how to answer the question what sets you apart from others when applying for teaching position

In this guide, nosotros'll be covering how to answer the classic interview question, "What sets you apart from other candidates?"

A lot of chore seekers, peculiarly starting time-timers, may take a tough time answering this question. There's that business organization of not wanting to be too overconfident or besides unsure of yourself.

Hither are some useful tips and a few examples of how you lot should answer.

This is another way to phrase the unremarkably asked interview question, "Why should we hire you?".

The cardinal to responding is making sure your answer is very specific

The keyword in the question is you. So it's non why we should rent somebody else. It'southward why you, in particular, should exist the 1 who gets that task rather than somebody else. Thus, a very common mistake job seekers will make is being likewise full general rather than detailed.

Now this question requires you to actually know yourself and your competition. And then you lot desire to know how you lot stack or measure up vs the others who would typically be applying for that aforementioned task.

A very helpful strategy I recommend is to create a checklist.

Take a piece of paper and depict a line straight down the eye of the page. On the left side, list the various things you bring to the table. A checklist of what makes yous somebody who's qualified and would be a expert fit for that position. On the right side, practice the same for your competition.

When you're done with this, look at it to see how you compare. Where do you fall short? Where to you exceed the competition? This will be extremely helpful in answering why the company should hire you over the residue of the applicants.

For example, perchance your average candidate will accept to say 3 years feel while you have to say 5. Perhaps their experience would be in something like but not exactly that kind of industry or environs. Your experience in information technology is definitely something to mention in your answer.

Possibly your approach to something is different from how most others would handle it. If you lot feel this is helpful and shows you're an innovative thinker, artistic, etc, then definitely indicate this out in your response.

The bespeak here is y'all want to exist looking at the hard and soft skills y'all and your contest take. And comparing your personality and character traits to those of your average competitor. So make sure you're looking at the total bundle!

This also includes your personal values and upbringing.

For example, peradventure about others will non have faced certain challenges you needed to overcome. Highlighting this and how it made you stronger, amend, etc is something you should do in your question response. And if at that place's annihilation unique to y'all vs the remainder of the competition, point information technology out when you feel this volition brand them lean more than towards yourself vs another candidate.

The ane thing you definitely want to avoid is bad-mouthing your fellow candidates!

That'southward being very mean and disrespectful, which will injure yous in a very big way. You as well exercise non want to cross that line into arrogance or cocky. So tooting your own horn needs to be mixed with some humility.

Related: How to Respond "What Interests You Almost This Position?" in a Job Interview

Every bit a former hiring managing director at two different 'Fortune' ranked corporations before entering academia and becoming a management professor, I often used open-ended questions at the beginning of interviews to get candidates talking.

Further, I institute information technology was generally a low-stress way to relax applicants since a wide variety of "good" answers are possible.

Merely I never asked, "What sets you apart from other candidates?" considering (in my opinion) that question seems to imply that applicants know some details regarding the qualifications of their rivals. Instead, I'd ask something such as: "Why should we hire you for this position?"

Match your skills to the company needs

When filling any vacancy, nigh employers seek the best "fit" that they tin can locate subsequently because the characteristics of the applicant, the position to be filled, the culture of the work team that has the opening, the types of customers that the business firm serves, and the organization's overall mission and philosophy. In essence, the hiring managers need to find a missing ingredient to complete a complex organizational "recipe."

A candidate needs to tell a potential employer what he or she tin deliver (in terms of education, aptitude, experience, skills, abilities, talents, interests and aspirations) that might uniquely match the requirements of the vacant position.

And even if applicants don't really have full-time work experience in the business world, they may have a high school or college experiences that could be considered highly benign to a potential employer. A few possible examples might be:

students who excelled at competitive endeavors (eastward.g., musical performances, chess tournaments, science fairs, forensic competitions, martial arts, etc.).
students who were elected president or vice president of their educatee congress.
students who were elected captain (or co-captain) of whatever varsity sports squad.
students who were elected to leadership positions in any large educatee organization.

Positions of this sort provide an indication of persistence in pursuit of a goal and/or leadership abilities. And hiring managers seeking new-hires with long-term potential may value those traits.

When interviewers ask a candidate how they stand out from the crowd, they're giving the candidate the green low-cal to dish out their best sales pitch.

Candidates must avoid common responses similar 'I'thou proficient at communicating' or 'I piece of work well with others'

They are general responses that don't tell the interviewer much and tin can frequently exist duplicated by other task applicants. Candidates should instead strive to provide a response that'south non simply relevant to the given position just also touches upon their expertise and unique background.

