List of
Strengths and Weaknesses

This list of strengths and weaknesses examples helps you to self evaluate and recognize those that apply to you. Know how to present these employee strengths and weaknesses in the best way when answering interview questions.

Identify your top strengths from your previous work and life experience and provide the right answer to the frequently asked interview question "What are your strengths?"

Hand holding pen with list of strengths and weaknesses

What are the skills and behaviors that you need to work on and improve?

Everyone has a fair number of these! Employers want to know how you manage the weakness and recognizing the weakness is the first essential step to managing it properly.

List of Strengths and Weaknesses
17 Good Examples of Strengths 

This complete list of employee strengths and weaknesses and how they present in the workplace will help you identify and evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses.

 Strength

How it Presents at Work


Communication

  • written communication skill evident in reports, correspondence.
  • Verbal communication skills evident in presentations, managing conflict, selling, dealing with customers, active listening, meeting participation and negotiation.

Strong work ethic/diligent

  • Hard working, works extra hours, completes projects before time.
  • Takes on more than others, does more than required, maintains a high quality of work.
  • Imposes own standards of excellence, works without supervision, follows up on own.

Organizational and planning skills

  • Evident in time management, prioritizing, using resources effectively, meeting deadlines, multi-tasking, dealing with competing demands.
  • Achieving objectives and goals, setting targets.
  • Maintaining schedules and calendars, coordination of resources to complete projects.

Flexible and adaptable

  • Able to change activities and priorities to meet new demands.
  • Willing to learn new skills and knowledge, willing to attempt new tasks, makes a positive effort to accept changes.
  • Able to work and communicate effectively with diverse people, willing to work in different environments.

Decision-making and judgment

  • Gather the necessary information to make a sound decision, come up with viable alternatives.
  • Consider pros and cons for each, fully commit to the best action, follow through on decision.

Problem solving

  • Able to identify and define problems, analyze problems to find causes, find possible solutions, consider the possible outcomes of each solution.
  • Decide on the best solution and implement it.

Gathering, analyzing and managing information

  • Collect required information efficiently from different sources, integrate information and put it together in a logical format.
  • Process information, identify trends and patterns, distribute and communicate information correctly.
  • Store and maintain information efficiently.

Coaching and mentoring

  • Willing and able to coach others, enable and facilitate learning, impart knowledge, help people to identify and achieve what they are capable of.
  • Assess training and learning needs, develop appropriate learning interventions, adapt teaching/coaching style to meet employee's needs.

Team work

  • Work effectively in a team, contribute to team objectives, communicate effectively with team members, respect, listen to and encourage team members, pitch in.
  • Put success of team ahead of individual success.

Reliable and dependable

  • Consistent work performance, complete projects accurately and within deadlines.
  • Arriving on time, fulfilling obligations, following through on commitments.
  • Checks own work, corrects own work, complies with workplace policies and procedures, takes responsibility for own actions.

Self reliant and self management

  • Uses own resources, skills and abilities fully, accountable for own activity, progress and success, manages self towards goals.
  • Completes projects and activities independently, obtains own help and assistance.
  • Internally motivated and does not seek external rewards for good performance.

Self discipline

  • Controls own behavior, self-motivated, prepared to work hard to achieve goals, sets own targets.
  • Avoids distractions, perseveres with difficult tasks and activities, does not procrastinate, continues with projects in the face of obstacles and challenges.

Persistent and resilient

  • Handle disappointment, deal effectively with rejection, stay enthusiastic after a set back, maintain work performance despite difficulties.
  • Accept criticism, bounce back quickly, overcome obstacles to achieve, keep trying until task is completed.

Persuasive

  • Evident in selling, customer management, negotiating, dealing with objections, getting agreement/commitment from co-workers/management, presenting ideas.
  • Motivating people, gaining the confidence of others.

Integrity

  • Maintain confidentiality, provide complete and accurate information.
  • Observe company policies and procedures, comply with regulations, maintain values and ethics in the face of opposition and pressure.

