Employers may inquire about your potential contributions for a few different reasons, so be prepared to respond positively if you want the job. You’ll need to know & be ready to answer with confidence what you can bring to the company and role.
Here’s how to answer this strategically in an interview:
➡️ You shouldn’t provide interviewers with generic information about your background and skills when answering this question. Your ability to solve their problems and fit into their culture is what interviewers are looking for.
➡️ Interviewers ask this type of question to see if you are confident in your abilities. They want to hear what you think your finest qualities are that help them, and what you can contribute.
➡️ Employers want candidates who research employers, take their time when applying, and look for the right fit rather than just taking the first job they are offered.
➡️ Your answer should show that you’ve studied their role and organization and considered why you’d be a good fit!
➡️Start by discussing your value to the role you are applying for, then discuss the company in general.
➡️Identify and highlight specific job-related skills, industry jargon, tech specific words and not soft skills, when answering.
❎ “I am hardworking, detail-oriented, and excellent at solving problems…”.
✅ In my previous job, I managed technical SAAS products, and that’s the focus of this role as well. Additionally, I have been doing all of this in the same industry that you do, so I won’t need any extra time to learn the details.”
➡️You can add a few soft skills at the end of the answer if necessary.
➡️ You should highlight that you read the job description closely and did your research
➡️ During your early round interviews, make sure you understand the issues you’re being hired to fix.
➡️ The key is to connect your skills and experiences to what the company needs and share examples of similar or transferable skills from the past.
➡️This question can be rephrased as what are you capable of contributing to the role/team/product/service? Adapt to all the variations.
➡️Make sure your answer is 100 percent about why you’d be successful in their exact role.
➡️Show how you will fit into the company’s succession plan and work culture by briefly describing your career goals, values, and principles.
➡️Keep your responses matched to the exact role you’re interviewing for without digressing!
➡️ Last but not least, don’t say you don’t know or “I’m not sure, but I just need a job, I am a quick learner and will pick it up.”.
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