Why are you the right person for this job?
Uh, classic.
No one knows the answer to this question.
Are you the right person for this job?
You're going to have to use a little bit of poetic license to
be convincing on this one, right?
Well, I think there is a way to answer it and you don't have to
make your own skin crawl in the process and you'll be memorable.
That's quite a promise.
So before we start, are you subscribed?
No?
Fine.
I see.
Maybe we haven't reached that stage in our relationship.
How about a like?
No?
This is brutal.
All right.
Let's get on with the video and see if I can earn it.
Deal?
So this question comes up all the time.
They like to change the wording of it from time to time, but
the theme is always there.
Personally, I think this is actually quite a positive
question rather than a negative.
It's usually asked when things are going quite well.
So I like to think of it more of like icing on the cake.
So when someone asks me this question, I'm starting to get a little bit excited.
I just need to push you over the edge.
I mean, let's think about it.
Most people don't ask this question when they think you're
definitely not a fit for the role.
That would be particularly cruel.
I mean, beg for the job so I can reject you.
Nice.
So the fact that this question is icing or a little bit of sugar
on top means it's time to sell.
It's not the time to start being factual and start reiterating your
qualifications and things like that.
It's a sugary question so you're going to be a little sweetie in your response.
Most people don't like to sell themselves and as developers, it
doesn't usually form part of our makeup.
We always come across as fake when we try to sell ourselves
and that's what most people do.
They start overselling and telling you the person what they want to hear, or at least
what they think they want them to hear.
Don't get me wrong.
Sucking up can work but so many people are doing it and everyone's
stating their altruistic intentions.
It no longer helps you to stand out.
It's more of a baseline at best.
So rather than flattering the interviewer with the standard phrases like "I'm just
so in love with the company mission", or "this is the best company in the
world", or maybe we'll move into the more usual classic phrases "I want to
write code that's going to save the world and enrich the lives of everyone."
Why don't we start considering what the other person really wants?
Like what do they need?
So let's start thinking about that.
Well, they're hiring.
That is why you're here.
So they want someone who's going to come in and fill that gap.
Whether it's a skills gap, a capacity gap, there's a gap somewhere.
So they want you to come in and get on with it, like take the problem
off their hands and don't moan.
Like be happy.
They want you to stay long-term probably.
Hiring is important, but it's also expensive and it's exhausting.
So in truth, they want the problem to go away and you're going to make that happen.
And here's where we arrive our answer.
Let's go back to the start.
Why are you the right person for this position?
And let's pretend it's a React position just for today's example.
So here's where I'd start with something that goes along the lines of
"Well, I've been a developer for a few years now, but in
the early days I was exploring.
I was sacrificing other things like salary and the commute and team culture
and those things for the right tech.
I wanted to learn my craft.
I wanted to go deep on those things.
So that's where I was heavily focused.
Now I'm in a slightly different position.
I've discovered what I love.
I found React, everything just clicked.
And now I can build apps quickly, robustly, and I just enjoy
my job when I'm doing React.
So that's really what I want to do.
But now I want all of the other things to fall into place too.
So, you know, the other things are important.
I want to be doing React.
I want to work in a decent team with a good culture.
I want a reasonable salary."
You remember to negotiate a good salary, right?
"So that's how I found this job.
It seems like the perfect fit.
It's the right tech.
I've done a little bit of research on Glassdoor.
You seem like a really happy, friendly company doing great
things, working on cool projects.
So if this job is as advertised, I'm all in.
This is really what I want to do.
And this sounds like it could be the right place for me."
So how did we get on with fulfilling their needs?
Cause that was our goal.
Let's go through the questions.
Come in and fill the skills gap?
Well, you're telling them that you love this stuff and you just want
to find somewhere where they'll let you continue on this journey.
Check.
Come in and get on with it.
Well, you've just said that you really love React and as long as
we let you do React and pay you the salary that you've asked for,
you're going to be over the moon.
Check.
Will you stay?
Well, you've just indicated that this is not just a job for you.
This is fulfilling your destiny.
Now that's some powerful stuff right there.
This is a done deal.
So you didn't have to mention saving the world or achieving world peace
or complimenting the interviewer on their impressive whatever.
It's honest and that's memorable.
And the chances of anyone else answering this way are pretty slim.
And so I'm going to have a beer to celebrate my new job offer.
And while I sip this beer, don't forget, I want that like now.
And you should probably subscribe, but I'll see you next time.
Take it easy.