What Makes You Unique?' - Interview Tips and Sample Answers

Most people in Kenya are looking for jobs regardless of the current situation. Most companies do ask interview people and if you emerge best candidate you will be given a job. In short, it’s another way of asking why they should hire you and what makes you different from the other candidates.

What makes you unique is all about combining your strengths, experiences, unique skills that you’ve acquired, and educational level. The following article covers how to answer the interview question "What makes you unique?" and interview tips to help the employer tell you: You're hired.

How to answer the question "Describe yourself" In some circumstances, the hiring manager may not list all the qualities they are looking for in the advertised position.

However, showcasing your experience in that particular industry, strong communication skills, and other relevant skills can attract the interviewer to you.

 Therefore, when it comes to answering the question "Describe yourself", think about what makes you valuable; then quantify your answers so that they are related to how your past job experience made you a valuable employee with your previous employer.

You answer by saying the following for instance;

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"When I was working in Company x, my education and experience in group studies gave me a unique perspective on how to deal with different types of people. So, when we had to collaborate with another company on a particular project, I was able to solve various challenges.

 Like when the client was frustrated because we were beyond the projected timeline, I took the action of personally explaining why we had to use more time to get accurate results. And at the end, the client was happy with how the project turned out."

Understanding what makes you unique

There are many interview questions and "What makes you unique?" is one of those that you can’t afford not to know. Figuring out what makes you unique can be tricky but very important especially for people looking for jobs.

Your uniqueness is your best asset because it separates you from other active job seekers. What makes you unique is made up of work experiences.

Whether good or bad, these work experiences act as a learning lesson and shape you into becoming the person you are today.

So the uniqueness is what will make the hiring manager remember you and take you as the best candidate on the list. Your resume and cover letter may cover your work experiences, education, accomplishments, and interests.

 But they don’t cover up what makes you unique. As a result, understanding what makes you unique will go a long way in creating your personal branding. After all, you’re competing against the odds because the number of jobs available is way less than the number of graduates looking for employment.

So when you get invited to an interview, the answers you give to an interviewer have to make a lasting impression. By reading through some basic interview questions and answers, you can find out your uniqueness.

Your strengths and previous performance appraisals will point you in the direction of your uniqueness. Also, give some thoughts to skills in which you excel and unique personality traits like a positive attitude or never missing a deadline.

 Your body language should also depict the same. These strengths often come with a story behind it which can demonstrate how you’re perfect for the job.

Why employers ask you to describe who you are

In the interview world, what is currently becoming popular with most interviewers is the question to describe who you are. This question can throw you off-guard if you don’t know the right way to answer it.

The main reason why a hiring manager would ask you this question is to gauge who you are and what you consider important in the job. You can consider it the same as the question "What makes you the best candidate for this job?".

Therefore, when asked about what makes you unique or to describe yourself, show that you have the top qualities that the company is looking for.

Wrong answers give irrelevant information that is entirely different from the job position and role you are being interviewed for. Imagine applying for the position of an accountant only to answer the question "What makes you unique?" by saying that you love to sing in a choir.

Based on this answer, the hiring manager will assume that you’re the wrong candidate for the job. Don’t just regurgitate any answer that comes to your mind. Train yourself to give a tailor-made answer for that particular job description.

How to answer "What makes you unique?" interview question

It’s important to remember that your CV will only get you to the interview door. But only through the interview will you be able to convince the employer how you intend to use the listed skills, education, and experiences in their business.

What you are expected to say when giving "What makes you unique?" answers will depend on the nature of the job you are applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a stand-up comedian job, then cracking a funny joke can help you secure the position.

However, if you are applying to be a funeral director, humor may not be precisely what is needed. Base your answer to the "What makes you unique?" interview question around your best qualities.

Disclose your skills and describe how you would use them to approach the new job. You can also illustrate how your experiences and attitude towards the work environment is on par with the company’s mission and vision.

Use statistics to be persuasive. For instance, if you helped come up with a solution that saved the company a specific amount of profit or boosted sales by a particular percentage, now is the time to point all that out.

Remember, don’t exaggerate. Be honest and accurate. Avoid any answers that are not related to the company’s interests or those that explain personal stories or criticize your former employer or other participants.

Interview tips about the "What makes you unique?" question

It is common in a job dialogue for the hiring manager to ask the question. "What makes you unique?". For some job seekers, this is an unexpected question. But for those who have prepared in advance from the dress to questions, it’s impossible to give a cringe-worthy answer.

You know you are qualified for the job; you have the skills, education, and experiences. But how will you tell the difference between you and the other candidates you have never met? Here are interview tips on how to best answer the "Tell us what makes you unique," interview question.

Explain and give examples of how you will be an asset to an employer.

This is the right time to brag about your qualifications, but in a proper way. The examples you give should prove that you will ease the troubles that the company has and not become a liability (where you have to be taken for special training workshops to get the needed skills for the job).

Giving great answers to the question, "Tell us what makes you unique," also involves understanding what not to say. Bragging doesn’t mean you talk on and on about how you can solve the Rubik's cube in 1 minute or that you own a one of a kind jacket. Use numbers as evidence to highlight what you can bring to the table.

Self-assess your qualities

Show how you’re unique and not special. To do this, you must show humility because other candidates are more experienced and qualified than you.

So, instead of throwing the other candidates under the bus, show what skills you have that are unique and how they fit in that particular role. For example, you can say something like, “I am usually calm during a crisis and work very well under pressure”. Then elaborate how your calmness and working under pressure has been effective in the work environment.

