What Are Your Strengths? | Best Answer | What Recruiters Look For

The Companies Expert
4 May 202112:45
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script discusses the common job interview question 'What are your strengths?' and emphasizes the importance of aligning your answer with the job requirements listed in the job posting. It highlights the potential mismatch between a candidate's perceived strengths and the employer's actual needs, especially in fast-paced environments. The speaker advises job seekers to focus on the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description to increase their chances of being considered a good fit. The script also touches on the topic of soft skills, suggesting that they should be demonstrated rather than explicitly stated during an interview, with the exception of those directly relevant to the job role.

Takeaways
  • 💡 When answering job interview questions about strengths, consider the job's requirements and tailor your response accordingly.
  • 🔍 The question 'What are your strengths?' is often similar to 'Why should we hire you?', focusing on your positive attributes to persuade the interviewer.
  • 🧐 Be cautious, as what you consider a strength may not align with the employer's needs, especially in fast-paced environments.
  • 📋 Review the job posting for technical and experience requirements to inform your answer about your strengths.
  • 🚫 Avoid simply listing generic strengths; instead, connect them directly to the job's requirements to demonstrate your fit for the role.
  • 💭 If you don't meet all job requirements, explain how your experience or skills can compensate or substitute for the missing qualifications.
  • 🌟 Soft skills are often demonstrated rather than explicitly stated during an interview, as they are judged through your interactions.
  • 🗣️ For roles where specific soft skills are crucial, you may mention them to show your understanding of the job's demands, but still focus on demonstrating them during the interview.
  • 🤔 Be mindful that companies may value different soft skills; what is a strength in one role might not be in another.
  • 📈 The hidden job market comprises a significant portion of available jobs, and strategies for tapping into it can be learned through resources like 'Get Hired' course.
  • 👍 Remember, your ability to communicate your strengths effectively in an interview can greatly influence the outcome.
Q & A
  • How should one answer the question 'What are your strengths?' in a job interview?

    -One should answer by referring to the job requirements listed in the job posting and highlighting how their skills and experiences align with those requirements.

  • Why is the 'What are your strengths?' question deceptively hard in job interviews?

    -It's deceptively hard because while it seems easy to list positive traits about oneself, the interviewer may not consider those traits as strengths for the specific role or company culture.

  • What is a common misconception about the 'Why should we hire you?' and 'What are your strengths?' questions?

    -The common misconception is that these are two different questions, but in reality, both questions are essentially asking the candidate to list their positive attributes that make them a good fit for the job.

  • How can a candidate ensure their strengths are also considered strengths by the interviewer?

    -A candidate can ensure this by tailoring their response to the specific needs and requirements of the job, as outlined in the job description.

  • What should a candidate do if they don't meet a specific job requirement?

    -They should mention the requirement and explain how they have experience or knowledge that is comparable or can substitute for the requirement, putting the interviewer's mind at ease.

  • Why are soft skills often demonstrated rather than explicitly stated during an interview?

    -Soft skills are demonstrated through the candidate's communication, behavior, and interaction with the interviewer, and stating them outright does not prove their possession of these skills.

  • Should a candidate mention soft skills when answering 'What are your strengths?'

    -It's generally better not to explicitly state soft skills, as they should be demonstrated during the interview. However, if a candidate believes a specific soft skill is crucial for the role, they may mention it to show their understanding of the job's demands.

  • What is the hidden job market and how is it different from the visible job market?

    -The hidden job market refers to the majority of job opportunities that are not publicly advertised or listed in job postings. These jobs are usually filled through networking, internal referrals, or other non-public means.

  • How can a candidate discover and apply for jobs in the hidden job market?

    -Candidates can tap into the hidden job market by networking, reaching out to companies directly, utilizing professional contacts, and being proactive in their job search beyond traditional job posting sites.

  • What additional advice does the speaker provide for job seekers?

    -The speaker suggests job seekers to take courses or attend workshops that teach strategies for tapping into the hidden job market, acing job interviews, and understanding the importance of both technical and soft skills.

  • How can a candidate demonstrate their strengths effectively during an interview?

    -A candidate can demonstrate their strengths effectively by providing concrete examples of how their skills and experiences have contributed to past successes and how they can apply these strengths to the role they are interviewing for.

Outlines
00:00
📝 Mastering the Art of Discussing Strengths in Job Interviews

This paragraph delves into the common job interview question about strengths. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how to answer this question effectively by aligning your response with the job requirements. The speaker highlights the deceptive difficulty of this seemingly straightforward question, as what one considers a strength may not align with the employer's perspective. The key takeaway is to tailor your answer to the specific needs and requirements mentioned in the job posting, which reduces the risk of misaligning your perceived strengths with the employer's expectations.

