How To Answer “What Makes You Stand Out from Other Candidates” Interview Question (Best Answers)

What makes you stand out from other candidates? How do you answer this question to impress the hiring manager? If you have a job interview coming up soon for any role or organization, make sure you read this article very well because it will give you the perfect answers to that interview question.

What Makes You Stand Out from Other Candidates?

To help you answer the interview question, this guide will cover the following things:

• 2 wrong answers you should NOT use when answering this interview question.
• Why the hiring manager is asking you this tough interview question because if you understand why the question is being asked, it enables you to give the perfect answer.
• The best way to answer this difficult interview question that is guaranteed to impress the hiring manager.
• 3 examples of top scoring answers in a live job interview and all you have to do is choose which answer option you think is the strongest.

Wrong Answers to “What makes you stand out from other candidates” Interview Question

Question: Tell me what makes you stand out from other candidates?

(a) Do not say or answer this:

“I think the main thing that makes me stand out from other candidates is the fact that I’m a really good team worker and I’m always professional in my work.”

Do not say that when answering the interview question, what makes you stand out from other candidates?

(b) Don’t say or answer this either:

“I think the main thing that makes me stand out from other candidates is the fact that I’m a hard worker and I’ll always do a good job.”

Those are two really bad answers to that difficult interview question, “What makes you stand out from other candidates?”

WHY IS THE HIRING MANAGER ASKING YOU THE INTERVIEW QUESTION, WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHER CANDIDATES?

Your answer to this interview question will help them determine which one candidate is going to be the best fit for the role and the best fit for their organization.

They often use the answers to this difficult interview question to decide which one candidate will give them the best return on their investment. Therefore, your answer is going to be the difference between a pass or a fail.

THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER THIS DIFFICULT INTERVIEW QUESTION THAT IS GUARANTEED TO IMPRESS THE HIRING MANAGER

The best way to answer the question, what makes you stand out from other candidates, is to put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and think carefully what they want.

All hiring managers want people who are results-driven, commercially focused, and who take responsibility for problems and challenges as and when they occur. If you are the type of person that is loyal, self-motivated, driven, and who will be a great role model for their company, you are far more likely to get hired.

Let me now look at the 3 brilliant example answers to the difficult interview question, “What Makes You Stand Out from Other candidates?”

What Makes You Stand Out from Other Candidates Examples

WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHER CANDIDATES EXAMPLE ANSWER OPTION #1:

Question: What Makes You Stand Out from Other Candidates?

Answer:

“There are several things that make me stand out from other candidates. First and foremost, I am a results-driven person. Most people go to work and they just do their jobs. I am different.

I always ask myself the question, what can I do to help the company grow? What can I do to help the company increase sales? And what can I do to continually improve and enhance my own performance? So everything I do in this role will be focused on helping your company achieve consistent good results.

The other thing that makes me stand out from other candidates is the fact that I’m the type of person who always takes ownership of difficult challenges and problems.

If things go wrong in your company, I will take it upon myself to try and resolve it. I will assess the situation and I will always come up with a solution that’s in the best interests of your company.”

WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHER CANDIDATES EXAMPLE ANSWER OPTION #2:

Question: Tell me, What Makes You Stand Out From Other Candidates?

Answer:

“The main thing that makes me stand out from other candidates is my drive, my passion, and my loyalty. Naturally, I am a driven person who tends to get more done than the average person.

For example, in my last role, my manager needed someone to cover a co-worker who was going to be off work sick for several weeks. I volunteered to be that person, and although I was working on a time sensitive project of my own, I still managed to get that project finished in addition to my co-workers work too.

Finally, I think loyalty is quite rare in the workplace, but I am a loyal person and if you hire me, I will always be a positive role model for your company and I plan to build a long-term career right here with your organization and be a consistently high achiever.”

WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHER CANDIDATES EXAMPLE ANSWER OPTION #3:

Question: What Makes You Stand Out from Other Candidates?

Answer:

“My level of knowledge, my commercial awareness, and my commitment to continuous improvement, make me stand out from the other candidates. So my knowledge and my expertise are relevant to this industry and this role, and they have been built up over several years with various organizations.

My commercial awareness means I know that I have to consistently perform to a high standard in the position. I must also look for ways to help your company grow and help you to save money too, because profits are far more important than turnover.

Finally, my commitment to lifelong learning means I will always grow and improve in the position as your company develops and I will always be a long term valuable member of my team.”

So there’s 3 brilliant answers to that really difficult interview question, “What makes you stand out from other candidates?”

Thank you so much for reading this guide and I wish you all the best so passing your interview.