Bill Gates’s reported answer to “Why should we hire you?” works because it does four things in order: it points to proof of ability, shows growth, describes how the candidate works with others, and states a real interest in the work. You can reuse that structure with your own evidence. The example itself is a hypothetical role, and the sources do not establish that this is the most common interview question or that any answer improves hiring odds.
What Gates reportedly said
The wording below comes from a transcription published by The Ladders in a November 5, 2020 article by Kyle Schnitzer. In that exchange, Stephen Curry asked Gates to imagine applying for a junior software engineer job at Microsoft, and Gates answered:
“You should look at the codes that I’ve written. I write software programs way beyond any classes that I’ve taken. I think I’ve gotten better over time, so take a look at how ambitious I’ve been there.
I do think I can work well with people. I might criticize their code a little harshly, but overall, I like to be on a team. I like ambitious goals. I like thinking through how we can anticipate the future.
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Software is cool and I want to be involved.”
The original video page did not expose a transcript at the time of the review, so quote this wording as The Ladders’ transcription rather than as a verified word-for-word record of the video.
Why the answer is built the way it is
Each sentence does a specific job. The table below separates the moves from Gates’s personal details, which are the parts a reader should not copy.
Rank #2
| Move in the answer | What Gates’s version does | What you substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of ability | Points the interviewer to code he wrote and says it goes beyond his classes | A specific deliverable, file, case, report, or result the interviewer can check or ask about |
| Growth over time | Says he has improved and asks the interviewer to see how his ambition has grown | A before-and-after trajectory, such as a scope you took on or a result you improved |
| Working style | Admits he can be a harsh code critic but says he likes teams | A candid, job-relevant description of how you collaborate, including a trade-off you manage |
| Ambition and forward thinking | Names a taste for ambitious goals and anticipating the future | The kind of problem you want to tackle that matches the employer’s stated priorities |
| Motivation | Closes with genuine interest in the field | A specific reason tied to this employer or role, not a general feeling |
The honesty in the teamwork line is worth noticing. Gates names a potential weakness in the same breath as a strength, which makes the claim believable. A candidate who says “I can be blunt in code review, so I have learned to separate feedback on code from feedback on people” is using the same device.
What the sources do and do not establish
- The Gates answer is a reported hypothetical exchange about a junior software engineer role at Microsoft. It is not evidence that he gave this pitch in a real hiring process, and it does not guarantee a job.
- Career advice from Indeed and a World Economic Forum article by Jacquelyn Smith, which includes comments from workplace expert Lynn Taylor, agrees on the general approach. It is advice, not a measured result.
- No survey, ranking, or named statistic was found showing that this is the most common job interview question. Treat “most common” as a headline phrasing rather than a established fact.
- Neither source tests answers against hiring outcomes, so no version of this answer can be called the best in a measured sense.
How to build your own answer
- Read the job description and mark the two or three needs that matter most. Indeed’s career guide recommends starting with the role’s requirements, since interviewers use this question to judge fit against those needs.
- Pick one strength for each need and pair it with a specific accomplishment. Choose examples you can explain in detail, because the interviewer will likely ask follow-up questions.
- Add one sentence on how you work with others. Say something true and specific, and include a trade-off if you can.
- State your motivation for this role or employer. Tie it to something you learned from research on the company, not to a generic statement about enjoying the work.
- Adjust in real time. The World Economic Forum article advises using cues from the interviewer during the conversation to tailor the response, and it advises researching the employer before the interview.
A fill-in template for practice
The following is a writing template for practice, not a quotation from Gates or any source: “You need [role-specific contribution]. I have demonstrated that through [specific example and result]. I would bring [relevant way of working] to help with [employer goal], and I am interested in this role because [specific reason].” Replace every bracket with truthful evidence. If you cannot fill a bracket honestly, that is a sign to choose a different example rather than to inflate the claim.
Rank #3
Lynn Taylor’s version of the same logic appears in the World Economic Forum article: “You need X, and I am the best person for the job because of Y.”
Mistakes that weaken the answer
- Generic self-praise. Claims such as “I’m a hard worker” carry little weight without a context or result. Indeed’s guide specifically cautions against them.
- Length. Taylor advises, “Be conscious of brevity and don’t exaggerate.” Aim for a response you can finish in roughly a minute, then let the interviewer ask questions.
- Borrowed claims. Gates’s software examples belong to Gates. Using them as your own is easy to detect and easy to disprove with one follow-up question.
- Unsupported superlatives. Saying you are “the best candidate” without evidence sounds rehearsed. Show the evidence and let the conclusion follow.
Common ways interviewers phrase the question
Sources use several literal formulations: “Why should we hire you?”, “Why are you the best candidate for this job?”, and “What should I say when an interviewer asks why the company should hire me?” The same structure works for all three. Answer the question as asked, and use the job’s own language where you can.
For a personal finance reader, a strong answer also matters beyond the single hiring decision. Offers and salary conversations often start from how clearly a candidate ties their experience to the role, so practicing this answer is a small step that supports the larger financial decisions that follow.
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