Hiring managers examine several candidates for each position, so they are curious about what makes you unique from the competition.
Furthermore, you risk losing the chance if you can’t give a robust and compelling response.
The best ways to answer this query in an interview and examples of exact responses will be discussed in the following section.
Why Do Employers Want to Know What Makes You Unique?
There is no one “correct” answer to the interview question, “What makes you unique.”
However, employers prefer to ask candidates this question to get insight into what they can offer the organisation.
First, the hiring manager could not know something about you, so they want to learn more about you than what’s on your résumé.
Perhaps you possess a unique talent or soft abilities that other applicants lack.
Even if it doesn’t, this question allows you to demonstrate that you comprehend the job description and the employer’s expectations/needs in hiring someone for this position before stating why you are qualified.
In the next few minutes, I’ll offer whole sample answers, so don’t worry if this sounds challenging—it isn’t.
How to Answer the Interview Question, “What Makes You Unique?”
I advise answering this interview question with just one unique talent or characteristic to make your response precise and concise.
You can discuss your superior technical skills, soft skills, personality traits, experiences, and other qualities that make you a standout applicant. And apart from other job applicants.
If it’s true, you might also say why you’re passionate about this field or your job.
Pick a natural characteristic or talent to highlight in the job interview so you can speak passionately and confidently about it.
Don’t claim to bring exceptional communication skills if you have ordinary communication abilities. That will be exposed to the hiring manager immediately.
If you take the time to prepare in advance and choose a genuine reason that you feel you are unique for the task, your response will be much more striking.
Also Read: Hobbies in Resume
This means you NEED to:
- Study the job description.
- Think about your past experiences/accomplishments/skills and what aspect of that may make you the best candidate.
Samples of “What Makes You Unique?” Answers
Sample Answer 1:
I think my ability to get along with individuals from different walks of life is one thing that makes me unique. In my prior employment, I began with retail customer care before moving on to managing large enterprise client accounts. I can reach a corporate attorney or physician just as quickly as a builder. I studied the job description for this position and observed that communication skills are highly valued, and I also read about the variety of clients your company serves. So, that’s one of the reasons I think I’m a solid contender for the job, and I might provide some special abilities and experience that other applicants lack.
Example Answer 2:
I was a software developer, which gave me specific special abilities. I switched to product design because I’m more passionate about it. However, I’m still proficient at writing code and scripts to automate processes. I continue to approach problems from an engineer’s perspective, which entails testing and basing decisions on data. I stand out from many other designers because of my data-driven approach, which makes me an exceptional candidate for your Senior Design Lead position.
Sample Answer 3:
My ability to speak in front of groups of people is one of my unique abilities. I adore giving presentations; at my college, I have said in front of numerous attendees. I also participated in the college debate team.
Before I graduated, I also served as the meeting leader at my internships, and I enjoy speaking in front of a crowd. After graduating, I’m eager to use this expertise in my profession and look forward to getting my first full-time, permanent job. Giving sales presentations to clients is included in the job description, so I believe that’s one area where I’d shine immediately.
Example Answer 4:
I believe my uniqueness comes from the exceptional combination of soft skills I possess. I always try to improve, learn from my mistakes, and push myself. And when it comes to keeping track of my outcomes, advancement, and any patterns in my production and labour, I am incredibly organised. So by doing this, I’m able to identify potential lessons to learn, identify potential difficulties before they develop into bigger ones, and continue to improve.
I strive to transform the rare tiny error into a significant positive instead of obsessing about it as a negative and use problems as a learning opportunity. In previous positions, my bosses frequently praised my capacity to pick things up quickly, function well without continual supervision, and maintain composure even when things didn’t go my way. So that’s the unique set of abilities I bring to the job.
Sample Answer 5:
I believe that project management is my unique talent. Whether the direct team leader or the project coordinator, I can naturally oversee several activities and projects. I believe this is a result of my practical interpersonal and organisational abilities. I’ve always loved being in a leadership position and working with a team, and I wish to keep finding businesses that value cooperation.
After reading the job description, it seemed that your company emphasises recruiting individuals with a collaborative mentality and those who can advance within the company and assume additional leadership roles in the future, making this position an excellent perspective fit.
It’s a nice touch to close an interview response by describing why you thought their job was a good match, even if an employer doesn’t specifically question, “Why are you applying to this job?” Note:
This demonstrates consideration, planning, and investigation. This is shown in the sample response up top, which concludes, “thus this role seemed like a wonderful perspective fit.”
After reviewing sample responses, I want to offer one crucial step you MUST ALWAYS follow when responding to this interview question.
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