How to Succeed in Strength-Based Graduate and Internship Applications at Watercare

How to Succeed in Strength-Based Graduate and Internship Applications at Watercare

At Watercare, we take a strengths-based approach to our graduate and internship recruitment. Unlike traditional competency-based hiring that focuses on past experiences, our process is designed to understand your natural abilities, motivations, and what energises you. We want to know what you love doing, not just what you can do right now. Here’s our advice on how you can stand out when applying for a role with us.

Understanding Our Strengths-Based Process

Our strengths-based recruitment focuses on what you naturally excel at and enjoy. We believe that when people work in roles aligned with their strengths, they are more engaged and successful. Rather than looking for a specific type of candidate, our rotational graduate programme is designed to accommodate a variety of skills, strengths, and personalities.

As students, you may have limited work experience, and that’s okay. We are more interested in what drives you than in a long list of past roles or qualifications. This approach helps remove bias and ensures a fairer, more inclusive process that welcomes people from different backgrounds and experiences.

Just as we want to get to know you, we also want to be upfront about who we are as an employer. Throughout the recruitment process, we’ll be honest about our culture, the opportunities we offer, and what it’s like to work at Watercare. That way, you can decide if we’re the right fit for you, just as much as we’re assessing if you’re the right fit for us.

How to Prepare Effectively

While strengths-based hiring doesn’t require extensive memorisation or rehearsed examples, preparation is still key. Here are some steps to help you feel confident and ready:

1. Self-Reflection: Know Your Strengths

• Think about activities that make you feel energised and engaged.
• Identify tasks you excel at naturally and enjoy doing.
• Ask friends, mentors, or colleagues for feedback on your strengths.
• Use online strengths assessments like Gallup’s CliftonStrengths or VIA Character Strengths to gain insights.

2. Understand Watercare and the Role

• Research our values, culture, and the qualities we look for in candidates.
• Review the job description to align your strengths with the role.
• Think about why you want to work with us and how your strengths will help you contribute to our team.

3. Practise Answering Strengths-Based Questions

Some questions you might encounter in our process include:

• Tell us about a paper or assignment you really enjoyed?
• Tell us about something you’re proud of?
• Tell us about something you’ve learned about yourself recently?
• What challenges do you enjoy tackling?
• Describe a time when you felt “in the zone” while working on something.

When answering, be authentic and enthusiastic. We are looking for genuine passion and self-awareness rather than perfectly rehearsed responses.

4. Be Aware of Non-Verbal Cues

Your energy, tone, and enthusiasm matter. Since our process aims to understand what excites you, let your passion shine through. If you naturally smile and speak with enthusiasm about a topic, it’s a good indicator that it aligns with your strengths.

5. Stay True to Yourself

One of the biggest advantages of our strengths-based approach is that it allows you to be yourself. You don’t have to mould yourself into what you think we want. Instead, focus on showcasing your authentic strengths and motivations.

During the Interview

• Be natural and conversational: Our interviews are designed to feel more like a discussion than a test.
• Be concise but detailed: Provide clear examples but avoid over-explaining.  Where providing examples, we recommend using the STAR interview model.
• Showcase adaptability: Demonstrate how you use your strengths in different situations.
• Express enthusiasm: We are drawn to candidates who genuinely enjoy what they do.

Final Thoughts

Our strengths-based recruitment process is a fantastic opportunity to showcase who you truly are and what drives you. Because our graduate programme is rotational, it has the flexibility to suit different types of people with diverse strengths and interests. By understanding your strengths, aligning them with Watercare’s values, and authentically expressing your passion, you’ll make a lasting impression on us.

Approach the process with confidence, and remember—it’s not about being the “perfect” candidate but about finding a role that genuinely fits you and allows you to thrive with us.