5 ways to find out what your strengths are

One of the best ways to help you decide what kinds of jobs might suit you is to ask yourself, and those around you, some questions related to who you are, your strengths and interests. Also think about what jobs are in demand and expected to continue growing. Sound good? Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Ask around

A great way to find out more about yourself is to ask people you like, trust and respect what they think you’re best at. Why not make a list of people you can ask about the kinds of jobs they think might suit your strengths and personality, and why? They could be members of your family, a teacher or lecturer or somebody else you’re close to. If you’re not sure how or what to ask about, here are some ideas to get you started.

2.  Discover your personality
Check out the module, ‘Discover your personality’ for tips on how to get a better understanding of what makes you tick. Thinking about your personality is a great way to start identifying the kind of jobs which could be a good match.

3. Write down what you do
Over the course of a week, think about the 5 things you most enjoy doing and write them down. Challenge yourself to really think about why it is you like them. For example:

I have a blog that I update regularly with opinions, short stories and other bits and pieces I find around the web. I set aside time in the week to write and find stuff to publish, then I schedule posts on social media that link to my site.

In this instance, it’s clear that this person likes being organised, staying up to date with popular culture, and works well alone. Thinking about the kinds of activities you enjoy, or naturally find yourself doing, is a great way to help identify your strengths and skills.

4. Look for patterns
Once you have answers from a few different places, highlight any areas that come up frequently, or character traits that lots of people have identified. Try asking yourself the same questions and compare the answers to see if you agree. The skills which come up most frequently will most likely be your strongest. Now you can use the Wheel of Strengths to match these up with potential careers.

5. Keep an open mind
Some of the answers and results you get might be surprising, or highlight aspects of your personality that you hadn’t considered. Don’t dismiss these. The idea is to get a better picture of yourself, and that includes the image you present to other people, as well as what you’re good at and things that you could improve. These unexpected qualities might lend themselves to an area of work that you had never considered before.

Look at the required skills section on some job adverts and compare which ones you have. You will always be growing your skills so don’t worry if you don’t get complete matches. For more tips and guidance on developing your skills, check out the modules here.