05:00
🤔 Navigating Job Requirements and Soft Skills in Interview Responses

The second paragraph addresses the challenge of meeting all listed job requirements and how to handle situations where you may not possess a specific qualification. It suggests acknowledging any gaps but also explaining how you can compensate with related experience or knowledge. The paragraph further discusses the role of soft skills in job interviews, advising against explicitly stating soft skills as these should be demonstrated through interaction rather than claimed verbally. However, it allows for the mention of soft skills that are crucial to the role and should be supported by evidence of their application in relevant contexts.

10:01
🚀 Accessing the Hidden Job Market and Enhancing Interview Success

The final paragraph shifts focus to the concept of the hidden job market, where the majority of job opportunities lie beyond public postings. The speaker promotes a course designed to help job seekers tap into this market, apply effectively, and excel in interviews. The paragraph reiterates the importance of understanding and demonstrating the right combination of hard and soft skills tailored to the job's requirements. It concludes with an encouragement to subscribe for more insights and a reminder of the individual's inherent value in the job-seeking process.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡job interview
A job interview is a formal meeting between a potential employer and a candidate to assess the candidate's suitability for a job. In the context of the video, it's where the candidate is asked about their strengths and why they should be hired, which is crucial for the candidate to prepare for and answer effectively.
💡strengths
Strengths refer to the positive attributes, skills, or qualities that a person possesses, which can be leveraged in a job to contribute to its success. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of aligning one's strengths with the job requirements and the company's needs.
💡job requirements
Job requirements are the specific qualifications, skills, and experiences that an employer is looking for in a candidate. These are often listed in job postings and serve as a benchmark for evaluating candidates. The video suggests using these requirements to tailor one's answer to the question about strengths.
💡soft skills
Soft skills are personal attributes that are valuable in the workplace, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. While not as quantifiable as technical skills, soft skills are often assessed during job interviews to determine a candidate's fit within a team and company culture.
💡hidden job market
The hidden job market refers to job opportunities that are not publicly advertised or listed on job boards. These positions are often filled through networking, internal referrals, or other non-public channels. The video briefly mentions this concept and offers a course to help access these hidden opportunities.
💡decision-making
Decision-making is the process of selecting from available options after considering various factors and possible consequences. In the video, the speaker uses it as an example of a personal strength that may not align with the company's preference for quick action in a fast-paced environment.
💡productivity
Productivity refers to the efficiency and effectiveness with which tasks are completed. It is a measure of output and is often a key strength that employers look for in potential employees. In the video, the speaker mentions that the company might be looking for candidates who can be productive and accomplish tasks quickly.
💡qualifications
Qualifications are the credentials, certifications, or degrees that a candidate has earned, which make them eligible or suitable for a particular job. In the video, the speaker advises candidates to highlight their relevant qualifications when discussing their strengths.
💡communication skills
Communication skills are the ability to effectively convey information, ideas, or feelings to others through speech, writing, or nonverbal cues. These skills are essential in most jobs and are often assessed during interviews to determine how well a candidate will interact with colleagues and clients.
💡persuasion
Persuasion is the ability to influence others to agree with or adopt one's beliefs, values, or actions. It is a critical soft skill, especially in roles that involve sales, negotiation, or leadership. The video touches on persuasion as an example of a soft skill that might be relevant to discuss during an interview.
💡likability
Likability refers to the quality of being pleasant and enjoyable to interact with, which can impact how others perceive and respond to an individual. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the potential downside of being seen as too nice in certain job roles where assertiveness is preferred.
Highlights

The common job interview question about strengths is deceptively hard to answer correctly.

Answering 'what are your strengths' is similar to 'why should we hire you', as both require listing positive attributes.

It's important to consider that a strength you mention might not be seen as such by the interviewer.

Using the job posting's requirements as a guide can help tailor your answer to what the employer is looking for.

If you meet all the job requirements, it's straightforward to list them as your strengths.

If you don't meet a specific requirement, explain how you can still handle the job effectively.

Job interviews are not only about technical skills; soft skills are often a significant focus.

Soft skills are demonstrated through your interaction rather than explicitly stated.

Mentioning soft skills can be beneficial if they are essential to the role and you can demonstrate their importance.

It's challenging to guess which soft skills the employer values, so it's practical to mention only those crucial to the role.

The hidden job market represents 70% of all jobs, which are not advertised publicly.

The speaker offers a course called 'Get Hired' to teach how to tap into the hidden job market and ace job interviews.

The key to answering the strengths question is aligning your response with the job requirements listed in the posting.

Even if you don't meet a job requirement, providing a substitute or assurance can ease the employer's concerns.

Interviewers often look for soft skills such as likability, communication, and persuasion.

The way you answer the strengths question can significantly impact the interviewer's perception of your fit for the role.

It's essential to understand the job's context and the employer's needs when answering questions about your strengths.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of not just stating soft skills but showing them through your behavior in the interview.

The advice provided aims to help job seekers effectively communicate their suitability for a role during interviews.

Transcripts
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