Strengths-based interviews

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Agenda for Today

Why are strengths important?

What are strengths-based
interviews?
How to prepare for strengths-
based interviews
Internship and Placement
Opportunities

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Internships & Placements at SHL
SHL is a global leader in talent assessment and people insight.
Students who are passionate about Occupational Psychology and
talent assessment can gain experience as a Consultant working
with some of the biggest brands in the world. We typically offer a
paid internship between 3 – 6 months.

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© 2021
2022 SHL and its affiliates. All rights
An Intervention

Remove the pain of self comparison

Protect your self-esteem
Separate your self-worth and value from likes and followers
Dis-attach from the rejection, anxiety, unworthiness that you feel when your
post ‘fails’
Stop spending your time waiting on the notifications or responding to messages
Re-connect with who you really are
Removing the pain of social comparison and external validation – A Programme for Young People – pick
up a flyer as you leave to find out more

‘Real ambition is doing things for yourself’ - Steven Bartlett

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Thinking about your strengths

© 2021
2022 SHL and its affiliates. All rights
Why is it important to understand your strengths?

Finding work that plays on your strengths and interests – is incredibly important.
Just working 1–2 hrs more per day on your strengths – improves your quality of life,
you are happier more often, your productivity improves. There are health
improvements too – you are less stressed when you work in your strengths.

Career satisfaction does not come from what you do,

it comes from who you get to be while doing it.

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What is it that makes you who you
are?

© 2021
2022 SHL and its affiliates. All rights
What is it that makes you who you are?

What you What you

enjoy do well
doing Your
Distinctivene
ss

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What are Strengths-Based Interviews?
Strengths based interviews are an opportunity for employers to find out who you are.
They are a format in which employers focus their questions on the abilities, personalities, values and interests
of the candidate.
Strengths interviews are more personal to see whether you’d be a good fit for the company. They
also allow you, as the interviewee, to be selected on the basis of your natural preferences and
abilities.
Candidates have less opportunity to prepare and rehearse their answers, meaning that interview
questions are more likely to bring out the genuine interest, motivation and aptitude of interviewees.
Portraying authentic energy and motivation when talking about what motivates you is important
here.

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Strengths-Based Interview Questions

What energises you?

What is important to you?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Which tasks play on your strengths?
Are you at your best when working in a team or when working
on your own initiative?
Which tasks come naturally to you?
What interested you about this position and our company?
What do you like to do in your spare time?

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 How to prepare for Strengths-Based Interviews
1. Step 1 – understand your strengths

What do I do well?

When do I feel most like myself at work?

When am I at my best?

What don’t I enjoy at work?

1. Align your strengths to the values and behaviours of the organisation you are applying for
2. Ensure you go into the interview feeling open so you can be authentic – mindfulness, coping with stress techniques
3. Practice talking about your strengths aloud
4. Identify specific examples that demonstrate your strengths

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How to answer the question - What are your
Strengths?
State your strength
Give a real-life example of when and how you used your strength
Explain how you made an impact or helped others
Describe how your strength will benefit the company
What if I don’t know what my strengths are?
A good place to start is - Where your energy and effort meets someone else's
needs.
Spend your time and attention solving your favourite problems. Look for problems
that need solving, be useful and generous.
Notice what feels good when you do it.
Don’t wait, just start doing, try different things. Eventually your passion will
emerge. To live a life of meaning and value – you do not follow your passion, your
passion follows you.

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