HR asks this question to get to know more about your characteristics and your SUITABILITY for the job. It is also one of the standards and most commonly asked questions.

Some tips to answer this question:

• Be honest.
• Start by stating the strongest skills and qualities that can be of a great match to the job role.
• Be ready with the backup claim for each of the strengths that you mention. Hence, avoid speaking of the strengths that you do not possess.
• Do not tell any weakness that can POTENTIALLY jeopardize your candidature.
• Do not mention more than 2 weaknesses and always mention how you are working on improving them.
• Do not tell cheesy, cliché answers like “I am a PERFECTIONIST which is both my strength and my weakness”.

Sample answer:

I think one of my greatest strengths is that I am a great team player. I am also a self-motivated and quick learning individual. Whatever task that I set to do, I always GIVE my best and complete it diligently well in advance. My weakness would be that I am learning to master people skills while meeting new INDIVIDUALS. I get nervous while talking to new people. I have been working on this for quite a long time and I can say with utmost confidence that I have come a long way.