How to Answer "What Makes You Unique" in a Job Interview

When it comes to job interviews, everyone wants to stand out from the crowd. But many candidates struggle to articulate exactly what makes them uniquely qualified for a role. Answering the common interview question "What makes you unique?" is your chance to do just that. By preparing strategic examples ahead of time, you can deliver a memorable answer that positions you as the best candidate for the job.

In this guide, we‘ll cover why interviewers ask this question, how to prepare an effective answer with examples, and tips for delivering your response with confidence. Let‘s dive in!

Why Interviewers Ask "What Makes You Unique"

First, it‘s important to understand the motivation behind this interview question. Interviewers ask "What makes you unique?" for a few key reasons:

1. To get to know you beyond the basic facts of your resume
2. To assess your self-awareness and ability to communicate your value
3. To see how well you understand the role and can apply your skills
4. To learn what motivates you and sets you apart from other candidates
5. To evaluate how well you think on your feet

In other words, this question is an opportunity to provide insight into what kind of employee you would be and the special qualities you bring to the table. Answering it well shows that you‘ve reflected on your fit for the role and can make a compelling case for yourself.

How to Prepare Your Answer

While you don‘t want to sound overly rehearsed, preparing your key talking points ahead of time is crucial to giving a strong answer. Here are the steps to crafting your response:

1. Carefully review the job description and company research to identify 2-3 key qualities that align with your unique strengths. What seems most important for success in this role?

2. Reflect on your own personality traits, skills, experience, and accomplishments. What makes you stand out? Consider soft skills, technical abilities, unique work experience, and major accomplishments.

3. Choose a few unique attributes to focus on that are relevant to the role and not overly quirky. You want to sound memorable but also professional and self-aware.

4. Develop concise examples or anecdotes that illustrate each quality in action. How have you demonstrated these traits in the past? Be as specific as possible.

5. Practice adapting your general answer to the company and role you‘re applying for. How can you show you‘ve done your research and are a particularly good fit?

The key is to be strategic and targeted in your response. You want to highlight uniqueness that suggests you would be an asset to the employer, not just quirky for the sake of standing out. Everything you say should relate back to your ability to succeed in this particular role.

Examples of Unique Qualities to Highlight

Not sure what unique traits to emphasize in your answer? Here are some ideas of qualities that can help you stand out to employers:

Personality Traits:

• Strong communication or collaboration skills
• Leadership abilities
• Creative problem-solving approach
• Adaptability to change
• Growth mindset

Relevant Skills:

• Advanced technical skills in your field
• Additional language abilities
• Professional certifications
• Mastery of a particular tool or software

Unique Experience:

• Previous startup or small business experience
• International work or study abroad
• Entrepreneurial ventures or side projects
• Extensive volunteer work

Stand-Out Accomplishments:

• Awards or recognitions in your field
• Successful projects you led
• Promotions or increased responsibility
• Measurable results you achieved

The possibilities are endless — the important thing is to choose unique qualities that are professionally relevant and show your value as a candidate.

Sample Answers

To help you get a sense of what a great answer looks like, let‘s explore some examples for different levels and industries.

Example 1: Entry-Level Marketing Coordinator

"One thing that makes me unique is my experience in both marketing and graphic design. I recently graduated with a degree in Marketing, but I also have a minor in Graphic Design. Through my coursework and internships, I‘ve developed both a strategic understanding of marketing principles and hands-on design skills.

For example, last summer I interned at a tech startup. I was able to help the marketing team by not only planning social media campaigns, but actually creating the visual assets for them as well. My manager told me how much she appreciated having someone who understood both sides of the process.

I believe this combination of skills would make me a unique asset as your new Marketing Coordinator, allowing me to support both the strategic and creative elements of campaigns."

Example 2: Mid-Level Software Engineer

"What makes me unique as a software engineer is my ability to balance technical expertise with big-picture strategic thinking. I‘ve always been fascinated by how technology can solve business problems. So while I have deep knowledge of multiple programming languages and tools, I‘m also always thinking about how my work fits into the company‘s larger goals.

In my last role, I took the initiative to set up monthly meetings with our product team to ensure the features we were building in engineering aligned with the product roadmap. I was able to offer technical insights while also understanding the "why" behind the work. As a result, our team was able to be more proactive rather than reactive.

I know XYZ Company is looking for an engineer who can not only write great code, but help drive innovation. I believe my unique blend of technical and strategic thinking will allow me to do just that."

