One of the most important interview questions that candidates are asked during interviews is regarding their strengths and weaknesses. Hiring managers use this along with a variety of other questions to determine who the best fit for the job will be. If you want to stand out from everybody else, then you really need to prepare a strong statement that clearly explains your knowledge-based skills, soft skills, transferable skills, and personal traits. Here are some interview tips on how to turn your strengths into compelling stories.

Construction Interview Tip #1: Identify Your Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

Creating a list of your top hard and soft skills is a good place to start. First, focus on skill quality over quantity. It’s easy to list dozens of generic skills that aren’t always relevant to the role. Instead, try narrowing down just a handful of skills that are required in this industry. For instance, here are some of the top soft skills that are needed to succeed in construction:

  • Problem-solving
  • Planning and organization
  • Persistence
  • Active listening
  • Conflict management
  • Flexibility
  • Dedication

Most candidates find it easier to discuss their strengths. You still have to be prepared to talk about what your greatest weakness is too. Interviewers use this question on a regular basis to gauge the self-awareness of candidates. The more honest and humbler that you are about your areas that need improvement the better. Most employers prefer candidates that show growth potential and those that are being proactive about turning some of these weaknesses into strengths:

  • Procrastination
  • Impatience
  • Too sensitive
  • Tendency to burnout

Coworkers and managers are some of the best resources when it comes to pointing out weaknesses. Just proceed with caution and understand that their feedback can help you improve and become a more valuable employee.

Tip #2: Weaving a Story

Once you have identified your strengths, then it’s time to focus on creating a narrative that really emphasizes them. One of the best construction interview tips that we can offer is to write down a story that showcases how you were able to use your strengths to accomplish specific goals during your career. Be sure to include how your skillset is unique and why it qualifies you for the role. Remember, quality is always better than quantity when discussing your skills during an interview. Here are some simple rules to keep in mind when turning your strengths into stories:

  1. Don’t brag.
  2. Don’t provide irrelevant skills.
  3. Don’t ramble on.
  4. Don’t dwell on your weaknesses.

When you combine these construction interview tips with others, like researching the company, practicing and asking the interviewer thoughtful questions, you are certain to make a positive impression.

How can we help you?

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