How to identify your strengths – and use them in your job search

Most of us can easily name the things we are not good at. But when it comes to putting our strengths into words, it suddenly becomes more difficult.
Here you will find inspiration on how to identify your strengths and translate them into compelling examples that can add value to your job search.

What exactly are strengths?

Strengths are not just what you like to do or what you are trained to do. Strengths are the abilities, habits, and ways of being that come naturally to you and that give you energy when you use them. Often, your strengths can be something you underestimate—precisely because they feel natural to you.

Strengths can be:

• Being a good listener
• Creating structure and overview
• Solving problems creatively
• Being curious and learning quickly
• Creating a good atmosphere around you

Three methods for discovering your strengths

1. Ask yourself: When do you feel most comfortable?

Think about situations where you lose track of time, feel engaged, do something without having to pull yourself together, or receive praise without fully understanding why. These moments are small clues that point directly to your strengths.
For example, if you always end up coordinating practical matters in your family or circle of friends, planning and structure may be one of your strengths.

2. Use other people's eyes

Other people often see things in us that we don't notice ourselves. Ask some people who know you well and listen for recurring comments, as these will often be your strengths. Ask, for example:

• What do you think I'm good at?
• What do I do that helps others?
• What situations do you think I handle well?

3. Look back on your history

There are often patterns in the things we have done before. These patterns are rarely random—they reveal something important about you.
Consider:

• What you were good at as a child or young person
• Tasks you were always assigned—even if you didn't ask for them
• What you have received the most praise for throughout your life
• What types of tasks you always succeed best at

How to use your strengths in your job search

When a company is hiring, they will often have many candidates with the same educational background. Therefore, it is often your personal strengths and your ability to present them that make the difference. To stand out, it is important that you do not use general descriptions such as "I am a perfectionist" or "I work well in teams," but rather support your strengths with examples. This will make you appear more professional, credible, and often more competent than those who make general statements.

For example, you could present your strength "I am good at structure" like this:
"When we had a tight deadline on project X, I created a shared schedule and coordinated three teams. This meant that we delivered before the deadline and with fewer errors."

Match your strengths with the job posting

When choosing which strengths to highlight, it is a good idea to find those that best support the requirements of the company and present them. Strengths not only create a good impression—they also help the employer see you as the right person for the job.

A good preparatory exercise:

• Select your three most relevant strengths for the job
• For each strength: write 1–2 specific examples
• Connect each strength to something in the job posting

End the conversation by summarizing your strengths.

When you are asked, "Is there anything else you would like to add?", summarize your most important strengths in relation to the job.

“In short, I bring overview, collaboration skills, and solid project management—three things you are looking for in this position.”

It is a professional way to end the conversation, and it increases your chances of being the one they choose to move forward with.