Work Coach Cafe

Most interviewers like to hit you with one of those annoying little interview questions like “What’s your greatest strength?” or “What’s your greatest weakness?” OK. I admit I use them too when I do an interview.

So when you’re in a job interview and you’re asked about your greatest strength, what should you tell them? Is there a “right” answer to the question? You don’t want to sound boastful - and yet you certainly don’t want to come off so humble you look like you don’t believe in yourself.

Luckily, the greatest strength question is one where you can often hit a home run if you just prepare a bit ahead of time. Think about what your new employer would find most interesting about you. There’s no right answer. They just want to see if you know yourself and how well you express yourself.

Some possible work strengths in no particular order:

• Initiative (willing to take on new things)
• Follow-through (seeing a task through to the end)
• Good manager
• Strong leader
• Good at bringing things in on deadline
• Flexibility
• Determination (as in seeing a project through to the end or in finding a solution to a problem)
• Quick learner
• Problem solver
• Good at seeing the big picture even when dealing with the details
• Good at details, but also know how to see the big picture
• Strong at a given skill required by the job (like Java programming, project management, teaching, writing, web design, customer service, phone manner, math, public speaking, etc.)
• Creativity
• Good people skills
• Good team player
• Ability to help influence change
• Good at finding ways to improve existing business processes
• Good at resolving conflict

Or whatever you can think of. The main thing is to have a really good story to tell about how you used that skill to make something good happen for your former employer or - if this is your first job - at school or in a volunteer role. Choose the skill based on both what you think the employer is looking for and your strongest story. (Never hurts to artfully throw in a few extra strengths while telling the story.)

Hint: To figure out what an employer is looking for, look at the job description.

In case you’re thinking “But I don’t have a good story” - please take some time to think some more. Ask friends or co-workers. You’ll be surprised what you aren’t remembering about yourself. Everyone has something good to tell about themselves. And when it comes to job interviews, that’s a really important time to believe in yourself!

One last point: Just so you don’t sound too full of yourself, you can start your answer with a phrase like “I guess” or “I’ve been told” or “I think” or anything that helps tone down the potential boast. Now you don’t want to act all shy and “gosh darn” to fake modesty (that would only work against you), but leading off with a gentle phrase at the beginning is a great way to answer the question.

And who knows…if your story is good enough, this annoying little question could turn into a grand slam home run that hopefully helps you stand out from the other candidates.

Good luck!