CliftonStrengths in Interviews

You can highlight your high work ethic, productivity, energy and desire to accomplish things.

In job interviews you are good at bringing Strengths into the conversation in order to sell yourself. You bring thoughtful questions to the interview to showcase your interest and further judge whether the job would be a suitable match.

Tips: Getting ideas from everyone possible before an interview can help greatly; confidence is developed through preparation. When preparing for an interview, create a list of talking points to help you prepare.

You can highlight your ability to react and respond to various incidences and people. You are considered the “co-traveler of life” meaning you have an ability to go with the flow and can work through a number of work-related situations.

In job interviews you respond fluidly to any question the interviewer throws at you. You especially excel at ‘pressure’ questions that depend solely on quick, adaptable thinking. You often have a variety of experiences to draw upon when answering questions.

Tips: Despite how you are skilled at living in the present, try to also discuss long-term goals and future plans,
especially those involving the company that is interviewing you.

You can highlight organizational skills and insight into how to best improve a project or task through different combinations of people, resources, or creative ideas.

In job interviews you have “tools” at the ready (resume versions, cover letters, references). You are good at answering behavioral questions where you can talk about being less rigid, making work flow, and creating efficiencies.

Tips: Consider doing a mock interview to give opportunity to brainstorm answers to interview questions. The more consideration that goes into potential employer questions, the more you can put all the pieces together into a thoughtful answer.

You can highlight strong management skills and how they can help unify a team and overcome obstacles.

In job interviews you have a straightforward answer and you are not afraid of addressing your thoughts.

Tips: Be sure to use your ability to use powerful and inspirational words in your interviews. Ask about opportunities for formal and informal leadership opportunities.

You can highlight how you will do everything to help the company profit. You can stimulate the people you work with to strive for a higher level. If you have a leadership position, you are great as a team motivator.

In job interviews you are great at promoting yourself to employers due to your competitive edge and preparation. You especially sell yourself when interviewers ask why they should hire you over another employee.

Tips: When getting rejection from some employers, remember your ultimate goal and keep in mind that the game is not over yet.

You can highlight your ability to sort through information and come to equitable decisions quickly.

In job interviews you are comfortable showcasing your authentic self by being the same steady person to everyone you meet. Your confidence comes across to the interviewer when you already know that the job matches your values system.

Tips: Don’t always play it safe; occasionally, step outside your comfort zone to new job opportunities if they are offered.

You can highlight your tendency to be cautious and practical in the workforce. When you take an action, you are confident in the outcome because you have carefully planned for it.

In job interviews you take the time to carefully consider difficult questions before answering. You foresee many different questions the interviewer could ask you and are prepared to answer them. Consider doing a mock interview so you can practice any unforeseen questions you hadn’t thought about to that point.

Tips: When faced with an unexpected question, you may appear quiet and less engaging as you take the time to form an answer. Ask for some time to think before you move forward.

You can highlight your skills of organization and timeliness when accomplishing goals. You are a stable, constant worker who can be depended on to finish ongoing and day-to-day projects.

In job interviews you are well-prepared because you have organized your materials and interview information. Employers will see your confidence and responsibility.

Tips: Think through all kinds of potential interview questions so that you won’t be thrown off during the interview. Try to leave some room for adaptability if the question is slightly different than the one for which you prepared.

You can highlight that you accomplish things efficiently. You need little supervision since you can stay on track are not easily distracted.

In job interviews you excel at describing your long-term goals and the steps you will take to get there. Draw from your experience with staying motivated to accomplish complex tasks to demonstrate your follow through.

Tips: Be careful to see the overall type of job you want rather than getting caught up in specifics of only one job.

You can highlight your ability to create calm and peace in any group. You are good at identifying the commonalities of a group, which enables you to help them to consistently reach an agreement.

In job interviews you can describe how well you fit the position. You can easily sense what the interviewers are looking for and they can easily see what contribution you would make to a team.

Tips: Make sure you don’t only answer interview questions in a way you know the interviewer wants but also verbalize your own feelings and values.

You can highlight your open-mindedness to people who share different perspectives. You are good at team building and enhancing workplace positivity.

In job interviews you are engaging and are able to show an employer how you would fit in with their company.

