It seems simple enough, but these four words present something of a minefield for candidates. That’s because it requires you to tread carefully between two paths: too humble on one side, and too arrogant on the other. For that reason, most candidates don’t answer it well. Too much humility, and you’ll undersell your achievements and skills, leading the employer to think you’re less competent than you are. But oversell yourself too much, and you can easily come across as self-interested and potentially unable to work well in a team. And both of these can happen by accident if you don’t prepare properly. If you’re caught out, you can easily end up drawing a blank or pushing too hard on the one strength you can bring to mind. Prepare well, however, and this question can be used to your advantage. It’s an open invitation to talk about your skills, your accomplishments and to show how you match the employer’s values and requirements. You must be ready to stand out and demonstrate your unique value as a candidate to bag your dream job.
Why Do Interviewers Like to Ask This Question?
Like its counterpart “What are your greatest weaknesses?”, this question is very likely to come up at your next job interview. In fact, they are often asked together. There are several things that your prospective employer may be looking to uncover. For example, they might want to:
Ensure that your strengths are in line with the skill set required for the role Check whether you’re self-aware and able to speak about yourself with confidence Test for qualities and experience that set you apart from the competition Assess your communication skills See how you think on the spot
Different Ways of Asking the Strengths Question
Because it’s a broad and open-ended question, hiring managers will often word it in different ways. Don’t be caught out – if they’re giving you an open opportunity to talk about your strengths, then it’s this question. Learn how to recognise it and how to apply your planning, and you’ll never be thrown off. Here are some of the common job interview questions you might be asked that relate to strengths:
“How would you apply your key strengths to this position?” “Why should we hire you?” “What makes you the ideal candidate for this job?” “What makes you a good fit for the position?” “What do you feel sets you apart from the competition?” “What would your colleagues say you bring to a team?” “What accomplishment are you most proud of?” “Which traits do you have that make you most suitable for the role?” “What is your greatest strength/biggest strength?” “Tell me about yourself”
Each of these phrases (and many more) are asking the same essential question: What are you good at and why would we want those skills in our company? Of course, you don’t want to answer all of these questions in the same way and come across as robotic. Take note of how the question was put to you and tailor your answer appropriately. For instance, if the question is about your proudest achievement, start by describing an example you’re happy with and then discuss the strengths that surround that example. Being able to adapt your answer to whatever question is thrown at you will not only put across your key strengths in a more engaging way, but will also demonstrate your communication abilities. Be prepared for follow-up questions to be asked. Most often, you’ll be asked something like: “How have you used the strengths you’ve just mentioned in your previous role?” This is why it’s important to prepare thoroughly and broadly. You might not get around to mentioning everything in your first answer, but the follow-up should include additional, relevant information. You can probably come up with a ton of strengths and personal qualities that you think would help, but you need to choose the best ones to focus on. Here are some useful tips on shortlisting them:
1. Identify Your Top Five Strengths
When planning your answers, it’s a good idea to categorise the various strengths that you wish to present and prepare a few examples of strengths from each category. Ensure these are relevant to the job description/person specification for the job you are interviewing for. Here is a list of soft and hard skills to help you:
Hard Skills: A List
Hard skills are learnt; they may be skills acquired during your education or within the workplace. They might include: This list is only a small selection and the wide variety of jobs available will result in a huge amount of required hard skills. The skills you will need for the job will often be specified in the job advert. If it’s a required skill, then it’s probably best not to focus on it too closely (aside from making sure you have it), as every candidate will have that skill. But you will need an example or two to prove your proficiency.
Soft Skills: A List
These are less easy to quantify but could include interpersonal and transferable skills. For example: If there is a need for interaction with multiple departments, you can take this to mean that excellent communication and interpersonal skills will be useful. If the role requires working on your own with clients a lot of the time, they’ll be looking for someone who can take the initiative, be independent and be calm.
3. Think Quality, Not Quantity
Focus on a few key strengths and explain these succinctly. That will be much more memorable than a scatter-gun approach. Aim to strike a balance between over-confidence and underselling yourself. If you list too many strengths, you risk sounding arrogant. Too few implies a lack of confidence or – worse still – a lack of skills.
4. Back up Your Strengths With Examples
Always have an example ready for each strength. A skill without a concrete example means little to someone who doesn’t know you. For example, if you mention excellent communication skills, you could follow this up with how this helped you run multiple social media platforms during your work experience. You should always try to make your answer sound natural and unscripted. It is also a good idea to try and include some of your own experiences when talking about your strengths. This is especially true if you have a work-related example of how your strengths have helped you to do well in your career.
Example Answer 1
This answer states concisely what the strength is, before immediately following it up with an anecdotal example from a previous employer to reinforce it. It’s an example that shows how the candidate’s strength provided concrete benefits to their employer, while also hinting at other skills indirectly, like the ability to learn a new technical system quickly and the initiative and interpersonal skills to help colleagues.
Example Answer 2
Again, this example begins with a skill and lays out a step-by-step example of that skill in action with a previous employer. In my last job, a customer was very unhappy when the delivery of a sample product was not made on time, which meant that they lost out on making a major sale. I went out of my way to listen to the customer’s concerns and understand everything that was wrong. I apologised and presented a solution by calling other clients to see if they had any spare samples, which I volunteered to deliver to the customer the following day. It demonstrates that not only is the candidate good at dealing with clients but that they genuinely care about them, going out of their way to rectify a situation. In addition to their interpersonal skills, this is a candidate that cares about their job and won’t just do the bare minimum.
