Most Common Phone Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Don’t stumble over this all-too-common interview question!

“What sets you apart from other candidates?” Your mind instantly goes blank. You’re qualified for the role, have the right experience, and boast the essential skills, but what is your USP?

Answering this question can be challenging. However, since it’s one of the most common interview questions, you need to have your answer prepared well in advance. In this guide, we’ll talk about why this question matters, how to answer it, and share some top examples.

Why do interviewers ask this question?

When faced with ‘what sets you apart from other candidates,’ you might wonder what the objective is. Interviewers ask this question to find out the following pieces of information:

Self-reflection

Interviewers want you to self-reflect and talk about your strengths in a candid manner. Think of this as an invitation for you to speak about yourself and convince them that you’re the person for the job. Don’t be afraid to boast about your talents, work experience, or accomplishments.

Comparison

If you’ve got to this point, chances are you meet the core criteria. But how do you compare to other candidates? When the hiring manager asks this question, they are trying to get you to state what makes you unique, i.e. what your USP is and why it matters.

Personality

It’s not simply about what you do – sometimes, it’s the way that you do it. This question presents you with the chance to let your personality shine through. Since it’s relatively open ended, it means you can talk about anything you may have missed in the rest of the interview.

Tips to help you provide the perfect answer

When you’re faced with this common interview question, you may not know where to begin. Having an outline of an answer in mind ahead of time is the way to go. Follow our top tips to perfect your answer:

Pick your strongest point

First up, you need to define your USP. What is it that sets you apart from the crowd? Most candidates struggle when it comes to this part. If you’re not sure where to begin, think about what you’re most proud of in your career to date. Use this as your inspiration.

Use specific examples

When you’ve nailed down your messaging, think of examples to back it up. Consider a time you've used that skill and what happened. It’s best to give specific examples – with metrics when possible – to illustrate your point. That way, the interviewer will have a clear idea of how you can use your top skills or experience to help the company succeed.

Stick to one message

Are you guilty of babbling? If you quickly flit from message to message, stop. You will only bamboozle the interviewer and that will get you nowhere fast. People often do this when they’re nervous. Instead, take a deep breath and stay on message at all times.

Include action words

Powerful buzzwords can put you in the driving seat. Using terms like ‘spearheaded,’ ‘led,’ and ‘motivated’ is a surefire way to show how powerful you are. Choose the wording that you use here wisely. Once again, it’s helpful to have planned what you will say in response to this interview question.

Always include an outcome

What is the point of your answer? That is what the interviewer will be asking themselves. When you’re responding, make sure that your answer has a punchline. This could be how your efforts improved business or how you can relate your achievements back to the current vacancy.

Example answers for inspiration

Ready to get started and prepare your answer? Sometimes, the best way is to look at some examples and take creative inspiration from them. We’ve put together a selection of five sample answers, each taking a different approach. Read them before prepping yours:

1. Emphasize your passion

“I’m deeply passionate about motivating young people to excel in their education. Having previously worked with underprivileged youths as a student mentor, I would love the opportunity to further this experience.

For me, success is in inspiring mentees to believe in themselves and keep pushing forward, regardless of the challenges that they may face. Should you give me the opportunity to work at Just4School, I would take this enthusiasm and help others triumph.”

2. Spotlight your special skills

“One of the main things that sets me apart from other candidates is my ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. In previous roles, I’ve used tools like Python and Tableau to analyze trends and put together data-driven reports and suggestions. My insights have reduced the bottom line for my employers and improved overall efficiency.”

3. Emphasize your leadership skills

“What sets me apart from other candidates is my ability to lead teams toward success. In my last role as team supervisor, I led by example by trialing new sales tactics myself. Seeing this work in action, the rest of my team was inspired to follow suit. The result was that we smashed the projected sales targets by 17% in Q1.”

4. Highlight your adaptability

“I am willing to learn new skills and adapt to new situations. In my previous role at Michelle and Smith, I voluntarily undertook training in Excel to up-skill. This allowed me to support the accounting team and better understand their challenges. I am continuously looking for ways to hone my talents and better support the wider team.”

5. Show you fit the company culture

“I believe that I am the perfect fit for the company culture at Cabin Makers. I was most drawn to this vacancy upon learning about the business’ core values and the expectations of workers. Unlike some candidates, I thrive in a fast-paced working environment and I would relish the chance to not only meet but exceed your expectations in this role.”

Takeaway

Don’t let this interview question spook you. Having the confidence to speak about yourself positively will go a long way. Make sure you decide which approach to take in advance. That way, when an interviewer asks ‘what sets you apart from other candidates,’ you’ll have a razor sharp answer at the ready. Use our examples and tips to help you nail it now.

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How to answer: what sets you apart from other candidates?