The ‘what can you bring to the team’ is one of the best job interview questions any experienced career professional can be asked.
Why?
The openness of the question allows a skilled interviewee to sell themselves by discussing a skill, quality or experience that would be hard to embedded into an interview answer for a more specific recruitment question such as a ‘give me an example of….’
Open job interview questions, which include:
- Tell me about yourself?
- What are your strengths?
- Why should we hire you?
The barriers and pitfalls to the open interview question
One of the most common mistakes when answering ‘open’ questions, is the tendency to list items.
As an example, for the ‘why do you want to work here?’ open interview question, an applicant may reply with the following list: “Because I like the company, it has a good reputation, and I have always wanted to work.”
It is similar with the ‘strengths’ question: “My strengths include teamwork, the ability to get things done and my work ethic”.
‘Listing’ is a technique that works when embedded into a more detailed job interview answer. As a solo technique it often doesn’t result in a high-scoring answer.
The second pitfall that many nervous job applicants fall into, is the unintentional rambling problem.
Unintentional rambling is common in a job interview because the interviewee knows that they should be giving a longer answer.
As an example, when asked ‘why should we hire you?’ the nervous applicant panics as they search for a high-scoring interview answer.
Initially, they reply using the listing method: “I am highly skilled, experience and qualified.”
Realizing that they need to add more meat to the bone, the candidate adds a second list: “..Also, I’m good with people, a strong communicator and a good listener.”
At this point panic takes over, firing the flight or fight mode, with the interviewee splurting out irrelevant information: “…I am also good at administration, tidying up and making cups of tea!”
You may have done this yourself. You return from an interview and think: ‘What was I saying in there?’
The key to avoid rambling is having a interview answer structure.
Interview Answer Structure
Getting back to the interview question in-hand, before I start going off topic as well!!
Open questions allow the applicant to state whatever it is they want to discuss.
It is key, then, to be a self-promoter during the answering of this question. In fact, all three rules of a successful job interview come into play during the ‘what can you bring to the team?’ interview question.
To plan a high-scoring answer, think about:
- What does the current employer need, or what problem are they facing (and do you have the solution, skills or expertise?)
- What is the culture of the company?
- How can you frame your unique selling point and expertise to be relevant to the interview panel?
To answer the interview question, each applicant must discuss the following three points during the interview answer:
- An understanding of the job role/duties
- Sector related experience/knowledge
- Personal qualities
Below is a breakdown of the interview structure, which needs to be edited to fit the job sector and experiences of each individual job applicant:
Start the answer by referencing a key area of the job role. name a specific duty or industry problem.
Second, explain how you have experience in this area or highlight a relevant skill set.
Finally, end by focusing in on your personal skills and qualities.
Interview Answer Template:
Interviewer: “Tell me what you can bring to the team?”
Interviewee:
“After working in this industry for X number of years, one of the most common problems we face is (add sector related problem) The (problem) is an issue as it (add the negative effects of the problem)….”
“….My experience in (job role/dealing with the problem) has taught me (explain in detail what actions are required to overcome the problem) This is one of the things I can bring to the team, the ability to (summarise how your expertise/experience can overcome the industry problem)….”
“….In addition, I am able to (add second skill or experience relating to the job role/duties). An example of this was when I was working for X organisation and we were tasked to (achieve a goal). To meet the (objective) I (explain steps taken/actions took) which resulted in (outcome)…”
“…To summarise, I can (point 1) and (point 2). And my (add personal qualities/skills, ideally relevant to the company culture)”.
What makes an interview answer effective?
Research has shown what elements help to create a high-scoring interview answer, tehy include:
- A structured interview answer
- A higher number of words per answer
- Varying tonality during the interview answer to help maintain interest
- A confident delivery style
- Positive language (nervous applicants will self-disclose weaknesses)
