In this blog, we will look at some pointers you can use to smartly and smoothly answer the oft-repeated question: “why should you be hired for this internship?” Here is a quick overview:
- How does the company’s mission align with your personal goals
- What you bring to the table that others don’t
- Anecdotes that demonstrate your potential
- Turning the tables on the interviewer
Every year, students are drawn to internships like ants to sugar. If you are one of those ants, you know that one of the most common questions employers ask is: “why should you be hired for this internship?”
Well, for starters, “I am here, and you have an opening.” But you can’t really say that, can you? How about: “you’re clearly interested in me, and that’s the reason I am here, so why play hard to get?” No, not that, either.
If you end up saying any variation of the aforementioned responses, be warned: your career at that organisation will be over before it can start. So, what can you say instead when someone asks why you?
- To begin with, reframe the question in your head as ‘why do you want to do this internship?’ I would suggest that you begin by answering this question before launching into an ode to yourself. What drew you to this particular position in this organisation in the first place? Talk about the strengths of the company and how its core values align with yours. This is also a subtle way to put the interviewer in a good mood before you start talking about your own strengths and capabilities. Scratch their back first so they can scratch yours later.
- Once you are done answering the question, ‘why do you want to do this internship?’, you can move on to talking about your unique strengths and what sets you apart from the rest of the lot. Bear in mind that this can include a mix of your professional strengths and so-called soft skills. If you are good at communication, networking, the management or literally anything else, be sure to bring that up, and not just your marks. These days, organisations are generally looking for well-rounded people and not robotic machines.
- So far, you must have ended up spouting a lot of theory, but it’s equally important to demonstrate the practical side of things. Hence, pepper in a couple of remarkable and relatable anecdotes. These incidents need to be carefully cherry-picked to reflect your admirable qualities. Remember that it’s okay to market yourself because interviews are not the right occasion to show your humility. The incidents should answer both questions, i.e., ‘why should you be hired for this internship?’ and ‘why do you want to do this internship?’. So far, so good? Well, the last one’s a kicker. Wait for it…
- I’ll give you a heads-up before I elaborate some more. Play this one carefully. If you come across as cocky and greedy, it won’t work. If you come across as confident and genuine, it will serve to give your interview a shot in the arm. So far, you have been busy proving why you will be a valuable asset to the employer, but it’s also okay to play the reverse UNO card to ask them why you (and other young people like you) should consider interning with them. Flip ‘why should you be hired for this internship?’ to ‘why do you think I should consider this internship over others?’ You need to gauge the interviewer’s mood and sensibilities before asking this question. Because you don’t want to offend anyone as that would be self-defeating.
Now that you are armed with the Brahmastra on how to tackle ‘why should you be hired for this internship?’, I am confident that you will ace the next interview that’s coming up. All the best!
If you think I have missed out on something, be sure to comment below and let me know what else you can consider when answering this question.