Five Ways to Bring Up Your Strengths in a Job Interview (Without It Being Awkward)
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when it comes to discussing your strengths. While it’s important to showcase your skills and abilities, it’s crucial to do so in a way that doesn’t come across as too obvious or boastful, but it’s hard to strike that sweet balance between seeming too passive and too arrogant. Former Chief Human Resource Officer at CareerBuilder, Rosemary Haefner mentioned an interesting point that could help give you a clue as to how to present yourself in an interview. She said, ”When you’re looking for a job, the key is selling your personal brand. Employers are not only looking for people who are professionally qualified for the position, but also someone who is going to fit in at the office,” the rules of a job interview aren’t as rigid as reading out your strengths and weaknesses like a grocery list—think of it as you selling your own brand, once that happens, mentioning your strengths will come out more naturally. Here’s how you can sell your personal brand without seeming too arrogant (or too passive!).
- Use specific examples
When selling your personal brand, what’re some of the things you present from the get-go? Your portfolio containing all your case studies that are relevant to successfully performing the job at hand. So when discussing your strengths, it’s essential to use specific examples to back them up. Instead of saying, “I’m a great team player,” provide an example of a time when you worked well in a team environment. By sharing a specific situation, you demonstrate how your strengths can be applied in a work setting. Business tycoon Richard Branson once mentioned, “Backing up your strengths with examples of how you’ve demonstrated them in the past will make you stand out to employers.”
- Tie your strengths to the job requirements
Another way to mention your strengths in a job interview without it being too obvious is to tie them to the job requirements. You’re presenting a portfolio of your personal brand, remember? Make sure the strengths you mention on there are relevant to the task being asked of you. Look at the job description and identify the key skills and abilities required for the position. Then, when discussing your strengths, focus on those that align with the job requirements. For example, if the job requires strong communication skills, you can talk about how you have experience communicating effectively with team members and clients, and how that positively impacted the project or company.
- Be humble
It sounds counterintuitive—after all, how can you be humble while mentioning your strengths at the same time?—, but it’s still something to watch out for; it’ll certainly going to feel like walking a tightrope. Without making it too complicated, a simple way to avoid coming across as too boastful or arrogant, always mention your strengths in the context of benefiting the company and contributing to the team. Framing it that way will also make you come across as someone with team spirit and a willingness to cooperate. Don’t be afraid to mention how you could’ve done certain projects or performed certain tasks differently while also mentioning the several ways you would’ve done it better—this doesn’t show weakness, it shows a willingness to learn, as Warren Buffett, a giant in business investment, once said, ”It’s important to be confident, but not overly confident. Being humble and showing a willingness to learn can go a long way in a job interview.”
- Use the STAR method
Ever heard of it? It’s an excellent method for job interviewees that is both effective and incredibly simple—it’s a useful framework for mentioning your strengths in a job interview. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Start by describing a situation you faced, then describe the task you needed to accomplish, the action you took to accomplish it, and the result of your actions. Simple enough. This approach not only provides a specific example of your strengths but also demonstrates your problem-solving abilities.
- Ask questions
Another way to mention your strengths in a job interview without it being too obvious is to ask questions—it’s a clever way to show that you’re invested in their company. When the interviewer asks about your strengths, respond by asking questions about the company and the role. This shows that you are genuinely interested in the position and that you are eager to learn more. Yes, you may be selling your own personal brand, but you also need to showcase your eagerness to contribute to the company and help it grow.
