"In the past few years, I was able to upgrade my education while still working full-time. The biggest skill I gained was my ability to multi-task as I worked the dual role of employee and student. I worked incredibly hard to balance those responsibilities, and I would bring this motivation to the role of a programmer at Plaid. I also pride myself on my curiosity. Expanding the breadth of my knowledge is important to me, and I did that academically. My curiosity is a motivator for me, and my attitude toward learning helps me to progress professionally. As for a third skill, I would say that I'm personable. I've always been a people person, and I work well with others. At my current job, I work with a team of six people. We've developed a top-notch strategy for communicating and divvying up tasks."

"There are many skills I gained in my most recent position as I underwent a fantastic training program and worked with strong mentors. If I had to choose three top skills, I would say solid collaboration with team members, analytical thinking skills, and intercultural competency. I take my commitments to clients and my colleagues very seriously, and I feel confident in my ability to deliver on those traits."

Before the interview, make a list of the most noteworthy skills you have developed in your previous role. Make sure to include both hard and soft skills, and then reflect on which are most relevant to this role and which provide the best examples to share with your interviewer.

You might point to specific skills that are relevant to the new role, or you can also discuss more broadly applicable skills, such as:

- Experience leading others
- Ability to motivate a team
- Experience in giving positive feedback
- Ability to terminate employees with tact
- Strong research skills
- Clear written and verbal communication skills