8 answers
Torey
Student
Hopewell, Virginia
8
Questions
Asked
8733 views
How can I assess my strengths and weaknesses to figure out a perfect career for me?
I've been in career prep class, and we've been doing assignments on a set career we want to pursue, but I have no idea what to put
Login to comment
8 answers
Lyndsay Pitbladdo
Sr Account Manager
2
Answers
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Lyndsay’s Answer
One thing that I did when I was trying to figure out a career path was that I looked for as many volunteer opportunities as I could find in the fields that I was considering. There is something to be said about real life hands-on experience. Gaining hands-on experience, even in a volunteer capacity, can expose you to different work environments and help you discover what you like and dislike. Volunteering offers a low-pressure way to dip your toes into various industries and roles. Even if it's unpaid, volunteering provides practical experience that you can add to your resume. It demonstrates initiative, commitment, and a willingness to contribute. This can be particularly helpful if you have limited paid work experience. Internship opportunities are another great way to get this same type of exposure.
Don't forget to enjoy the ride while you are doing this! It is a great and fun time in your life and you will look back on it with fondness. Best of luck!
Don't forget to enjoy the ride while you are doing this! It is a great and fun time in your life and you will look back on it with fondness. Best of luck!
Milena Offredo
Campus Recruitment Analyst
9
Answers
Wilmington, North Carolina
Updated
Milena’s Answer
Hey Torey,
Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is an ongoing journey, even for adults, so it's completely okay to find this challenging. There's a wealth of personality and career quizzes available online that could provide a helpful starting point, many of which are free.
A great place to start could be the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Career Aptitude test. It's a quick 15-minute questionnaire that can offer valuable insights into your personality traits, which can then suggest potential career paths that might suit you.
Another highly recommended test is the Clifton Strengths test. Although it might require a small investment, it's well-respected and widely used by colleges, universities, and employers to help pinpoint your strengths.
Remember, career paths aren't set in stone and can change over time. So, don't worry if you explore one path during this assignment and then decide to try something else. Explore as many options as catch your eye, and from there, you can decide if it's something you'd like to pursue further.
Wishing you the best of luck on your journey!
Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is an ongoing journey, even for adults, so it's completely okay to find this challenging. There's a wealth of personality and career quizzes available online that could provide a helpful starting point, many of which are free.
A great place to start could be the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Career Aptitude test. It's a quick 15-minute questionnaire that can offer valuable insights into your personality traits, which can then suggest potential career paths that might suit you.
Another highly recommended test is the Clifton Strengths test. Although it might require a small investment, it's well-respected and widely used by colleges, universities, and employers to help pinpoint your strengths.
Remember, career paths aren't set in stone and can change over time. So, don't worry if you explore one path during this assignment and then decide to try something else. Explore as many options as catch your eye, and from there, you can decide if it's something you'd like to pursue further.
Wishing you the best of luck on your journey!
Sasha Joogoolsingh
Human Resources
57
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Sasha’s Answer
Hello Torey,
Choosing the perfect career can sometimes feel like a puzzle, but don't worry, we're here to help you piece it together!
1. Start by taking a good look at yourself. Think about what you're good at, what you love to do, and what gets you excited to start each day. Find a career that lights your fire!
2. Evaluate your skills - Consider what kind of work environment suits you best. Do you thrive in a fast-paced setting, a balanced work-life situation, or perhaps you're drawn to specific sectors like technology or construction?
3. Take an aptitude test - Tools like StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), or the Holland Code (RIASEC) can be really helpful in revealing your strengths and personality traits.
4. Get some hands-on experience - Try out working or volunteering in areas that you think might interest you. Pay attention to what you excel at, what you don't enjoy, and whether the experience sparks new interests.
5. Seek feedback from those who know you best - your family and friends. They can offer valuable insights into your abilities and potential.
6. Network, network, network - Start building relationships in the fields you're interested in. This will help you learn about future opportunities and gain insight into the industries that catch your eye.
7. Re-evaluate your skills - As you gain experience and make connections, you might find that your needs and career path evolve. That's okay! It's all part of the journey.
Don't forget to chat with your career counselor too. They might have insights into career paths that could be a great fit for you. Remember, finding your passion can be a challenge, but once you discover it, your career path will become clear. Best of luck on your journey!
Choosing the perfect career can sometimes feel like a puzzle, but don't worry, we're here to help you piece it together!
1. Start by taking a good look at yourself. Think about what you're good at, what you love to do, and what gets you excited to start each day. Find a career that lights your fire!
2. Evaluate your skills - Consider what kind of work environment suits you best. Do you thrive in a fast-paced setting, a balanced work-life situation, or perhaps you're drawn to specific sectors like technology or construction?
3. Take an aptitude test - Tools like StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), or the Holland Code (RIASEC) can be really helpful in revealing your strengths and personality traits.
4. Get some hands-on experience - Try out working or volunteering in areas that you think might interest you. Pay attention to what you excel at, what you don't enjoy, and whether the experience sparks new interests.
