Identifying your Strengths: Exercise
1) On a sheet of paper write down in column one all of your strengths – both work related and non-work related. Involve your partner, good friend (a parent is great!) as they will detail strengths that you didn’t even realise you possessed!
2) In column two give examples of when you’ve used this strength and in column three the benefits that this strength enabled. For example:
| Feature | Example | Benefit |
Example 1: Hard Working “After a hard day's work, I helped Fred load up the lorry to deliver the kit, which ensured that my client’s production line continued to schedule I won a further contract worth £5,000 from the company and I will be as hard-working when I join your company”
Example 2: Committed “Even though the company relocated I stayed a further 3 months to ensure a smooth handover My northern replacement was fully trained and is now becoming a tremendous asset to my previous employer. I will bring my 100% commitment when I join your business”
Example 3: Persistent “Even though we were three nil down at half time I gave the team a strict talking to as I knew we were the better side. We won 4-3 and, as a team, we learned a valuable lesson – never give up”.
Get the drift? Look at your strengths, think of examples of when you’ve used those strengths and then sell the benefits. This exercise is invaluable if you have a formal job specification that details all of the required attributes, as you can simply tailor your examples to these.
This exercise is invaluable in competency-based interviews, particularly if you are provided with the list of required competencies prior to the interview (which is not the norm). A competency based interview in its most basic form is ‘give an example of when…..’ rather, ‘what would you do if……’ type questions. The interviewer then grades your answers against a sheet and ‘scores’ you accordingly.
The Best Interview Technique
By undertaking this very basic exercise, you will be able to answer 70% of all common interview questions.
This exercise will make you feel more confident, as a consequence you’ll relax, and your personality will shine.
And, ultimately whether you are an accountant, a lawyer or a salesperson if your skills are equal to a competing candidate, and your personality comes across better in an interview. You WILL succeed.
Date published: 2nd March 2024
Search jobs
With hundreds of jobs available, now is the time to look for your perfect position
by Darren Dewrance
Founding Director
About the author
Darren Dewrance
Darren spent six years in sales and field sales before joining the original sales recruitment specialist, Austin Benn, in 1998. After achieving the status of top consultant, out of about seventy at the time, Darren rose from Senior Consultant to Operations Manager of the commercial sector before leaving to join a London based Headhunter in 2003 before setting up Aaron Wallis with Rob in October 2007.
With a natural leadership style, Darren is an expert on putting his finger right on the heart of the problem. His natural commercial instincts have helped hundreds of employers make better recruitment decisions. Darren is married with two children, and when not at work or with his family, he likes nothing more than to be on the side of a river or a lake with a rod in his hand.
Please call us to discuss your next move
From our blog
Our employers say...
Our candidates say...