This question tests how persuasive you are. Interviewers want to see if you can make a calm, confident case for yourself, even if they’re acting skeptical. They’re looking for factual and compelling answers.
By Joey Zumaya, Hiring Manager
I've got both the experience and target audience rapport that you're looking for.
I've built two corporate training programs from scratch and developed the kind of interactive video programs that you're looking to create.
When employees fill out feedback forms, they speak highly of my professionalism and clarity that they've encountered.
Here’s a quick example.
A close friend of mine on your marketing team says that this company is a great cultural fit given my background and values. I have an insatiable level of curiosity and tend to do lots of research on any topic that I'm less than an expert in. And I know your values include constant learning. That really resonates with my passion.
I'm just eager to become part of a fast-growing, mission-oriented organization like yours.
Why this answer worked well:
- He spoke about his core strengths in a way that related to the job requirements.
- He used favorable feedback from some of his previous coworkers, and their positive observations were helpful.
- He talked about why he was a good cultural fit for the organization.
By Marketing Insights Manager Professional
Having worked in strategy and sales roles across different geographies, I believe I am uniquely positioned to add a lot of value to this general managerial position.
What separates me from most is my ability to take a holistic view of the business, set the vision, and translate that into a set of strong strategic solutions. Given my experience across different functions, I also have the ability to connect and influence cross-functional partners to drive business results, which I believe will be critical in this position.
My background studying engineering and business taught me to balance the logic and data with the human side of things, which will be a competitive advantage in this ambiguous and dynamic industry.
I’m motivated and excited to learn your company’s unique business model, and from my interactions with the employees here, I can see that we share values like respect, trust, and excellence.
Overall, I believe I bring the right mix of skills, experiences and attitude for the job and think that my varied experience can add a lot of value here.
Why this answer worked well:
- The answer incorporated specific qualifications that set the candidate apart.
- Strengths were framed through the lens of how they could benefit the company.
By Product Marketing Research Professional
As a data scientist, I’ve demonstrated my ability to answer business questions, as well as advise strategic marketing decisions by providing in-depth data analysis with various technical skills, such as SQL and R.
Part of my role has been to evaluate a $30M marketing budget and make recommendations. A recent marketing strategy that I proposed eventually drove growth of 10% for the business.
I am also proactive in learning new skills. For example, knowing that effective communication is the key to making findings convincing, I sought out and took training sessions on both data visualization and presentation. These skill sets have been critical in successfully pitching and persuading senior leadership on changes to strategy. As a result, I was quickly promoted to a senior role in just a year.
Given the growth moment that your company is poised to have, I believe that my unique experience will be an asset to your team. I’m excited to expand my expertise within a new industry, and recommend key strategies and opportunities that will support and drive business.
Why this answer worked well:
- The answer featured a blend of quantifiable results and personal strengths.
- There was clear awareness of the company’s trajectory and enthusiasm for the role.
By Marketing & Category Insights Manager Professional
My resume demonstrates that I’ve been successful with the key responsibilities of this role: managing teams, developing strategic sales plans, and delivering quarterly targets.
I’ve been managing teams for the last 10 years and to this day, many of my former direct reports still call and ask for career or personal advice.
I’ve also led the development of strategic plans with the customer for years. I first listen and understand their priorities and objectives, then develop a win-win solution for both parties.
Last year my team received 2 awards. The first was from our internal organization for collaboration and partnership in developing our 3-year plans. The second was the Vendor of The Year Award from the customer for putting together plans that exceeded their growth targets.
I’ve been in sales for the last 15 years and I know how important it is to hit targets — it’s the lifeblood of what we do. That’s why I work hard to support and guide my team, as well as work with internal partners to anticipate and remove roadblocks.
I believe I would be a great fit for this role as I already have relevant experience and been successful in my previous roles.
Why this answer worked well:
- The answer detailed deep industry knowledge and a record of success across several themes.
- The focus on teams painted a picture of an invested leader who sees success as collective.
How to approach this question
By Joey Zumaya, Hiring Manager
This is a nerve-racking question, so make sure you're set up for success. Here are some tips that can help you do well in answering it:
Ask yourself why you think you’re qualified. Prepare for the interview by picking three or four qualifications and experiences that help them understand why you're a fit for this job.
Tell them how you’d fit in. Paint a picture of what you’d accomplish that gives you a leg up on the competition. Also, show them why you are a great match for this company by letting them see that you know about their mission, their vision, how they operate—and how you would fit into that really well.
Speak authentically. How you say something is as important as what you say. So when you're sharing your successes and you're answering these questions, speak like the best version of yourself and make sure that you're doing it in a way that allows the interviewers to connect to you.
- Start with the three or four best reasons you’ve got.
- Cite results, credentials, and other people’s praise so you don’t seem self-absorbed.
- Be concise, and invite follow-up questions at the end.