5. Seek feedback from those who know you best - your family and friends. They can offer valuable insights into your abilities and potential.
6. Network, network, network - Start building relationships in the fields you're interested in. This will help you learn about future opportunities and gain insight into the industries that catch your eye.
7. Re-evaluate your skills - As you gain experience and make connections, you might find that your needs and career path evolve. That's okay! It's all part of the journey.
Don't forget to chat with your career counselor too. They might have insights into career paths that could be a great fit for you. Remember, finding your passion can be a challenge, but once you discover it, your career path will become clear. Best of luck on your journey!
Jared Lankowski
finance
4
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Jared’s Answer
Hi Torey! Assessing your strengths and weaknesses is a crucial step in figuring out the perfect career for you. Start by considering what fills your bucket and makes you feel good. Think about the activities and tasks that energize you and bring you satisfaction. These are often indicators of your strengths and passions.
Next, ask for feedback from people who know you well, such as friends, family, teachers, or colleagues. They can provide valuable insights into your abilities and areas for improvement that you might not see yourself.
Engage in self-evaluation and have honest conversations with yourself. Reflect on your experiences, both positive and negative, to identify patterns in what you enjoy and what you find challenging.
Additionally, look at gaps in your resume. These gaps can highlight areas where you might need to develop new skills or gain more experience. By understanding these gaps, you can take steps to address them and become a more well-rounded candidate.
Combining these approaches will give you a clearer picture of your strengths and weaknesses, helping you to identify a career path that aligns with your skills and interests. Good luck!
Next, ask for feedback from people who know you well, such as friends, family, teachers, or colleagues. They can provide valuable insights into your abilities and areas for improvement that you might not see yourself.
Engage in self-evaluation and have honest conversations with yourself. Reflect on your experiences, both positive and negative, to identify patterns in what you enjoy and what you find challenging.
Additionally, look at gaps in your resume. These gaps can highlight areas where you might need to develop new skills or gain more experience. By understanding these gaps, you can take steps to address them and become a more well-rounded candidate.
Combining these approaches will give you a clearer picture of your strengths and weaknesses, helping you to identify a career path that aligns with your skills and interests. Good luck!
Lindsay Roberts
8
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Lindsay’s Answer
A good place to start is by getting really honest with yourself about what you enjoy doing, what gives you energy, and where you naturally excel. Think about times when you’ve felt really in the zone — what were you doing? On the flip side, reflect on what drains you or feels like a constant struggle. Tools like personality assessments (like StrengthsFinder or even free ones like 16Personalities) can help give language to your strengths, but also talk to people who know you well — friends, former coworkers, mentors
Miha B
Academic and Career Counselor | Human Resources Specialist | Internal Auditor
30
Answers
Winter Park, Florida
Updated
Miha’s Answer
How to Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses to Find Your Perfect Career
Choosing a career can feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure where to start. The good news? Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses is a powerful first step, and this guide will help you explore your potential and align it with a fulfilling career.
1. Reflect on Your Interests
Your passions and interests are often clues to a career you’ll love. Ask yourself:
What subjects or activities excite me the most?
What hobbies do I enjoy, and why?
Are there tasks I naturally gravitate toward or lose track of time doing?
Exploring these questions can help you uncover career options that align with what you genuinely enjoy.
2. Identify Your Strengths
Your strengths are the abilities you excel in, whether they come naturally or are skills you’ve developed over time. To identify them:
Think about times you’ve been successful—what skills helped you achieve those results?
Reflect on compliments or recognition you’ve received from teachers, peers, or family.
Consider academic or extracurricular achievements that came easily to you.
Use online tools like career assessments or personality tests (e.g., Myers-Briggs, CliftonStrengths).
Examples of strengths might include problem-solving, leadership, creativity, or adaptability.
3. Acknowledge Your Weaknesses
Understanding areas for growth can help you refine your career focus:
What tasks do you find challenging or uninteresting?
Are there subjects or activities where you consistently struggle?
What feedback have you received about areas to improve?
Recognizing your weaknesses isn’t about limiting yourself—it’s about knowing where to focus your development or finding careers that don’t require those skills as a primary focus.
4. Explore Career Assessments
Career assessments can provide deeper insights into your personality, skills, and interests. Some popular tools include:
Holland Code (RIASEC): Matches careers to your personality and interests.
StrengthsFinder: Focuses on identifying your natural talents.
O*NET Interest Profiler: Offers a free tool to explore career matches based on your interests.
5. Gain Real-World Insights
Once you’ve identified potential careers, explore them further:
Shadow professionals in fields you’re curious about.
Take internships or volunteer roles to get hands-on experience.
Research career paths online to learn about job duties, salary, and growth opportunities.
6. Stay Flexible
Remember, choosing a career is a journey, not a one-time decision. Your interests and strengths may evolve over time, and that’s okay. Many people change careers multiple times throughout their lives.
