FBI Mock Interview
Master 40 FBI interview questions covering security clearances, investigative scenarios, and ethical judgment.
Question 12 of 40
What are your top three strengths, and how will they benefit the FBI?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
What to Avoid
Remember To
Entry Level
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Community Answers
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
The FBI reportedly receives over 10,000 Special Agent applications every year, but they hire only 500-750. The FBI picks the cream of the crop. Being the best includes having a record of excellence in your professional and personal life. Extra-curricular and volunteer work is always a stand-out factor to bring to your application, while showing a history of success and positivity is also favored. The FBI is also known for seeking out 'Type A' individuals who are characteristically ambitious, decisive, driven, and highly competitive. A great response to this question will include a balance of all these factors.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
When you look at the FBI's website, they describe their Special Agents as driven to find solutions to all types of problems, compassionate and respectful to everyone they meet, adaptable and able to keep calm in the face of challenges, excellent communicators, and physically fit. Choose three qualities that you possess that align with the FBI's requirements so the interviewer can see that you would be a good fit for the bureau.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Since the FBI has described what they are looking for in an agent, avoid describing three strengths opposite of what they are looking for in their ideal candidate. The interviewer has the type of person they want to hire in mind, and you want to stand out as one who will be a good fit for the bureau.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
After choosing your top three strengths, remember to describe how those strengths will benefit the bureau if hired. This is a two-part question; do not forget to answer the second part of the question. If you fail to answer how your strengths will benefit the FBI, the interviewer might think you lack attention to detail.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"My greatest strengths include my tenacity, my generous nature, and my decisiveness. I have a passion for helping others, and I will provide the empathy needed to be an incredible Special Agent. At the same time, I will never give up or stop until the job is done."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"I recently asked my friends and family why they felt I would be successful in the FBI. They responded that my desire for justice, my competitive nature, and my ability to remain pragmatic make me a perfect choice for the FBI. For instance, I pride myself on striking a balance between helping others and having sound judgment based on facts. I will benefit the FBI by bringing criminals to justice and never backing down or giving up until the job is done."
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Anonymous Answer
I am passionate, ambitious, and dependable. I am always taking the initiative to go the extra length, whether it is expected/requested or not. My passion for the field provides me with a continuous daily motivation that I, in turn, apply to every aspect of each day and furthermore, the task at hand. Coworkers have said that I am very loyal, reliable, and dependable.
Krista's Feedback
The FBI certainly looks for people with integrity, which it sounds like you have! Try to focus your answer more specifically on how these strengths will benefit the FBI. Successfully answering this question means ensuring that the interviewer can picture you in this role.
"My top three strengths include my ambition, loyalty, and dependability. The FBI needs a team member they can count on to do the right thing and to show up 100% every day. My ambitious nature ensures that I will be quick to train, eager to learn, and ready for any challenge that comes my way."
Anonymous Answer
I feel as if a lot of my strengths and critical thinking skills were acquired through my academic career in political science in college. I have garnered the ability to deduce answers to complex questions by breaking them down into simpler steps and connect the dots at the end, which helped me immensely excel in my classes. My ambition and intellectual curiosity was utilized by my times studying abroad in foreign countries and working in the federal government in and out of Washington D.C. Lastly, one of the softer skills I believe was ingrained in me was my self discipline through my youth during my 15 years of high level wrestling and MMA training pushing me to my limits on a weekly basis.
Krista's Feedback
Excellent answer! First, you give some very unique strengths that stand apart from the typical answers interviewers receive. Second, you backed these up incredibly well with real life tales and examples. Love it!
"Many of my strengths and critical thinking skills were acquired through my academic career in political science. I have garnered the ability to deduce complex questions by breaking them down into simpler steps and connecting the dots. This skill helped me immensely in my classes. My ambition and intellectual curiosity came from studying abroad and working in the federal government in and out of Washington D.C. Lastly, one of the softer skills ingrained in me is my self-discipline. This skill came to me during my 15 years of high-level wrestling and MMA training, which pushed me to my limits."
Anonymous Answer
My greatest strengths include a strong desire for justice, integrity, dependability, and the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds. The FBI needs team-oriented agents, who are trustworthy because the agency counts on them to do the right thing and show up 100% every day. My ambitious nature and eagerness to learn ensures that I will be coachable and quick to train, which will put me in a position to be ready to tackle the challenges that come with being an FBI Special Agent.
Krista's Feedback
Excellent answer! Not only do you highlight your top strengths, but you also make a great case for how they will benefit the FBI, should you be hired.
Anonymous Answer
I believe my top 3 strengths to be my personal skills, leadership, and drive. I believe my ability to empathize and relate to people while working until the job gets done would greatly benefit the FBI.
Krista's Feedback
Leadership and drive are excellent strengths to point out, and your people skills (empathy/relating to others) would certainly be beneficial. I recommend forming a fuller answer that showcases these top strengths in action. Try to include more measurable detail regarding how these strengths will benefit the FBI. You may find this guide helpful (Q#2 in the guide focuses on answering to your strengths): https://www.mockquestions.com/articles/How to Answer 5 of The Most Common Interview Questions/
Anonymous Answer
My top 3 strengths for the FBI are my communication skills, initiative, and interpersonal skills. As a police officer, I essentially speak and write reports for the majority of my shift. While on duty I mediate differences between people from all walks of life and situations. From domestic disputes to civil disagreements I am there to listen and give my best advice.
Krista's Feedback
These are wonderful strengths to have, and it's good that you outline how you utilize these strengths in your law enforcement position. As a federal agent, will you be utilizing these strengths in similar tasks? It would be a nice addition to directly address how you plan to use these strengths once the FBI hires you.
Anonymous Answer
I feel like my biggest strengths are being meticulous, having a willingness to accept more responsibility, and conscientiousness. Having great attention to detail and the desire to do my work well and thoroughly for a special agent will be key in the pursuit of justice. I pride myself on being flexible and adaptable, as I try to always make myself available for more responsibility.
Krista's Feedback
Great response; you do a wonderful job of highlighting your strengths and how they would benefit the FBI. To improve your response, I would encourage you take out "I feel like" at the beginning. Be confident in stating your strengths and owning them!
Anonymous Answer
My top three strengths would have to be my ability to remain calm in very stressful circumstances, my competitive nature to be the best at whatever I do, and my willingness to help others. Being able to remain calm bodes well while working for the FBI as many situations can become stressful in the blink of an eye. Having somebody that can think clearly and respond accordingly is very important. My competitiveness will drive me to put myself to be better than the day before and end up in the best position to succeed in those previously mentioned situations. Part of the job is helping others and I have always put other people ahead of myself. I think that is a valuable asset when working together with a team.
Krista's Feedback
Good! Applying these qualities to the job will help your interviewer draw the right conclusion about your candidacy.
Anonymous Answer
I am reliable, dependable, and organized.
I can be counted on at any time. I am usually very flexible and have worked overtime and have covered shifts in my previous jobs, in order to help my co-workers and my manager.
I am organized and keep a track of my work in a way that if anyone needs immediate information, I can quickly locate it and provide them with the information needed.
Krista's Feedback
You mention some wonderful traits here! Because "reliable" and "dependable" have a very similar meaning, I would suggest replacing one of these words with an additional positive describing word. Example: "I am dependable, adaptable, and organized." (Naming flexibility or adaptability as one of your top three traits is definitely supported by the examples you provide in the rest of the response.)
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