How to Answer 'What Can You Bring to This Company'?

Updated 24 November 2022

Hiring managers ask questions like, 'What can you bring to this company?' because the answer may reveal whether you're a suitable candidate for the role. During an interview, your potential employer typically wants to understand what value you're going to add to their company after being employed. Learning how to answer this question effectively may help you succeed during an interview and potentially get the new role.

In this article, we discuss the frequently asked interview question, 'What can you bring to this company?', show you how to prepare for it and provide examples to increase your chances of being hired.

Why do recruiters ask 'What can you bring to this company'?

When an interviewer asks 'What can you bring to this company?', they may want to find out more about you than merely your academic achievements and talents during the interview. They try to evaluate your background based on an answer that can distinguish you from the rest of the interviewees. Hiring managers also ask this to test your humility, check the level of confidence and assess your preparedness for the interview. Whilst presenting yourself as a humble, confident and prepared candidate, make sure you give a quality response.

Related: Answering 'What Can You Offer That Another Can't?' Interview Question

How to answer what value you bring to the company

Here are some steps to help you get ready to give the correct response when an interviewer asks you what you can bring to their company:

1. Research the company's website pages

Most organisations have websites that contain official information about their services and who they are. You can use any of the details available to prepare an answer that suits the goals and expectations of the company. This is what you can gather from the following pages of a company's website:

'About Us' page: Another way you can answer the interview question about why you are the best candidate for the job is to research the company and its goals on this page. The information you get from these sites can help you understand more about the organisation and its work culture.
Mission statement page: The details on this website page can help you understand if your principles match that of the employer's. You can prepare your answer to align with these values.

2. Understand the job description

Review the responsibilities and duties associated with the job. Frame your response to include examples of the relevant skills. For example, if you're preparing for an accounting role interview, you can mention how you displayed critical thinking and your experience with particular software used in this industry.

3. Learn the STAR interview response method

The STAR interview response method is one practical method that you can use to prepare your answers. This is how you can do it:

Situation: Study the nature of the role in the company, including the essential features.
Task: Define or understand your role in the situation and the boundaries of the position within the company.
Action: Point out problems you faced in a previous role and how you solved it.
Result: Explain the result of the scenario.

4. Practise communication skills

You can develop your verbal and nonverbal communications skills before going for an interview. This approach can help you improve your self-esteem and confidence when you answer about how you can benefit the company. Learn to maintain eye contact, maintain an upright posture, keep your shoulders poised to show your focus during the interview. Ensure that your feet remain flat on the floor for an inviting posture.

What to include in responses

Your employer typically wants to know what contribution you may bring to the position and the company. Therefore, your response can include all the notable accomplishments you achieved in your previous assignments. You can base your answer on some of the following categories:

Expectations of the recruiter

Ensure that you understand the employer's need for a solution. Express how you're the perfect fit for the role. During an interview, you can include the company's expectations.

Experience, strength and accomplishments

When narrating your work experiences, remember to share them in a chronological order without contradictions. It also helps if you relate your professional journey to the current position you're applying for. You can express it in a way that seems like your previous job title prepares you for the one you're applying for at that moment. Be confident and explain to the interviewer what value you can bring to the company if they appoint you for the position.

Uniqueness

Your employer may want to know what value you can bring to the company that differs from other interviewees. Be confident in emphasising your uniqueness and convincing the employer that you're apt and distinct from other interviewees. Be ready to give examples or proof of your claims.

Skills

Your skills are valuable points you can highlight. This can come in handy when answering 'what value can you bring to this company?' You can link your relevant abilities to the solution you can provide for the organisation and its goals.

Positive features

Always focus on your positive traits when you answer interview questions about the value you can bring to your employer. For example, show your willingness to learn and adapt to change. Emphasise your zeal for the profession and your eagerness to become a staff and add value to the organisation like you did in your previous role.

Tips on how you can talk about your value to the company

The interview question about how you can add value to the company can prove tricky. Ensure that you get it right and make an impact the first time. Here's what you can do when responding to this question:

Communicate positively, and that means to steer clear of negativity when talking about other candidates.
Be confident when reacting to the interviewer's question.
Focus on selling yourself.
Give concise answers because how you respond can be more important than the content itself.

Examples of responses

You can adapt some ideas from the examples listed below:

Displaying teamwork

Being a team player is one of the most valuable skills to have. During an interview, you can always recount your previous experiences as a team leader and share your achievements. You can talk about how well you communicated and helped your teammates enjoy working, which helped you complete projects before the deadline.

Example: 'I believe my experience as a team leader with Creative Arts Company matches your requirements for new talent. I previously provided support to six designers at Groove Marketing. Working as a team helped us achieve our goals. Delegating duties according to their skills and strengths allowed the team to complete projects efficiently and on schedule. I can bring this skill to the company, which may bring about an increase in productivity.'

Demonstrating problem-solving skills

Hiring managers typically want to see your confidence in handling challenges you may encounter in your job. Therefore, you can show your problem-solving ability and your willingness to deliver the desired results through any circumstance.

Example: 'My problem-solving skills help me exercise my responsibilities well under pressure, which I expect to meet in this role. As head of procurement in my previous assignment, I had to prioritise supplies and purchase them within the budget. Sometimes, I had little time to go through the many items and supplier lists. I solved this problem by creating a spreadsheet that helped us compare prices between different manufacturers and suppliers. This innovation helped the company save hundreds of dollars in supplies. I get to use my problem-solving capabilities to make a noticeable impact at The Fay Company.'

Showing hard skills

Some roles require employees to have additional hard skills. You can show the hiring manager how you successfully used one of the hard skills listed in the job description. Your expertise and experience in hard skills can set you apart from other candidates and enable the interviewer to remember you.

Example: 'My technical design capabilities, coupled with my zeal for customer service, match your requirements for this job. I worked with the Roox Design marketing team as a graphic designer with other design specialists. We helped a client meet his goals in a large advertising campaign that included postcards, flyers, magazines and billboard advertisements. I designed most of the material that the company continues to use for its marketing today. My extensive experience with Roox Design Company is a valuable asset that I can bring to this role to help bring positive results to the organisation.'