Job Seekers Hub | How to answer “What are your strengths?” in an interview

Jan 28, 2022

Daniel Hale

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    It’s a standard question in virtually every interview – maybe a lazy one, but standard nevertheless. Have you taken the time to reflect on your strengths and what attributes you possess that make you successful in your current/past roles? Taking time out of your manic day for some self-reflection is a valuable exercise and might even lead you down a different path in your career.

    It’s also a beneficial exercise before your next interview. The questions that seem designed to help you shine, such as “Can you share with me an example of your strengths at work?” or “What do you feel your strengths are?” often backfires.

    Why? Few candidates are well-rehearsed in answering these types of questions. The hidden truth is that the real question is: “Can you share with me the characteristics, skills, and behaviours that set you apart, in positive ways, that has led to the success of your current company, your team and your individual results – and can you share that proof?” While the intention of the question seems simple – it’s loaded. The interviewer truly gives you a chance to share what sets you apart and how it has mattered to the companies and people you have worked with before. Be prepared for this.

    How do you prepare for this? Three things are required:

    1. Individual contributions,
    2. Examples, and
    3. Metrics.

    Individual contributions: Take the time to think about what creates wins for you in the workplace – is it your pipeline management, your listening skills, your ability to develop processes that help the team, your time management skills or your tenacity (or all of the above).

    Examples: Back up your individual contributions with real-life examples of wins – for example, significant sales that you won where you had to utilise some or all of your contributions. How did it play out, and what part of the sales process did these attributes become most needed?

    Metrics: Then think about the big wins you have experienced at work. Did the client you helped attain bring in a percentage of the company revenue? For example, did your client satisfaction rates increase by 30%?

     

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