How to Answer "What Makes You Unique?" in An Interview (With Sample Answers)

by Daniel Wolken

Published at: November 30, 2023

When preparing for an interview, one question that often surfaces is, "What makes you unique?" It's a moment that allows you to showcase your individuality and the distinct qualities you bring to the table. Your response to this question should reflect confidence in your unique skill set and experiences, while aligning with the company's needs and values.

To craft a compelling answer, consider your professional accomplishments, personal attributes, or life experiences that set you apart from other candidates. It's not just about being different; it's about demonstrating how your uniqueness would be an asset to the team and contribute positively to the company's goals.

Why Employers Ask This?

When interviewing candidates, employers often probe with the question "What makes you unique?" for several strategic reasons:

• Identify Your Value: Employers are interested in understanding what distinct skills or perspectives you can bring to their company. They are looking for attributes that set you apart from other candidates which can be a valuable asset to their team.
• Assessment of Self-awareness: Your answer provides insight into your level of self-awareness and confidence. An employer wants to see that you know your strengths and how these can be leveraged in a professional setting.
• Cultural Fit: The uniqueness you bring to the table isn't just about skills, it can also pertain to your personality and how it fits within the company's culture. Employers want to ensure that you'll mesh well with the team and contribute positively to the work environment.
• Problem-Solving Abilities: How you articulate your unique traits can also demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Employers are interested in how your unique abilities have helped you overcome challenges in the past.

Here's a brief list to recap why employers might ask this question:

• To gauge the unique aspects of your professional background
• To evaluate your understanding of the role and the company's needs
• To ascertain your self-assessment abilities
• To determine if you'll be a good cultural fit
• To witness your problem-solving capabilities in action

Crafting Your Response

When preparing to answer the question "What makes you unique?" in an interview, focus on aligning your strengths with the job description while being concise and engaging. This ensures that your answer resonates with the hiring manager and underscores your suitability for the role.

Highlighting Relevant Experience

Your response should succinctly showcase experiences that are pertinent to the job you're applying for. For instance, if the role requires project management skills, you might share a brief story about a time you led a successful team effort or delivered a project under budget. Alignment with the job description is crucial; discussing your experience in teaching or finance should directly relate to how it could benefit the potential employer.

Showcasing Your Skill Set

Emphasize hard skills and soft skills that set you apart from other candidates. This can include your communication skills, technical abilities, or a particular design acumen. Remember that a good answer will not just state these skills, but also demonstrate through concise examples - such as a complex problem you solved or a successful campaign you spearheaded.

Incorporating Personal Anecdotes

Personal stories make your answer to the "What makes you unique?" interview question memorable. Reflect on accomplishments or aspects of your background that highlight your unique personality traits. You might describe an initiative you took in your education that illustrates your drive and determination, or a volunteer experience that helped you develop invaluable soft skills. This approach adds depth to your professional strengths and presents you as a well-rounded candidate.

Sample Answers

Crafting your response to "What makes you unique?" will set you apart in an interview. Be ready to demonstrate how your particular blend of skills and experience aligns with the demands of the job, showing why you're a valuable fit for the role and the organization.

Answer for a Marketing Role

For a marketing position, you could say, "My unique mix of experience in digital campaigns and direct sales positions me as a candidate who not only understands the theory behind marketing but also the real-world impact. I've leveraged this dual perspective to increase lead conversion by 20% in my previous role, blending data-driven marketing strategies with psychology-based sales techniques."

This showcases your ability to combine marketing with sales, reflecting a deep understanding of the industry and a capacity for tailoring strategies to firm-specific needs.

Answer for a Tech Position

In the context of a tech position, such as software engineering, your answer might focus on technical skills and creativity: "One aspect that makes me unique is my commitment to continually updating my technical skills. This commitment resulted in my last project where I integrated latest UX principles to streamline the user experience, significantly reducing the onboarding time by 30% for new customers."

Emphasizing your dedication to modern UX design alongside your software engineering capabilities underlines your value in keeping the company at the forefront of industry standards.

Answer for a Leadership Position

For a leadership role in data entry, you might want to focus on how your leadership skills have effected tangible results: "What sets me apart is my track record of transforming underperforming teams into top performers. By applying a mix of motivational leadership and analytical problem-solving, I have consistently maximized team efficiency and cohesiveness."

Such an answer connects your unique leadership style to practical outcomes, a key asset in any organization seeking to bolster its leadership ranks.

Tips for Delivering Your Answer

Navigating the nuances of an interview is akin to an art form, where the mastery is in detailing the contours of your professional self-portrait. Keep the conversation focused and align your answer with the company's needs and the specific role.

Maintain Professionalism and Poise

Convey your strengths with confidence. Breathe deeply before answering to collect your thoughts and ensure you speak clearly. Portray a polished image that interviewers will remember --- by keeping your demeanor calm and professional, you reassure employers that you are indeed the best candidate for the position.

Avoid Common Cliches

Be original in your responses; interviewers have heard all the typical answers. Instead, offer an authentic aspect of your personality that differentiates you. Cite real-world examples that demonstrate your impact, thus proving your fit for the position without resorting to worn-out phrases.

Tailoring Your Answer to the Job

Research the company and the role thoroughly to understand the objectives specific to the job. Connect your unique skills and experiences to these objectives, illustrating clearly why you're a valuable asset. By customizing your answer, you show that you have not only understood the role but are also genuinely interested in the job search and becoming an integral part of their team.

Conclusion

Remember, your response should be tailored to the role and company you're applying for, reflecting how your uniqueness will add value specifically to their organization.

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