Every time I get requested ‘What makes you distinctive?’ or ‘What makes you stand out from different candidates?’ in an interview, I take advantage of it as the proper alternative to clarify why I’m the very best individual for the function.
And I prefer to get particular. I’ve discovered that interviewers reply positively after I skip the generics and tie my reply again to what I’ve to supply based mostly on my particular person background.
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Your reply might finally make or break your interview, so it’s essential to actually nail it. I’ll stroll you thru methods to reply this query the best manner.
Desk of Contents
Refined Methods Interviewers Ask ‘What makes you distinctive?’
There are numerous ways in which interviewers attempt to tease out what makes you a stand-out candidate.
Listed below are a number of the widespread questions which are really ‘What makes you distinctive?’ in disguise:
- What makes you stand out from different candidates?
- What units you other than different candidates?
- What are you able to deliver to this function that’s totally different from different candidates?
- What makes you a invaluable candidate for this function?
- Why are you the very best candidate for this function?
- Why ought to I select you over different candidates?
Regardless of how this query manifests itself throughout your interview, the overarching purpose stays the identical.
Why do interviewers ask ‘What units you other than different candidates?’
The interviewer is asking you this query to provide you a chance to showcase your worth.
They wish to see that you simply’ve achieved thorough analysis in regards to the firm and the place. They usually need you to attach your expertise and expertise again to the function you’re interviewing for.
For instance, let’s say I’m attempting to land a social media function, and I discover that the corporate might be doing a greater job on TikTok.
I can use this as a possibility to:
- Present that I’ve achieved my homework — I’m already aware of the corporate’s social media presence and the platforms the place they’re at present lively (i.e., TikTok).
- Spotlight related expertise — I’ve a number of years of expertise managing and rising TikTok accounts, so I’ll make sure you point out that.
- Present a lightweight advice — I’ll share how my expertise and expertise permits me to determine and implement that advice.
Give it some thought like this: If you happen to can present the interviewer that you could assist the corporate meet their targets (and that what their targets are within the first place), that’s one nice technique to set your self other than the remainder.
Plus, it turns into clear to the interviewer that you simply’ve taken the time to organize in the event you can present particular examples associated to the function.
These are all the explanation why that is such a well-liked interview query — so come prepared, and don’t be afraid to humble brag about your self a bit.
Learn how to Reply ‘What makes you distinctive?’
- Point out expertise listed within the job description.
- Present particular examples out of your background.
- Keep away from generic phrases like ‘I am a tough employee.’
- Embrace key character traits that can let you ship outcomes.
- Inform the interviewer how your distinctive expertise will assist the corporate succeed.
1. Point out expertise listed within the job description.
This is without doubt one of the greatest methods to indicate the interviewer that you simply’ve achieved your analysis. Additionally, the job description is mainly like your cheat sheet. Use it as a information so precisely which expertise to focus on all through the interview.
My advice: Refer again to the job description however don’t recite it phrase for phrase. Use it in context to clarify how your skillset aligns with the expectations for the function.
2. Present particular examples out of your background.
That is one other good manner you should utilize the job description to your benefit. Reference prior accomplishments or outcomes from previous roles that relate to the place you’re interviewing for.
My advice: Concentrate on examples that tie again to the talents required for the place, and all the time quantify success the place potential.
Utilizing our social media instance, saying ‘I ran a social media marketing campaign which resulted in a 120% enhance in site visitors to our web site’ is much more impactful than ‘I’ve expertise operating social media campaigns.’
3. Keep away from generic phrases like “I am a tough employee.”
Bear in mind, this can be a very normal interview query, so which means each candidate is probably going being requested this query.
Make your reply compelling. As a substitute of claiming you are a ‘exhausting employee,’ give particular examples in regards to the exhausting work you’ve achieved associated to the function.
My advice: Attempt to keep away from the widespread buzzwords and as an alternative substitute these with actual descriptions of your previous work.
For instance, you and each different candidate for a social media place most likely contemplate yourselves to be “social media savvy.”
As a substitute, make the case to show that you’re really savvier than the competitors based mostly in your distinctive background.
4. Embrace key character traits that can let you ship outcomes.
Another person might need comparable expertise as you, however your character is one in every of a sort.
Being ‘social media savvy’ is one factor. However in the event you’re social media savvy and a tenacious one who is ready to assume shortly in your toes, that’s an asset.
Spotlight the traits which have confirmed worth in serving to you develop as an expert.
My advice: You wish to know one in every of my favourite methods to persuade interviewers that I can ship the outcomes they’re on the lookout for? Inform them how I’ve discovered comparable success up to now and the way my individuality supported that.
5. Inform the interviewer how your distinctive expertise will assist the corporate succeed.
This intently relates again to Tip #3.
Don’t simply discuss generic expertise that the majority candidates have — all the time tie your expertise again to particular tasks you’ve labored on.
Your background is what makes you distinctive. There’s nobody individual that has the precise expertise, expertise, and traits that you simply do. Use that to your benefit.
My advice: It’s possible you’ll not know the corporate’s inside targets, however you must all the time attempt to join your expertise again to their mission and values when potential.
7 Pattern Solutions to “What Makes You Distinctive?” and Why They Work
1. “I’m an excellent communicator and discover it is simple for me to narrate to different individuals.”
Think about mentioning a character trait you are feeling can be a great match for the enterprise. After studying the job description, make a listing of attributes that might make you an distinctive candidate.
Moreover, together with a character trait in your reply permits you to show how you are a good match for a task during which you may have little prior expertise.
As an example, in the event you’re making use of for a place as a staff chief, it’s important that you simply show sturdy communication expertise and a capability to attach with a various group of individuals.
