'Will your IT skills add value?' Best reply at interview be like…

In today’s competitive tech jobs market, it’s not enough to simply list your technical skills on a CV.

Employers want to understand how your IT expertise will add tangible value to their operations.

An increasingly popular tech interview question…

The question “How will your IT skills add value?” is therefore becoming increasingly common in interviews, and how you answer as a freelancer or full-timer can make all the difference.

Whether you're a software developer, cybersecurity specialist, data analyst, or IT support worker, the key is to align your skills with the organisation’s objectives, writes Jamie Spencer, head of technology recruitment at Matchtech.

Pre-interview prep: Understand the employer’s needs

Before you step into the interview, research the company and the specific challenges they face. Look at their website, news articles/blogs, and the job description, to understand their goals.

Are they looking to scale their infrastructure? Improve cybersecurity? Migrate to the cloud?

Remember and recite the employer’s objectives applicable to your tech role

Once in the interview and asked, “How will your IT skills add value?” your response should show how your expertise can help them achieve the objectives you gleaned pre-interview.

For example, if the company is transitioning to cloud-based solutions, you might say in response to a query about your skills adding value:

“I have extensive experience with AWS and Azure, and in my previous role, I successfully led a cloud migration project that reduced infrastructure costs by 30%.

“I can bring this expertise to help your company transition smoothly and optimise your cloud environment.”

Quantify your impact with numbers or percentages

Employers love numbers because they provide a clear measure of success.

When explaining how your IT skills add value, use data-driven examples from your experience.

Consider these examples:

Cybersecurity: “In my last role, I implemented new security protocols that reduced phishing attacks by 40% and ensured GDPR compliance.”
Software development: “I developed a new feature that improved user engagement by 25%, increasing customer retention.”
IT support: “By creating an internal knowledge base, I reduced support ticket resolution time by 50%, improving productivity across departments.”

By quantifying your contributions, you show prospective employers that you understand business impact, not just technical execution.

Show problem-solving ability

Employers value IT professionals who can think critically and solve complex problems.

So when faced with “How will your IT skills add value?” try answering this question by providing a real-world example of how you used your skills to overcome a challenge.

Use the ‘STAR’ method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response. Let’s look at an example.

How to use STAR when asked ‘How will your IT skills add value?’

Situation: “Our company experienced frequent system outages, causing significant downtime.”

Task: “I was responsible for diagnosing and resolving the issue.”

Action: “I conducted a root cause analysis, identified server misconfigurations, and implemented automated monitoring tools to detect issues before they caused downtime.”

Result: “This reduced outages by 80%, saving the company an estimated £100,000 annually in lost productivity.”

A good usage of ‘STAR’ in response to a probe about your IT skills adding value should demonstrate not only your technical competence but also your ability to take initiative and drive results.

Highlight soft skills

Technical skills are essential, but organisations are also looking for tech professionals who can collaborate, communicate, and adapt to change.

So if asked ‘How will your IT skills add value?’ don’t forget to mention relevant soft skills.

For example:

Collaboration: “I worked closely with the marketing team to develop a data analytics dashboard, giving them real-time insights and improving campaign effectiveness.”
Communication: “I translated complex IT issues into clear, non-technical language for stakeholders, improving decision-making.”
Adaptability: “I quickly learned and implemented a new coding language to support a critical project deadline.”

Employers want to take on tech workers who can bridge the gap between technology and business strategy, so showcasing these ‘softer’ skills will make you stand out.

Tailor your answer to the role

A common mistake candidates make at tech job interviews is giving a generic answer that doesn’t directly relate to the role at hand.

Instead, tailor your response to an enquiry about the ‘value-add’ of your tech skills to the specific position/assignment, and the organisation.

So, if the job is heavily focused on cybersecurity, concentrate on your security expertise rather than general IT skills. If it’s a leadership role, highlight your experience mentoring junior team members and leading projects.

TL;DR: The best answer to ‘Will your IT skills add value?’ has 5 parts

When answering “How will your tech skills add value?” at an interview, remember to hit these five fundamentals:

Align your response with the company’s needs.
Quantify your impact with data.
Demonstrate problem-solving skills.
Highlight relevant soft skills.
Tailor your answer to the role.

By crafting a thoughtful, specific response, you’ll not only impress your interviewers but also increase your chances of securing the job.

Employers aren’t just looking for technical proficiency—they want someone who will contribute to the company’s success. Show them that’s exactly what you can do.