How to Answer "What makes you unique?" (With Sample Answers)
By Andrew Johnson · Updated
The interviewer wants the one combination of experience, skills, or perspective you bring that most other candidates for this job don't.
Also asked as: “What makes you different from other candidates?” · “What sets you apart?” · “What can you offer that others can't?” · “Why are you different?”
Why do interviewers ask “What makes you unique”?
Interviewers see many candidates with similar resumes. This question asks you to make their decision easier — to point out what you'd add that the next person wouldn't. It also tests whether you understand the role well enough to know which of your traits are rare and valuable here. As CareerOneStop advises, prepare stories about the skills the employer wants; this is the place for the one that's hardest for others to match.
How to answer: the Combination → Proof → Value formula
Look for the overlap between two things you have that rarely come together.
| Step | What to say | Example line |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Combination | Name the mix: background + skill, two fields, an unusual experience. | "I'm an accountant who spent four years in a warehouse before going back to school." |
| 2. Proof | One example of the combination making a difference. | "So when I audit inventory costs, I know what the shelves actually look like and where counts go wrong." |
| 3. Value | Why that matters for this employer. | "For a distribution company, that means I can talk to operations in their language, not just send them numbers." |
Sample answers to “What makes you unique” by job type
Illustrative answers — swap in your own experience. An answer you can back up with a real story beats a polished one you can't.
Entry-level / new graduate
New graduate applying for a marketing assistant role at a sporting goods brand.
“What makes me different is that I'm both a marketing graduate and a lifelong member of your customer base. I competed in cross-country through college, and I've spent years in the running forums and groups where your customers talk about gear. In my capstone project I analyzed how running brands talk to amateur athletes, so I've studied the messaging from both sides. A lot of applicants will have the degree; not many will already know what your customers complain about.”
Career changer
Former chef moving into a food safety inspector role.
“I've spent ten years on the other side of the inspection. As a chef and kitchen manager, I was the one getting inspected, and I built my kitchens' food safety routines — temperature logs, labeling, staff training. That means I know where kitchens cut corners when they're busy, and I also know how to explain a violation to a stressed cook in a way that gets it fixed. Most inspectors come from a science background; I'd bring the practical kitchen view to the team.”
Nurse / healthcare
Bilingual medical assistant interviewing at a community health clinic.
“I'm fully bilingual in English and Spanish, and I grew up in this neighborhood. That means I can do intake and patient education in Spanish without waiting for an interpreter, and I understand a lot of the barriers your patients face — transportation, work schedules, insurance confusion. At my last clinic I started explaining appointment prep in Spanish at check-out, and fewer patients showed up unprepared for their procedures. For a community clinic, I think that combination is hard to find.”
Sales / customer service
Sales rep with a technical background applying for a sales engineer role.
“I'm a salesperson who used to be a support technician. I spent three years fixing the problems customers had after they bought the product, so when I'm selling, I can answer technical questions on the spot and I'm honest about what the product does and doesn't do. Customers tend to trust that, and it means fewer surprises after the deal closes. Your sales engineer role sits exactly on that line between the two jobs.”
Tech / analyst
Software engineer interviewing for a fintech company.
“I'm a software engineer with a finance degree. Before I moved into engineering I worked in a bank's operations team, so I understand settlement, reconciliation, and why a one-cent rounding difference can turn into a long investigation. That background has made me the person on my current team who translates between finance stakeholders and engineers. For a fintech product, where the code has to match how money actually moves, I think that's what I'd add that most candidates wouldn't.”
What to avoid
- Claiming something every candidate says ("I'm a hard worker"). It's the opposite of unique. Look for combinations and experiences only you have.
- Putting down other candidates. You don't know them. Explain what you add, not what they lack.
- A quirky fact unrelated to the job. Interesting isn't the same as relevant. Tie your differentiator to the role.
- Being too modest to answer. The question invites you to sell yourself. A specific, factual answer isn't bragging.
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Tailor my resumeFAQ
How do I answer "What makes you unique?" in an interview?
Name a combination of experience, skills, or background that is uncommon for this role, give one example of it helping you, and explain why it matters to this employer.
What if I don't think anything makes me unique?
Look for combinations: your previous job plus your current skills, a second language, a hobby that taught a job-relevant skill, or deep knowledge of the employer's customers. Uniqueness is usually a mix, not a talent.
Is "What makes you unique?" the same as "Why should we hire you?"
They overlap. "Why should we hire you?" asks you to match the job's needs; "What makes you unique?" asks what you add that others probably can't. Your answer to this one can be the strongest point in that one.
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