What Makes You Unique?

Why interviewers ask this

Interviewers ask this to see if you know your own value, whether you can articulate a genuine differentiator, and if that differentiator is relevant to the role.

How to answer — tips

• Pick one specific thing — not a list of five qualities
• Connect it to the role and to results it produces
• Make it genuine and specific, not generic (‘I’m a hard worker’)
• Use a brief story to demonstrate it, not just assert it

What NOT to say

Don’t say ‘I’m a fast learner’ or ‘I’m really passionate’ — these are meaningless without specifics. Don’t try to list everything — pick the one thing that sets you apart for THIS role.

Answer structure to follow

One thing that consistently comes up [in feedback / in results] is [specific trait or skill]. For example, [brief story where it produced a real outcome]. I think what makes it unusual is [why it’s not universal]. In this role, that would translate to [specific application].

Frequently asked variations

What if I don’t feel unique?

Everyone has a specific combination of skills and perspective that’s theirs. Ask former colleagues or managers what they’d say. Look at feedback you’ve received. The answer is there.

Should it be a hard skill or soft skill?

Either works. A hard skill is easier to quantify; a soft skill is easier to demonstrate through story. Best answers combine both.

Is it okay to mention personality traits?

Yes, but tie them to outcomes. ‘I’m optimistic’ is weak; ‘I’m the person teams call when morale is low because I help people find a way forward — and I’ve seen that correlate with retaining people through hard projects’ is strong.

Practice on video: record your answers on Employment.Media, re-record as often as you like, and share one Video Group link with employers. Get started free.