How to Choose the Right Examples for Your Job Interview. Job Interview Stories (Part 2)

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 In Part 1 of this series, we focused on clarity before confidence - why being clear about your role and value matters more than sounding impressive. If you prefer to listen rather than read, this topic is also discussed in the Business English Talks podcast, where we break down real interview answers and explain why some of them work better than others. In this article, we move to the next step: choosing the right examples. Even professionals with strong experience often struggle in interviews because they talk about the wrong situations - or they choose examples that are too complex, too vague, or not clearly connected to the question. This article will help you choose examples that are: easy to explain, relevant to the role, and effective in real interview situations. Along the way, you’ll find ready-to-use Business English phrases you can apply immediately. Why examples matter more than job titles Interviewers don’t hire job titles. They hire people who can solve problems and ...
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54: How to Talk About Your Strengths and Weaknesses in a Job Interview – Business English Tips

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Welcome back to Business English Talks, your resource for professional English you can actually use. This is part three of our Job Interview Series, and today we’re focusing on a classic but tricky question: “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”


This question is almost guaranteed to come up in one form or another, and it's your chance to show self-awareness, professionalism, and confidence.



✅ Why do interviewers ask this question?


They want to know:


If you understand your value and your limits.


Whether you are honest and realistic.


How you deal with challenges or mistakes.


What strengths you bring to their company.



💪 Talking About Strengths


Focus on professional qualities that are relevant to the job. Choose 1–3 and support each with a quick example.


🌟 Useful Phrases:


One of my strengths is...


I’m good at...


I’m known for being...


I’ve always been strong in...


My colleagues often say I’m...


I consistently receive positive feedback on...


I have a natural ability to...



💼 Example Strengths:


Communication


Teamwork


Problem-solving


Time management


Adaptability


Attention to detail


Leadership


Strategic thinking


Creativity


Reliability



📊 Example Answer 1:


"One of my key strengths is communication. I’m very comfortable working with different departments and presenting ideas clearly. In my last job, I regularly led meetings with both clients and colleagues, which improved our workflow and reduced misunderstandings."


📊 Example Answer 2:


"I’m very organised and detail-oriented. In my last position as a project coordinator, I created a new checklist system that helped our team meet deadlines more consistently and reduced last-minute changes."


📊 Example Answer 3:


"A strength I’ve developed is adaptability. I worked in three different departments over two years and quickly learned to adjust to new roles and expectations. I believe this flexibility will help me contribute to your fast-paced environment."


📊 Example Answer 4:


"Creativity is one of my strongest traits. While working in marketing, I designed a campaign that increased social media engagement by 35% in three months. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and testing what works."



⚠️ Talking About Weaknesses


Be honest, but strategic. Choose something real - not “I’m a perfectionist” - and show how you’re working on it.


🌐 Useful Phrases:


One area I’m working to improve is...


I used to struggle with...


I’ve learned to manage...


I’m currently focusing on...


I realised that I needed to improve...


I’ve taken steps to become better at...



⚙️ Common Weaknesses (and how to frame them positively):


Public speaking: "I used to be nervous about presenting, so I joined a Toastmasters club and now feel more confident giving team updates."


Delegating: "I’ve always been very hands-on and found it difficult to delegate. I’m learning to trust my team more and give clearer instructions."


Impatience with slow processes: "I like to move quickly, so I sometimes feel frustrated by long procedures. I’m learning to plan ahead and communicate better with stakeholders."


Asking for help: "I used to try to solve everything on my own, but I’ve realized the value of asking for input early on. Now I make an effort to check in with colleagues."


Overcommitting: "I tend to say yes to everything, which can lead to stress. I’ve started using a priority matrix to manage my time and say no when necessary."



🧠 Realistic Full Answer Example:


"One of my strengths is my ability to stay organised and manage time effectively. I’m used to working with multiple deadlines and keeping projects on track. At the same time, I’ve been working on improving my confidence in giving feedback to others. I’ve started using clearer language in meetings and asking for feedback on how I communicate, and it’s helped a lot."


🧠 Full Answer Example 2:


"I’m a strategic thinker who enjoys solving complex problems. In my current job, I created a new process for prioritising client requests, which helped reduce response time by 40%. On the other hand, I tend to avoid conflict. I’ve realised that giving honest feedback can be helpful, and I’m working on being more assertive in difficult conversations."


🧠 Full Answer Example 3:


"Reliability is one of my strongest qualities – I always meet deadlines and follow through. My previous manager praised me for always being available to support the team. A weakness I’ve noticed is that I sometimes stay quiet in large meetings. I’m working on speaking up more and contributing my ideas, even in bigger groups."



🎯 Final Tips:


Choose real qualities - avoid clichés like “I work too hard.”


Support both your strengths and weaknesses with short, specific examples.


Show a growth mindset: what are you learning, how are you improving?


Practice your answer out loud so it sounds natural and confident.


Don’t be afraid to show personality, as long as it’s professional.


You can also prepare:


A short version (1 minute) for phone interviews


A longer version (2-3 minutes) for face-to-face interviews


In the next post, we’ll cover: “Why do you want to work here?” - how to tailor your answer to any company and make a strong impression.


For more practical tips, phrases, and pronunciation help, check out the podcast Business English Talks on Spotify.


See you in part four!


Learn how to talk about your strengths and weaknesses in English during a job interview. Includes real examples, useful phrases, and smart strategies to sound confident and professional.


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