Providing Persuasive Expertise Examples at an Interview

An interview question seeking expertise examples focuses on a candidate’s practical application of skills that are based on their knowledge and experience. Each job requires different proficiencies, so expertise requirements vary based on position, level of experience, and industry. While these queries can be phrased differently, they are usually straightforward, general questions on your skills or what you can contribute to an employer instead of situational questions that seek to explore a particular ability. Examples of questions that seek examples of expertise include:

• Tell me about your work experience.
• What can you contribute to this company?
• What applicable skills and experience do you have?
• Why are you the best person for this job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• How will your strengths improve your performance?
• Tell me about what makes you right for this job.
• What are your areas of expertise?
• What are the relevant skills in which you excel?
• Do you believe you’re a good fit for this job? Please explain.

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Employers ask for expertise examples because they want to identify the skills, or knowledge areas, which you have mastered through your education and industry experience. When compared to a skill, expertise represents a more advanced level of proficiency. For example, while following a course in customer service can give you customer service skills, helping a tech startup to build their client base and become a market leader in five years can make you an expert in managing clients.

Consequently, expertise indicates mastery in a particular area of activity or understanding. Unlike providing evidence of a skill, such as problem-solving and strategy, communicating an example of expertise involves showing the hiring manager how you applied a particular skill effectively in the workplace and including metrics that indicate your superior grasp of this ability. By answering a question on expertise well, you can gain several advantages, such as:

• Your answer indicates your professional strengths. Giving an interviewer a relevant, experience-based example of your expertise highlights your key attributes for the job.
• Your answer demonstrates your professional achievements. You can use questions on expertise to provide answers that showcase both your expertise and your major achievements.
• Your answer showcases your communication skills. Communication skills are usually essential for any job. Answering a question seeking an expertise example competently enables you to tell a persuasive story that showcases your skills as a communicator and proves your proficiency in this skill area.
• Your answer provides the hiring manager with essential information. The interviewer can use the information you provide to a question on expertise to evaluate if your proficiencies match what the company is seeking.
• Your answer is an opportunity to impress the hiring manager. This question gives you an opportunity to quantify your professional abilities and achievements in various areas, anticipate the interviewer’s subsequent skill-based questions, and provide a comprehensive answer that grabs their attention.

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You can use the following steps to provide expertise examples at an interview:

1. Identify the expertise needed for the job

Each job requires primary and ancillary skills. Use your research skills to find out the key proficiencies required to work in the position to which you’re applying. You can get this information from the job listing itself and reputed career guidance websites. Before your interview, assess the primary abilities needed for the position based on your research. For example, if you’re applying for an accountant position, accuracy is a primary skill. Consequently, it’s an area in which you can show your expertise.

2. Find your skills that match the expertise requirements

Find your best skills to showcase expertise, for this will help you to develop a persuasive answer. To do so, read your resume, use self-assessment tools, and identify abilities you have mastered that match the primary skill requirements of the job.

3. Research your answer

When you know what your main skills are, look through your work experience and educational achievements for quantitative data that shows your expertise. You may need to develop accurate, relevant metrics based on your performance.

4. Write your answer

Use your research findings to write an answer that provides two or three examples of your expertise in different skill areas that are relevant to the job.

5. Improve answer and delivery

Check your answer and correct any factual, grammar, or syntax mistakes. Next, memorize the answer. Then, practice it until you can convey it confidently.

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You can use the following example answers on expertise to prepare your own:

Example 1: Senior administrative assistant

Problem-solving and decision-making are among my main strengths, and I believe I could be an asset to your team because I can assess issues quickly, evaluate multiple solutions, choose the best one, and implement them. During my time at Priced Right, the printer stopped working when I was printing the materials needed for an important presentation to key stakeholders on the ROI of a project that my boss was managing. I rescheduled a nonurgent activity, traveled to a printing facility, and completed my task with time to spare while coordinating the printer repair. 

I’m also a reliable team player who enjoys working with professionals in various departments and meeting shared goals. I’m proud of my contribution to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction last year that resulted from the implementation of a new procedure for handling customer calls and in-person interactions. 

Communication is another area in which I have focused on developing my expertise. As my job involves a great deal of collaboration with other support staff, executive-level professionals, and office suppliers, I have learned to think strategically and plan my written, verbal, and nonverbal communications to suit each receiver. I’m proud of maintaining an average approval rating of 90% from customers, managers, and coworkers. I know this achievement is mostly due to my abilities as a professional communicator.

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Example 2: Midlevel tax preparer

In my five years of experience providing tax preparation services, I have used my expertise in customer service, quantitative research, and financial accuracy to give my clients great value for their money. My expertise in these areas can be seen in my track record. For instance, I have provided savings via tax breaks to 90% of my clients and received an average client satisfaction score of 95%. 

I’m also proud of my proficiency in creating value for my employers by going above and beyond at work and providing an essential contribution. For example, during my two years at Forsyth Associates, I responded to the corporate objective of increasing the customer base by developing a persuasive internet marketing campaign with a freelance marketing professional to highlight the corporate brand’s key value propositions, which were faster response times, compliance with legislation, and more tax savings for customers. As a result of my contribution in this area, we enjoyed a 39% increase in new customers and a 20% profitability increase within 12 months of the campaign launch. 

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Example 3: Senior Chief Sustainability Officer

You should hire me because of my expertise in developing and implementing sustainable practices in organizations and leading corporate brands toward sustainability. For example, during my time at Stainless, I identified areas in which there were several wastes in the production process due to the inefficient utilization of energy and raw materials. I developed proposals to combat them by using renewable energies and locally sourced materials. Then, I collaborated with my colleagues, got funding and approval, and implemented my plans. 

My strategies resulted in more sustainable operations, a 34% reduction in the energy overhead, and an increased business contribution to local suppliers. Additionally, I achieved a 40% increase in brand awareness among locals, which was one of our key markets, due to the firm’s sustainable activities. 

Consequently, you should know why answering this interview question effectively matters and how to provide effective expertise examples of your own. Use what you learned in this article to assess your skill-based strengths and provide a strong answer that proves your worth to a potential employer. Keep preparing for the employment opportunity you deserve.