INTERVIEW QUESTION TIPS: WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH?

Preparation for a job interview is key! When you research the company, what they do, and potential questions they could ask, it makes you feel ready for the whole interview process. Feeling ready makes you exude confidence, increasing your chance of being employed for the job.

Most interviewers ask similar questions that you can easily research online. However, how do you answer these questions effectively in order to get the job?

My aim for this blog series is to discuss a new interview question every week, giving some hints and tips on how to answer the chosen question. This week I want to focus on the question ‘what is your greatest strength?’ to give you all some tips for future interviews.

It may seem discomforting for some to talk about themselves positively, and to pinpoint what they believe is their greatest strength, but don’t worry, there is a reason for being asked this. Interviewers want to know if your skills align with the needs of the company, and your answer highlights if you would be the strongest candidate for the job. This is the question where you need to try and sell yourself!

How to answer an interview question about your greatest strength:

So, I have told you why interviewers ask this question, but how do you answer it? I have a few tips (The Balance) that could help you when preparing for job interviews:

1. Make a list of your greatest strengths: This list can be as long as you want it to be, you can also ask people you know what they think your strengths are if you are struggling yourself. Try to include strengths that align with the job role you are applying for, in addition to any others you may think of.
2. Narrow down your list of strengths: When you sit and start to think of all the strengths you have, your list may be too long to discuss when in an interview. I suggest narrowing your list down to 3 – 5. Also, make sure these strengths are relevant to the job, for example, if you were applying for a receptionist position, it would be advantageous to highlight your communication skills.
3. Give examples: If you name one of your strengths in an interview, try to support it with evidence. This can come from past experiences. For instance, if you state that you have good communication skills, you could highlight that in the past you have given multiple presentations and received positive feedback. This indicates that your strength is supported by previous practice, giving you the edge over other interviewees.
4. Be succinct: It is common when you are nervous to talk excessively. This could result in saying things that are irrelevant to the question asked of you. To prevent this from happening, it’s advised that you practise your answer to the question to make it as succinct as possible. I would advise to follow a structure when answering your questions, for example: name your strength, support it with evidence, and finally, discuss how this will help you in the position you have applied for. Sticking to this structure will both; calm your nerves, and get your point across effectively. Remember, your aim is to make a positive impression to your interviewer!

Best example answers:

The Balance have given some examples of the best answers, you can review these and tailor your responses to fit with the job you have applied for:

• “I pride myself on my strong work ethic. This has been evidenced by me receiving employee of the quarter at my current position for my recognised ambition to work hard. If I were to be successful in this role, I would always work hard to reach targets and improve my skills, whilst also motivating colleagues to do the same.”
• “I have extremely strong communication skills. Having worked as a receptionist for 5 years I have had to both call and receive calls from customers and discuss their appointments, complaints etc.”
• “I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations. With five years of experience as a customer service associate, I have learned to effectively understand and resolve customer issues. On a related note, I also have strong communication skills, which helps me work well with customers, team members, and executives. I am known for being an effective team member with a talent for giving presentations.”

Answers to avoid:

There is one main thing to avoid; discussing strengths that are completely unrelated to the job itself. For example, if you were being interviewed for a warehouse position, it wouldn’t be beneficial to talk about a strength in IT, as it wouldn’t be applicable to the position. Discussing irrelevant strengths will make you less likely to be successful, because the interviewer will believe your strengths won’t allow you to succeed in that job role.

Do you have any tips that would help people answer: ‘what is your greatest strength?’ We’d love to hear your ideas, let us know in the comments below.

Keep up to date next week when I discuss tips on how to answer another common interview question!