One of the most common interview questions that recruiters ask, irrespective of the role you’re applying for, is “what can you bring to the company?”
With this question, the recruiters want to know your strengths in terms of the job description and whether or not you would make a valuable addition to their team.
And since hiring is a resource-consuming process, companies want to do it right the first time around. Therefore, your answer to this question needs to showcase your potential and skillset effectively.
But how can you talk about your best skills with confidence without sounding arrogant?
Given that 76% of recruiters reject candidates who appear arrogant, while 40% of interviewers reject candidates due to a lack of confidence, you must be able to deliver your answer with the right amount of confidence.
Read on to learn how you can answer what can you bring to the company interview question and related FAQs like the following:
- Why do interviewers ask, what can you bring to the company?
- How to answer what can you bring to the company that no one else can?
- How can you make your "what can you bring to the company" answer crisp?
- What are some sample answers for what can you bring to the company?
What Do Interviewers Want to Know When They Ask “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
To frame a compelling answer to “what can you bring to the company?” you must be clear about what the recruiters want to know with this question.
But simply describing your skills and experiences, as mentioned in your resume, is not enough.
With this question, the recruiters want to understand:
- Do your skills align with the company’s goals and vision?
- Are you a good fit for the role?
- In the long term, would you be a good hire for the business?
- How much do you know about the company’s vision, goals, and challenges?
- Can you offer a fresh perspective on the business?
- What are your strongest skills and abilities?
- How good are you at communicating your selling points?
- How will you be contributing to the company if hired?
Therefore, your answer must put these concerns of the recruiters to rest by describing your potential to meet their expectations and requirements.
You must put yourself forward as the best candidate for the job and also emphasize how you differ from other candidates.
Also Read: Why is interview preparation important and what are its benefits?
How To Answer the Interview Question “What Can You Bring to the Company?”
Although it may seem like a pretty straightforward question, answering what can you bring to the company can be quite tricky if not prepared ahead.
Out of all the accomplishments, qualifications, skills, and experiences you’ve acquired throughout your career trajectory, how can you possibly decide which ones to talk about in your answer?
Given below are some useful tips to help you prepare a brilliant answer that will assure the recruiters that you’re one!
Analyze the Job Description
The job description provided in the listing gives you insight into the top requirements and duties of the role.
Analyze the JD thoroughly to identify work experiences from your career trajectory that align with these requirements so that you can talk about the same in your answer to what can you bring to the company.
Recruiters are more likely to hire you when they see that you have experience in successfully executing similar duties.
For instance, if you are applying for a position of a sales executive, and the JD lists building long-term relationships with customers as one of the duties, ensure to talk about instances (if you have any) where you fostered and maintained trusting relationships with clients and how you can do the same for the company.
Learn About the Company
Learning about the company is imperative if you want to make your answer to “what can you bring to the company?” an outstanding one.
To learn how you can make an impact on the company, get clarity on their mission statement, core values, business goals, challenges, products, and services.
Thereby, you can identify areas in which you can leverage your skills and experiences to help the company achieve its goals, enhance its products and services, and overcome the current challenges it might be facing.
Doing so will help you portray yourself as a candidate who has done their homework on the company and is genuinely interested in the role.
Use the STAR Method
Including examples of your accomplishments and work experience in your answer is a must to exemplify what you can bring to the company.
However, your answer should be concise and to the point. Not longer than 2 minutes at the most.
To achieve the same, you can use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) format to frame your answer.
Provide a brief background on the work situation, followed by the task that was assigned to you, the action you took to complete the task, and the result you achieved.
Wherever possible, use numbers and figures to emphasize your accomplishments and work instead of a vague description.
Following this approach will make your answer crisp and impactful.
Practice Your Answer
To get comfortable with the flow of your answer and build confidence, practice delivering your answer out loud in front of the mirror or even with family members or friends.
However, do not mug up a scripted answer. The idea is to be clear about your talking points and have a mental outline of your response.
And it’s not just about what you say, it’s also about how you say it. So focus on your body language, tone, and facial expression while practicing your answer.
Also Read: How to use the STAR format to answer job interview questions?
What Can You Bring to the Company Sample Answers
To put it all in perspective, given below are some sample answers that you can refer to:
Sample Answer 1:
“I believe my proficiency in SalesForce CRM and my experience in driving monthly sales quota perfectly align with your current requirements. As I gathered from your company’s social media pages, your current goal for the company is to increase your products sale by 30% this quarter and I believe I can help you achieve the same. In my previous stint at XYZ company, I led a team of 5 sales representatives to increase the sales of a new product by 20% in 4 months through online marketing campaigns. If I get hired, I can do the same for your company with some innovative ideas that I have in mind.”
Sample Answer 2:
“My problem-solving skills allow me to work extremely well under pressure, which I understand is a key requirement in this role. In my previous role as an event coordinator, I was in charge of managing inventory to stay within the budget, but the last-minute requirements always left me with a limited time to decide on the necessary purchases without going over the budget. I then created an approach of maintaining spreadsheets that allowed me to compare manufacturers’ prices and order necessary supplies on time and within the budget. This approach not only helped save the company over $100,000 annually but also helped streamline processes for the entire team. I will bring the same innovative ideas and critical thinking skills to help your organization grow.”
Also Read: How to sell yourself in an interview?
Key Points from the Blog
- When recruiters ask, “what can you bring to the company?” they want to know about your strengths in terms of the job description.
- Analyze the job description to identify work experiences from your career trajectory that align with the company’s requirements and highlight the same in your answer to what can you bring to the company.
- To learn how you can make an impact on the company, get clarity on their mission statement, core values, business goals, challenges, products, and services.
- Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) format to frame a crisp and concise answer to what can you bring to the company.
- To get comfortable with the flow of your answer and build confidence, practice delivering your answer out loud in front of the mirror or even before family members or friends.
Visit Hiration’s Career Activator Platform with 24x7 chat support to get expert guidance while preparing your answer to “what can you bring to the company?”. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com.