturing and production will benefit the employer. The more specific you are, the better :)
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Written by Rachelle Enns
30 Questions & Answers • Tough

By Rachelle

By Rachelle