36 Smart Answers to “What Makes You Unique?”

Interviewers ask the question “What makes you unique?” to determine how you stand out from other candidates: they want to know what specific qualities, skills, or experiences you possess that will bring success to the position they are filling. This question helps interviewers assess your self-awareness, confidence, and ability to effectively communicate your strengths.

Identifying Your Unique Qualities

To answer this question:

Start by reviewing the job description and pinpointing key skills or requirements for the position.
Identify your own experiences or qualities that align with these key attributes.
Focus on the aspects of your background, personality, or life experiences that make you uniquely suited for the job.

Emphasize aspects of your experience and skills that align with the position’s requirements, while also highlighting personal or life experiences that set you apart from other candidates.

36 Sample Answers to “What Makes You Unique?”

When asked, “What makes you unique?” you could reply:“I have a strong ability to identify problems and implement innovative solutions quickly. In my previous job, I was responsible for improving our customer support process, which led to a 30% increase in customer satisfaction. This shows my drive for excellence and my determination to always seek improvements.”
You might want to mention your enthusiasm as a unique trait:“I am extremely passionate about the work I do, and I bring this energy to every task I undertake. My enthusiasm positively influences my team members, and I have found it helps us achieve our goals more effectively. My passion drives me to consistently perform above expectations.”
Showcase your accomplishments as a factor that sets you apart:“My unique combination of skills led me to be recognized as the top salesperson at my previous company for three consecutive years. I expertly balance relationship building with a focus on meeting targets to drive growth and ensure success.”
You could emphasize your adaptability:“I am highly adaptable and can comfortably work in various environments or industry sectors. For example, I have experience in sales, marketing, and customer service, which has provided me with a well-rounded understanding of different business areas.”
Highlighting your dedication to lifelong learning might impress interviewers:“I’m committed to continually developing my skills and knowledge in my field. I consistently attend conferences, read industry publications, and take courses to stay updated on the latest trends and practices. This commitment allows me to bring fresh ideas and perspectives to my work.”
Perhaps you want to mention how you balance work and personal life:“I pride myself on maintaining an excellent work-life balance, allowing me to stay focused and productive during work hours but also having time to pursue personal interests and hobbies. This gives me a healthy perspective and positively impacts my overall performance.”
You could speak to your ability to communicate effectively:“My strong communication skills and ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds make me highly effective in team environments. I have a proven track record of resolving conflicts and fostering collaboration, which makes our team projects successful.”
Draw attention to your ability as a mentor:“I enjoy mentoring and sharing my knowledge with others, which benefits both my personal growth and the development of my team members. I have a history of empowering and guiding colleagues to help them reach their full potential.”
Your resourcefulness could be a point of interest:“I am resourceful and creative when faced with challenges or limited resources. This enables me to find unique solutions and operate efficiently, regardless of constraints.”
Emphasizing your work ethic:“I’m known for my strong work ethic and dedication to always putting forth my best effort. I take pride in consistently delivering high-quality results and have built a reputation as someone my team can rely on to execute tasks on-time and accurately.”
Showcase your leadership skills:“I have developed strong leadership skills throughout my career, allowing me to effectively guide teams and make strategic decisions. My ability to inspire and motivate those around me helps to cultivate a positive and productive work environment.”
Or, you could focus on your attention to detail:“My meticulous attention to detail allows me to quickly spot errors and discrepancies that others might miss, ensuring the highest quality of work. This has saved my team considerable time and effort, as well as prevented potential issues.”
More examples:

