Career Development

When assessing your academic strengths, it’s essential to reflect on the subjects or courses in which you excel. Consider the classes where you consistently perform well and find yourself naturally drawn to the material. Identify the areas of study where you feel confident, engaged, and able to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. These subjects could be indicators of your academic strengths. Take note of the specific skills you possess within these areas as well. Reflect on the abilities that set you apart and make you successful in those subjects. These could include critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical skills, research abilities, or effective written and verbal communication. Understanding your academic strengths can help guide your choice of major and lead you to fields where you are likely to thrive.

Your personal strengths are the qualities and attributes that make you who you are. Take some time to consider the characteristics that define your character and contribute to your success in various areas of life. What qualities do others recognize in you? Reflect on traits such as leadership, creativity, adaptability, resilience, empathy, or the ability to collaborate effectively. These personal strengths are not limited to academic settings but can extend to all aspects of your life, including relationships, extracurricular activities, and personal achievements. Think about instances or situations where you have demonstrated these strengths and how they have positively influenced your experiences. Identifying and acknowledging your personal strengths can provide valuable insight into the ways you can contribute to teams, projects, and organizations, both in college and future career paths.

Transferable skills are the abilities and competencies you develop through various experiences outside of the classroom. These skills can be applied across different domains and are highly valued by employers. Consider your part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, or involvement in clubs and organizations. Reflect on the skills you have acquired through these experiences. They could include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, time management, leadership, or technology proficiency. Recognize how these skills can be transferred to different career paths and industries, making you adaptable and versatile. By identifying and understanding your transferable skills, you can effectively showcase your capabilities to potential employers and make informed decisions about internships, co-op programs, or other experiential learning opportunities that align with your strengths and future goals.

Strong Interest Inventory (SII) matches your interests with the interests of people who have been in career fields for at least three years and are happy with their work. To take this assessment, make an appointment on Handshake for Career Exploration and Research. In this appointment, we will discuss the SII in a little more depth and you’ll receive instructions for taking the assessment.

CliftonStrengths, developed by Gallup, is a widely recognized and respected assessment tool for identifying individual strengths. It focuses on identifying your top strengths out of a list of 34 themes. The assessment helps you understand your unique combination of talents and provides insights into how you can apply those strengths in various areas of your life. The results of the CliftonStrengths assessment can guide you in making choices that align with your strengths and pursuing opportunities that allow you to leverage them effectively.

The DISC assessment is used by individuals, businesses, and organizations to help people find their ideal career, create highly functional teams, and improve workplace communication. DISC stands for the four basic behavioral styles of Drive, Influence, Support and Clarity. The assessment describes the differences between individuals and helps us better understand why people do what they do and use that information to reduce workplace conflict and improve working relationships.

The Enneagram test is very similar to the MBTI test in that it can help you identify your specific personality type while also providing insight into your behaviors, fears, and motivations. There are nine defined personality types that have their own traits, strengths, and weaknesses. The personality types are numbered one through nine and are unique in their own ways. This test is very helpful in developing self-awareness of how you engage with the world around you.

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI, is a self-report assessment designed to identify personality types so they are understandable and useful in everyday life. Your assessment results will enhance your understanding of yourself, your motivations, natural strengths, preferences, and potential areas for growth. Having this knowledge and understanding will help you explore possible career options based on your personality. 

To take this assessment, you must first make an appointment on Handshake for Career Exploration and Research. You will meet with an advisor to discuss the MBTI in more depth and receive instructions for taking the assessment.