Energetic

  • Works long hours, maintains fast work pace, tackles challenging tasks, stays positive.
  • Takes on extra tasks, maintains high productivity levels, tenacious in achieving goals.

Initiative

  • Proactive attempts to sort out problems and issues, provide ideas for improvement, make full use of opportunities.
  • Identify needs and come up with solutions, take steps to make your job and the company better.

How do you answer - What is your greatest strength?"

  • Identify the strengths that will contribute to successful job performance
  • Using the list of strengths and weaknesses describe your strength
  • Support your answer with examples of how this strength is evident in your work performance

Sample Interview Answers

11 Essential employee strengths for the workplace in 2023

What are the strengths that employers want today? These employee strengths are core to successful job performance in most career fields.

List of 11 essential strengths for the workplace in 2023, blue text on light blue background

Self evaluation strengths and weaknesses examples

A great tool for self-evaluation of your own strengths is the strengths-finder at What are your Strengths?

Once you have self- evaluated your key strengths and weaknesses it is helpful to prepare answers that contextualize these strengths and weaknesses. Here are some good examples:

Teamwork/Collaboration

"My colleagues have commented on my ability to carefully listen and respect their input while making my own valid contributions to group discussions. This facilitates a cooperative approach to task and project completion."

Problem Solving

"My supervisor has commended me for meeting challenges and problems head on and finding solutions. I am able to gather and carefully analyze all the relevant information in order to propose a workable solution. Recently I had to sort out ....."

Judgment and decision-making

"When faced with a tough decision I carefully consider all the facts, the positives and negatives and all possible outcomes before making a final decision. I am well known for my pros and cons lists! Recently I ..."

Resilient

"I am sometimes referred to as a rubber ball  because I  am able to bounce back quickly after a set back!  I regard a disappointment as a learning opportunity and don't allow it to keep me from progressing. I have found that one of the keys to being resilient is the ability to adapt and adjust to changing situations. Recently ...."

How to Discuss your Weaknesses

Tips on answering "What are your strengths?"

Candidates often find it awkward to express their strengths, these speech softeners will help you.

Text of different ways to answer questions about your strengths

What are your weaknesses?

This complete list of workplace weaknesses makes it easy to identify our own weaknesses and lists the steps to take to improve on your weakness.

Top sample interview answers to "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

Which example of weaknesses applies to you?

Discover the example of weaknesses that best applies to you and use the sample interview answers to "What is your greatest weakness?" to confidently describe your areas for improvement.

3 key strengths and 3 areas of improvement to focus on

Employers often settle on the number 3 when they ask you to discuss your strengths and weaknesses! These are 3 generic and common strengths and weaknesses that will help you answer the question "Name your 3 key strengths and 3 areas of improvement".

Strengths:

  • communication skills (verbal and written, listening and understanding)
  • organizational skills (planning, organizing resources and time-management)
  • diligence (hard-working, responsible and reliable)

Areas of improvement:

  • impatience (expects good results and gets frustrated with slower performers)
  • overthinking (procrastination and cautious behavior)
  • taking on too much responsibility (reluctant to say no or to delegate)

These 3 strengths are applicable to almost every job while the 3 areas for improvement can confidently be addressed to minimize their impact in the workplace.

Students strengths and weaknesses list

Knowing and understanding your strengths and weaknesses as a student shows important insight into yourself, a quality that future employers look for in student interviews.

Students strengths and weaknesses list

Nursing strengths and weaknesses list

Identify the nursing strengths and weaknesses examples that apply to you and use the excellent sample interview answers to the nurse strengths and weaknesses interview question.

Teacher strengths and weaknesses examples

Use this comprehensive guide to typical teacher strengths and weaknesses to answer teaching interview questions about your strengths and weaknesses.

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We provide excellent sample interview answers to these interview questions. Be ready to shine in your job interview.

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Use the list of strengths and weaknesses to successfully answer common job interview questions.

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