“My dedication to learning new skills sets me apart. I constantly seek opportunities to improve my expertise and apply that knowledge to my work.”
“I bring a unique combination of marketing and design experience, which allows me to approach projects with creative and effective strategies.”
“My bilingual background allows me to communicate seamlessly with diverse teams and clients, ensuring successful collaboration on projects.”
“I am an avid problem-solver who enjoys tackling complex challenges, and I have a track record of finding innovative solutions that drive success.”
“My exceptional time-management skills help me juggle multiple tasks without compromising on quality or deadlines, especially when working under pressure.”
“My strong interpersonal skills have allowed me to create and maintain great working relationships with coworkers and clients, fostering a positive work environment.”
“I pride myself on being very adaptable, making it easier for me to adjust to new situations, teams, and roles within a company.”
“As a lifelong volunteer, I bring a strong sense of community and empathy, which has aided me in understanding the unique needs of clients and coworkers.”
“Through my experience in diverse industries, I gained a well-rounded perspective that allows me to approach tasks and projects from different angles.”
“As a self-starter, I am proactive in identifying areas for improvement and taking the necessary steps to ensure the success of the team and the company as a whole.”
“My resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks have allowed me to learn from my mistakes and continuously grow both personally and professionally.”
“I have a knack for storytelling, which helps me present complex ideas in a compelling way, making it more accessible and engaging for my audience.”
“My background in both marketing and data analytics sets me apart from other candidates. This allows me to effectively analyze marketing data while also devising creative strategies for driving customer engagement.”
“As someone who has worked remotely for several years, I have developed strong communication and time management skills that would make me an asset to this team.”
“I am fluent in three languages, which makes me an asset in providing customer support to a diverse range of clients.”
“I am a certified yoga instructor, and I believe in incorporating mindfulness and stress reduction techniques into my work environment, leading to increased productivity and teamwork among colleagues.”
“I have an extensive background in nonprofit management, which includes grant writing, budgeting, and strategic planning. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to help grow and maintain the financial stability of the organization.”
“I have a strong track record of building rapport with clients in my previous sales role, consistently exceeding sales targets and receiving high satisfaction ratings.”
“With a background in both graphic design and writing, I have developed a creative approach to problem-solving that allows me to generate innovative solutions to business challenges.”
“As a military veteran, I have learned the importance of discipline, teamwork, and adaptability. These traits make me a valuable addition to any team.”
“I have experience working with both children and adults with special needs, making me uniquely qualified to meet the diverse needs of clients in this occupational therapy role.”
“In the past, I have taken on several leadership roles, engaging in volunteer work, and mentoring relationships. These experiences have helped me develop strong leadership and communication skills.”
“Having completed a coding bootcamp, I am skilled in multiple programming languages and have a strong grasp of best practices. This knowledge allows me to quickly adapt and contribute to various projects.”
“I have a strong background in both technical support and customer service, which enables me to give clients a seamless support experience while effectively troubleshooting and resolving any issues they encounter.”

Personality Traits

Adaptability

Showcasing your adaptability can help set you apart. When asked “What makes you unique?” consider sharing an example of your ability to adapt quickly to new situations. For example, you could say, “I embrace change in the workplace and am always eager to learn new skills. In my previous role, my team had to switch to remote work unexpectedly, and I quickly became an expert in using remote collaboration tools to keep the team on track.”

Empathy

Empathy is a valuable trait to demonstrate during an interview. A good answer that highlights empathy could be, “I’ve found that my ability to empathize with others allows me to build strong relationships with team members and clients. I actively listen to their concerns and strive to understand their experiences, which has helped me adapt my communication style to make others feel comfortable.”

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Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm can make a significant impact on a hiring manager. When answering what makes you unique, use an example that illustrates your excitement about the role, company, or industry. For example, you could say, “I am genuinely enthusiastic about my work and continuously seek opportunities to expand my knowledge. I recently completed a certification course in digital marketing, even though it wasn’t required for my previous position, because I wanted to deepen my expertise.”

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution skills are an essential aspect of effective teamwork. Prove your ability to handle difficult situations by sharing an example from a previous job. For example, “I have a strong ability to mediate conflicts and maintain positive team dynamics. In my last job, two coworkers were disagreeing over a project that was causing delays. I stepped in, listened to their concerns, and facilitated a solution that satisfied both parties and got the project back on track.”

By focusing on adaptability, empathy, enthusiasm, or conflict resolution you’ll demonstrate qualities that a hiring manager is likely to find attractive. Use examples from your experience to showcase these traits, and be confident in presenting yourself as a unique candidate.

Skills and Abilities

Technical Skills

When answering “What makes you unique?” in a job interview, you can highlight your technical skills that set you apart. For example:

“I have mastered HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and have successfully built several websites from scratch. This experience makes me a strong candidate for web development roles.”
“I am a certified project manager with a track record of completing projects on time and within budget. This demonstrates my ability to lead a team and ensure success.”
“My experience with data analysis and visualization tools like Tableau and Excel have allowed me to create impactful reports and make data-driven decisions.”

Soft Skills

You should also emphasize your soft skills which contribute to your uniqueness.

“I have excellent time-management skills and can juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. I believe this ability allows me to perform well in high-pressure environments.”
“My communication skills help me effectively convey ideas to colleagues and clients alike. I think this makes me an asset in collaborative projects.”
“I pride myself on my problem-solving abilities, which enables me to approach complex situations with clarity and determination. This skill helps me excel in challenging roles.”

Try to be specific about the skills and abilities you possess and how they contribute to your uniqueness in the workplace. Providing real-life examples of how you’ve applied those skills in your work history can make your answer more convincing and memorable to the interviewer.

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The key to answering this question effectively is to focus on your personal strengths and abilities, providing specific examples that demonstrate how your unique qualities will benefit the company. By doing so, you’ll leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of landing the job. Good luck!

Posted in: Job Interview