When preparing for an interview, think about how to answer the interview question, “What can you bring to the company?” from hiring managers. It is one of the most frequently asked questions. This question may be phrased differently, such as “How would you bring value to the position?” or “Why should I hire you rather than another candidate?”
This article will explain why potential employers ask the question “What can you bring to the company?” and offer advice on how to answer it effectively.
Why Do Employers Ask the Interview Question, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
Employers ask this type of interview question to determine your level of confidence in your abilities, to learn about your top strengths, and to hear what you’d be able to contribute if hired. They also want to know that you’ve done your homework for their job and company. Hiring managers want to hire someone who is researching employers and applying for the right job, not just the first one they can find. They never want to hire someone who applies to hundreds of jobs without considering whether the job is a good fit.
So your answer should always demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to understand their role and organisation, as well as why you’re a good fit!
How to Answer the Interview Question, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
Consider the following steps when you are thinking of how to properly give a comprehensive answer to the interview question, “What can you bring to the company?” that will impress hiring managers:
#1. Investigate the Company’s Website
Most businesses have a website that contains useful information, such as:
- Mission Statement
Learning more about the mission statement will help you determine whether your career objectives and core values align with those of the employers. Consider how to frame your response in a way that speaks to these values after conducting your research.
- Biographies
Some company websites include information about their most important employees, such as C-level executives and upper-level management. Learning more about leading employees can provide you with insight into their goals and how you can help them achieve them.
- The “About Us” Page
Investigate the “About Us” page to learn more about the company’s culture, history, products, and services. You should also check this section of the website to see if there is any information about customers or company activities. This can assist you in identifying areas where you can have an impact on the organisation.
#2. Go Through Your Social Media and Professional Networking Accounts
Investigate any social media accounts that the company has. You can find out if the company participates in any volunteer programmes or has announced any recent successes. On Company Pages, where you can also find FAQs, salaries, company information, and more, you can read reviews about the organisation.
Gather any information that will help you create your response. For example, if an employee review mentions that there are numerous training courses available to learn new skills, you can emphasise how you strive to learn more about various rotors to help your team.
#3. Examine the Job Description
The job description outlines the duties and responsibilities of the position. Examine the job description for any requirements that match your experience. Make sure to include examples of how you demonstrated those abilities in previous positions. You can mention soft skills like critical thinking or hard skills relevant to the job. If you are applying for an accounting position, for example, you can discuss your experience with programs such as QuickBooks or Sage.
#4. Write Down Your Core Values
To help the interviewer understand why you are the best candidate for the job, try to connect your career goals and core values to anything related to the company. To create a list of your core values, try to answer the following questions:
- What qualities do I want to cultivate to excel in my career?
- What drives me?
- What kind of work environment do I prefer?
- What characteristics do I most admire in my role models?
#5. Hone Your Communication Abilities
You can boost your confidence when answering by practising your verbal and nonverbal communication skills. When speaking, be clear and concise. To sound relaxed and self-assured, remember the highlights of your response rather than memorising them.
Maintain eye contact, sit upright, and keep your shoulders back to show that you’re focused on the interview. Maintain an inviting posture by keeping your feet flat on the ground.
#6. Employ the STAR Interview Response System
As you provide examples of experiences that speak to your skill set, the STAR method is an effective way to structure your answer. STAR is an acronym that stands for:
- Situation: Explain the situation.
- Task: Describe your role in the situation.
- Action: Talk about the steps you took to resolve or improve the situation.
- Result: Describe and quantify the situation’s outcome.
Examples Of How to Answer the Interview Question, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
Example 1: how to answer the interview question, “What can you bring to the company?”
An answer for a sales position showcasing a specific type of work experience might sound like this:
“You mentioned in our interview earlier that the company is looking to expand its market to small business owners with fewer than 25 employees. I’d bring my knowledge of the subject as well as my experience guiding a sales team that is selling to these customers for the first time. This segment has been my primary focus in most of my previous roles, and in my current role, I also played a significant role in developing our sales strategies when the company began selling to these customers. I worked with my managers to develop the sales scripts because I’d previously sold them to small business owners.
I also sat in on several sales calls with other account executives who were selling to these customers for the first time and provided them with pointers and other feedback on how to approach these conversations. Our 10-person sales team closed 50 new bookings in this segment in the first quarter, and I closed 10 of those deals. I assisted my previous company’s expansion into small businesses, and I’m excited to do the same at this company.”
Example 2: how to answer the interview question, “What can you bring to the company?”
If you’re applying for an administrative position and want to discuss a skill you have:
“I understand you’re looking for an executive; I would bring to the team my strong eye for detail and work as an assistant to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks due to your busy schedule. In my previous position, I was in charge of assisting the company’s CFO, and I was frequently alerted to minor issues such as scheduling overlaps and missing information in expense reports. I was also in charge of taking minutes at all of the CFO’s meetings and distributing them to meeting attendees.
