Let me ask you a question. Before marriage, while you were proposing to your wife and she asked you about your strong points, what would your answer be?
Remember that the question was to understand the compatibility between the two of you. Because you were in love and had a burning desire to marry her, you would have thoughtfully highlighted only those strengths which would help in the match making. For example, you are a voracious reader but your wife was not fond of reading at all. Then you would have first chosen to share trekking or movies or any aspect of common interest, which you knew your wife would appreciate because she herself is a trekker or is interested a lot in movies.
Meaning, you would not choose general strengths (though reading is your strength) to impress her. Once the rapport between the two of you was built, in a phased manner you would share your other strengths which then would reflect holistic compatibility.
Similarly when an interviewer asks, “What are your strengths?”, he/she wants to know how closest are you as a solution provider. My experience has been that many candidates present aspects like:
• “My communication and presentation skills are good”
• “My team-management skills produce great results”
• “ I am effective in meeting deadlines”
Though they are strengths, the important point is whether they are customised as per the job requirement? These could be the general requirements of the job but need to be presented as strengths only if they address the pain points of the prospective role.
A mistake most job seekers make while answering the question is to not prepare. Because there is a comfort level, it is assumed that presenting their own strengths would come naturally to them. It is this mindset that needs to be changed.
The key is to put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and to share specifically those strengths which will solve the prospective employer’s problem (pain point) and not what you ‘think’ are strong points.
The following 3 tips will help you structure an effective response to the question.
1] Research the needs:
Before each interview, research and study what are the pain points of the company and the role you are being interviewed for. Suppose you are being interviewed for a Regional Sales Head position. And there are specific customer segments that the company is targeting to get on board (pain point). And you have proven credentials in your current/past job by successfully and strategically developing new customer segment. It is that strength area which you must share.
Advantage: It immediately finds a connect with the interviewer and a rapport is built.
2] Prioritise:
List down your strengths and share them in order of priority from the point of view the prospective job and employer. For example, let us consider the requirement of a sales territory not being explored to it’s fullest market potential where the most critical need is to improve it’s market share dramatically ( pain point). And you as a Regional Sales head have a proven track record of a high performance in that specific territory. Then sharing it as your first strength is engaging (as it connects with an overall improvement in the company’s revenue contribution). Next, share how you are equipped to attract new customers or any other important need.
Advantage : Such methodical presentation will keep the interviewer engaged improving your own rating in his/her mind and there would be an ease during remaining part of the interview.
3] Avoid Mismatch:
Suppose a prospective employer’s company work culture is aggressive and they have ambitious targets ( pain point), whereas you come from a company background where targets were modest and you as an individual are tolerant and patient by nature. Do not share such a personality trait as your strength, because it will not be valued by them and it might score a negative for you. You may enjoy an aggressive work culture and might be capable of adapting, but it is advisable to focus on strengths which positively impact the need of the job.
Advantage : By avoiding irrelevant strengths, your focus remains on the traits/skills which the interviewer is seeking.
Which only means you need to customise your strengths as per the requirement and that will keep changing with every interview. Remember the same size does not fit all.
Share strengths that solve the interviewer’s problems and increase your prospects of getting the job!!
Best!!
Sarabjeet Sachar
Seasoned Career Coach, Founder & CEO, Aspiration – Interview Coaching