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Ask the Expert: How to Answer ‘Why Should I Hire You?’

by: Christopher D. Lee
A woman sits at a round table across from another person in front of a laptop. They appear to be talking over coffee.

Question: How do I respond wisely when the hiring committee asks me, “Why should I hire you”?

Answer from Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D., SPHR: There is an adage that says the answer is always in the question. This question gives the candidate a golden opportunity to make a compelling argument, toot their own horn, or provide some distinguishing qualities that will separate him or her from other applicants. The hiring committee may have two or more promising candidates and cannot easily decide who to hire. It may also be asking the candidate to represent themselves in the best possible light. Or, it may not have all the information it thinks it needs to make a good decision. In any case, the question tells the respondent that the committee wants or needs to be further convinced. The answer is then a prompt to provide additional information. This information should be both factual and persuasive.

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About the Author

Christopher D. Lee joined Storbeck Search after nearly 30 years of serving as a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for five different public and private institutions. He is widely known as an expert on the Search Committee process, having authored two books and having trained over 1,000 HR professionals on the subject over the past 20 years.

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