Navigating the Crucial Interview Question: "What Makes You Unique?"
Encountering the job interview question, "What makes you unique?" can unexpectedly trip up even the most seasoned candidates. Having the requisite skills and qualifications for the position is one thing, but articulating what sets you apart from other candidates can feel daunting.
The Key Insight
Here’s the secret—you don’t need extraordinary superpowers to craft a compelling answer. It’s about strategic storytelling and demonstrating your uniqueness in a way that aligns with the company’s needs.
What Not To Say
Before delving into how best to answer, let’s address what not to say. Your weekend hobbies or quirky talents might be intriguing but aren’t necessarily relevant to your prospective employer. Instead, the underlying inquiry here is, “Why should I hire you over the other applicants?” This should be your focal point.
Constructing a Relevant Answer
The essence of your answer should revolve around how you can contribute value to the organization. Employers are keen on understanding how you’ll save or generate money for the company. Demonstrate your value through a track record of past accomplishments and success stories.
How to Present Your Unique Background
Consider the following template to showcase your unique background effectively:
Sample Answer:
"My background diverges from the typical path; this distinct perspective has permitted me to devise creative, resourceful solutions. For instance, I developed [X solution] to address [Y problem], yielding successful results. (Backing up with measurable data like numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts enhances credibility.)"
Highlighting Your Past Experiences
Be sure to underscore how your education and work experiences give you a superior advantage for tackling the role’s challenges. Here’s how to frame it:
Sample Answer:
"My degree in [specific field] coupled with my hands-on experience in [specific tasks] uniquely equips me to handle challenges like [specific problem]. For example, in [a particular scenario], I took [specific action] and achieved [specific results], corroborated by metrics such as percentages or financial savings."
Emphasizing Skills and Soft Skills
If the role emphasizes soft skills like communication or organization, emphasize these capabilities with tangible proof.
Sample Answer:
"I excel in organization, illustrated by how I developed a new task assignment system at my previous job, which boosted productivity by 20%." Including quantitative data transforms a good response into an outstanding one by precisely demonstrating your impact.
Overall Career Strategy
Wrap up by focusing on the totality of your strategy and experience. Highlight transferable skills and past roles where you brought significant value. Emphasize proof of your impact using concrete, quantifiable achievements.
Final Thought:
Being unique isn’t just about standing out—it’s about proving your value. So the next time you face the "What makes you unique?" question, use these strategies to craft an answer that not only differentiates you but also persuades the interviewer of your unmatched value.
Additional Help
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