Why Should I Hire You? Thought as an interviewer
"I thought it gave people the opportunity to tell me what they wanted to tell me, versus me asking a million questions," Miller says. Only one candidate was able to give an answer without stumbling. What's worse, Miller couldn't envision any of these applicants having a coherent conversation with a reporter if her one question was causing so much distress.
"It is so hard to get a job these days, and I really expected people to be on their game," she says. "I guess it made my job easier though, because when I finally met someone who knew what was up, I hired her on the spot."
In today's job market, where many seasoned workers have found themselves out of a job and plenty of young but inexperienced graduates are entering the work force, do you have the right answer to beat out the competition?
he employer thinks ... you're not qualified enough.
So you ... prove you have other qualifications that will help you in this position.
The employer thinks ... you're overqualified.
So you ... prove you're ready for a change.
The employer thinks ... you don't have relevant experience.
So you ... explain how all experience is relevant.
How to Answer: ‘Why Should I Hire You?’
Sometimes the most innocent interview question can prove to be the key to the empire for some, while it can be the swan song for others. 
The next time an employer asks, "Why should I hire you?" see the question in a new light -- as an opportunity to shine and pull ahead of your competitors.
Why is the employer asking why he or she should hire you? Because there are only five areas of interest he or she is concerned with:
1. Your skills
2. Your knowledge about the company
3. Your manageability
4. Your affordability
5. Whether you can go above and beyond your job description.
Be careful to avoid clever retorts or comedic one-liners here. Your interview is serious business and a wrong answer will send you packing. This is the one question that interviewers like to ask because the answer can separate the contenders from the also-rans. Give a wrong answer and the large "game over" sign flashes above your head.
What hiring managers really want to know is, "What's special or different about you?" or "How are you different than all the other candidates who have applied for this position?" With this in mind, a good way to approach your answer here is to launch into your best "story" that answers this question: "Will you go the extra mile?"
Knowing this ahead of time, it's wise to put in the time beforehand to work on your answer to this question. Pick your best example of how you went above and beyond in your job. Work on your story to perfect it. Set the scene, describe the challenge and describe your role and the successful conclusion. Use this as an example of how you use your particular set of skills in an extraordinary time to "give it your all" and produce a clear benefit to your employer.
Since no other candidate can duplicate your own personal story here, you'll make a memorable impression. Not only that, but quite possibly you'll pull yourself ahead of that "perfect" candidate who preceded you.
Interview Questions on Salary
Interview Question: What kind of salary do you think you are worth?
Answer Guide: Candidate should use this opportunity to sell the benefits of their skills, competencies and experience. They should show the ability to negotiate. Negativity is not needed here.
Interview Question: What kind of salary do you believe you will be earning in say, five years?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show confidence, belief in self, and strong ambition. Candidates should see themselves in the company and growing with it.Interview Question: What kind of salary would you require to accept this position? Answer Guide: Candidates should have a healthy regard for their value, be able to sell their skills and experience to you, show an ability to negotiate, act diplomatically, and have the ability to redirect the question back to you without an answer.
What the Employer May Ask You
- Why have you been unemployed for such a long time? (Tell the truth. Emphasize that you were looking for a good company where you can settle and make a contribution.)
- Why should we hire you? (Make a positive statement, such as "I would like the opportunity to work with you and believe that I can do the work.")
- Do you have references? (It is most important that you contact your references ahead of time and have their name, current address, and telephone numbers.)
- What are your strengths? (Describe your skills in a way that will show you as a desirable employee for the company.)
- Tell me about yourself. (This is often an ice-breaker question. Keep the answer job or skill related.)
- What do you know about the type of work we do? (This is your chance to tell what you know from the research you completed ahead of time.)
- What is your weakness? (Always make this a positive answer. For example, "My spelling is not always perfect, so I always use a spell checker.")
- Why did you leave your last job? ( Answer with a positive statement. Try not to say: "I was fired," "terminated," "quit," "had no babysitter," or "couldn't get along with coworkers or supervisor". However, you can say: "new job," "contract ended," "seasonal," "temporary," "career change," "returned to school," to raise a family," or "relocated.")