Convince the hiring manager

Preparing for an interview especially if you want to ace it is all about practicing beforehand with "What makes you unique?" sample answers. Deliver answers that grab the attention of the hiring manager.

There are different angles on how you can answer this question, but they all focus on your strengths and uniqueness. Your past job experiences, including your performance, should validate that you have the skills to do the job.

Additionally, by the time you leave the interview room, the interviewer should be convinced that you are the only right candidate for the position. Ensure that your examples are an accurate reflection of what you claim you can do.

 For example, you can explain your uniqueness by mentioning a course that you took that is not necessarily a requirement in the job you’ve applied for; but it can benefit the company.

Talk about your performance and achievements

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Your past experiences and behaviors in a job environment are always the best predictors of future action. The point of mentioning your prior professional experience is to bring out specific skills that may bring value to the employer.

It can be an internship or previous jobs. The trick is to summarize the experiences and skills gained in these positions and how you can use them for the new job position. You can even incorporate examples that can help your skills shine.

You can explain how you helped your previous company achieve a specific set goal or secure a profitable deal. If you ever received an honor in the workplace, then answering the "What makes you unique?" interview question provides the perfect opportunity to brag about your workplace wins.

The awards or adorations act as proof of the value you bring to the business or company.

Prepare for the question beforehand

Preparing beforehand cannot be emphasized enough. It’s the only way to be comfortable with any interview question. Do your homework about the job description and the hiring company.

Write down specific qualities about you that link up with the advertised job description. Then add convincing details that will show your value as a person and in the job environment.

Ultimately, the employer is looking for the best candidate, and your job is to prove that you’re the candidate they must hire. It’s also about the company and how you fit in it, so show them how you can help them.

Instead of listing all your strength such as I am hardworking, I go above and beyond, and I have excellent communications skills, try saying, "I enjoy challenging tasks and always look for roles where I can excel and grow my skills.

I look forward to learning new skills and implementing them in my daily roles and duties."

Sample answers to the question "What makes you unique?"

“I am a self-driven sales person. During my last job as a salesman, I exceeded the set monthly target by 45%. I managed to surpass those targets by creating incentives that helped the clients see that they are getting value over price.

I also created content that was relevant to the needs of the target clients which made it easier for them to accept and purchase the product I was selling”. “I am very good at problem-solving, I have excellent communication skills, and I am a creative thinker.

While these qualities are not unique, the ways I can combine and use those in a workplace make me unique. In my previous organization, when a problem was brought to my attention, I used an analytical approach to get the right solution, then organized the solution into an easy to understand format and presented it to the management in a precise manner”.

 “I’m the kind of person who is comfortable executing difficult tasks with precision. I make sure I anticipate any problems, come up with solutions, and complete every task on time. My educational background in finance and my two-year work experience as an accountant makes me the right candidate for this job.

Over the years, I have also gained extensive knowledge of the do's and don’ts of this industry which I believe give me an edge over any other candidate”. “I’m a creative thinker. I always come up with innovative solutions to a problem by using my creativity.

I’m always realistic about setting goals; I also thrive in team settings and these two qualities have made me a competent team leader”. A simple wrong answer that looks harmless can decrease your chances of acing an interview and securing you that dream job.

 Furthermore, the what makes you unique question is one of the many possible questions that the hiring manager may ask. Therefore, prepare in advance by practicing with many different types of interview questions and answers.

That way you can have all the right interview answers at your fingertips.

Why should we hire you answer examples for interview

It’s been long since you sent out resumes without lots of success. But now, the stars have started shinning and you've been asked to come in for interviewing.

Finally. You've finished the preps, from sporting your best bib and tucker, perhaps gotten a professional haircut, clipped your beards or done your makeup on point to look like the professional candidate that they are looking to hire.

But one thing still remains. Are you prepared fully to face the interview questions? Can you answer anything thrown your way? No? Great. Today we help you to get ready, so you can walk into the room with full confidence and handle whatever comes your way, including the HARD question; Why should we hire you? No flattering. No fidgeting. How about we get directly into it?

It’s a very short question that can bring you to a sudden shut down especially if you are ill-prepared.

In any case, count your lucky stars since today you figure out how to settle the negotiations in any prospective employee meet-up.

All said and done, the essence of an interview rotates around one inquiry: Why should we hire you? How different are you from your competitors? Yes, you may have what it takes to get the job, but what exactly makes you stand out from among your competitors? You don't really have to know the right answer.

The secret lies in how you play your cards. The question is only meant to collect enough information to make an informed hiring decision. The best way on how to prepare for an interview is to arm yourself with a concise list of your best strengths to choose from.

Your answer ought to be an attempt to close the deal that clarifies how the organization benefits by hiring you. Keep in mind, you are being contracted to take care of an issue. Regardless of whether it is boosting sales, or building up a brand voice.

That is the solution you need to provide. Your objective is to show that you are the right person to tackle that problem. The better you do that, the better your odds of getting the job. You could be one of those individuals who don’t generally offer themselves frequently.

A great deal of people don't, but when it is Mr. Interviewer asking as to why they should employ you, you have no choice. Make yourself so intriguing that they cannot say no to you. Hence, consider this.

You're a sales rep and you need to sell items. Everybody becomes a potential client. But, the only way to make them buy your products is by recognizing their pain points and then convincing them that what you offer will mitigate their problems.

 Make them acknowledge that they not only want your product; they need it. Similarly, your answer should make the hiring personnel feel like he has no other choice. He needs you.

So, you have to find out what are the prerequisites for the position you are eyeing and make yourself very valuable even before you are offered the job.