The job search process can be quite daunting for many people. Especially creating the right resume and giving ideal answers in interviews are crucial in the journey of finding a job. While human resource specialists may resort to some secret methods to select the suitable candidate for a position, the same risky question echoes in most meeting rooms: ”Why should we hire you?” In 2020, NBA star Stephen Curry, facing Bill Gates, acted as if he was interviewing him for a software engineering position at Microsoft. Gates provided ideal answers to common interview questions including tough ones like salary expectations.
“Why should we hire you?” Though this question may seem simple, it actually expects you to showcase multiple strengths. Being prepared for such questions can make you stand out in job interviews. Gates answered this question as follows: “You should look at the code I’ve written. I develop software programs far beyond the classes I’ve taken. I believe I’ve only gotten better with time, so you can see how ambitious I am. I think I work well with people. I can sometimes critique their codes a bit harshly, but overall, I enjoy being part of a team. I love big and ambitious goals. Thinking about how we can shape the future excites me. Software is an incredible field, and I want to be a part of it.”
In his response, Gates emphasized his passion and ambition for coding beyond his education. Additionally, he mentioned his ability to work in a team while interestingly highlighting his habit of giving “harsh critiques.” While this might seem like a potential weakness, it is actually a clever explanation. It shows that he trusts his expertise, is authoritative, and is not afraid to express his ideas clearly.
Gates’s habit of giving “harsh critiques” does not negatively affect his teamwork skills. On the contrary, it shows that he is open-minded and values the opinions of others. This is a highly important quality in any work environment.