After one meeting during which several critical deadlines were discussed, I realised that the CFO had stated different dates for finalising key earnings reports in different meetings—telling the executive team in an earlier meeting that she’d have the reports a week before a board meeting and telling her team she needed them by the date of the board meeting. I quickly confirmed the correct date with the CFO, and because she was on her way to another meeting, I quickly corrected the meeting minutes so that the finance team was aware of the error right away. As a result, the reports were completed in plenty of time for the board meeting. Because of my meticulousness and proactive nature, you can do your job knowing that the details and logistics are taken care of.”
What Not to Say When You Want to Answer the Interview Question, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
As previously stated, there is a fine line between self-assurance and self-aggrandisement. Companies want confident candidates, but not egotistical ones who believe their method is the best way to do things. A few other things to avoid are:
- Negative comments about other candidates or your previous employers. An interview is not the time to complain about your previous company’s lack of vision or to suggest that your competitors are inferior.
- It’s understandable to be nervous, but stuttering answers don’t help your chances of being chosen.
- Not supplying relevant examples of how your skills correspond to those required for the job. You can, believe it or not, ‘reframe’ your experience to match the job requirements; it just takes some practice.
- A long answer will only bore the hiring manager and risk containing a lot of irrelevant detail.
- A canned answer does nothing to make you stand out from the crowd.
Let’s look at an answer that doesn’t help your chances:
“At my previous company, I was the top salesperson, outselling everyone by about 60% each month. The level of competition wasn’t particularly high, but it felt good to know that I was the best. Based on your company’s sales figures for the previous year, it appears that the guys could use all the assistance they can get. I’m without a doubt the man to take you forward.”
When asked in an interview, the question “What can you bring to this company?” should not surprise you, and how you plan to answer should be crucial. Because it is one of the most frequently asked interview questions, a hiring manager will expect you to be prepared. Remember, this question assesses your suitability for the role, whether you are a good fit for the company, and can also determine whether you bothered to prepare.
Things to Avoid When You Want to Answer the Interview Question, “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
Here are a few things to avoid doing when responding to your interviewers during the interview.
#1. Being Overly Generic
Giving your interviewer generic answers will cause them to rule you out as a candidate. Generic responses are ones that any candidate can give, and they lack a personalised experience. On the contrary, emphasise your distinct skills and experiences.
#2. Haughtiness
Avoid sounding arrogant when responding to the interviewing panel. Instead, be assured but humble in your delivery. While answering, make sure to follow the interview protocol.
#3. Insignificance
Avoid being irrelevant; it will tear the panel out before you get to the important points. Be honest about your skills and experiences that are relevant to the company.
#4. Lack of Preparation
Being unprepared for an interview is the worst thing you can do. Research the company and the advertised position to prepare for the interview.
What Three Qualities Do You Bring to the Company?
Your enthusiasm for the profession and the employer and your desire to make your mark. Your personal qualities, such as your drive and willingness to learn. The skills the employer seeks and how you have demonstrated them in the past – your answer should demonstrate why you would be competent in the job.
How Can You Deal with Stress and Pressure?
Taking steps to reduce stress
- Keep track of your stressors
- Create healthy responses.
- Establish boundaries
- Take some time to rest
- Learn how to unwind
- Speak to your boss
- Get some help
What is your Greatest Strength?
Your greatest strength includes
- Curiosity and eagerness to learn new things
- The ability to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances.
- Excellent time management abilities.
- Strong work ethic and drive to succeed.
- Creativity and innovative thinking are required.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work in groups are required.
Is there Anything that Distinguishes You from the Other Candidates?
Being intellectually curious and eager to learn new things is an important skill that can set you apart from other candidates. Hiring managers look for candidates who are genuinely interested in the job and eager to learn more. It demonstrates your willingness to try new approaches to problems and how you will work to find them.
What About Our Company Most Piques Your Interest?
Discuss the organisation’s culture and values, highlighting how they align with your personal and professional objectives. Connecting your passion for the company’s mission to the job requirements can demonstrate a genuine interest in the position.
Conclusion
If the interviewer asks the interview question, “What can you bring to the company?” think of how to answer by dividing your time between discussing the role and the company/team. Focus on what you can bring to the job first, then on the organisation. If they ask what you’d bring to the job, focus solely on the role and how you’re a good fit for their requirements and needs in this position.
Be prepared to discuss specific job-related skills and knowledge in your answer, no matter what variation of this interview question you hear. Instead of saying, “I’m very hard-working and have excellent communication skills,” it’s much better to tell a potential employer, “I saw the job description says you prefer someone with experience selling to enterprise clients, and in my previous role, enterprise sales was my sole focus.”
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