Avoid describing a strength that the interviewer is not necessarily looking for in a Firefighter candidate. If you review the job announcement, look for keywords describing their ideal candidate and use one of those keywords in your response. For example, if the job posting says they are looking for a trustworthy, dependable Firefighter who has a strong work ethic and excellent communication skills, choose one of those as your greatest strength.

If you say your most significant strength is your ability to type 100 words per minute, that may be acceptable for an administrative position, but not necessarily for a Firefighter position. If you use a keyword the interviewer posted in the job announcement, you will stand out as a strong candidate.

You should also avoid being unprepared to answer this question. Some people feel as if they are bragging about themselves when asked about their greatest strength. However, this is the time to sell yourself about your most remarkable attribute that will benefit the department if hired.

"My greatest strength as a Firefighter is my strong work ethic. I was taught at a young age to work hard, do tasks that need to be done before being told, and help others when they need assistance with something. I have been commended on my work ethic in past performance reviews, describing me as someone who is always early to work, stays late when needed, does tasks without being told, and helps coworkers when needed."

"As a Firefighter, I believe my greatest strength is my communication skills. I am patient, actively listen to whoever I am speaking with without interrupting, and communicate that I understand what they are saying. When working with patients, I like them to know that I listened and understood what they said. I can effectively communicate with the public, my coworkers, and supervisors in both written and verbal form."