"What Can You Bring To The Company?" Answer This Question Like A Pro!

One of the most obvious steps of prepping for any interview is preparing for the common questions - from "What can you tell us about yourself?" to "What are your strengths and weaknesses?", and everything else in between. Among these commonly asked questions is one that candidates often dread answering - "What can you bring to the company?" If you too consider this a difficult interview question then this detailed guide with sample answers for "What can you bring to the company?" is for you. 

It is important for candidates to understand that the question "What can you contribute to the company?" brings with it an opportunity where you can highlight all of your relevant skills, qualifications, and professional experience that matches the company culture. During the interview process, this question offers the perfect opportunity for you to talk about what makes you different from the competition.

What Can You Bring To The Company? - Why's It Asked?

When an employer asks you, "What can you contribute to the company?" or "What can you give us that someone else can't?" they are trying to learn more about your skills and abilities and see how they align with the job requirements. 

Open-ended questions like this one offer you a chance to discuss why you're the best candidate for this job position. Naturally,  the interview panel is on the lookout for candidates who can demonstrate that they are well-suited for the job role. If answered appropriately, this can be a great chance to impress the interview panel with your experience and future vision or career goals. This is also a chance to showcase your personality traits and soft skills, like communication skills, organizational skills or leadership skills, etc. 

What Can You Bring To The Company? - How To Answer

The easiest method to answer queries regarding your prospective contributions to the organization is to present instances of what you've done in the past and link them to what you can do in the future.

1. Know about the company and the role

To begin, make sure you've done your homework on the firm ahead of time and are aware of their goal statement. It's best to start by identifying the organization's unique requirements and then responding with concrete instances of how your training, abilities, soft skills, technical skills, and successes would benefit them.

2. Find a job that fits your qualification

Make sure your skills are in line with the requirements of the position so that you can confidently offer your services for company growth. Also, be prepared to discuss your previous experience. It is your job to demonstrate to the interviewer that you are capable of exceeding expectations if you are employed.

3. Use the STAR method

The STAR interview response method is a great technique for answering such interview questions, i.e. questions that gauge your soft skills and personality. The STAR technique states: 

• Situation (describe the situation)
• Task (the decisions you've made in your previous company)
• Action (what method you used to accomplish your goal)
• Result (the result of the problem)

By using the STAR approach, candidates can share actual examples of their past work, with concrete results - and better position themselves as the ideal candidate for the role in front of the interview panel. 

What Can You Bring To The Company? - Sample Answers

Now that you've understood the basic approach to answering the question, 'What can you bring to the company?' in a job interview, let's go through a few examples and sample answers: 

#Example 1

I will bring my uniques storytelling ability to your company, coupled with SEO expertise. I am experienced in many areas related to the company's current goals in terms of content, including getting high traffic. In my previous position, I helped improve website traffic at a by over 50%. My content background and my planning ability will help facilitate company growth.

The breakdown: The answer combines personal traits (planning ability) with a past experience that had a positive outcome. This showcases to a potential employer that the candidate is perfect for the role.

#Example 2

In my previous work experience, I came up with a number of new ideas for improving collaboration. When I worked at my former employer, I developed methods for enhancing collaboration and communication among team members. I can contribute to your company not just with my ideas from my former position, but also with my overall zeal for innovation.

The breakdown: The answer shows that the candidate is a team player - a valuable skill in any organization. The answer can be further improved by mentioning concrete examples of the methods developed, especially when applying for administrative roles. 

#Example 3

I can provide fresh and original ideas to the organisation because of my expertise in art and design. When I was working as a graphic designer, I had to come up with a fresh product packaging design for a specific customer. This client's requirements and desires were the focus of my first meeting with them. Despite the fact that what they requested appeared unattainable, I was able to come up with a very distinctive design. Even though I was apprehensive about presenting my concept, I decided to go with my instinct and proceed nonetheless. The customer was thrilled with the outcome and expressed surprise that they could have gotten something so special for their money. If I were hired for this position, I would continue to push the envelope and come up with novel solutions and fresh ideas. I'm certain that my technical talents and creative thinking can provide some innovative ideas for your company.

