Number one. Say you did something in your previous role that was a win for the company. Hiring managers prefer to take people on who can help their business thrive and beat their closest competitors.
So when the interviewer says to you, “why should we hire you?” Say, “you should hire me because I can help your company achieve lots of positive wins. For example, in my previous role, I helped the company win more customers by providing exceptional customer service. I helped the company get more sales by suggesting ways it could promote itself better on social media. My focus in this role will be to help you beat your closest competitors.”
Number two. Make sure you say during your job interview that you already have a 30-day plan in place of what you will do in the role if they hire you. Those candidates who say they already know what they're going to do in the position are more likely to get hired. So during your interview, when the hiring manager says to you, “what are your strengths?” “One of my strengths is that I am a very good planner and organizer. I already have a plan in place for what I will do in the role. If I get hired within the first 30 days of starting work here, I will get a brief from my manager, put a plan of action in place to make sure I meet my targets, and I will get to know my coworkers so I can start contributing to the team's objectives as quickly as possible.”
Number three. Say you want to build a long-term career with their company. This is a really good one. All hiring managers want to take on people who are going to stay at the company for a long period of time. There is nothing worse for a hiring manager than having to find new employees because the staff has moved on soon after starting in the role.
When the interviewer asks you “where do you see yourself in five years' time?” Say “I plan to build a long-term career with your company. So I will still be here in five years' time. I will be seen as a productive, trusted, and reliable member of the team whose skill set and knowledge consistently add value to the business.”
Number four. Say that you researched their company. This is a simple, yet highly effective way to show the hiring manager you genuinely want to work for their company. Before you attend your job interview, look at their company website about us page, look at their social media posts and gain an understanding of the different products and services they have on offer.
When asked: “Why do you want to work for our company?” Say something like, “I want to work for your company because having researched you, you have a good set of values that I can relate to. You provide excellent products and services, which tells me you are a responsible company that has high standards. And your plans for the future are something I find appealing because I feel I can contribute to the company's objectives.”
Number five. Say you have an impressive track record of achievement and then give one example. All hiring managers want to employ people who have a track record of achievement. Perhaps you have helped a previous employer win an important sales contract. Maybe you helped the business to increase sales, or perhaps you did something that helped the company to save money and improve profitability.
When the hiring manager asks you, “Why should we hire you?” You should say something like, “You should hire me because I have a track record of achievement. For example, in my last role, I came up with an innovative way to help the company save money when ordering office supplies and resources. When I arrived at the company, there was no system in place for the ordering office. Supplies and waste were commonplace in the team. My new system helped the company. To save over $3,000 per year.”
Number six. Always read the job description before applying for the role. This is one of the smartest things you can say in a job interview. The job description is the blueprint for the role you are applying for. The vast majority of candidates will not even be aware of its existence, but you are going to be different. When the interviewer says to you, “tell me about yourself”, start off with this. “I am a positive, enthusiastic, and committed employee who, having already studied the job description, feels confident. I have the necessary skills, qualities, and attributes to get up to speed quickly and excel in the role.”
Number seven. You are the type of employee who takes ownership of difficult challenges. This is another really good one. I would 100% employ anyone in my team if they could prove to me they were the type of person who always took ownership of difficult problems and challenges. A common interview question is, tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult problem. Here's a great answer, “I am the type of person who takes ownership of difficult challenges. For example, in my last role, we encountered a problem with a supplier who kept letting us down. Nobody had wanted to sort out this problem because it seemed too difficult. However, I felt someone needed to step up and resolve this ongoing issue. I spent several hours talking to potential new suppliers about the service they could offer and their terms of business. I then presented my findings to my manager, who went ahead and commissioned a new supplier which helped to considerably improve customer service standards.”
Number eight. Highlight that you are a fast learner. No hiring manager wants to spend days or weeks training new members of staff on how to do their duties. If you are a fast learner and someone who picks things up quickly and retains information, make sure you say this during your job interview. So when the hiring manager says to you, “What are your strengths?” Maybe say, ”another one of my strengths is the fact that I am a very fast learner. In my last job, my manager praised me for the speed at which I learned the role and was able to contribute positively to the team. This strength means you won't have to spend your valuable time training me or constantly supervising me.”
Number nine. Indicate that you are grateful for the opportunity to be interviewed for the position. Good manners are no longer commonplace in society, but I believe they are a vital part of showing the hiring manager. You are going to be a good fit for their team. At the very start of your interview, when they say to you, tell me about yourself, start off your answer with this, “first of all, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed for this position today.”
Number ten. During job interviews, most candidates will only focus on how they can specifically do the role they have applied for. However, if you really want to impress the hiring manager, tell them you are a well-rounded individual whose flexible approach to working is going to be an asset to their team.
When the interviewer asks “What makes you stand out from the other candidates?” Say, “I believe my wide range of skills, qualities, and positive attitude makes me stand out from everyone else. I am a true all-rounder who is willing to take on duties and responsibilities that are outside of the job description. For example, if you need me to help out and stay behind late after work, I will do so. If you need me to cover someone when they are off sick, I will do their duties as well as my own.”
Number 11 you are going to add value to the role. The words that add value are brilliant ones to use in a job interview. Adding value means you will be an improvement or addition to the company that makes it worth more.
Finally, When the interviewer says to you at the end of the interview, “Is there anything else you would like to add?” Just say, “Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity. I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and learning more about your company. If you hire me, I promise to be a productive and trustworthy employee who will work hard to add value to your team."