Job Searching

List of Strengths for Resumes, Cover Letters, and

Interviews
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By Alison Doyle
Updated February 10, 2017
When you’re job searching, employers will be looking for evidence that you possess the
right strengths to get the job done as they screen your resumes, cover letters, and job
applications. Your will also be asked questions aimed at uncovering your strengths
during job interviews.  

Therefore, it is a good idea to have a list of strengths, and a list of weaknesses, ready to
share with the hiring manager.

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Read below for a helpful list of strengths to include in your resumes, cover letters, and
interviews. Included is a detailed list of the five most common strengths that almost
every employer looks for in a job candidate.

How to Use This L ist of Strengths

You can use this list of strength words throughout your job search process. Firstly, look
through the list and circle the strengths that you possess, and that are also important for
the job you’re applying for. You can look back at the job listing to get a sense of the job
requirements.

Once you have a list of words that match both the job and your set of strengths, you can
use these words in your resume. In the description of your work history, you might
want to use some of these keywords.

Secondly, you can use these in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, you can
mention one or two of these strengths, and give a specific example of a time when you
demonstrated those strengths at work.
Finally, you can use these words in an interview. Make sure you have at least one
example of a time you demonstrated each of the top five strengths listed here. Provide
evidence for how you have tapped these strengths to achieve results in your work,
volunteer, and/or academic experiences. Be prepared to mention the situations
involved, the actions that you took, and the results that you generated while applying
your key strengths.

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Of course, each job will require different strengths and experiences, so make sure you
read the job description carefully, and focus on the strengths listed by the employer.

Top Five Strengths Employers Seek in Empl oyees

Analytics
Analytical skills refer to your ability to collect and analyze information, problem-solve,
and make decisions. Nearly every job requires this kind of critical thinking on some
level. Analytical strength can help solve a company’s problems, and increase a
company’s productivity.

Communication
Written and oral communication are critical to almost any job. Whether you are giving a
presentation, talking on the phone to a client, or emailing a colleague, you need to be
able to communicate effectively and appropriately.
Dependability
Employers want to know they have employees they can depend on, who are responsible
and professional. You need to be able to show up on time, and get your work done by
designated deadlines.

Flexibility
Many jobs require some form of flexibility, from juggling multiple tasks to working
flexible hours. Employees need to be adaptable, taking change in stride.

Teamwork
Most jobs require teamwork of some sort. Employers want job candidates who are
willing to work with others, and can do so effectively.

List of Strengths for Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews

A-C

• Accuracy
• Analytics
• Adapting to changing circumstances
• Assessing employee needs
• Assessing outcomes
• Assessing the needs and preferences of customers
• Attention to detail
• Business storytelling
• Calming agitated clients
• Clearly conveying features and benefits products/services
• Closing sales
• Collaborating effectively with business partners
• Composing engaging copy for websites
• Conducting statistical analysis
• Consistently meeting deadlines
 • Creating clean computer programs in the latest languages
• Creating compelling presentation slides
• Creative thinking
• Creativity 
• Critical thinking
• Cultivating Team Orientation Among Staff

D-K

• Debugging computer programs

• Decision making
• Dedicated
• Dependability
• Designing innovative products
• Designing training programs
• Detail oriented Ad

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• Determination
• Diagnosing mechanical malfunctions
• Drawing consensus on group goals
• Driving traffic to websites
• Effectively managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Efficiency
• Enduring adverse conditions
• Enthusiastic
• Establishing a quick rapport with clients
• Establishing standards and processes which enhance quality
• Facilitating productive meetings
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• Facility for learning the latest computer technolo y

• Flexibility
• Focused
• Friendly and engaging personality
• Generating positive patient satisfaction scores
• Good judgment
• High achiever
• Identifying wasteful expenditures
• Innovation
• Inspirational
• Interpersonal
• Interviewing job candidates
L-R

• Leadership
• Learning from failures
• Likeability
• Listening
• Logical thinking
• Making conversation with strangers
• Management
• Managing difficult people
• Mentoring staff
• Motivated
• Motivating staff
• Negotiation
• Networking to generate leads
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• Nonverbal communication
• Open minded
• Optimistic
• Organizational
• Organizing successful events
• People skills
• Persuasive
• Positive attitude
• Prioritizing competing demands
• Problem solving
• Product knowledge
• Professional
• Providing constrictive criticism
• Public speaking
• Recovering quickly from setbacks
• Resolving conflicts among staff
• Resolving customer complaints  
• Respectful
• Responding favorably to constructive criticism
• Responsibility
• Results driven
• Retaining star employees

S-Z

• Selecting highly productive employees

• Sense of humor
• Solution oriented Ad

• Solving complex problems

• Strategic planning
• Streamlining processes
• Strong work ethic
• Successful
• Success driven
• Tact and diplomacy
• Teamwork
• Terminating underperforming employees
• Upgrading the productivity of underperforming employees
• Working quickly
• Writing press releases which resulted in media coverage
Examples of Weaknesses

The interviewer will want to know about your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Be
prepared to mention some weaknesses during job interviews. However, be careful that
what you mention doesn't exclude you for consideration from the job. Here
are examples of weaknesses to mention in job interviews.

Skills Lists: Employment Skills Listed by Job | Lists of Skills for Resumes | Top Skills

Employers Seek in Job Applicants

Related Articles: Strengths and Weaknesses Interview Questions | How to Answer

Interview Questions About Your Strengths | How to Answer Interview Questions About
Skills

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