Why Interviewers Ask About Your Strengths

When asked, "What are your greatest strengths?" during an interview, it's crucial to recognise that this isn't just a prompt to boast about your skills. Instead, it is a golden opportunity to align your attributes with the job's requirements and the company's goals. This article explores why interviewers ask this question and how you can answer it effectively, ensuring that you stand out as the candidate of choice.

What the Interviewer Wants to Know When They Ask This Question

This question helps the interviewer gauge how well you understand yourself and your professional capabilities. It's not merely about listing your skills; it's about demonstrating self-awareness and strategically connecting your strengths to the job's demands.

Your interviewer also tries to understand how your strengths can directly benefit their team and projects. They are looking for strengths that are not just admirable but directly applicable to the role you are applying for. 

Note: The most effective responses to this question will show that you are insightful about your strengths and can explain how they are relevant to the role and beneficial to the company.

How to Answer This Question

The best way to answer this question is to prepare a concise yet compelling narrative that aligns your critical strengths with the specific job requirements you're applying for. You can choose strengths that you can use with concrete rather than generic examples.

Note: You could reference when your strengths led to a tangible achievement or contributed significantly to a project's success. This approach not only illustrates your strengths but also shows how they translate into positive outcomes.

Examples of the Best Answers

Example Answer #1:

"In my previous role as a project manager, I developed a strong aptitude for leading diverse teams and managing complex projects under tight deadlines. One of my greatest strengths is communicating project goals and motivating a team to deliver high-quality results consistently. For instance, I led a project completed on schedule and 20% under budget, which resulted in an enhanced client relationship and a significant increase in repeat business."

Why this answer works:

This response effectively showcases strategic leadership and communication skills, linking these strengths to specific, measurable business outcomes.

Example Answer #2:

"My greatest strengths include problem-solving and innovative thinking. I was recently involved in a project requiring a novel approach to an old problem. By applying a different technique, we solved the problem and increased the efficiency of the process by 30%, which significantly cut down the operation costs."

Why this answer works:

This answer highlights relevant skills and demonstrates the ability to apply them to real-world business challenges, showing the candidate's direct impact on efficiency and cost-saving.

Example Answer #3:

"I excel in analytical thinking and attention to detail. For example, while working on a data analysis project, I identified a pattern that had previously gone unnoticed, leading to a strategy shift that increased our market share by 15% in just six months."

Why this answer works:

It points out specific analytical skills and a keen eye for detail, which directly correlate with significant business achievement, demonstrating the candidate's potential value to the employer.

Tips for Giving the Best Response

Tailor Your Strengths to the Job Description:

Could you match your strengths with the attributes the employer wants in the job description? This shows you are self-aware and dedicated to contributing effectively to the company.

Include Quantifiable Achievements:

Whenever possible, support your strengths with quantifiable achievements. Numbers and results transform your answer from subjective claims to objective evidence of your capabilities.

Practice Your Delivery:

Articulate your strengths confidently and clearly. Practice your answer, but keep it natural to avoid sounding rehearsed.

What Not to Say

Avoid Generic or Unsubstantiated Claims:

Avoid vague adjectives like "hardworking" unless you can immediately link them to specific results or recognised achievements.

Avoid Irrelevant Strengths:

Only mention strengths relevant to the job. Tailoring your strengths to the job ensures an impactful response.

Key Takeaways

1. Understand the Purpose: The question aims to identify how well your strengths align with the company's needs.
2. Prepare Thoughtful Examples: Use examples highlighting how your strengths have been applied effectively in real work scenarios.
3. Align with Job Requirements: Ensure your strengths are relevant to the job role to show that you are the ideal candidate.

By preparing your answer according to these guidelines, you can respond to the question "What are your greatest strengths?" in a way that is both genuine and strategically aligned with the job you're aiming for.