| Along with "tell me about yourself," "describe your | | | | re-entering the work force after an absence, you'll |
| strengths" is one of the questions that you know you'll | | | | need to be more creative. If you're switching from |
| be asked in a job interview. At first blush, it sounds like | | | | graphic design to sales, for instance, you can relate |
| an easy question. But because it's such a broad topic, | | | | how your dedication to on-time delivery and creative |
| it can actually be quite difficult to answer well. Below | | | | customer presentations would be a huge plus in your |
| are a few guidelines to help you prepare for and | | | | new job. |
| deliver a great response. | | | | Relate your strengths to the new company or job. |
| Identify your strengths. You should think very | | | | It's no secret that candidates need to research the |
| carefully about your personal strengths well before | | | | prospective company, as well as the specific job |
| you step foot into your interview. It's not unusual for | | | | they're after if possible. But you may not realize how |
| even the most ambitious professional to be at a loss | | | | valuable that information can be when you're relating |
| as to her own strengths. Try viewing resume samples | | | | your strengths. If you know that the culture of the hiring |
| and notice some of the strengths that come across. | | | | company is customer-focused, for example, you |
| Do any of those apply to you? Another good source | | | | should make sure to convey that customer service is |
| of "strength identification" is to ask your friends and | | | | one of your strengths. The company doesn't care |
| family what they see as your positive attributes. Are | | | | about your strengths in an abstract sense; they want |
| you organized? Decisive? Detail-oriented? It's a good | | | | concrete evidence that you can hit the ground running |
| bet that these qualities come through at work as well. | | | | for them. |
| Limit your strengths. Of course you want to | | | | Give concrete examples. Too many job seekers |
| impress the hiring manager with your many and varied | | | | begin well with their "strengths" answer, but then stop |
| strengths, but it's a good idea to put a lot of thought | | | | short of an impressive response by, well, stopping |
| into just three or four, rather than make a catch-all list | | | | short. Don't just say that you're persistent; back your |
| to regurgitate. If you try to sell the fact that your | | | | assertion up with a story about the time you courted a |
| strengths cover every single thing that could possibly | | | | new client for six months to secure a huge deal for |
| arise-ever!-two negative things are likely to happen: | | | | your previous firm. Or demonstrate your attention to |
| your interviewer probably won't believe you, and you | | | | detail by showing your interviewer a company |
| won't have enough time to expound upon anything | | | | newsletter that you edited. |
| (and, hence, miss the opportunity to lend credibility to | | | | Be prepared for the follow-up. A good interviewer |
| your claims). | | | | knows that you'll expect questions about your |
| Avoid over-used catch phrases. It's tempting to | | | | strengths and weaknesses and that, if you're smart, |
| say things like, "I'm a people person" because it sounds | | | | you will have prepared a good answer. So to mix |
| like it should be the right answer. But it's far too vague | | | | things up a bit, some interviewers ask questions that |
| to convey anything other than the fact that you don't | | | | force you to defend your assertion. If you describe |
| know how to interview well. | | | | one of your strengths as being able to sell ice to an |
| Make sure your strengths are transferable. If | | | | Eskimo, the hiring manager may pick up a stapler and |
| you're interviewing for a similar position as the one you | | | | ask you to demonstrate your no-fail sales technique. |
| have now-or with your current company-it'll be fairly | | | | The best way to prepare for follow-up questions like |
| easy to describe how your strengths relate to your | | | | this is to make sure that you actually possess the |
| potential new job. But if you're changing careers or | | | | strengths you say you do. |