Example Answer 3
With a concrete example, this candidate demonstrates that they are a hard worker who’s willing to be flexible and get on with the job if things don’t go to plan, rather than panicking or complaining. For reasons beyond my control, there was some confusion in the delivery of crucial documents, which didn’t get to our office until late in the afternoon before the deadline. Rather than go home, I volunteered to stay late and finish everything, ensuring that the deadline was met and that the work was of a high standard.
Example Answer 4
By giving an example of a situation where you have been adaptable, you are showing potential employers that you know what it means to have this strength and also showing that you could be a useful asset to their company.
Example Answer 5
Choosing a strength that isn’t stated as often can help you to stand apart from other candidates. Selecting an option such as teamwork can also help potential employers to see you as a part of the wider company.
Example Answer 6
Employers like candidates who can offer a variety of benefits to them other than solely filling a role. By speaking about a strength that could have wide-ranging benefits to your employer, such as saving them money, you will be helping recruiters to see the positive attributes that you can bring not only to the position you have applied for but also to the company as a whole.
Example Answer 7
If you don’t have very much experience within the workplace, then you will have to look to your personal life to find examples of strengths. By carefully choosing situations where you have shown the skills that you are talking about, you can show potential employers that you are likely to be able to transfer those skills to a workplace environment.
Example Answer 8
By stating that the skill you are highlighting is an essential part of the work you do, you will be bringing an employer’s attention to how important it is for a successful candidate to possess this strength. This is especially important if you are talking about a less widely recognized strength or something which isn’t automatically associated with the role you are applying for as it can help potential employers view you in a more positive light. It is also a good idea to give examples of how a particular skill can be useful in a variety of ways.
Example Answer 9
Being able to organize yourself is important to make sure that you can work efficiently within your role. Showing an employer that you consider this to be an important strength can be reassuring to them as it shows that you understand the value of being prepared.
Example Answer 10
Many of us will have strengths that we learned as children and have now almost become a part of our personality, making us the way that we are. Thinking about the things that we were taught as children can often help to identify the strengths and values that potential employers look for in candidates.
The STAR Technique
Each of the above examples uses the STAR technique. This is a fantastic way to make sure that each of your answers is structured effectively. The STAR method consists of the following:
Situation – Give the context of the example. What was the project? Who was the client? Were you working in a team? Task – Now move to the specifics and describe what your role in the project was and what your goal was. Action – Describe the actions that you took towards that goal. Be careful not to talk about your co-workers’ contribution here – this part is your time to shine. How did you bring your team closer to that goal? Result – Finally, talk about the outcome of your actions. If you can, add some numbers in here. Saying that your boss told you ‘job well done’ is fine, but to be able to say you increased profits by 20% for that quarter is better and more concrete.
By practising using the STAR technique and ensuring all your answers follow it, you can be sure that you cover all bases. It also helps you stay focused and concise, rather than having to jump backwards or forwards to explain important details you forgot to mention. You can learn more about the STAR technique, including how to use it most effectively and some example answers, by reading this comprehensive article.
Mistakes to Avoid
Some common errors when talking about your strengths include:
Giving a list of strengths. Some job-seekers fall into the trap of reeling off adjectives without any consideration for the job specification – or without concrete examples to back them up – can make your responses forgettable, and risks making you sound arrogant. Remember to think of the specific strengths you have that make you a good fit for that particular role. Irrelevant answers. Any strengths you give should be related to the skills expected of the ideal candidate. For example, if you’re applying for a job in accountancy, saying you’re a great athlete is unlikely to enhance your application. Irrelevant answers may also suggest to the interviewer that your weaknesses lie in areas crucial to the job. Vague or general answers. You need to demonstrate self-awareness, so it isn’t a good idea to say that you’re strong in many respects but can’t think of anything in particular. Back up your answers with short examples, and make sure you know your strengths in advance – since any hesitation risks undermining your answer. This is not a time to sit on the fence or be overly modest.
What If You Don’t Know Your Strengths?
If you find yourself struggling to come up with a list of strengths, you might want to try some of these approaches:
Ask someone else. Getting a fresh perspective can help to bring out an accurate reflection of what you’re good at. Try asking someone who knows you well (such as a friend or colleague) what they think your strengths are. Look back on past praise and achievement. Try to recall any praise or feedback you received as a student, or during any internships or work placements. It’s always a good idea to keep a personal file of any positive feedback you received throughout your education and employment. Similarly, review any achievements you have included in your CV and identify what stands out. Look at the key skills of others in a role similar to yours. Browse LinkedIn and see what skills and endorsements are most prominent in the profiles of people currently doing a similar role to the one you’re looking at. Think about whether you have these skills.
Final Thoughts
It’s highly likely that you will be asked questions about your strengths during the recruitment process. Throughout the interview, try to look out for opportunities to communicate the strengths that are most relevant to the role. If you are asked about your previous employment or experience, try to share an example which relates to one of your strengths. If you can’t find the opportunity, you may be asked if you have anything to add at the end of the interview, at which point you could offer a summary of your strengths and emphasise how they make you the best candidate for the position. Perhaps the most important piece of advice to take on board is to always be honest. Blowing your interviewers away with talk of your amazing IT skills, only for them to discover one week in that you are a technophobe, will not go down well. It may even have you back on your job search, so think before you speak. Was that useful? Be sure to check out our article on how to answer the other key question: What are your weaknesses?
