What are strengths?
When asked so directly, many people find it difficult to name their strengths from the hip. In addition, they should be relevant to their work in some way. You may cook well, but stating that as a strength in an interview for an office job probably won't help you.
So let's take another step back: What are strengths at all? Strengths are also referred to as competencies and are a combination of knowledge, qualities and behaviours that you can call up and use in your job if necessary.
There are often the following reasons why some people are only roughly aware of their strengths:
Bad experiences
Little or no praise and much criticism in childhood often cause someone to develop a low self-esteem. Often these people are deficit-oriented, they know their weaknesses only too well, but they hardly see their strengths.
False modesty
Socially, a strong self-confidence is quickly interpreted as arrogance. In order not to get off on it, many people decide to be a little more modest. Unfortunately, this becomes a self-runner and is counterproductive in the job interview - no one is hired for their modesty.
Missing argument
Most often, however, the applicants lack the necessary self-reflection: What can I do well and when did I prove it where? This is one of the most important questions when preparing for an interview.
Identifying strengths: How to find them
At the latest when the invitation to the interview is on the table, you should make up for the lack of discussion and identify your strengths. There are several ways to do this:
You take a competence test
The gentle introduction to this topic usually takes place through competence and personality tests. There you will be asked a series of questions which you should answer honestly for yourself. There is no point in wanting to see yourself as an absolutely extroverted personality, but in reality spending your lunch breaks on your own and sitting at home every weekend. However, you shouldn't make the mistake of losing yourself in endless tests, so you shouldn't ignore other points for finding your strengths.
Read more about this:
Competence test: What am I good at?
You ask others
The most convenient and objective way is to ask others what they think your strengths are. They can be family members, friends and colleagues you trust. It is important that this person is well-disposed towards you, but has enough guts not to gloss over anything. The advantage of this method is that these people know you best. This is a good opportunity to check your own perception.
Also read about it:
Self image and external image: two sides of the same coin
You analyze your activities
You bridle the horse from behind: What have I actually done so far in my life, in what was I - obviously - successful without having made myself aware of it? Read your curriculum vitae from this point of view. You'll have to revise it for the position you're aiming for anyway, and when you deal with it you'll notice a few things that you may have already forgotten - school subjects in which you were particularly strong. Internships that you enjoyed doing. The focus of your studies is on content, voluntary work, hobbies and, of course, past jobs.
Read more about it:
CV check: design, structure, content, language
What about the weaknesses?
Strengths in the interview WeaknessesMost of the time, the interviewers not only want to know your strengths, but also your weaknesses: What do you not succeed in doing so well? Behind all this is the understandable desire not to afford to make any mistakes with the applicant, because mistakes can cost a company dearly.
The question about strengths and weaknesses in the interview often happens subtly and not as directly as many people might imagine. Instead of a "What are your weaknesses?" you might as well be asked: "How do friends/colleagues describe you?" or: "On a scale of 1 to 10: What is particularly easy/difficult for you?
Weaknesses here are all values under 7, as 7 and 8 you should formulate the necessary strengths. Caution with the 9 and the 10: These could again be interpreted as overconfidence or arrogance.
The difficult thing: Everyone has weaknesses. At the same time you should not disclose them in excess in the interview. Earlier application tips, with which strengths should be sold as apparent weaknesses, are meanwhile outdated. Especially the classic "I am a perfectionist", which should suggest: This applicant gives everything.
to be continued in the next part
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