In the interview you will be asked a lot of questions about your strengths, weaknesses and skills. What skills are required and what needs to be considered? We give you tips on how to prepare and reveal which qualities employers particularly like to see.
1. Expertise
Expertise is one of the most persuasive arguments in an interview. If you can convince your dream employer of your qualifications, you are well on the way to a new job. The company has already recognized your potential. Otherwise you would not have received an invitation to the interview. Now is the right time to confidently dive into the details.
Tell us about the experiences you have already gained in the desired area. Also show that you know about the company’s industry: For example, address current topics and trends. And as you prepare for the interview, think of a success or two that you’ve had in the past. Explain to your counterpart how you will use your expertise in your future job.
2. Ability to work in a team
The ability to work in a team is important in almost every position. This applies to working with colleagues within your team and also to overarching collaboration with other departments or business partners. Therefore, emphasize that you work well and enjoy working in a team and think of a good example from your previous career in advance. Also explain what you value most when dealing with colleagues. Don’t forget to mention that you can also work responsibly alone if the tasks require it.
3. Working independently
You can always score with this positive quality. Self-employed employees are a real asset for every company. You recognize and complete upcoming tasks without having to be pointed out. Try to demonstrate this ability with past projects. Put your personal way of working in the foreground.
4. Willingness to take responsibility
Above all, working independently means taking on responsibility. In detail, this means that you pull the strings of a project or topic in your hand, coordinate and make decisions.
This is not only expected of people in managerial positions, but also of specialists without direct personnel responsibility. For example, if you take responsibility for training new colleagues or are responsible for the maintenance of machines. Therefore, tell us about situations from the past in which you took on responsibility for a project or a task.
5. Mobility
Mobility is also an important topic for many companies. If you’re open to a job-related move, let your potential employer know. If the company has different locations or wants to expand, you can proactively address your willingness – before the other person does.
It’s generally good to address things that are important to you yourself. If you wait for certain questions in an interview, you can quickly come across as passive.
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6. Willingness to compromise
A lack of willingness to compromise can quickly be interpreted as a weakness by employers or colleagues. Of course there can be situations in which your ideas do not match those of your colleagues. It is then all the more important to be open to other options and to show alternative solutions. You should therefore definitely mention your willingness to compromise. Perhaps there has already been a situation in your previous working life in which you have developed a new approach for your team. In this case, that would be a great example.
7. Open-mindedness
Being open-minded towards other people or new methods and solutions conveys openness and genuine interest. Therefore, show in the interview that you communicate in a friendly and respectful manner. For example, don’t answer taciturnly or excessively, and show interest by asking one or two specific questions about your future tasks.
How you are perceived also depends on your body language. When preparing for your interview, practice in front of the mirror and with friends or acquaintances to project an approachable and interested attitude. Open-mindedness will help you when dealing with superiors and colleagues and is one of the soft skills that companies are always looking for.
8. Willingness to learn
Do you like to continue your education and are you always open to new things? Fine! This is the perfect topic for your interview — especially when the recruiter asks you to share your expectations and ask questions. Your interest in personal development shows you are motivated and committed. This further training can concern your specialist knowledge, but also the internal processes in the company.
9. Purposefulness
Of course, things can go wrong in professional life. Then it is particularly important not to give up right away, but to stay focused and motivated. You should definitely emphasize this ability in the interview. Illustrate your determination with an example of how you have achieved a goal in the past. But it can also be goals that you have set yourself for the future – preferably in the company you are currently applying to.
10. Persuasion
Do you have good ideas and the talent to win other people over to them? You can also make excellent use of this characteristic in a job interview. The interview itself is the best opportunity to score points with your arguments in an eloquent and sympathetic manner. This is how you convince your potential employer of yourself in the interview.
Important: Note that different traits are useful for different jobs. So do not categorically work through all points in one conversation. It is better to consider individually for each interview which three to five positive qualities are the most important for the advertised position.
If you have convinced yourself in the interview, you can move on to the next step. Would you like to know how much you can demand in salary negotiations?
