Describe the attributes that contribute the most to your success both personally and professionally. Be confident and provide supporting detail for your response. While your list of strengths is likely to be long, it is best to target three to five in your answer. Your interview time is limited and your interviewer is invested in walking away with a well-rounded perspective of you as a candidate for the Sloan MBA program.

As a career coach, I often work with clients who struggle with this question. Some are aware of their strengths, but they have a difficult time with questions that feel like they require self-promotion. Others are unclear on their strengths and have a difficult time articulating their response. In either case, my advice is for my clients to ask their peers, mentors, family, and friends this question. Oftentimes hearing what others perceive as the greatest strengths of my clients helps to boost their confidence and refine their responses before an interview.

My critical thinking, adaptability, and ability to empathize are three strengths that have served me well personally and professionally. I like to review problems and opportunities objectively and from a variety of perspectives. I lean on a mix of analytical and intuitive information and blend them together to make informed decisions.

I have learned to be flexible and agile. My background in technology requires these skills due to the rate of change. Also, I have experienced a number of significant and unexpected changes in my personal life. I am skilled at helping myself and others process and adapt as a result.

Finally, I have worked hard at improving my ability to connect with others and relate to what they are thinking and feeling. In my experience, this ability exponentially improves my ability to communicate effectively resulting in quality interactions with others.