Strength-based interviews and how to ace them

Strength-based interviews are taking preference over competency interviews more and more with hiring companies. 

Competencies are essentially the things that you can do, whereas, strength-based interviews assess what you enjoy doing. Here's everything you need to know about a strength-based interview in preparation for your next one. 

The type of questions you will be asked in a strength-based interview

• What are you good at?
• What do you learn quickly?
• What things give you energy?
• When did you achieve something you were really proud of?
• Do you prefer to start tasks or to finish them?
• Do you find you have enough hours in the day to complete all the things you want to do?
• What things are always left on your to-do list and not finished?
• What have been some of your achievements and how have you made them happen?
• Do you think this role will play to your strengths?

For more expert advice on how to best portray your strengths and weaknesses, read through our guide to giving a professional and impressive answer to the question, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?". 

Use the interview as an opportunity to understand more about the company and the role – as they assess you, make sure you assess them.

When answering any interview question, it’s best to structure your answer to ensure you’re clearly communicating to the hiring manager or recruiter. 

Here’s how to effectively use the STAR method when answering any interview question: 

How to prepare for a strength-based interview

Although they don’t need as much preparation as competency-based interviews, these types of questions still need some preparation and careful thought. 

While you can't change the fundamentals of what you enjoy, for a recruiter, thinking about how your preferences fit with the organisation and the job requirements is still important. 

Try to relax and be yourself!

What’s next?

For more useful interview advice, visit our job interview hub for insights into how to answer difficult interview questions.
Want to get more interviews lined up? Start applying for exciting new roles through the Michael Page website and land your next dream role.