The Toughest Job Interview Question

We've gone over countless job interview questions on this blog.  I want to go over one question today that, despite it's simple appearance, can give job seeker's a lot of trouble: "Why should we hire you?"  This is one of those questions that almost every employer will ask.  Even though you know it's coming, it's still hard to prepare.

Answering this question successfully is one of the keys to getting that job.  But before we delve into how to answer it, let's go over why interviewers are so in love with this question.  It all boils down to this: It gives the employer a good idea of your self-confidence.  This is key because it shows them that you know exactly what you are good at, and how you plan to put those talents to work for their organization.

Now that you know why this question is asked, it's time to figure out a way to answer it.  The first thing you need to do is embrace it as an opportunity to sell yourself.  Don't be afraid of sounding too overconfident or bragging: This is one of the few chances in life where it's OK to do that!  As a matter of fact, it's critical that your answer sounds as confident as possible.  That's why you should take a lot of time in developing a strong answer to the question.  If there is too much hesitation, your answer won't be as convincing.  Come up with a list of the things you do best, and then determine how those skills will help the organization.  Then, develop those ideas into cohesive statements.

Do you have any examples of a good "Why should we hire you?" answer?  Post them in the comments below.