How to Discuss Your Special Talents During Interviews

Have you ever come across a job description that involves the word “talent”? Talent management is used to describe an organization’s commitment to recruit, hire, retain, and develop the best talented employees from the job market. Businesses use this strategy to attract top talent, assuring potential employees of the opportunity to develop professionally.

Finding companies that want to work with talented employees is becoming more common as companies understand how talented people can make a positive impact and a change in their organisation. Candidates who want to work with these companies can showcase their talent during an interview conversation.

The Interview

Preparation for an interview is key. One relevant part is to know yourself, and knowing the answers to questions like — how well do I accept direction and feedback? Do I work well under pressure? How motivated am I? Do I really want this job? Do I want to lead or follow? Etc. — will help you know where you stand on your career path and whether the job you are considering is right for you. Furthermore, being able to answer these questions confidently will help reveal your talents during an interview, because the interviewer will get to know who you are, and what the job means to you.

During an interview, the interviewer seeks the best candidates by steering conversations to specific interview questions, in order to reveal and to understand what the candidates’ true intentions are. Therefore, during an interview, candidates can focus on their effective commutation skills. During conversation, listening actively is listening twice as much as you speak, with your whole body. When you do speak, be articulate and clear so that you are understood. Beware of your non-verbal communication skills, so that you send the correct message; this includes eye contact, tone of voice, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Summarize and reflect back what you have heard to assure the other person that you were listening, and that you understood what was discussed.

Conversations Showcasing Talent

First, be able to give examples or identify how to solve problems. This will show you are capable of solving actual problems that you might face in the new job. Describe a stressful work situation, and how would you handle the situation. Talk about a situation when you had to think outside the box in order to get the job done. Express that if you were the manager of your pervious position, what you would have done differently or changed.

Second, show that you have a mind-set to adapt, and you are able to think of the future. Explain your thoughts about the current industry and demonstrate awareness of the company. Recognize current industry problems and opportunities, explaining or forecasting how companies will change, pursuing what is beneficial in the long run.

Third, show your ability to continuously innovate, adapt, and learn new things related to the sector or other new trends. Give an example of how you would typically research, learn and maintain relevance to continuously keep yourself up-to-date. Describe a situation when fast adaptability was required, and the process of how you adapted at work. Give an example of an innovative project you worked on or created, talk about your role, process, implementation and result.

Talk About Talent

Describe your ideal position or dream job. Explain who you are and how you would use your abilities and strengths to carry out responsibilities or daily tasks related to the sector or job. Be sure to answer honestly when talking about your abilities and strengths, so you are able to explain the situation based on your experience. You can also express some work-related weaknesses and create a solution by showing how teamwork or colleagues can contribute to the situation, hence demonstrating that you are a team player. Give examples related to communication, thinking, computer, research, planning, leadership, creativity, strategies, management, feedback, teamwork, problem solving, empowerment, and more. Express what and how you motivate yourself and those around you to show that you are confident, determined and genuinely want everyone, including yourself, to be successful.


All in all, you want the recruiter to recognize your talents and the value you will bring to the job you are applying for. Therefore, take every opportunity during the interview to keep the focus on your talents and how they can be an added value to your future employer.

By Maybeline Whitter