Highlight your capability to provide insights from a different perspective

If a candidate has worked in multiple industries, he or she can add significant value due to their ability to view the arrangement'southward challenges from a unlike perspective, compared to another candidates' 1-sided approach.

For instance, a former accountant could interview for an investment direction position at a brokerage firm. In his or her interview, they can make it articulate to the interviewer that his or her prior experience will enable them to assess financial needs from both a historical and futuristic perspective.

They tin too determine creative means to run across such needs and implement efficient strategies to manage funds based on economical and market knowledge.

Alternatively, if a candidate has decades worth of experience in the same industry, he or she likely has had the opportunity to dive deep into some unique business concern challenges, strengthening their skills in a niche area.

Specific, niche experiences are always critical components of a candidate'due south sales pitch in a job interview. They are less common than the more traditional skillsets and therefore, make information technology easier for the candidate to stand out amongst the crowd.

If he or she can convey a compelling example for how it will be valuable in the given role, this tactic can be an excellent arroyo to take.

Depict upon life experiences and challenges you had to go through

Lastly, if a candidate is a contempo graduate with minimal work experience, they can draw upon life experiences he or she had in college, during an internship, or even through extracurriculars.

Candidates who are new to the workforce oftentimes bring a fresh perspective to an organization, and they are less 'set in their ways' compared to more than seasoned professionals.

While a college graduate can share a unique skillset or philosophy they possess, they must convey an ability to bulldoze innovation to the organisation they are interviewing with.

Related: How to Get an Entry-Level Job with No Qualifications or Feel

Ultimately, the all-time way for whatsoever chore candidate to stand out from the crowd is by creatively communicating his or her top qualities that will exist most useful for the given position.

No matter what stage they're at in their professional life, he or she must be specific, provide tangible examples, and distinguish a sense of humble conviction."

Bryan Zawikowski

Vice President and Full general Manager, Lucas Group

Show confidence in yourself without seeming overconfident or cocky

Given that, I propose candidates to use information technology every bit a pivot point, taking the opportunity to show humility while simultaneously highlighting the qualities and attributes you think requite you the strongest gamble of getting the task.

"Since I don't know the other candidates y'all are because, I could not say for sure what would make me stand out. That said, here are a few things that brand me a stiff candidate for this position…"

It's difficult to go wrong using this approach, then I admittedly recommend following this example when presented with this line of questioning.

"What sets yous apart from other candidates?" is a mutual question people struggle to answer, partly considering it's an unfair question. There's simply no way for you to know very much near the other candidates.

The best manner to provide a genuine respond that y'all're comfortable with is to know what you've accomplished in your career and be confident in articulating these accomplishments.

This goes beyond list sales numbers and the goals you met to get your year-stop bonus (although data and metrics are encouraged). This is your time to share with pride what you lot've accomplished and a little virtually how you accomplished it.

This is also your opportunity to provide an instance of a time when you went above and beyond in your career. This should all be shared in less than two minutes and without disparaging other potential candidates or professionals.

The key to knowing what y'all've accomplished is to continually take stock in what you've done so far. If you're non actively searching for a job, make a list every quarter of what has gone right.

If you lot're actively searching, you lot'll need to update the list more frequently. Inquire yourself what you've done to earn a heighten this quarter. These are likely the accomplishments that set you lot apart from other candidates.

Every bit with many other interview questions, you can prepare for this candidate question. Even so, if yous don't accept an answer immediately, it is perfectly legitimate to say in the interview that you are thinking about it before you answer. Of course, you should non sit on the chair in silence for two minutes and say nothing, but you may take a short fourth dimension to think about it.

On the question "Why are you better than others?" you should e'er get out out other candidates. This may seem difficult at starting time, merely it is non a question of yous claiming that my skills are better than those of any other candidate. You may want to focus on yourself and the position you are applying for.

Here are 3 tips to assistance you detect the right words:

Limited your thoughts

If you're thinking about the other applicants and that you probably don't know who they are or what their strengths are yous may also say that.

Yous don't accept to be able to give a perfectly formulated answer as if you lot were shooting from the hip. That just seems rehearsed and a little accurate. Too, yous don't want to aim for a direct comparison at all, but to bear witness yourself and present yourself from the all-time side – without having to speak badly of others.

Address your strengths

This question usually aims at your strengths and abilities. The Hr manager could as well tweak the question and enquire "what you lot are better at than others" or "what you lot tin do ameliorate".

Use this opportunity to highlight your strengths again. Here as well, however, you lot should not make any direct reference to other applicants. So, don't codify "I have more expertise and experience than anyone else".

You do non take to state that you're the all-time of the best and know everything. It's better if you say, "With my deep noesis and feel, I can assistance your company reach Z in the Ten and Y areas.