Example 3: Senior Financial Analyst

"One quality that makes me a unique financial analyst is my strong communication skills. I know that numbers can tell an important story — but only if you can translate them into understandable insights and compelling recommendations. Throughout my career, I‘ve leveraged my writing and speaking abilities to make financial information more accessible and actionable.

For instance, in my current role I initiated a monthly company-wide newsletter that highlights key financial metrics and explains their implications for each department. I‘ve received feedback that this has helped different teams feel more bought into and knowledgeable about our financial goals. When I presented cost-saving proposals to our executive team, I was able to secure buy-in because of how clearly and persuasively I communicated my ideas.

As your senior financial analyst, I would bring this same ability to forge connections and drive decisions through strong communication. I understand XYZ Company is looking for someone who can be a true partner to stakeholders, and I believe my unique skills would enable me to excel in that kind of role."

Notice how each of these examples highlights a unique quality, backs it up with specific accomplishments, and ties it back to the needs of the role and company. These answers give the interviewer valuable insight into what the candidate would bring to the position that other applicants don‘t.

How to Tie Your Answer Back to the Company/Role

As you can see from the examples above, an important aspect of your answer is connecting your unique traits directly to the needs of the specific job and company. This shows the interviewer that you‘ve done your research and have a clear sense of how you would be an asset in that particular context.

To do this, look back at the job description and company website. What qualities, skills, and experience seem most important for this role? What aspects of the company mission or culture stand out to you? Consider how your unique strengths align with those key priorities.

Then, in your answer, explicitly call out those needs and explain how you are uniquely qualified to meet them. You might say something like:

"I know that XYZ Company is looking for someone who can ___. I believe my unique experience in ___ would enable me to ___."

Or:

"One of the things that excited me about this role is the opportunity to ___. With my unique background in ___, I think I could help the company ___."

By showing that you understand the company‘s needs and have specific ideas for how you would uniquely contribute, you position yourself as a highly motivated and valuable candidate.

Tips for Delivering Your Answer with Confidence

Preparing what you want to say is only half the battle — how you say it also matters. Here are some tips for delivering your answer in a confident and compelling way:

1. Be authentic. Don‘t try to be someone you‘re not, or claim traits that don‘t really resonate with you. Interviewers can tell when you‘re being genuine.

2. Keep it concise. Aim to give a 1-2 minute answer that makes your point clearly without rambling. Provide relevant details but don‘t get too in the weeds.

3. Use confident body language and tone. Sit up straight, make eye contact, and speak calmly and clearly. Avoid phrases like "um" or "I guess."

4. Practice but don‘t memorize. You want to sound natural, not like you‘re reciting a script. Get comfortable with your key points but allow room for spontaneity.

5. Tailor to the situation. Have a few unique qualities and examples in your back pocket to choose from based on the specific interviewer and conversation. Preparing multiple options will help you adapt on the fly.

With a little preparation and practice, you can master the delivery of your unique selling points and make them shine.

What to Avoid in Your Answer

Just as important as what you should say is what you shouldn‘t. Here are a few things to avoid when answering "What makes you unique?":

1. Generic phrases: Saying you‘re "hardworking" or a "fast learner" is too vague and overused to be memorable. Get more specific about what makes you effective.

2. Unrelated quirks: Uniqueness like "I can recite the alphabet backwards" isn‘t going to sell you as a candidate unless you can tie it back professionally. Focus on work-relevant traits.

3. Controversial views: Now is not the time to bring up potentially hot-button issues like politics or religion, unless it directly relates to the role (like working for a political campaign).

4. Rambling: If you talk in circles for five minutes without making a point, the interviewer is going to tune out. Keep your answer clear and digestible.

5. Downplaying yourself: Avoid false modesty like "I don‘t know, I‘m not that special." You are! Talk about your unique strengths with confidence.

By sidestepping these pitfalls, you can ensure your unique qualities get the spotlight they deserve.

Conclusion

Standing out in a crowded applicant pool can feel daunting, but by preparing a strong answer to "What makes you unique?", you give yourself a powerful tool to make an impression. Remember:

• Reflect on the role and your background to identify your most relevant unique traits
• Develop specific examples of those qualities in action
• Tie your uniqueness back to the company‘s needs
• Deliver with confidence and authenticity

With these strategies, you‘ll be able to articulate what makes you uniquely qualified for any role. So take some time to reflect on and practice telling your story before your next interview. Your unique value will shine through!