What Can You Bring to the Company? How to Answer This Interview Question

Job interviews keep you on your toes. One minute you’re discussing the role and responsibilities, the next, you’re hit with the classic: ‘What can you bring to the company?’

It’s a question that comes up time and again – and for good reason. 

Hiring managers/future colleagues want to get under the surface of your CV. They want to go beyond your skills and experience to understand how you’ll fit into their organisation.

Let’s break down how to answer this common question with confidence and clarity, even when under pressure in an interview setting.

What does “what can you bring to the company” really mean?

“It’s me, not you!” Indeed, this question is about the company you’re interviewing for – and not simply a chance to list your skills. 

The interviewer is asking you to connect the dots between your experience, your personality, and the company’s goals. 

Think of it as your chance to show how you, specifically, can make a difference.

When interviewers ask this, they’re really trying to understand what qualities you bring to the role, how you’ll help the team succeed, and what you offer that others might not. It’s your opportunity to shine a light on the unique value you add.

Recently we also covered the what motivates you interview question. We have also covered the top 10 most common interview questions and how to answer them.

Step one: Do your homework

It might seem obvious, but it’s worth saying: research matters.

• Before you go into the interview, look into their website, check their social media, and see what’s in the news about them.
• Try to understand their mission, their values, and any current goals or challenges they’re focused on.
• By understanding what matters to the company, you can tailor your answer to show that you’re aligned with their priorities.  
• Have some examples up your sleeve. Being able to reference a recent blog article on the site or client case study and linking it to your own experience is a solid approach.

If they value innovation, highlight a time you introduced a new idea. If they’re big on teamwork, bring in an example where you helped your team achieve something great.

Step two: Know your strengths

What do you consider to be your top three strengths when it comes to the world of work?

• These might be technical attributes and experience like data analysis or software design, or soft skills like problem-solving, teamwork, or empathy. 
• Consider how each of these strengths would benefit the company in the role you’re applying for.
• Try to be specific in your examples. Rather than general statements along the lines of “I’m good at teamwork”, ensure your answers are outcome orientated.
• For instance, you might say, “I led a group project that boosted our productivity by 20% over three months.” 

This makes the strength you’re looking to highlight both real and memorable.

Step three: Use examples to back it up

It’s one thing to say you have a skill. It’s much more powerful to prove it with a short story. 

One way to do this is the STAR method, which stands for: 

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

Here’s how it works: Start by describing the situation and what you needed to achieve. Then, explain the specific actions you took. Finally, share the result and what impact you had. 

For example: “In my last job, we had a tight deadline for launching a new website. I stepped in to coordinate the developers and designers, set clear goals, and held short daily check-ins. We launched a day early, and the client was thrilled with the result.”

This gives your answer context and shows that you know how to apply your skills in a real-world setting.

We also recommend reading our guide on answering the tell me how you handled a difficult situation interview question and – how do you work under pressure? Plus, check out our guide on scenario-based interview questions.

Show how you’ll fit in with the company

Hard skills are important, but employers also care about how you’ll get along with the team. Culture fit matters. 

When answering “What can you bring to the company?”, think about how your values and personality align with the organisation’s way of working.

If you know they value open communication and a flat team structure, you might say something like: 

“I really value collaboration and open feedback, which I know is important to your company culture. I think that makes teams stronger and helps everyone do their best work.”

This helps the interviewer picture you as part of their team.

What to avoid in your answer

There are a few common mistakes that can weaken your response. 

• First, don’t just repeat what’s on your CV. The interviewer likely has a copy of it in front of them already. This question is your chance to go deeper.
• As touched on earlier, avoid vague statements like “I work hard” or “I’m a team player.” 
• These phrases are overused and don’t say much about what you actually do. Instead, give specific examples and show how those qualities have helped in real situations.
• Finally, steer clear of focusing only on what you want. 

This isn’t the time to talk about your personal goals or salary expectations. Focus on what you can do for them – your skills, ideas, and attitude.

A tried-and-tested structure

If you’re unsure how to put everything together, this three-step structure can help:

• Start by naming one of your top strengths.
• Follow that with a short story that shows how you’ve used that strength effectively. 
• Then, connect it back to how it could benefit the company.

Here is an example:

“I’m really strong at organising complex projects. In my last job, I set up a new system that reduced errors by 30%. I’d love to bring that same kind of process improvement here, especially as your team continues to grow.”

This response is precise and makes clear the connection between your experience and their needs.

We also have a range of articles covering interviews for specific professions, including:

• Teacher Interview Questions And Answers
• Customer Service Interview Questions And Answers
• Care Assistant Interview Questions And Answers

General interview tips

This question is just one part of the interview – you need to be prepared across the board.

Practice answering other common questions out loud, like “Tell me about yourself” or “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

Also, be sure to take time to understand the role you’re applying for:

• Make a list of the key responsibilities and think about how your skills and experience match up.
• Prepare a few stories you can draw from that show off your best moments.
• And plan a couple of thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer – it shows you’re engaged and curious.

You might also find it helpful to read our guide on how to calm interview nerves if interviews tend to make you anxious.

Final thoughts: Be ready to show your value

Interviewers ask, “What can you bring to the company?” because they want to know what sets you apart. 

It’s about more than qualifications – it’s about attitude, ideas, and potential.

If you prepare well, know your strengths, and tell a few clear stories that show what you’ve done, you’ll stand out for the right reasons.

If you’d like more personalised help, we offer 1:1 interview coaching to build your confidence and polish your answers.

And don’t forget – it all starts with great CV writing. If you want help getting yours into top shape, we’re here for that too.

Please contact us and let’s make sure you walk into your next interview ready to show exactly what you can bring to the company!