Best Answers for Interview Question “What Makes You Unique?”

Updated June 17, 20221.7k

Why do interviewers ask “What Makes You Unique?” in a job interview? Here’s how you can answer the question to impress them and stand out from the competition.

“What Makes You Unique?”

During a job search, you will more than likely go through several interviews before landing your dream job. When preparing for an interview, it is important to consider the most common interview questions. One of the most frequently asked questions is “What makes you unique?” This is a question you should provide a unique answer to that distinguishes you from the competition. Your answer should demonstrate why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Continue reading to learn how to answer this often tricky interview question.

Why Do Interviewers Ask “What Makes You Unique?”

Recruiters will ask this question to identify your best qualities and strongest skills as an applicant. They’re trying to gain some insight into who you are as a person and what you’ll be like as an employee. The hiring team may be looking for specific skills such as communication skills, organizational skills, or management skills. They may even be on the lookout for personality traits. In short, an employer wants to know how you will benefit the company.

The best career advice is to think about questions you may be asked ahead of time. Review the job description for keywords and determine how they match up with your skills so you can distinguish yourself from other candidates. Focus on your strengths, whether that be exceptional teamwork skills or technical aptitude, and how you can benefit the company. You can include both soft skills and hard skills. For example, a project manager may choose to focus on discussing their superior negotiation skills and how they reduced project costs when working out a deal for a new human resource software package.

The question, “What Makes You Unique” is the perfect opportunity for you to showcase why you would be the best candidate for the job.

How To Prepare an Answer to This Question

When preparing sample answers to this question, be wary of giving too much information away about your personal life. Focus on the beneficial skills that set you apart. Here are some handy tips on how to provide a great answer to this tricky question:

Use previous work experience to show your ability
Choose your biggest achievement that fits the job requirements
Consider natural abilities that relate to this job
Identify your unique strengths and quirks
Consider what the employer is looking for
Give an example of how you excelled in your previous job
Mention technical skills

The best answer highlights successes you’ve had as well as your unique skills, such as technical or transferable skills.

Making Your Answer to “What Makes You Unique?” Stand Out

Chances are if the hiring manager asks you about your unique traits they will be asking all the other interviewees the same question. Therefore it is essential to draw attention to your potential in your interview answers. These tips will make it easier for you to make a mark:

Show you have a positive mindset
Give specific examples
Mention your achievements
Show a creative side
Demonstrate a desire to learn
Choose something unlikely to have already come up in the interview
Mention attributes that allowed you to help in your last role
Tailor your answer toward the specific job description
Show you are a hard worker

It is easy to say you are unique. The goal is to show positive results you’ve been responsible for due to your particular set of skills.

FAQ: “What Makes You Unique?”

What type of follow-up questions will there be?

Be prepared for follow-up questions. If you mention a particular skill, the hiring manager will likely want to know more about that skill and how you used that skill in the workplace. Here are some potential follow-up questions:

- How can you use this skill in this new job role?
- How does this skill set you apart from other candidates?
- Can you give me some workplace examples of how you put that skill into practice?

Just remember that when answering these questions relate your experience to the job you’re applying for.

Are there other ways an interviewer might ask this question?

Interviewers may not ask “What makes you unique?” They may ask something similar and use that as a talking point to assess your unique qualities to find out if you’re an ideal candidate. The question could be worded in several ways, such as:

- Tell me something interesting about you as a person.
- How would your ex-employer describe you?
- What makes you stand out from other applicants?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What's your most useful skill?
- Tell me about a situation you excelled in.
- What made you stand out in your last job?

What are the common mistakes when answering this question?

“What Makes You Unique?” is a difficult question to provide a good answer on the spot, so you want to ensure you have thought through your response to this common interview question. There are many other traps you could fall into when answering this question, such as:

- Answering too blandly
- Oversharing about your personal life
- Losing focus
- Aggrandizing a story to impress the employer
- Contradicting yourself

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About The Author

Jessie Oleson Moore

Jessie Oleson Moore is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer / ghostwriter and artist. As a writer, she has written extensively on finance, day trading, personal growth, and career development and has extensive experience producing in-depth, research-based articles and guides. In addition, she is an accomplished illustrator and author who has appeared on The Today Show and been featured in Publisher's Weekly. In her free time, she’s an avid traveler, Ashtanga yoga practitioner, and unicorn enthusiast.