Interview question
How to answer “What are your strengths?”
Pick two strengths the job posting asks for, and prove each one with a short example from your work that ends in a result. Skip adjectives nobody can check, like “hard worker.” For “What is your greatest strength?”, name one and prove it the same way.
What the interviewer is checking
SHRM's guide for interviewers calls it a standard question that every applicant should be ready for.
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Whether your strengths fit this job
The University of Virginia's career center says the question checks whether your strengths would be used in the position. SHRM tells interviewers to listen for strengths and achievements tied directly to the job's duties.
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Proof behind each word
Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley says to have examples ready to back up each word you use to describe yourself, in case the interviewer asks you to say more.
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Whether it matters here
A résumé writer quoted by SHRM tells interviewers to avoid candidates who lean on strengths that might not carry much weight in their workplace.
How to pick your two strengths
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Start with the posting
List the skills it asks for most. CareerOneStop, from the U.S. Department of Labor, says to pick two or three from the job description that are real strengths of yours.
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Keep the ones you can prove
For each, find one time you used it at work, in school or as a volunteer, and how it turned out. Drop any you can't back with a story.
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Use the posting's words
If it says “stakeholder management,” say that, and then tell the story.
It also comes as “What is your greatest strength?” or “What are you best at?” Name one and prove it the same way.
Asked for your strengths and weaknesses together? How to answer both →
Strengths employers look for, and how to prove each
In NACE's spring 2026 survey, employers hiring new college graduates most often looked for teamwork (85%), problem-solving (82%) and verbal communication (78%) on résumés. Technical skills, written communication and a strong work ethic came next, each above 70%. NACE adds that listing skills isn't enough. Employers want to see examples.
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Teamwork
Say“On [project], I took [the part nobody wanted], and we [finished on time or hit the target].”
Don't say“I'm a team player.”
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Problem-solving
Say“When [problem] came up, I checked [what you looked at first], found [the cause] and [fixed it], which [result].”
Don't say“I'm a natural problem solver.”
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Communication
Say“I rewrote [a process doc or customer email], and [questions or complaints] dropped by [number].”
Don't say“I'm a great communicator.”
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Technical skills
Say“I built [a report, tool or process] in [a tool from the posting], and it saved [time or money].”
Don't say“I'm good with technology.”
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Work ethic
Say“For [time], I [covered extra shifts or met every deadline] while [the extra load].”
Don't say“I'm the hardest worker you'll ever meet.”
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Initiative
Say“Nobody asked me to, but I [started something], and now [result].”
Don't say“I'm a self-starter.”
What not to say
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A list of adjectives
Skip“I'm driven, organized and a quick learner.”
InsteadTwo strengths, each with one example and a result.
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A strength the job doesn't need
SkipYour coding skills, for a job that's all customer calls.
InsteadThe strengths the posting asks for.
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A boast with no proof
Skip“I'm the best salesperson you'll ever meet.”
InsteadLet the result make the claim. “I closed [amount], the most on my team last year.” In a CareerBuilder survey, 59% of hiring and HR managers called seeming arrogant or entitled an instant deal breaker.
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Every strength you have
SkipFive strengths in a minute.
InsteadTwo, with proof. They can ask for more.
Sample answers
Swap in your own facts, and keep it to about a minute.
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IF YOU'RE EARLY IN YOUR CAREER
“One of my strengths is [a strength from the posting]. In my [internship, class project or part-time job], I [what you did], and it [result]. Another is [second strength]. When [situation], I [what you did], and [result].”
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IF YOU'VE DONE THIS JOB BEFORE
“My strongest skill is [a skill from the posting]. At [company], I [what you did], which [result, with a number]. I'm also good at [second skill]. Last year I [example], and [result].”
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IF YOU'RE CHANGING CAREERS
“In [old field], I got good at [a skill that carries over]. For example, I [what you did], and [result]. Your posting asks for the same thing in [a duty from the posting]. I've also [a course or project] to build [second skill].”
Practice proving it out loud
The mock doesn't ask this exact question. Paste the posting or type a job title, and an AI hiring manager asks for stories from your work, then follows up on what you leave out, like the result or your own part. Your scorecard shows all five skill scores, so you can see which is highest, and your strongest answer with why it worked. Claiming a result you didn't cause is flagged, quoted in your own words.
Start a free mock interviewMore to practice: Phone screen questions · Tell me about yourself · Reasons for leaving a job · Why do you want to work here? · Why are you interested in this position? · Where do you see yourself in 5 years? · Salary expectations · Questions to ask the interviewer · Hiring manager interview questions · Internal interview questions · Explaining an employment gap · Behavioral interview questions · Situational interview questions · How do you handle conflict? · What is your greatest accomplishment? · What are your weaknesses? · What not to say in an interview · How to answer interview questions · Why should we hire you? · Second interview questions