“What makes you unique?” a combination of strengths, proved, that fits this job.
“What makes you unique?” or “What sets you apart from other candidates?” can feel like a trap, because you do not know who else applied. You do not need to. A strong answer describes a combination of experience and skills that is unusual and useful for this particular job.
Describe a combination rather than a single trait: two or three things that together make you useful in this role, such as technical skill plus customer experience, or a background in one field applied to another. Prove each part with a short example, then say why the combination matters for this job. Avoid comparing yourself to other candidates or claiming to be the best.
How to find what sets you apart
- List your strengths against the posting. Write down the requirements, then what you bring to each.
- Look for unusual pairs. A nurse who understands data, an engineer who has worked in sales, a designer who has run a small business. Combinations are rarer than single skills.
- Include perspective. A different industry, language, community or life experience can be a genuine advantage if it is relevant.
- Check that it matters here. The combination must help with something the job needs, or it is just an interesting fact.
- Find the proof. One example for each part.
How to say it without sounding arrogant
- Talk about yourself, not others. You do not know the other candidates. Describe what you bring, not why you beat them.
- Use evidence, not superlatives. “I've done both X and Y” is stronger than “I'm the best at X”.
- Tie it to their needs. End with what the combination would let you do in this role.
- Keep it modest and confident. State it plainly, then stop.
- Be ready for the follow-up. The interviewer may ask for more detail on one part, so know each example well.
Example combinations and why they help
| Combination | Why it can stand out | Role it might fit |
|---|---|---|
| Technical skill + customer contact | You can solve the problem and explain it | Support, implementation, field service |
| Front-line experience + analysis | You understand the data and the reality behind it | Operations, quality, planning |
| A second language + service experience | You can serve more customers well | Healthcare, retail, public services |
| Teaching or coaching + a specialism | You can train others in it | Team lead, training, onboarding |
| Small-business experience + a functional skill | You understand the whole picture | Marketing, finance, operations |
Illustrative answers to adapt
Illustrative: these answers were written by TryHired to show structure. They are not real candidates' answers and were not given in any real interview. Every name, employer, number and result is fictional or a bracketed placeholder: replace each bracket with your own true details, and never claim an achievement you did not have.
Combination template
When to use: Two parts, proved, then why it matters here.
What I bring is a combination of [strength one] and [strength two]. At [Employer] I [example of strength one], and in [another role or setting] I [example of strength two]. Together that means I can [what the combination lets you do in this role].
“What makes you unique?” (weak)
What it shows: Claims without evidence, and comparisons.
I'm just a really unique person. I work harder than most people, I'm more passionate than other candidates and I always go the extra mile.
“What makes you unique?” (stronger)
What it shows: An unusual, useful combination with proof.
I've worked on both sides of [the area]: first in [a front-line role], where I [an example], and then in [a later role], where I [an example]. That means I understand [what the role needs to understand] and I can [a task from the posting] in a way that makes sense to [the people affected].
Using a different background
When to use: When your previous field is the advantage.
My background in [previous field] is unusual for this role, but it's directly useful. In [previous role] I [a transferable example], which is close to [a challenge in this job]. I'd bring that perspective alongside [a skill you have built for this field].
Why the stronger answer works: The weak answer compares the candidate to people the interviewer has not mentioned and backs none of it up. The stronger answer describes a specific combination of experiences and explains why it matters for this job. All answers are illustrative.
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Mistakes to avoid
- Comparing yourself to other candidates.
- Using superlatives such as “the best” or “unlike anyone”.
- Choosing a quirky fact with no link to the job.
- Naming a single common trait such as hard-working.
- Giving no evidence.
- Overselling until it sounds arrogant.
Prepare with your own facts
Questions people ask
How do I answer “What makes you unique?”
What if I don't think I'm unique?
How is “What makes you unique?” different from “Why should we hire you?”
Can I mention something personal?
How long should the answer be?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample answer was written by TryHired to show structure: none is a real candidate's answer, and every employer, number and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details. Question lists are general practice, not a prediction of what any employer will ask.
- What a specific employer will ask: no one can know that in advance, so read the posting and prepare your own evidence.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never claim a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no guide, answer or program can promise an interview or a job offer.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.