Talking about your greatest strength or things that you’re good at should be a breeze. Unfortunately, you can’t just spew off a list of qualities and think you’re done. Interviewers ask this question and expect a specific type of response that may make or break the interview.
Hiring managers like to discuss a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses to see if you are a good fit for the position. Your greatest weakness should show that you are honest and aware of your limitations but are actively working to grow. It shows that you’re serious about problem-solving and will work through challenges.
On the other hand, the strength question convinces your potential employer that you are not only qualified for the job but will excel at it.
During your job search, you likely skimmed through the job description to see if this is something you should apply for. Now, it’s time to comb through that job description box.
Write down all the criteria that the company is looking for. This list may include education, experience, soft skills, and hard skills.
Be sure to keep the skills relevant to the job description. We don’t want to hear about how you’re fantastic at public speaking for an engineering position.
When answering the job interview question about your greatest strength, you need to prove that you are the strongest candidate for the job. For each item on your list, reflect on how you demonstrated that skill in the past by answering using the STAR method.
Sharing an example or an anecdote of how you used this skill is vital for nailing this interview question. Whenever possible, answer the question with quantifiable information that supports your story, such as statistics and after-action reports.
While humility is an attractive quality, this question is not the time to shrink back and be unassertive. On the other hand, no one wants a team member who is overly boastful or arrogant. Be passionate and confident about who you are but stick to the facts. Let your work and experience speak for itself.
While your interviewer may only want to hear about one of your strengths, it’s crucial to prepare at least three interview answers. You never know if your anecdote or skill will already be discussed in another interview question. Always have multiple responses ready and eliminate them as the interview progresses.
Here are some sample answers you can use to frame your own response:
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