“What makes you different?”, “What differentiates you from other candidates?”, “What sets you apart?” – there are countless different ways of phrasing this interview question, and none of them makes it any easier to answer.
Remember, this is a personal question, which must also be related back to the company.
The trick is, don’t get too hung up on the word ‘unique’ – in a way, it’s a bit of a trick. Really, they want to know why you are the best for this job.
You don’t need to think of unique skills that nobody else in the world has. This is making the question harder than it needs to be.
“What makes you unique” is the perfect way to help them differentiate between you and other candidates.
Just like ‘tell me about yourself‘ and ‘what are your strengths and weaknesses?‘, these open-ended questions can be difficult to answer.
You will need to discuss your most unique qualities with confidence, while being careful not to come across as arrogant.
Below, we’ll help you navigate this trick balance. Read on and learn how to answer ‘what makes you unique?’, why employers ask this common interview question, and how to smash your interview.