Refer to the requirements of the chore

Your reply should exist as specific as possible and focus on the tasks of the position and the requirements for the job.

In other words, why are y'all made for the task? Does responsibility play a major function? Then use examples to explain your sense of responsibleness and how you intend to use information technology. Is creativity required? Then highlight them and make your added value for the employer articulate.

Pro-Tip: Self-confidence is good, merely please don't exaggerate.

Sarah Doughty

Director of Recruitment, TalentLab

Like whatsoever other interview question, the first step to crafting an impactful reply is to sympathise why the question is being asked. In many cases, there tin exist a few dissimilar reasons an interviewer might ask that question. Exist prepared to run through several reasons why a question might come upwards.

In ain words, compare skills and capabilities with the requirements of the role

This manner, the question tests candidates' analytical ability to quickly synthesize information, prioritize the key requirements and rapidly friction match previous experience or natural skillsets to address the list. Be sure to gear up for any interviews you attend by asking yourself this question, and mentally preparing to accost the main functions of the part with your ain experience and skills.

Remember that employers always hire to solve problems, and then ensuring you volition exist the correct person and capable of developing durable solutions will be top of listen throughout the interview.

Brand a 'pitch' equally to why you would be a skilful fit

A secondary reason an interview might ask this question would be to exam a candidate's salesmanship or influencer potential, especially for client-facing or leadership roles. To reply this question effectively, yous desire to consider the basic sales concepts of features and benefits.

Candidates can prepare by writing out a list of their elevation relevant skills or 'features' that they will bring to the role. Similar to any sales process, follow-through by connecting the features to the benefits they volition create for a future employer.

An example might be that a candidate has several years of by success in a like role, and the benefit would exist bringing that valuable experience and knowledge to the new squad, interim as a mentor to inferior staff every bit needed.

Related: How to Respond "Why Do You Want to Piece of work Here?"

A lot of candidates mess up on this question. They requite me generic answers like, "I'thousand a difficult worker" or "I'1000 very ambitious". Those aren't the kinds of answers I'm looking for. I mean, do you know how many ambitious, hard-working candidates are out there? That hardly separates you from the residuum of the pack.

Exist objective with facts and figures

When I ask this question, I'chiliad looking for facts and figures. I want to hear how you were the summit performer in your department for a year straight. I desire to hear about the awards yous've won. I want to hear about how you worked iii jobs to pay your style through school and all the same received directly A's.

I don't desire to hear you list off vague adjectives. Give me numbers. Impress me with your achievements, and don't be agape to brag a little scrap.

Highlight your experience or advanced level of education

If y'all have qualifications, the experience you take gained off your ain back or an advanced level of teaching relevant to the job you lot're applying for, speaking well-nigh one of these is a great mode to answer this question.

For example, if yous are applying for a job as a secretary and have a certificate in data management or IT communications, these added skills will set you aside and show the hiring manager that you have an added foundation of cognition and skill compared to some other people who have applied for the role.

On the other hand, if you lot're applying for an in-firm graphic blueprint role in a company and have a portfolio of freelance work y'all take done independently, make sure the hiring manager knows well-nigh this.

This demonstrates initiative and a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the job you're applying for, which will make yous stand out from at least some of the competition.

While you are explaining this boosted work you lot accept taken on, elaborate on what extra things yous have learned as a issue of doing this work; maybe it'southward taught y'all to work to stricter deadlines, deal with difficult clients or learn a whole new software. These are all traits that a visitor would love to take in an employee.

Consider traits that the employer thinks tin exist useful to the company

All candidates should be prepared to answer this question, and in preparation, they need to consider traits that the employer is likely to value. What special skills or traits exercise y'all bring to the tabular array which would be genuinely useful to the company?

Many employees overcomplicate this answer because they are looking for something which but isn't there.

Retrieve that setting yourself autonomously from the competition doesn't mean that yous accept to be one-of-a-kind, you just need to have your own niche to appeal to the hiring managing director.

Even if you don't believe you have whatsoever special feel or qualifications, turn to your personality. Perhaps you are an incredibly empathetic person; this volition seriously count in your favor if you're being interviewed for a job in a client service department because you lot tin explain how you are able to recognize a client'south problems and listen to them with empathy and understanding.

Another candidate may have a diploma in communications, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are a meliorate fit for the job if they can't deal with people over the phone and lend a sympathetic ear.

There are unlike approaches to answer this question if you encounter it in a job interview. Supposing that this is a position/internship you really intendance about, the outset step to successfully answer starts way before candidates attend the interview.

