When you are interviewing for a job, there are some questions you might expect to have to answer, no matter what the position. Questions about your last job as well as your strengths and weaknesses are common interview queries. The strengths inquiry is particularly tricky because you want to tout the things you do best without sounding overly confident or cocky.
Answer To The Position
Make your answer as specific to the position that you are interviewing as possible. Chances are, you have several key strengths that served you well in your industry. Choose those that relate the most to your position, so that your interviewer can more easily see you as the perfect match for that particular job. For example, if you are applying for a job in a restaurant, then strengths relating to customer service and knowledge of culinary practices may be more important than your strengths in certain computer programs.
Past Responsibilities
Name key strengths as they relate to your experience and past responsibilities. For example, if you are coming from a sales background, then name specific instances that center on meeting sales goals or success in cold calling. If it is a marketing opportunity, then talk about major campaigns you coordinated in the past and ways that you successfully implemented ideas for clients to demonstrate your core strengths.
Ability to Learn
If additional components of the position exist that don't fall under your realm of experience, turn it into a strength. One of the things you can say when asked about your strengths is the ability to learn quickly. Use past examples to illustrate an ability to master new skills in a timely fashion and turn a potentially negative aspect into one of your strengths.
Tips
If you think you may have a hard time naturally answering the question, then write it out ahead of time. Sometimes, it takes a minute to assess your strengths, so figuring out answer this query could be part of your pre-interview prep. Don't bumble through the answer. Your employer wants to know that you are confident about your abilities. Don't avoid answering the question or be annoyingly humble; don't go overboard, either. The key to answering this question properly is balance. List three or four core strengths and then move on to the next question. This shows the interviewer you know your worth, but aren't over-confident about your abilities.
