What has made you successful?

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The question | What they are looking for | How to answer | See also

The question

What has made you successful?

What are your strengths?

What do you do to succeed in your work?

What they are looking for

With this question, they are looking not just at your strengths, but your perception of your strengths. If they believe they know your strengths, then they will determine how well you understand yourself and perhaps how arrogant (or not) you are.

They may also look for strengths that you identify that they have not noticed.

How to answer

Focus your answer on the strengths that you believe are needed in the target job. The job description is a good place to find these. Thus, you may include factors such as determination, teamwork, etc.

Illustrate your answer (or answer completely) with examples. Have several of these ready beforehand to show different areas where you have strengths.

Show how you have made yourself successful -- not how others or circumstances have made you successful. However, you can demonstrate teamwork or leadership by talking about how the team or others were successful as a whole. Then show your part in leading the team to success.

This was a team effort, which needed everyone fully engaged to succeed. I made sure every person knew what was required of them. I also spent time building the bonds within the team so we worked as an effective whole.

Connect what you did with the results that you deliberately achieved.

I took the time to build a complete plan, which led to a project that was completed on time, on budget and to all quality criteria.

Be prepared for follow-up probing questions that question why you believe you have these strengths.

See also

Evidence principle, Confidence principle