Place what you would bring into the squad and highlight information technology

By reading the job description and finding out more about the department or team they would work within the case of being selected. Finding out what work is the company or department doing and how are they doing it and then spot how does it marshal with the candidate's experiences.

One tip that works systematically for candidates in our company is selling their work as if they'd be consultants, selling the piece of work they would do, specific actions they would conduct, after having done an analysis of the companies current piece of work. This has to be precisely done, without criticizing the current work they are doing.

Find the sweet spot between opportunities to tap and complementing their current piece of work.

William Taylor

Career Development Managing director, MintResume

Evidence off your capabilities without being snooty

Equally a recruitment specialist, I've come across several candidates who overexaggerate when mentioning their skills. Plus, their torso language makes them announced snobbish.

Focus not just on your words, but also on your non-verbal cues.

Employ this opportunity to mention your skills, expertise, and past experience that are relevant to the chore y'all're being interviewed for.

For case, if you've applied for the position of a managing director, mention an incident where y'all displayed remarkable leadership skills. Similarly, if you're applying for the position of a digital marketer, mention your conversion rates, successful campaigns, ROI, etc.

Tell them some of your strengths.

Mention things that are more often than not more difficult to find in potential employees. For case, everybody says they're a neat squad player. But, how does that make you lot unlike? Peradventure yous tin say something like, "Due to my multi-cultural upbringing, I can hands relate to and get along well with people from diverse backgrounds, which makes me an splendid team player".

Finding team members that are well rounded and ambitious can be difficult. Yes, every director wants someone who can perform their job well technically. They also want someone who is able to develop exterior of that particular function and help the concern more than.

Focus on your qualities that show that you will exist a great long term investment for the visitor

Maybe you spend your time and money going to training to larn almost leadership, business process development, project management, financial management, etc. This shows the employer that you are someone who cares about investing in your hereafter and that you will exist going above and beyond only doing the tasks that you lot are hired to do.

When I ask a candidate what sets them apart, I'm looking for specifics

I don't want to hear vague responses listing personality traits. After all, how can the candidate be sure that they're more than punctual, hardworking, or item-oriented than the competition? Instead, I like to hear specifics near past projects and experience that relates to our piece of work.

If an SEO writer tells me about a piece of content they wrote that currently ranks in the beginning position for a highly valuable industry-specific keyword, that'southward something that truly sets them apart.

In this example, not just does it show me that they tin can deliver results, simply since this is something publicly available, I tin do a unproblematic Google query to verify their claim. Then an industry-specific, measurable, and verifiable answer is the all-time possible response.

Exude confidence grounded in facts

If you launch into a memorized pitch almost what makes you unique, that'southward not actually what I'grand looking for.

I'd rather hear you say something like "I really don't know who else y'all might be considering or what their qualifications are, but I can tell you that I think this is a very good fit for my skill fix, experience, and my personal goals. I'm very interested in moving frontwards."

One of the best ways to reply this question is to really talk nigh your qualities as a person and how they will take an impact upon you as an employee at the company.

For example, if you're able to adapt quickly and pivot into a different process quickly, tell them that you lot can do that.

As a business owner, honesty is really appreciated because without information technology, nosotros could hire a person and they are terrible at the task so they have just wasted their time and ours. We then accept to observe someone new and they have to find a new employer all over again.

If this honesty is apparent, it'south actually an appealing quality in and of itself. this means that yous can be trusted to admit your weaknesses and take responsibility for your actions.

Kenny Trinh

Managing Editor, Netbooknews

Prove that you are an agile listener

When I'm interviewing a new hire, I'thou e'er looking for someone who is an active listener. For me, that means someone who pays attention to the person interviewing, non merely past their answers, but also by their body language. So in a way, you answer it (What sets you autonomously from other candidates) by not answering it.

I remember just a month ago when I was looking for a new person for my squad. I was interviewing 4 people, but I knew from the starting time I only had to pay attention to 2. And so I did.

The first had minimal experience, only during the group interview, she was the one giving the best answers, the one sitting up straight and looking at me intently, the one listening to the other candidates as the gave their answers. I can actually meet her drive, her attention to detail, her intense desire to boom the interview.

Then there was another potential candidate. She had the all-time experience, very qualified. During the interview though, I tin come across she didn't have the ability to mind well. She would sometimes slouch on her seat or lean back on the backrest, sometimes looking at her nails while occasionally looking upwards as other candidates answered. Non good.

As you lot may have guessed, I hired the first 1. And so for me, one trait that would set apart a candidate from some other candidate is their power to heed well.

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Source: https://upjourney.com/how-to-answer-what-sets-you-apart-from-other-candidates