Interview Answer Tips: “What Can You Do For Us That Other Candidates Can’t?”

Interview Answer Tips: “What Can You Do For Us That Other Candidates Can’t?”

By Florence Mukunya,

Interviews are the gate way to all the dream jobs that we all long for. Again and again we have been told on what to do before the interview, during the interview and even after the interview, even the right question to ask the interviewer if given a chance to, but there is a tricky question that leaves many with candidates with uumm… and aaahhss… once the question is posed to them by the interviewer as many of the candidates don’t know how to tackle this question.

A candidate who sort anonymity wrote to us saying “Sometimes back I went for an interview and the employer after asking all the questions asked me what I could for them that other candidates couldn’t” the candidate said. “I was left with nothing to say especially because I thought all the things I had told him in the interview were supposed to show how capable I was for the job. It was such an open question, I felt I was being asked to analyse myself in very few words and I totally didn’t have an answer,” she added.

I spoke to Naomi Kituku a HR personnel at KTDA and she analysised in short how to handle the question best. She also admitted that that this is a very common question and if you are set for an interview better be prepared and know how to tackle it.

“This is a pretty open ended question and may or may not get asked directly, but some variation of it may come up,” she adds that, “There is no right or wrong answer, the interviewer wants to see what you believe are your best strengths and if you can differentiate yourself from everyone else.

She however adds that, “If you go wrong on this question, it does not mean the end of the interview, but if you go wrong on a few of these types of questions, you can probably expect that you won’t go any further in the interview process.” 

She adds that there’s no set way to answer the question but to make sure to differentiate yourself from the rest of the candidates.

“This is the time to talk about your job skills, training, and project experiences that make you better than everyone else. Describe your role and how you have contributed to the company and projects on past jobs and how you can use that in your next job,” Ms Kituku says

She says, “don’t give a straight out answer but now is a good time to brag about yourself and your abilities. Make sure you mention that you have the skills, training, and experience that are required for the job and describe how they will benefit the company by having you instead of anyone else.”

I asked Naomi on the worst answers she has encountered on posing such a question to a candidate. “There’s no wrong answer to this question as every job has its unique capabilities and skills that are needed and that the employer is looking for looking for.”

In summations she encourages candidates to talk about their achievements on previous jobs and put their best skills forward.

Dont Miss any Job Or Article Subscribe to Career Point Kenya by Email FOR FREE CLICK HERE 

Categories: