“What are your strengths? question

When interviewers ask about strengths they’re testing whether you understand what you’re good at, whether it’s relevant to the role, and whether you can prove it with facts.

The right way to answer is simple: name one or two real strengths, give a concrete example that shows you applying them, and explicitly connect them to the job. Keep it max 60 seconds.

e.g. “One of my strengths is structured problem-solving. In my last role, I was given a very open-ended performance issue with no clear owner. I broke it down into a few drivers, built a quick fact base, and identified the real bottleneck within a couple of days. That work directly shaped the action plan and helped the team focus on what actually mattered"

If you can’t point to a specific moment where that strength changed an outcome, it’s not convincing.

"hard-working" and such, not ok.

Hi there,

The key to answering “What are your strengths?” well is to be specific, credible, and relevant — not exhaustive or overly polished.

How to structure your answer
A simple and effective structure is:

1. Name the strength clearly
2. Briefly explain what it looks like in practice
3. Support it with a concrete example

You usually only need 2–3 strengths. More than that starts to feel generic.

What kind of strengths work best
Choose strengths that are:

• Directly relevant to the role (problem solving, communication, ownership, teamwork)
• Things others have actually recognized in you (feedback you’ve received)
• Demonstrated through actions, not traits alone

For example, instead of saying “I’m analytical,” explain how you break down ambiguous problems or make decisions with incomplete data. Instead of “I’m a good team player,” show how you’ve collaborated across functions or handled conflict constructively.

Examples
Your examples don’t need to be dramatic. Small, real situations often land better than big, rehearsed stories. Focus on:

• The situation and your role
• What you did specifically
• The impact or outcome

What to avoid

• Listing buzzwords without evidence
• Saying strengths that sound like clichés unless you anchor them with examples
• Talking too long — clarity beats coverage

A good rule of thumb: if the interviewer can easily imagine you using that strength on their team, you’re doing it right.

If you’d like, you can share your draft answer and I can help you refine it. Feel free to reach out.

Best,

Evelina