Best Ways to Answer Interview Questions About Your Strengths
“What is your greatest strength?” may seem like one of the easier job interview questions you’ll be asked. But for many candidates, it can be tricky — either they’re too modest in their response or they fail to highlight on-target strengths.
After all, the main reason interviewers ask this question is to identify if your strengths align with the needs of the company and the job’s responsibilities.
Your response will help the employer decide whether or not you are the strongest applicant for the position. That means if you’re applying for an accounting job, it’s not helpful to highlight your strength in event organization.
When you are asked questions about your strengths, discuss attributes that will qualify you for the specific job and set you apart from the other candidates. It’s also critical to show the interviewer that you have the qualities the employer is seeking in the applicant that they are going to hire. There are some strengths that all employers seek in the candidates they hire. Others will be specific to the job and the company.
How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Greatest Strength
How should you answer questions about your strengths? The best way to respond is to describe the skills and experience that you have which directly correlates with the job you are applying for.
Be prepared to answer by making a list of the qualifications mentioned in the job posting.
Then, make a list of your skills that match those listed. This list can include education or training, soft skills, hard skills, or past work experiences. Narrow your list of skills down to three to five particularly strong skills.
Next to each skill, note an example of how you have used that strength in the past.
This will prepare you for when the employer asks you to elaborate on a particular strength. When you answer, you will be sharing strengths that match the qualifications the company is seeking. Also incorporate these power words that help make a good impression into your responses.
The closer a match you are to the stated job qualifications, the more likely you’ll be to get a job offer.