The interview question, “What makes you unique?” can cause many candidates to stumble. Its open-ended nature often leaves people unsure how to respond without sounding generic or arrogant. This question is not a trick; it is an invitation to move beyond your resume and articulate your specific value. Understanding how to prepare for and answer this question is part of a successful job search.
Why Interviewers Ask This Question
Hiring managers ask this question to gather information that isn’t on a resume. They want insight into your self-awareness and ability to articulate your value. A thoughtful answer shows you have reflected on your strengths and can connect them to the organization’s needs. This helps the interviewer understand what you can bring to the team that another qualified candidate might not.
The question also serves as a gauge for culture fit. Your answer reveals aspects of your personality and work style, giving the interviewer a glimpse into how you might collaborate, approach challenges, and contribute to the work environment. It is an opportunity to differentiate yourself from a pool of applicants who look similar on paper.
How to Identify Your Unique Selling Points
To answer well, you must first identify the specific attributes that set you apart. This process involves reviewing your skills, experiences, and personal perspective to build a narrative that is authentic and relevant to the role.
Analyze Your Combination of Skills
Every candidate has skills, but your specific combination of abilities can make you unique. Consider how your hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal traits) intersect. For instance, a software developer who is also a skilled public speaker can build complex systems and explain them clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
To identify your own blend, list your top hard and soft skills and consider how you have used them together. Perhaps your analytical skills and empathy make you good at resolving customer issues. Or maybe your project management abilities are enhanced by creative problem-solving, allowing you to deliver projects on time despite obstacles.
Review Your Unique Experiences
Your professional and personal history is a source of unique selling points. Think about specific projects, accomplishments, or challenges that have shaped your career path. A project that required you to learn a new technology quickly or collaborate with a difficult stakeholder is a good example of your adaptability and resilience.
Do not limit yourself to paid work. Volunteer roles, academic projects, or significant life events also provide evidence of your qualities. For example, organizing a community fundraiser could have honed your leadership skills. The goal is to connect these experiences to the requirements of the job.
Define Your Personal Perspective
Your perspective is the lens through which you view your work. Consider your work style, approach to problem-solving, and the values that guide your professional conduct. Are you collaborative or independent? Do you use a data-driven mindset or an intuitive one?
Defining your perspective helps you articulate how you would fit into the company culture. For example, being naturally curious is a valuable trait in an innovative industry. Articulating these personal attributes makes your answer more memorable and authentic.
How to Structure Your Answer
Once you have identified your unique selling points, shape them into a clear narrative. A structured answer is easier for the interviewer to follow. A simple formula is to state your unique quality, provide a specific example as evidence, and connect it to the role or company.
Begin with a clear opening statement that identifies the quality or combination of skills you want to highlight. Avoid vague claims like “I’m a hard worker.” Instead, be specific, such as, “I have a unique ability to translate complex technical concepts into language that anyone can understand.”
Next, back up your claim with a brief story or specific example. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a useful framework here. Describe a situation, the task, the action you took that demonstrates your quality, and the positive result of your action.
Finally, connect your unique quality to the job you are interviewing for. State how this attribute will help you succeed and benefit the company. For instance, you could say, “I know this role involves working with both engineering and marketing, and my ability to bridge that communication gap will help ensure our projects are successful.”
Examples of Effective Answers
For a data analyst role, an answer might focus on combining technical skill with business acumen. An applicant could say, “What makes me unique is my ability to not only analyze data but also to tell a story with it. In my previous role, I analyzed customer churn. Instead of just presenting a spreadsheet, I created a visual dashboard and a narrative showing where we were losing people. This led to a retention campaign that reduced churn by 15% in one quarter. I’m excited to bring this blend of analytical rigor and storytelling to help your team make data-driven decisions.”
For a graphic designer role, the answer could highlight a unique process. A candidate might respond: “My unique strength is my background in user experience research, which I integrate into every design project. For a recent mobile app redesign, I conducted user interviews to understand their pain points. That research informed my design choices, resulting in a new interface that increased user engagement by 30%. I believe this user-centered approach allows me to create designs that are beautiful and effective, and I’m eager to apply that perspective to your projects.”
For a leadership position, an answer could focus on a blend of skills and values. A manager could state, “What sets me apart is my combination of strategic planning skills and a commitment to mentorship. In my last role, I launched a new product line, which required detailed market analysis and a roadmap. Simultaneously, I implemented a mentorship program that increased employee satisfaction by 25%. I am confident I can deliver on strategic goals while building a supportive, high-performing team.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When answering this question, avoid these common pitfalls:
- Being too generic. Clichés like “I’m a hard worker” or “I’m a team player” do little to differentiate you. Always back up your claims with specific evidence and examples from your experience.
- Sounding arrogant. While it is important to be positive, avoid sweeping statements that can be perceived as conceited. Frame your answer confidently but humbly, focusing on your skills without comparing yourself to others.
- Sharing irrelevant personal information. Your answer should remain focused on your professional qualifications and how they relate to the job, not your hobbies or personal life. The interviewer is assessing your fitness for the role.
- Claiming nothing is unique about you. This comes across as a lack of self-awareness or interest. Everyone has a unique combination of skills and experiences, so take time to reflect before the interview.