Teen Job Interview Question: Why Should We Hire You?

Almost every teen candidate receives this interview question from potential employers: "Why should we hire you?"

Employers ask you this question for a few reasons. Because younger job candidates may have limited work experience, they want to pinpoint whether you have the skills they’re seeking. They also want to know whether you understand the basic expectations of the job. Beyond that, employers are assessing your emotional response to the question. Do you answer with confidence or are you flustered? Are you assertive or are you self-effacing?

Prepare an answer to this question ahead of the job interview to highlight your skills and make the best possible impression on the hiring manager. Here’s how to do it. 

How to Answer the Question “Why Should We Hire You?”

When answering this question, be sure to think of the requirements for the job, and how your skills and experiences match those requirements. You also might want to emphasize your long-term interest in working for the organization.

Before you don your interview clothes, sit down with a pen and paper and answer the following questions. Once you have done so, you will be able to pull the answers together to formulate your own tailored response to the question, “Why should we hire you?”

Pre-interview Practice Exercise

1. When I am hired by [insert Employer’s name] for a position as a [insert type of job], my daily work responsibilities and tasks will include: __________________________.
2. In order to do these tasks, I will need to be able to: [insert the physical, psychological, and emotional qualities that you feel would be important for someone doing the job. Examples: “Get along well with people,” “Meet deadlines,” “Show proactive empathy in forecasting a client’s needs,” “Stand on my feet for eight hours”]: _______________.
3. For each of the qualities you listed under #2, write down an example of how you yourself have demonstrated this quality in the past. Example: “I demonstrated that I could get along well with people when I volunteered at our local soup kitchen last Thanksgiving.”
4. I am confident that I can balance this job around my school responsibilities and other activities because: ____________________________________________________.
5. I am excited about being trained by this company because I am eager to learn how to advance my skills in these areas [insert the job skills that you think you would be taught by the employer in order to do your job well]: ________________________________.
6. An example of when I completed a difficult project by a deadline is: ______________.
7. An example of my collaboration and teamwork is: _____________________________.
8. An example of my dedication and commitment to any project I undertake is: ________.
9. An example of my ability to show up on time every day is: ______________________.
10. An example of an occasion where I worked late to get a job done is: _______________.

Examples of the Best Answers

Here are some examples of answers to interview questions about why you should be hired when you're applying for your first job. Be sure to tailor your response to fit your personal circumstances.