4/6/2018 Interview Question: What Is Your Greatest Strength?

JOB INTERVIEWS INTERVIEW Q&A

Interview Question: What Is Your Greatest

Strength?
Best Ways to Answer Interview Questions About Your Strengths

BY ALISON DOYLE Updated April 05, 2018

"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.

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4/6/2018 Interview Question: What Is Your Greatest Strength?

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 speci c 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 speci c 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 quali cations 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 ve particularly strong skills. Next to each skill, note
an example of how you have used that strength in the past.
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This will prepare you for when the employer asks you to elaborate on a particular strength.

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4/6/2018 Interview Question: What Is Your Greatest Strength?

When you answer, you will be sharing strengths that match the quali cations 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 quali cations, the more likely you'll be to get a job
o er.

Examples of the Best Answers

Review these examples of answers, and tailor your responses to your credentials and the job
requirements of the position.

• I have an extremely strong work ethic. When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to
meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. Last year, I
even earned a bonus for completing my three most recent reports one week ahead of
time.

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4/6/2018 Interview Question: What Is Your Greatest Strength?

• I have extremely strong writing skills. Having worked as a copy editor for ve years, I have
a strong attention to detail when it comes to my writing. I have also written for a variety of
publications, so I know how to shape my writing style to t the task and audience. As a
marketing assistant, I will be able to e ectively write and edit press releases and update
web content with accuracy and ease.

• I am a skilled salesman with over ten years of experience. I have exceeded my sales goals
every quarter and I've earned a bonus each year since I started with my current employer.

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• I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be
di cult situations. With ve years of experience as a customer service associate, I have
learned to e ectively understand and resolve customer issues. On a related note, I also
have strong communication skills, which help me work well with customers, team
members, and executives. I am known for being an e ective team member with a talent
for giving presentations.

Answers to Avoid

This is not the time to be humble. While you do not want to exaggerate your strengths, you
should be comfortable articulating what makes you an ideal candidate. Creating a list of your
strengths (as they relate to the job) will help you answer this question with con dence.

On the other hand, you do not want to answer this question with a laundry list of vague
strengths.

And you don't want to seem boastful or arrogant. Stay focused on a couple of key strengths
that relate directly to the position and the company. A focused, relevant answer with one or
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two examples will impress your interviewer. 

Keep your answer to the point. As with any interview answer, it's best not to ramble or speak
for an eternity. 

Prepare Responses to Related Interview Questions

As a follow up to being asked about your greatest strengths, you may be asked about how
your greatest strength helped your performance on the job. When you respond, relate your
strengths to both the job description and your ability to perform at work.

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Take some timeAdvertisement

to review other common interview questions about strengths and
weaknesses, along with examples of answers. 

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