How do I answer, "What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?"

Congratulations!

You've just landed an interview for your dream job.

Now it's time to prepare for one of the most common interview questions:

"What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?"

Have you prepared a response for that yet?

An announcer is asking, 'Are you ready?'

Don't Make These Mistakes

Interviewers ask these types of questions to get an idea about your personality and skills, so be careful with your response.

Don't:

be arrogant with your response by undervaluing other candidates.
be too broad. Keep it short and mention key areas where you have confidence in yourself.

A person is asking to avoid doing this.

Mention Your Experience And Unique Skills

Mention specifically where you excel and fit the job better than the other candidates.

Talk about:

special skills that make you uniquely qualified for the job.
your experience in relevant situations that makes you stand out from others.
how you bring a positive attitude to the work environment.

Darryl Philbin from The Office is saying, 'I have management experience.'

Quiz

At an interview with an IT firm, Pam is asked what makes her stand out from other candidates. Which qualities or experiences should she mention?

Leadership role at a computer club

Competitive programming experience

Ability to handle high pressure

All of these

Did you know?

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Sample Response

Example 1

You graduated recently and you're interviewing in the event management industry:

“During my time in college, I focused on developing different skills like teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. To achieve those skills, I volunteered in various organizations and organized several successful events. I am highly confident that having these skills makes me unique and can help me achieve success in this industry."

Example 2

You already have some work experience and you're interviewing in the IT industry:

"I have a CS background, five years of programming experience, and I am proficient in working with the latest tools in this industry. I also work extremely well under pressure and can lead a team to success. I believe this combination makes me a unique candidate for this position."

Take Action

Now that you know the key to answering this important question, make sure to:

Write down your top skills.

Prepare a sample response.

Avoid being arrogant and keep your answer short.

A person is saying, 'Good luck!'