“Why should we take you on?”

A question that is often asked during a job interview, but also a question that is often answered poorly. Common answers are:

• “You should take me on because I’m a real team player”
• “Because I need the money”
• “Because I’m a hard worker”

We can tell you right now that these are not the answers we want to hear as a recruiter. The answer to the question should be the one that sets you apart from the rest. The answers given above don’t do that. The answer to the question is decisive for the result of the job interview and therefore makes the difference between you getting the job or not. This is the moment to sell yourself to your future employer! So do it!

Or one answer could be: “My CV is perfectly suited to the requirements of the position and I have the necessary experience and skills. I have knowledge of the products and/or services your company offers. That makes me the ideal person for this position”.

Good… so now you have enough information to give a good answer to this important question.
But nothing could be further from the truth!

Anyone who is invited for a job interview has already got through the first round. This means that all the candidates, your competitors, meet the requirements of the position and have the necessary experience and skills. So you have to find something else to make you stand out, but what?

In order to be able to give the ultimate answer to the question, you first have to know why the question is being asked.

WHY DO RECRUITERS ASK THIS QUESTION?

The recruiter’s task is to find the best person for the vacant position. Recruiters often have the choice between several suitable candidates, especially as there is now a lot of competition on the labour market. There is therefore a good chance that the successful candidate will score better than average and offer a lot of extra benefits over and above the standard requirements for the position.

For a recruiter, it is very important for the candidate he or she chooses to perform over the entire period envisaged. This is what a recruiter is judged on.

When they ask the question “Why should we take you on?”, they want you to give a strong answer. They want you to stand out from the rest. They want you to give an answer that assures them you are the right candidate.

THE ULTIMATE ANSWER

Unfortunately, the ultimate answer is not a ready-made one you can use all the time. Every company, every position and every vacancy is different. This means that the answer to the question can therefore never be the same and that, unfortunately, we cannot answer this question for you. You’ll have to give your own answer to the question, but we can help you with that.

The ultimate answer to the question comprises two parts:

1. The part in which you really set yourself apart from the others
2. The part in which you forge a link between the points referred to in part 1 and the position you are applying for

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHERS?

Setting yourself apart is the easiest thing there is. It’s something you do throughout your life, consciously or unconsciously. From the time you’re born, you perform better than others in certain areas and vice versa. You are often not aware of this because it happens automatically. It’s something you take for granted. Something that is difficult for other people and simply easy for you.

We’re talking here about your talent(s).

Your talent is exactly what the recruiter is looking for. Unique qualities that enable you to stand out from all the other candidates.

CONNECTION WITH THE POSITION

After recognising and acknowledging your talent, we then have to relate this to the position you are applying for and the relevant work activities. This is often a lot less difficult than the first part, because your talents and natural dynamics have already pushed you in a certain direction.

If everything has gone well, you have already made, consciously or unconsciously, certain study or career choices during your life that are in harmony with what makes your heart beat faster. Subjects you were good at or liked have determined the course of your continued education and training. Courses attended and certificates obtained not only show what you can do, but also what you are interested in.

So it will often be (and actually should be!) the case that your talent corresponds to the position you are applying for. The only thing you still have to do is articulate your (unique) added value. Do this by giving specific examples that provide the recruiter with a clear picture.

You have to bear in mind that the recruiter has to find a lasting match. If you can recount with passion something that you have enjoyed doing all your life, something you are good at, something you can do better than the other candidates and can explain why this is relevant to the company, you will have given an answer that the recruiter is only too happy to hear.

People who exploit their talent are happier. They are more motivated and, therefore, more productive. Their energetic charisma has a positive effect on other people in the workplace. They are happy in their work and are therefore less likely to leave.