Tips: While focusing and including others is a strong suit, make sure to talk yourself up in the interview. Remember to add how you individually contributed to goals and accomplishments.

You can highlight your enjoyment of acquiring new knowledge and your ability to relay this information with others to facilitate growth. You are thorough and collect all necessary tools for any given task.

In job interviews you can use the information from the research you conducted during your job search. You can pick out key words that seem important to interviewers.

Tips: Write down a list of your past experiences, strengths, and weaknesses. Keeping track of these will give you more information to draw from during the interview.

You can highlight your ability to gather information quickly and your constant drive to learn more. You are never stagnant and consistently seek challenges.

In job interviews you are not afraid to ask specific questions about important pieces of missing information. Your understanding of the job position helps you answer interview questions with ease.

Tips: In preparation for the interview, show off your exhaustive research of the company and your deep understanding of what you studied. It will set you apart from the casual candidate.

You can highlight how your high-energy, upbeat outlook helps you motivate your peers. Give examples of how others look to you for support and advice.

In job interviews you are able to make the interviewers feel your positive spirit. The enthusiasm you bring to the interview comes across as confidence and authentic excitement for the job opportunity.

Tips: Make sure to have a balance of realism and optimism during the job interview so that employers can know you can be serious when you need to be.

You can highlight your determination to accomplish all assigned job tasks. You often motivate your peers by leading through example and can always be depended upon to do what is asked of you.

In job interviews you are naturally well-prepared, and interviewers will take note of your preparation.

Tips: Compare your written list of values to the values of the company for which you are applying to affirm that the company is a good fit for you, which can lead to discussions during the job interview.

You can highlight the confidence and decisiveness you bring to the workforce. You are willing to tackle any task presented to you.

In job interviews you are comfortable with describing the way your unique strengths make you a better candidate than other applicants.

Tips: Be careful that your confidence does not come off as cockiness. Stay aware that there is always more to learn.

You can highlight how you see the whole picture of a situation and then make a logical decision from the information.

In job interviews you excel at using situational questions to demonstrate your strategic talents. Thinking through different possible scenarios and articulating your responses will help you prepare for your interviews.

Tips: Making a list of pros and cons about the job can help you visualize yourself in the job. Keep your long-term goals in mind, and be sure that this job will help you reach those goals.

You can highlight your initiative and motivation when starting new projects or meeting new people.

In job interviews you give quick and decisive answers, due to your previous preparation, which come across as confident and capable to the interviewer.

Tips: For behavioral questions you should also pay attention to the outcome and result. If offered a position, train yourself not to leap at the offer. Evaluate the offer carefully before taking action.

You can highlight your ability to see the big picture and how all other factors may affect it.

In job interviews you are good at providing evidence of success, concrete examples, and results. You think through all interview questions and present a clear solution; you’re less emotional and stick with facts.

Tips: Don’t get too lost in the facts and information that you forget to demonstrate your personable and engaging qualities.

You can highlight how your values define purpose driven attitude and your approach to work. It is that sense of purpose which provides motivation and the desire to succeed.

In job interviews you often inspire and speak in inspirational, passionate terms. By conveying how your values match those of the company, you demonstrate how you can contribute to the company’s success and be motivated each day.

Tips: Sometimes your passionate way of thinking can come across harsh or judgmental. Keep yourself in check because you never know the personal values the interviewer may hold.

You can highlight your ability to express your thoughts and ideas vividly to an audience and co-workers.

In job interviews you tend to be a storyteller, especially on questions about past experiences. This comes across as personable and confident to the employer. You are great at forming a warm connection with the interviewer.

Tips: Stay focused on the topic in interviews; rehearse ahead of instead of “winging it.” Since you generally do well with presentations, think of the job search as a presentation of yourself and the language and words should flow.

You can highlight your assurance about life’s meaning and demonstrate to employers how previous life and work experience has naturally led to this job opportunity.

In job interviews you are good at story telling. You appear self-assured and explain how elements of a situation come together for a purpose. You speak confidently about successes and failures or challenges, putting context around the situation (“My failure to meet my sales goal indicated I was better off focusing on marketing”).

