alking about your strengths in a job interview can be tough — you don’t want to come across as arrogant if you say the wrong thing or unconfident if you say it the wrong way. And you definitely don’t want to use cliché adjectives like “hard worker” or “leader”, because, well, who isn’t both those things these days, anyway?

So, how do you avoid falling into the trap of listing pointless descriptions, and actually turn your response into a meaningful and insightful answer?

Well, here we’ve prepared a guide that will teach you how to perfect your answer and impress your interviewer with your strengths and examples.

Why hiring managers ask this question

The reason hiring managers ask this question is mainly to see if you’re a right fit for the role. It’s pretty much the point of all common interview questions, but the difference is that this question focuses mainly on the skills that you possess: interviewers want to see if you have the strengths needed to perform well within the role.

They’re looking for a well-crafted answer with limited adjectives that is full of hard-hitting data. A glimpse of your personality is also advantageous — if you’re able to clearly communicate your achievements and experiences, you’ll be well on your way to securing the job.

1. Pick a strength

Before you head to your interview, it’s a good idea to pick at least three strengths that are related to the job you’re applying for. This list can involve relevant achievements, qualifications or skills — the main point is for this strength to separate you from the pool of candidates with a unique example.

If no key strengths spring to mind, ask your friends or colleagues what they think your greatest strengths are. And if you don’t necessarily want to ask your workmates, think back to a time where you achieved praise from your manager, as that will likely be a good example to provide.

2. Prove your strength

It’s no good simply listing a strength — you need to back it up with a real-life example of when you shined to back up your claims. So, for each strength you list, you need to explain the situation, describe what impact you had, and show the success that was derived from it.

To help you stay focused, you can prepare a script during your interview preparation to make sure that you keep your example to the point and authentic.

You should also try to focus on just a few key strengths. Although you’ll want to show that you’re a star employee, you don’t need to cram 10 different skills in. It’s about quality, not quantity!