Final Thought
The key to finding your perfect career is self-discovery. By reflecting on your strengths, acknowledging areas for growth, and exploring opportunities, you can make confident, informed decisions. Whether you're a student like the one asking this question or someone revisiting their career path, this approach works for everyone seeking clarity about their future.
Choosing a career can feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure where to start. The good news? Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses is a powerful first step, and this guide will help you explore your potential and align it with a fulfilling career.
1. Reflect on Your Interests
Your passions and interests are often clues to a career you’ll love. Ask yourself:
What subjects or activities excite me the most?
What hobbies do I enjoy, and why?
Are there tasks I naturally gravitate toward or lose track of time doing?
Exploring these questions can help you uncover career options that align with what you genuinely enjoy.
2. Identify Your Strengths
Your strengths are the abilities you excel in, whether they come naturally or are skills you’ve developed over time. To identify them:
Think about times you’ve been successful—what skills helped you achieve those results?
Reflect on compliments or recognition you’ve received from teachers, peers, or family.
Consider academic or extracurricular achievements that came easily to you.
Use online tools like career assessments or personality tests (e.g., Myers-Briggs, CliftonStrengths).
Examples of strengths might include problem-solving, leadership, creativity, or adaptability.
3. Acknowledge Your Weaknesses
Understanding areas for growth can help you refine your career focus:
What tasks do you find challenging or uninteresting?
Are there subjects or activities where you consistently struggle?
What feedback have you received about areas to improve?
Recognizing your weaknesses isn’t about limiting yourself—it’s about knowing where to focus your development or finding careers that don’t require those skills as a primary focus.
4. Explore Career Assessments
Career assessments can provide deeper insights into your personality, skills, and interests. Some popular tools include:
Holland Code (RIASEC): Matches careers to your personality and interests.
StrengthsFinder: Focuses on identifying your natural talents.
O*NET Interest Profiler: Offers a free tool to explore career matches based on your interests.
5. Gain Real-World Insights
Once you’ve identified potential careers, explore them further:
Shadow professionals in fields you’re curious about.
Take internships or volunteer roles to get hands-on experience.
Research career paths online to learn about job duties, salary, and growth opportunities.
6. Stay Flexible
Remember, choosing a career is a journey, not a one-time decision. Your interests and strengths may evolve over time, and that’s okay. Many people change careers multiple times throughout their lives.
Final Thought
The key to finding your perfect career is self-discovery. By reflecting on your strengths, acknowledging areas for growth, and exploring opportunities, you can make confident, informed decisions. Whether you're a student like the one asking this question or someone revisiting their career path, this approach works for everyone seeking clarity about their future.
Teresa Brzozowski
Workplace Experience
36
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Teresa’s Answer
Hello Torey,
It's wonderful to take a step back and evaluate our strengths and weaknesses at any point in our career journey! Begin by reflecting on your current abilities and areas that could use some enhancement in your daily tasks, whether at school or in part-time jobs. Compiling a list of your skills is a great starting point, and don't hesitate to seek feedback from friends, teachers, and family. Remember, feedback is a valuable tool for growth, helping us uncover blind stops we may have about ourselves.
When considering future careers, aligning them with your strengths can pave the way for success. Keep in mind that as you progress in your professional life, your skills and interests may evolve, so it's beneficial to periodically reassess your abilities, strengths, and areas for growth.
While finding the "perfect" career might seem daunting, it's important to remember that every job has its ups and downs. The key is to find something that resonates with your skills and interests.
Wishing you all the best on your exciting career journey!
It's wonderful to take a step back and evaluate our strengths and weaknesses at any point in our career journey! Begin by reflecting on your current abilities and areas that could use some enhancement in your daily tasks, whether at school or in part-time jobs. Compiling a list of your skills is a great starting point, and don't hesitate to seek feedback from friends, teachers, and family. Remember, feedback is a valuable tool for growth, helping us uncover blind stops we may have about ourselves.
When considering future careers, aligning them with your strengths can pave the way for success. Keep in mind that as you progress in your professional life, your skills and interests may evolve, so it's beneficial to periodically reassess your abilities, strengths, and areas for growth.
While finding the "perfect" career might seem daunting, it's important to remember that every job has its ups and downs. The key is to find something that resonates with your skills and interests.
Wishing you all the best on your exciting career journey!
Misha D'Andrea
Learning + Development
55
Answers
New York, NY
Updated
Misha’s Answer
Do a personal SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats [external barriers]). It takes time to do self-reflection and really hone in on what it is you want and where you are at, and that's okay! Try different roles and be okay with pivoting if it doesn't seem like a fit, fail fast and then move on. Be sure to get feedback from friends, teachers, family, co-workers if you have any at this point. Identify different interests that might align with different careers and tie them back to your strengths. The first step is finding alignment between those things.
Courtesy of Cloudera New Hires: Evan, Caleb, Jason, Kaushik, and Maria
Find a mentor to help guide you
Force yourself outside of your comfort zone to try new things
Courtesy of Cloudera New Hires: Evan, Caleb, Jason, Kaushik, and Maria
Misha recommends the following next steps: