How to Answer Why Are You a Great Match for This Role? 2022 Edition

by Hiration

One of the most dreaded questions by candidates during an interview is, “why are you a great match for this role?”

And it often gets rephrased as “why should we hire you?” or “what makes you a good fit for this job?”

No matter how the question is rephrased, the essence remains the same. Recruiters want to know about your strengths and how you see yourself leveraging them for the company’s growth.

If not prepared ahead of time, this question can catch you off-guard and ruin your chances of getting hired.

Especially if you are someone who’d cringe at the thought of blowing your own trumpet. But, interviews are one instance where you must effectively sell yourself.

Read on to learn how you can deliver a compelling answer for why are you a great match for this role and related FAQs like the following:

Why Do Recruiters Ask “Why Are You a Great Match for This Role?”


Be it for any job position, recruiters aim to hire only the best candidate for the company because the hiring process requires a lot of resources - time, energy, and money.

And since only qualified candidates get shortlisted for interviews, it eventually comes down to which candidate can sell themselves better and impress the recruiters.

By asking you why are you a great match for this role, recruiters can get an insight into just that.

With this question, hiring managers want to know:

  • What are your strengths in terms of the job description?
  • How can you benefit the company?
  • Do your skills and experiences align with the requirements?

Besides, if you are interviewing for a sales position, this question can tell the recruiters a lot about your persuasive and selling skills that are imperative for such roles.

Additionally, your answer will show whether or not you’ve prepared for the interview, learned about the company, and assessed the job description.

Also read: What are the most common job interview questions in 2022?

How to Answer “Why Are You a Great Match for this Role?”


Irrespective of the role you’re interviewing for, the fundamental approach to how you must frame your answer for this question will remain the same.

The following are some tips that will help you build a compelling response to why are you a great match for this role:

Analyze the Job Description


The job description in the listing provided by the employers is like a cheat sheet for candidates who are applying for the role.

This is because it lists all the key requirements, the exact skills, and experiences they want in their ideal candidate.

And by analyzing the job description thoroughly, you will know which of your skills and experiences match their requirements.

Thereby, allowing you to frame a compelling answer to why are you a great match for this role.

Research the Company


Your answer to why are you a good fit for this role can also give an insight into how your personal values match with the company’s culture & beliefs.

At the end of the day, recruiters want to hire a candidate who can fit in well with the company and its work culture.

Therefore, you must research the company, learn as much as you can about them, and showcase how your values are in line with their company culture if that stands true to you.

Sell Yourself


As stated earlier, one of the important things that recruiters want to know when they ask you why are you a great match for this role is your strengths.

What do you bring to the table as an ideal candidate? What are your strongest points? Is there an important area in which you’re exceptionally knowledgeable? Do you have an exceptional record of promotions or career growth?

Consider writing down your top-selling points with respect to the job description to create an outline for your answer.

Aim for at least 5 selling points in terms of areas of expertise, key accomplishments, education, certification, key skills, qualities, and/or other strengths.

Provide Examples


Now, simply claiming that you have so and so skills will not be enough to persuade the recruiters with your answer.

You must identify past work scenarios wherein you’ve demonstrated those skills and provide examples.

For instance, if you are interviewing for a marketing role, you'll want to demonstrate that you have increased sales for XYZ products or services in your past role.

This way, your answer to why are you a great match for this role will make the recruiters see you as the ideal candidate.

Rehearse Your Reply/Answer


Once you’re sure of the points and examples you’re going to be selling yourself on, you must rehearse delivering your answer.

Keep a mental outline of your answer and practice saying it out loud in front of the mirror or your friends & family to gain more confidence.

However, this doesn’t mean you need to create a scripted answer and mug it up. Simply be clear about what you’re going to talk about and your choice of words can vary each time.

Also read: What are some great interview tips to get hired in 2022?

Why Are You the Best Candidate for This Position Sample Answers


Given below are some sample answers to why are you a great match for this role based on different job positions:

Why Are You a Great Match for this Role (Nursing)


"As a licensed nurse, I have hands-on experience in assisting senior doctors in the emergency unit to perform a range of medical procedures, including surgery preparation, emergency care, and injury suturation. And as I’ve noticed from the job description, this role is focused on working in the emergency ward. In my previous stint, I was also able to facilitate accelerated recovery for 10+ patients by creating individualized care plans. Thus, I believe my skills and experiences make me a great fit for this role.”

Why Are You a Great Match for this Role (HR Representative)


“I believe I make a great fit for this role because of my exceptional communication skills. And as I’ve noticed from the job description, it happens to be one of the crucial requirements for this role. My ability to effectively communicate helped me excel in my previous role as an HR representative, as I regularly worked with other team members and employees to motivate them and improve their overall performance. Through proper communication and various employee retention practices, I was able to increase employee loyalty and slash hiring costs by 50% annually.”

Why Are You a Great Match for This Role (Manager)


“Well, I believe I have all the skills and experiences you are looking for and I’m certain I can leverage them to excel in this role and benefit the company. I have extensive experience managing a big group of staff members as in my previous role, I headed a team of 10+ sales representatives and managed to record the highest sales number while making $20 million in revenue for the company. Plus, my creative and flexible work style is in-line with your company’s adhocracy work culture.”

Also read: What are some top interview Q&As of 2022?

Why Do You Think You Are Suitable for This Job Sample Answers for Freshers


While it may be easy to talk about the relevant experience you have as a way to show why you're a great fit for a role, answering the same question as a fresher can be tricky if you don't know the drill.

Similar to how you'd emphasize your professional experience, your answer as a fresher must emphasize the knowledge and skills that makes you a suitable candidate for the job.

Given below are some sample answers that you can refer to build your own:

Sample 1: “As I have just begun my career in data science, I believe this gives me the liberty to explore my potential by giving my best to this organization. In my college, I was a part of several machine learning and deep learning projects that allowed me to gain some hands-on experience and skills. And since this role is focused on machine learning basics, I think I'm a great fit for this vacancy.”

Sample 2: "Being a fresher, I think I am very flexible and open to learning new things. Plus given my knowledge of the latest industry marketing trends, I believe I can leverage my skills and knowledge to increase the sales of your product. And since I'm an avid user of your products, I am familiar with their selling points and have got fresh ideas on how we can strategize marketing campaigns. If I get hired, I'd execute my ideas and become a contributing member of the team."

Also read: What are some of the most common phone interview questions in 2022?

What Not to Say When Answering "Why Are You a Great Match for This Role?"


Given below are some common mistakes you need to avoid when answering interview questions:

  • Having poor body language - Interviewers will not only judge you on the basis of what you say. It's also about how you say it. Studies show that 39% of the candidates are rejected due to their overall confidence, voice quality, and eye contact. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy eye contact, wear a smile, and have a confident posture.

  • Providing vague answers - When the recruiters ask you "why are you a great fit for this role?", your answer must be tailored according to the job description of the role and your strengths. Avoid providing unclear and personal reasons as to why you think the role is good for you.

  • Giving long answers - Interviews are already quite long and recruiters need to interview other candidates as well. In such scenarios, if you ramble on more than 2 minutes on a single question, it can frustrate the recruiters and bore them. Keep your answer concise and to the point.

  • Exaggerating your skills - As much as you might be tempted to flaunt skills that you don't have, to show how you're a great match for the role, recruiters are likely to catch up with the exaggeration sooner or later. If you cannot back up your claimed skills with instances wherein you've demonstrated them, you will be caught in hot waters and your chances of getting hired will be slim.

  • Being too modest - Interviews are one such scenario wherein you must not shy away from blowing your trumpet. Often, great candidates fail interviews due to their inability to sell themselves during interviews. Do not shy away from talking about your strongest traits and accomplishments that are in line with the job description.

Also read: What are some common mistakes that you must avoid during interviews?

Key Points from the Blog


  • By asking you why are you a great match for this role, recruiters want to know about your strengths in terms of the job description.
  • You must analyze the job description of the role to tailor your answer according to their requirements.
  • Research the company to see if your values are in line with the company’s culture. If they are, you can state the same when answering the question: why are you a great match for this role?
  • Your answer to why would you be a good fit for this position must highlight your selling points and show examples of how you’ve demonstrated your skills in the past.
  • Keep a mental outline of your answer and practice saying it out loud in front of the mirror or your friends & family to gain more confidence.

If you need expert guidance to prepare a compelling answer to why are you a great match for this role, visit Hiration’s Career Activator Platform which offers 24x7 chat support. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com.