How to Answer ‘What Makes You Unique?’ & Stand Out in Your Next Interview

Every time I get requested ‘What makes you distinctive?’ or ‘What makes you stand out from different candidates?’ in an interview, I exploit it as the right alternative to elucidate why I’m one of the best individual for the position.

And I wish to get particular. I’ve discovered that interviewers reply positively once I skip the generics and tie my reply again to what I’ve to supply primarily based on my particular person background.

Your reply might in the end make or break your interview, so it’s necessary to essentially nail it. I’ll stroll you thru the right way to reply this query the best method.

Desk of Contents

Delicate 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 here are among the widespread questions which might be truly ‘What makes you distinctive?’ in disguise:

• What makes you stand out from different candidates?
• What units you aside from different candidates?
• What are you able to carry to this position that’s completely different from different candidates?
• What makes you a worthwhile candidate for this position?
• Why are you one of the best candidate for this position?
• Why ought to I select you over different candidates?

Irrespective of how this query manifests itself throughout your interview, the overarching objective stays the identical.

Why do interviewers ask ‘What units you aside from different candidates?’

The interviewer is asking you this query to provide you a chance to showcase your worth.

They need to see that you simply’ve performed thorough analysis in regards to the firm and the place. They usually need you to attach your abilities and expertise again to the position you’re interviewing for.

For instance, let’s say I’m making an attempt to land a social media position, and I discover that the corporate could possibly be doing a greater job on TikTok.

I can use this as a chance to:

• Present that I’ve performed my homework — I’m already accustomed to the corporate’s social media presence and the platforms the place they’re presently lively (i.e., TikTok).
• Spotlight related abilities — I’ve a number of years of expertise managing and rising TikTok accounts, so I’ll make sure to point out that.
• Present a lightweight advice — I’ll share how my abilities and expertise permits me to determine and implement that advice.

Give it some thought like this: If you happen to can present the interviewer which you could assist the corporate meet their targets (and that you recognize what their targets are within the first place), that’s one nice approach to set your self aside from the remaining.

Plus, it turns into clear to the interviewer that you simply’ve taken the time to arrange in the event you can present particular examples associated to the position.

These are all explanation why that is such a well-liked interview query — so come prepared, and don’t be afraid to humble brag about your self just a little.

1. Point out abilities listed within the job description.

This is among the greatest methods to point out the interviewer that you simply’ve performed your analysis. Additionally, the job description is principally like your cheat sheet. Use it as a information so you recognize precisely which abilities to spotlight 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 elucidate how your skillset aligns with the expectations for the position.

2. Present particular examples out of your background.

That is one other sensible method you need to use 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 at all times quantify success the place attainable.

Utilizing our social media instance, saying ‘I ran a social media marketing campaign which resulted in a 120% improve in visitors to our web site’ is much more impactful than ‘I’ve expertise working social media campaigns.’

3. Keep away from generic phrases like “I am a tough employee.”

Bear in mind, this can be a very commonplace interview query, so which means each candidate is probably going being requested this query.

Make your reply compelling. As an alternative of claiming you are a ‘exhausting employee,’ give particular examples in regards to the exhausting work you’ve completed associated to the position.

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 take into account yourselves to be “social media savvy.” 

As an alternative, make the case to show that you’re truly savvier than the competitors primarily based in your distinctive background.

4. Embody key character traits that can permit you to ship outcomes.

Another person may need related abilities as you, however your character is one in all a form. 

Being ‘social media savvy’ is one factor. However in the event you’re social media savvy and a tenacious one who is ready to suppose rapidly in your ft, that’s an asset.

Spotlight the traits which have confirmed worth in serving to you develop as knowledgeable.

My advice: You need to know one in all my favourite methods to persuade interviewers that I can ship the outcomes they’re searching for? Inform them how I’ve discovered related success prior to now and the way my individuality supported that.

5. Inform the interviewer how your distinctive abilities will assist the corporate succeed.

This intently relates again to Tip #3. 

Don’t simply speak about generic abilities that almost all candidates have — at all times tie your abilities again to particular tasks you’ve labored on.

Your background is what makes you distinctive. There’s nobody individual that has the precise expertise, abilities, and traits that you simply do. Use that to your benefit.

My advice: Chances are you’ll not know the corporate’s inside targets, however it is best to at all times attempt to join your abilities again to their mission and values when attainable.

7 Pattern Solutions to “What Makes You Distinctive?” and Why They Work

1. “I’m an excellent communicator and discover it is easy for me to narrate to different folks.”

