Strength-based interviews are different from other interview styles. This article provides interview skills help by explaining what interviewers are looking for during strength-based interviews, the types of interview questions you can expect, and includes advice on how to answer strength-based interview questions.

What is a strength based interview?

Strength-based interviews focus on identifying and assessing the candidate’s natural strengths, abilities, and positive qualities, what motivates them and how these align with the role you are applying for.

Instead of asking about how you’ve handled difficult situations (like in competency/ behavioural interviews), the questions are more likely to be about your preferences, the activities you enjoy, and where you feel you perform your best.

Why do interviewers ask strength based questions?

Strength based interview questions help the employer to assess whether you’re naturally suited for the role, and whether you will thrive in the role. Strength based questions are most-commonly used for junior roles where candidates may not have experience in the role duties.

Some companies believe that strength-based interviews create a more comfortable and less stressful environment for the candidate, because they focus on what you do well, rather than asking you how you have reacted in difficult situations like competency and behavioural interviews.

Whilst some companies use strength based interviews on their own, it is usually best to combine these with competency-based / behavioural questions, as this is a more accurate way of predicting how well a candidate will perform in the role.

Examples of strength based interview questions

• “What tasks or activities make you feel energised and motivated at work?”
• “Tell me about a time when you felt particularly successful or proud?”
• “What is your biggest strength? How do you use this in your work?”
• “What do you enjoy most about working as part of a team?”
• “What comes naturally to you that other people may find difficult?”
• “What kind of challenges do you feel most confident tackling?”
• “What are the things you do effortlessly at work?”
• “What gives you the most satisfaction at work?”
  

How to answer strength based interview questions

Before the interview reflect on your strengths, what you naturally excel at, when you’ve received positive feedback from others and what motivates you at work.

During the interview be honest, and authentic, when describing your strengths, link these to how you will use these in the role you are applying for. Use the STAR technique to answer any questions which ask for an example from the past.

Further help and advice

You may find it helpful to read some of the other articles in this section for further interview skills help, including advice on improving your interview skills.

Do you need professional assistance in improving your interview skills? I provide interview skills help via interview skills coaching sessions where I can teach you how to improve your interview skills, which includes practicing likely interview questions, identifying your individual development areas and teaching you how to improve these. I can write interview questions in any interview style, whether you prefer to focus on strength based questions, or practice a wider range of interview questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.