"What is your greatest strength?" may seem like an easy job interview question. However, for many candidates it can be tricky—either they're too modest in their response or they don't highlight those strengths that most closely match the job requirements. Many candidates are unsure about how to answer this question. It’s important to be prepared for this question and have an answer ready. Even if you aren’t asked this question, you will be aware of your strengths and what you can bring to the position.
In this article, you'll find a guide on how to answer the interview question about your greatest strengths, and what—and what not—to say when you respond, with example answers too.
Your strengths reveal a lot about you as a candidate. When you are asked questions about your strengths, discuss attributes that will best qualify you for the specific job and set you apart from the other candidates.
By asking you about your greatest strengths, here’s what the interviewer is looking for:
While answering, the hiring manager will also be looking for examples from you. So in order to answer appropriately, you need to convey the above 3 points in your answer and provide a real-life, relevant example of the strength in action.
You can claim you’re the most tech-savvy person in the world and amazing at project management, but without providing an example, you might as well be making the whole thing up.
So, when considering which strength to highlight, think about the last time you used it.
What happened? How did you react to the situation? How did your strength help solve the problem?
Basically, the best approach to answering this interview question is as follows:
The more closely your strengths match the stated job requirements, the more likely you'll be to get a job offer.
Below are real-life example answers for the the interview question “What is your greatest strength?”:
Notice how each answer above has quantifiable information that validates your strengths. This helps the interviewer understand how much you have to offer if you were to be hired.
Finally, always remember, a great way to prepare for interview questions is to have a friend or family member pretend to be the interviewer who asks you questions while you practise your answers.
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