Take into account mentioning a character trait you are feeling could be a very good 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 means that you can show how you are a good match for a job by which you’ve gotten little prior expertise.

For example, in the event you’re making use of for a place as a group chief, it is vital that you simply reveal sturdy communication abilities 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 easy for me to narrate to different folks”, you are in a position to match your character to parts of a profitable chief.

Why this works: Efficient communication is a important trait to emphasise in interviews. If you happen to take into account how 86% of workers cite lack of collaboration  as a fundamental element of office failures, you possibly can start to understand why.

2. “I actually take pleasure in studying new issues and am always in search of 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 method means that you can remind the interviewer why you are uniquely certified for the position. 

Why this works: Whereas different candidates may need extra prior expertise within the trade, you are proving your want to exceed expectations of the job rapidly.

3. “My prior expertise in customer support has supplied me with distinctive technical abilities that I can apply to this position.”

In case you have prior expertise in a job vastly completely different from the one for which you are making use of, you may use this as a chance to elucidate how your background uniquely qualifies you. 

It is important, nonetheless, that you simply present particular examples of how your prior expertise has supplied you with sure transferable abilities.

For example, you may 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 information to make sure we’re assembly our clients’ wants.”

It is also necessary to spotlight: Earlier job expertise has declined in significance in terms of recruiters evaluating candidates. In reality, 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 position for which you are making use of — so long as you possibly can clarify how your abilities will enable you succeed. 

Why this works: With a solution like this one, you are in a position to alleviate considerations the interviewer may need together with your lack of expertise within the subject.

4. “Working at a startup gave me a chance 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 provides me a slight edge over different candidates.”

Much like the reply above, this reply is an efficient one in the event you’re making an attempt to change industries. 

Take into account how your background has allowed you to realize distinctive abilities that others, who adopted a extra linear profession trajectory, may not have. 

For example, in the event you beforehand labored at a small startup and now you need to switch to a big company, it is necessary you point out how these abilities will make you profitable on this new position.

Why this works: If you happen to suppose your prior expertise might deter interviewers from seeing you as exceptionally certified, that is an optimum likelihood to show them mistaken.

5. “I am not afraid of failure. In reality, I feel it’s a vital 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.

In fact, you may solely need to say this you probably have a optimistic instance to strengthen the significance of failure within the office.

You do not need to sound such as you make errors on a regular basis, however you may stand out in the event you point out the way you turned a failure into a hit.

For example, you may say, “I am not afraid of failure. In my final position, we tried to streamline our search engine optimisation course of and, alongside the best way, discovered we might unintentionally decreased visitors to our website. 

Nevertheless, this preliminary failure allowed me to see the errors in our earlier process. My group and I got here up with a extra profitable technique to keep away from these errors sooner or later, and ended up rising 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 straight away, and you know the way to take failures and use them as studying alternatives.

6. “When fixing issues, I apply each logic and emotional facets in equal proportion. For example, I am skilled in search engine optimisation and perceive the right way to use analytics to make sure a advertising and marketing marketing campaign is profitable, however I additionally majored in design and know the right way to apply creativity to a undertaking as properly.”

If you happen to’re caught on deciding the right way to reveal your distinctive {qualifications}, begin by serious about how different folks strategy issues at your organization, and the way you differ.

For 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 reveal that you simply’re comfy combining two distinctive abilities, it is a formidable capacity it is best to 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 improve 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 is vital you tie your reply again to how you’ll remedy issues for the corporate. 

48% of recruiters say bettering high quality of rent is a high precedence — so you may need to guarantee your reply highlights how you’ll excel within the position for the lengthy haul.

Take into account a character trait or talent set that helped your final firm obtain outcomes. If the outcomes are quantitative, be sure you have the precise numbers to assist your declare.

Nevertheless, it is also acceptable to share qualitative outcomes, corresponding to, “my organizational abilities led my supervisor to trusting me with a significant undertaking inside the first two months in my position.”

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 the right way 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 all many widespread questions that interviewers love, so it’s necessary to prep accordingly.

HubSpot’s complete interview information that will help you sort out over 50 completely different interview questions like a professional, together with questions associated to:

• Who you’re and what abilities you carry to the position
• 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 free of charge right here.

Stand Out within the Crowd

Basically, ‘What makes you distinctive’ actually means, ‘What makes you an exceptionally good match for this position?’ Come ready, get particular, and use examples to show that you simply’re the best choice within the candidate pool.