In this guide
Interviews and salary conversations
How to answer “What are your strengths?”
Choose two or three strengths the role needs, prove each with a short example, and prepare for strengths-based interviews that ask what energises you.
Choose strengths the job needs
Read the advert and pick the two or three requirements you can evidence best. A strength the employer does not need is a wasted answer, however true it is.
Illustrative example
From adjective to evidence
Before
“I'm organised, a great communicator and a hard worker.”
After
“Organising complicated schedules is a real strength. At the clinic I coordinate appointments for six practitioners across two sites, and I rebuilt the rota so cancellations are rebooked the same day instead of lost.”
Strengths-based interviews
Some employers, including parts of the UK public sector and several large graduate recruiters, ask strengths questions designed to find out what you enjoy and do well naturally. They often come quickly, one after another, and the interviewer listens to how you answer as well as what you say.
| Question | What it explores |
|---|---|
| What kind of tasks do you find yourself putting off? | What drains you |
| When did you last lose track of time at work? | What energises you |
| Do you prefer starting or finishing projects? | Your natural working style |
| What do people come to you for help with? | Strengths others recognise |
These questions are hard to rehearse, and that is the point. Answer honestly and briefly with a real example; trying to guess the ideal answer usually sounds stilted.
Sounding confident, not arrogant
- Let the example carry the claim rather than repeating that you are excellent.
- Mention feedback you have received (“My manager asks me to train new starters”).
- Acknowledge the setting: a strength in a small team may look different in a large one.
Common questions
How many strengths should I mention?
Two or three, each with an example. A long list sounds rehearsed and leaves no time for evidence.
Can I prepare for a strengths-based interview?
Reflect beforehand on what you enjoy and what you avoid at work, with examples, but do not script answers. Spontaneous, honest answers are what these interviews are designed to hear.
Sources
- Success Profiles: candidate overview (includes strengths)GOV.UK (Civil Service) · UK · checked 3 October 2026
Put it into practice
Prepare with interview practiceDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.