The breakdown: This is a great sample answer. Not only does it highlight the candidate's achievements in their previous position, but also throws light on their positive attitude to a difficult situation. Lastly, it shows the candidate has a vision for the future that aligns with the company's goals. And it proves that the candidate could be an asset to customers, taking care of customers' needs. 

We recommend you use these examples as a guide to answer the common interview question, "What can you add to the company?" but tweak your response according to your experience and skills. 

What Can You Bring To The Company? - Tips & Tricks To Answer

When asked, "What can you bring to this company?" in an interview, candidates should know what to say in the right manner to give successful answers. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

1. Highlight achievements beyond your resume

Demonstrate your value to previous employers by using samples from your previous roles - but draw attention to information not stated explicitly in your resume or cover letter. Employers can get a sense of what you can achieve for them by looking at concrete examples of your work. Talk about the breadth and depth of your relevant experience. 

2. Make use of the information at your disposal

Since this is a common interview question, being unprepared for it can have a negative impact. Thus, use the information at your disposal - your past experience and skill set. For example, if you've undertaken a training course relevant to the role, talk about your learnings from it. 

3. Match your responses to the overall company objective 

Make sure the examples you include are relevant to the specific job and organization you're applying to. It's crucial to show the interviewer that you have the requisite abilities, the capacity to handle problems, and the flexibility and diplomacy to work well with other workers and management. Don't forget to concentrate on the most vital traits and talents for the job or organization.

For example, if a company is hiring for a sales manager role, talk about how you achieved targets in a previous organization. It's easy to see how you've contributed to a firm and how you'll likely contribute in the future when you look at the numbers.

Pro Tip: If there's an example that shows you exhibit the core values of the company, nothing like it. But for this, study the company to know the core values and company culture. 

What 'NOT' to say?

When a firm asks you what you can bring to the table, there are a few things you should avoid saying:

1. Let not your ego dominate your response

As much as possible, you don't want to seem to the firm that your methods are the only ones that will get them there. Consider the context of the workplace and your job while responding.

2. Don't give irrelevant examples or make false promises

Ensure that your answers are relevant to the job description of the position for which you are applying. To demonstrate your suitability for the job position, the hiring manager will look closely at the particular examples you provide.

3. Avoid generic or boilerplate answers

When answering common job interview questions, avoid giving generic answers or focusing on just basic skills. Just as you've heard this question before, the interviewers have heard a cliched answer before - multiple versions of it. Thus, personalize your answer with your individual experiences. In other words, don't just say you have excellent organizational skills - also show that by sharing an example of where you put those skills to use. 

Pro Tip: Always follow up with an email after interview. Most candidates miss out on this step, but a simple email can go a long way in increasing your chances of landing the job role. 

Frequently Asked Questions

i) How can I improve my interview answers? 

Here are some tips for improving your answers: 

Practice - While you shouldn't memorize your answers, practicing them goes a long way in boosting your confidence during the actual interview. You can practice with your peers or mentors, or even record yourself and listen for errors or common mistakes. 

Research - Always research the job position and company in advance. This will enable you to tailor your responses according to the company's goals and objectives. It will also make it easier to answer specific company interview questions bound to come up in an interview. 

Be Honest - You must put your best foot forward in an interview. But that does not mean you lie or give a false impression. The interviewer will likely be able to catch your lie and disregard your application.  

ii) What are some commonly asked, difficult interview questions?

The difficulty of a question depends on multiple things, including your ability to answer a question and experience. However, here are some questions that many candidates find difficult to answer: 

• What's your greatest weakness? or Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how did you deal with it?
• What can you bring to the company or Why should we hire you?
• How do you deal with stress?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

iii) What are some common mistakes to avoid when answering 'What can you bring to the company'?

When answering interview questions, including 'What can you bring to the company?', avoid the following common mistakes:

• Don't be generic or give irrelevant examples
• Don't give long-winded responses or make false promises
• Don't be egoistic when responding

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