“What are your greatest strengths” is a popular interview question that every job seeker should have in mind to answer during an interview session. If you are wondering how to the question “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” as an M & E expert, then you are in the right place. 

In this article, you will learn:

• Why do interviewers or hiring managers ask the question in the first place?
• How to answer the question with confidence.

We included one sample answer to inspire you to craft your own answer.

Why Recruiters Ask The Question “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” #

While there are so many reasons why hiring managers and recruiters ask this question, one secret you should know is that hiring managers want to see how you have been able to use your strengths to better the lot of an organization. They also want to see how you are a good team player and how adding you to their team will be a big Plus for them. 

So, if you are applying to be employed as an evaluator in a big firm, during the interview, you should craft your answer to show confidence, self-awareness, as well as any of the common strengths that are related to being an evaluator.

Other Ways Recruiters Might Ask The Question  #

There are different ways recruiters or hiring managers can ask the question “What are your greatest strengths,” so it’s important you know the different variations. Find below other ways hiring managers can ask about your greatest strengths:

• What are three strengths that you bring to this position?
• What would your co-workers say is your strongest area of expertise?
• What is your greatest strength?
• What are your greatest professional strengths?
• What is your greatest accomplishment or the project you’re most proud of completing? 
• What is your biggest strength?
• What are the projects you’re most proud of completing? 
• What do you do best in your current position? 

How to Answer the Question “What Are Your Strengths”  #

Study shows that the perfect answer to this question begins with the perfect strength. So, ensure you start your answer with a strength that aligns with the company’s values, culture, and goals.

Some common strengths that are applicable to M&E experts include teamwork, time management, communication, creative thinking, enthusiasm, discipline, task prioritization, analytical thinking, and determination. Others are dedication, interpersonal skills, multitasking skills, and organizational skills.

It is not necessary to memorize all of these strengths for the purpose of an interview. What you should do is to identify the strengths that the interviewer or recruiting manager is looking for and then share a story of how you use the strength to reposition or grow a company. 

So, to answer the question, “What are your strengths,” the first place to start is the job posting. Highlight or underline all the skills and abilities that the recruiter or hiring manager listed in the job posting. This will give you an insight into how you should craft your answer. 

An Example of Best Answers for the “What Are Your Strengths” Question #

Let’s take a look at an example so that you draw inspiration on how to answer the question “what are your greatest strengths.” 

Here’s is the right way to answer as a potential evaluator in a company:

Recruiter: What are your greatest strengths

Candidate response: “Since I started working after graduating from college 7 years ago, I discovered that my greatest strength is my confidentiality skills. What formed the basis for me to adapt to this strength is my ability to maintain strict confidentiality in any work setting that I find myself in. During my stay in the last company that I work, my supervisor once asked me to analyze data for one of the company’s clients outside the company’s work schedule, of which I obliged without sacrificing quality and never reveal the secret to anybody to date. I continued to work with my supervisor until I got another job. I believe if given the opportunity to work as an evaluator, my strength will be highly valuable to the company. 

If you take a closer look at the response above, you will see that the candidate showed the positive impact of his personal strengths while in paid employment in his former workplace. This is exactly how recruiters want you to answer the question: what are your greatest strengths in order to stand out among other candidates.

Wrong way to answer the question:

Recruiter: What are your greatest strengths

Candidate’s response: Being an evaluator of over 15 years and counting, I would say I am not bad at using PowerPoint presentations to analyse data and present the data for companies to take action. Other areas that make up my strength include typing as well as organizational skills. Oh yeah, I can also send emails, talk to customers on the phone, and empathize with unhappy customers whenever they are not happy with a company’s product or services. In the over 15 years that I have worked as an evaluator, I have come to realize that most companies lack the expertise to analyze data, and that’s one of my core competencies or strengths that I can offer your company if given the opportunity to be part of your team.

The above answer is a no-no for most recruiters because the candidate uses words and phrases that undermine his self-awareness and confidence. The candidate also mentions skills and strengths that are not relevant to the job offer, and that’s a red flag for hiring managers. 

What are some of the most common strengths and weaknesses? #

Strengths include teamwork, communication skills, and time management skills. When it comes to job hunting, it’s important to know your strengths. After all, employers are looking for candidates who have the skills and qualities that match their needs. But what are some of the most sought-after skills? Teamwork, communication, and time management skills are always in demand. Common strengths include teamwork, communication, and time management. Common weaknesses include a lack of confidence, impatience, and find it difficult to say no.

Here are some examples to mention about your strength:

• Discipline
• Creative thinking
• Analytical thinking
• Enthusiasm
• Determination
• Task prioritization
• Communication skills
• Multitasking skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Organizational skills
• Dedication

Key Takeaway #

As you continue to job hunt to secure a good job as an evaluator, one of the things that you must pay attention to if you want to be in the good books of a hiring manager is to prepare to answer the question: What are your greatest strengths? Failure to answer this question properly in an interview session means that other candidates that put up a proper answer to the question will nail the job ahead of you. 

To provide an answer to an interviewer on your greatest strength, remember to choose a strength that aligns with what the hiring manager requested in the job offer. Also, remember that your answer must be tailoring and must include a success story that will wow the recruiter. Your story should highlight how you leverage your greatest strength to proffer solutions to the challenges that your previous company suffered. Then make sure you answer the question with confidence and self-awareness. 

If you can incorporate all of these ideas and points into your interview response to the question: “What are your greatest strengths,” then rest assured that you will emerge as one of the most outstanding candidates that the company has ever interviewed in its history, and you know what that means: you will land the job!