If you happen to inform the interviewer, “I’m an excellent communicator and discover it is simple for me to narrate to different individuals”, you are in a position to match your character to elements of a profitable chief.
Why this works: Efficient communication is a crucial trait to emphasise in interviews. If you happen to contemplate how 86% of workers cite lack of collaboration as a most important part of office failures, you possibly can start to understand why.
2. “I actually get pleasure from studying new issues and am continually looking for out new studying alternatives.”
By mentioning your ardour for studying new issues, you are demonstrating you are growth-focused and unafraid of challenges.
Moreover, answering the query on this manner permits you to remind the interviewer why you are uniquely certified for the function.
Why this works: Whereas different candidates might need extra prior expertise within the trade, you are proving your need to exceed expectations of the job shortly.
3. “My prior expertise in customer support has supplied me with distinctive technical expertise that I can apply to this function.”
If in case you have prior expertise in a task vastly totally different from the one for which you are making use of, you would possibly use this as a possibility to clarify how your background uniquely qualifies you.
It is important, nevertheless, that you simply present particular examples of how your prior expertise has supplied you with sure transferable expertise.
As an example, you would possibly say the next:
“My prior expertise in customer support supplied me with an in depth information base for a way our product works. As a marketer, I will use this data to make sure we’re assembly our clients’ wants.”
It is also essential to focus on: Earlier job expertise has declined in significance relating to recruiters evaluating candidates. Actually, over the previous few years, that quantity has dropped from 92% to 62%.
So it is okay in the event you really feel your prior work expertise does not completely align with the function for which you are making use of — so long as you possibly can clarify how your expertise will enable you succeed.
Why this works: With a solution like this one, you are in a position to alleviate considerations the interviewer might need along with your lack of expertise within the discipline.
4. “Working at a startup gave me a possibility to grasp the ins-and-outs of the trade, and to tackle duties I may not have at a bigger firm. I feel this expertise offers me a slight edge over different candidates.”
Much like the reply above, this reply is an efficient one in the event you’re trying to change industries.
Think about how your background has allowed you to achieve distinctive expertise that others, who adopted a extra linear profession trajectory, may not have.
As an example, in the event you beforehand labored at a small startup and now you wish to switch to a big company, it is essential you point out how these expertise will make you profitable on this new function.
Why this works: If you happen to assume your prior expertise might deter interviewers from seeing you as exceptionally certified, that is an optimum probability to show them unsuitable.
5. “I am not afraid of failure. Actually, I feel it’s a necessary a part of the experimental course of that will get you to success. For instance … “
This reply exhibits your interviewer that you simply’re not afraid to take dangers.
After all, you will solely wish to say this when you’ve got a optimistic instance to strengthen the significance of failure within the office.
You do not wish to sound such as you make errors on a regular basis, however you will stand out in the event you point out the way you turned a failure into a hit.
As an example, you would possibly say, “I am not afraid of failure. In my final function, we tried to streamline our website positioning course of and, alongside the best way, discovered we might by chance decreased site visitors to our web site.
Nonetheless, this preliminary failure allowed me to see the errors in our earlier process. My staff and I got here up with a extra profitable technique to keep away from these errors sooner or later, and ended up growing site visitors by 20%.”
Why this works: With this reply, you are exhibiting you are able to remaining versatile and open-minded when one thing does not work instantly, and you understand how to take failures and use them as studying alternatives.
6. “When fixing issues, I apply each logic and emotional features in equal proportion. As an example, I am educated in website positioning and perceive methods to use analytics to make sure a advertising and marketing marketing campaign is profitable, however I additionally majored in design and know methods to apply creativity to a challenge as properly.”
If you happen to’re caught on deciding methods to show your distinctive {qualifications}, begin by excited about how different individuals method issues at your organization, and the way you differ.
As an example, most individuals are both logical and use analytics to unravel issues, or emotional and use creativity. It is uncommon to seek out somebody who’s each.
Why this works: Most individuals deal with highlighting one talent per query in an interview. If you happen to’re in a position to show that you simply’re snug combining two distinctive expertise, it is a formidable skill you must spotlight.
7. “I am exceptionally organized, and at my final firm, I used to be in a position to apply this talent to enhance our course of and enhance ROI by 33%.”
Bear in mind, when your interviewer asks “what makes you distinctive”, they’re actually questioning “how will you assist our firm?”
On the finish of the day, it’s important you tie your reply again to how you’ll resolve issues for the corporate.
48% of recruiters say enhancing high quality of rent is a high precedence — so you will wish to guarantee your reply highlights how you’ll excel within the function for the lengthy haul.
Think about a character trait or talent set that helped your final firm obtain outcomes. If the outcomes are quantitative, be sure to have the particular numbers to help your declare.
Nonetheless, it is also applicable to share qualitative outcomes, akin to, “my organizational expertise led my supervisor to trusting me with a serious challenge inside the first two months in my function.”
Why this works: In the end, offering examples exhibits the interviewer you are results-driven, and are not simply saying generic phrases to reply their query.
For much more inspiration on methods to reply this query successfully, take a look at the video beneath.
Put together Past ‘What Makes You Distinctive?’
The age-old “What makes you stand out from different candidates” query is one in every of many widespread questions that interviewers love, so it’s essential to prep accordingly.
HubSpot’s complete interview information that will help you deal with over 50 totally different interview questions like a professional, together with questions associated to:
- Who you might be and what expertise you deliver to the function
- The way you reply to challenges and battle
- The way you’ll match into or add to the corporate tradition
- Your skilled targets and desired profession trajectory
Obtain it totally free right here.
Stand Out within the Crowd
Basically, ‘What makes you distinctive’ actually means, ‘What makes you an exceptionally good match for this function?’ Come ready, get particular, and use examples to show that you simply’re the best choice within the candidate pool.