Tips: You may experience conflict if more than one job offer is made at same time. If this happens, weigh the options and choose which one “fits” you. Go with your gut.

You can highlight your ability to relate past to the present and learn from it. You thoroughly gather information before jumping into a new project.

In job interviews you are good at answering behavioral questions about the lessons you learned from past experiences. You ask many questions about the company and put together the big picture of their mission and history.

Tips: Try not to dwell on unsuccessful experiences that it gets in the way of future success.

You can highlight your interpersonal leadership style and your ability to notice the potential of others.

In job interviews you are good at giving examples of facilitating growth in others. These may have been times as a trainer, coach, or leader who helped others develop in their respective roles.

Tips: Practice the interview with mentors and partners. You can also try video recording your interview, then noting where you can improve.

You can highlight your very strong interpersonal skills and that you are conscious of others’ feelings. Give solid examples of ways your empathy has helped make a difference in someone’s life.

In job interviews your non-verbal skills are very strong. You portray warmth and have engaging body language in interviews (nods, smiles, etc). You think carefully and respond well when asked about how you might fit in the work environment.

Tips: Make sure that your empathy does not take away your competitive edge in the market; it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes.

You can highlight your ability to see how the present impacts the future and how you can create goals to help the organization’s progress and outlook.

In job interviews you are good at imagining and explaining what you will do in the potential job.

Tips: Word phrases as “I will” or “I imagine”. This will show off your strength, however don’t forget to also focus on how your experiences in the past will make you a good candidate.

You can highlight your ingenuity, resourcefulness, and motivation to learn new principles and concepts.

In job interviews you bring high energy and fresh answers to questions about how you would contribute to the company more than other candidates.

Tips: Finish your thoughts and ideas before communicating them. Employers might not be able to “connect the dots” of an interesting but incomplete idea. You could benefit from brainstorming in mock interviews to fully develop some of your ideas.

You can highlight your deep understanding of your own values, as well as your ability to understand the specific needs and talents of others.

In job interviews you are able to articulate how the job is uniquely a good fit for you and what you can do to contribute to the goals of the organization.

Tips: Become an expert in describing your own talents and style. For example, answer questions such as these: What is the best praise you ever received? How often do you like to check in with your professors? What is your best method for building relationships? How do you learn best?

You can highlight your ability to ask thoughtful questions to generate new ideas for a company.

In job interviews you are not worried about delivering your viewpoints because you are able to articulate them well. You have taken much time to envision how you will answer questions and how you would work in the position.

Tips: Make time to digest the information you have received, scheduling time for your own reflection.

You can highlight your ability to see how your co-workers and the company can develop. You always strive for excellence and thrive when you can work with others like yourself.

In job interviews your concrete responses will allow employers to sense your passion of improving the institution. Give examples of times you enhanced a group or goal.

Tips: Utilize mock interviews because your performance improves each time. Develop a system that works best for you in the job search.

You can highlight how your ability to make connections with others can lead to increased productivity on tasks. You are steady and loyal.

In job interviews you are able to build a rapport with the interviewers. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask them questions at the end about the company and their own career path.

Tips: Make sure not to lose sight of your own values, skills, and job requirements along the way while you are doing the relationship building.

You can highlight your ability to help co-workers overcome frustrations in the work place. You have a knack for finding effective solutions to problems and resolving conflict.

In job interviews your prompt and energetic responses to situational questions impress interviewers.

Tips: Take a good look at yourself to determine what weaknesses you may have on your resume or for the position for which you are applying. Find ways to overcome these weaknesses by using your strengths.

You can highlight your motivation to have a positive impact on the company, co-workers, and others. As a result you tend to be a very hard worker.

In job interviews employers can easily sense your ambition and motivation. Emphasize your past accomplishments and your willingness to continue this level of excellence with the future company.

Tips: Giving lots of new ideas in the interview may actually be too bold for some interviewers.

You can highlight your ability to connect with other people and quickly establish rapport. Provide examples of times you’ve met new people and created a comfortable environment.

In job interviews you can easily make people feel comfortable with you because of your high-energy and your ability to connect through language

Tips: Make sure that you do not come off as superficial or over-enthusiastic in the interview. Send a thank you note as a follow up to show that you are able to maintain as well as form relationships.