Check out the three most common and least common strengths at the bottom of the page. Have you taken the StrengthsFinder assessment? Tell us @MSUMadvocate about #StrengthsFinder on Twitter.
MSUM is preparing students for the professional world through personalized strength assessments.
The Career Development Center will train 15 staff members this week in the StrengthsQuest program, an online assessment and tool kit that aids those who have taken the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment.
Sarah Miller, Career Development Center director, is excited about the tools that StrengthsQuest gives to students.
“The assessment is interactive and self guided,” Miller said. “It gives students an edge when they go interview for jobs. They will be able to give thought-out responses and know their strengths and what they are good at.”
The idea of discovering and developing strengths rather than improving weaknesses has circulated in the professional world over the last decade in light of assessments such as StrengthsFinder. Team building is becoming an important aspect for 21st century businesses. Miller said it has helped her own internal staff.
“I know that someone on my staff has the strength of ‘woo’, so I will often have her do presentations because she is good at it,” Miller says. “Not only is she good at it, but she likes doing it.”
Miller says that her own strength of “developer” is utilized every day in her work with students.
“I like to see developments in people,” Miller says. “Even seeing a small change in a resume gives me energy.”
Students interested in StrengthsFinder can go the Career Development Center to take the assessment. For $13 they will receive an access code to the site online. Students should expect to spend around 30 minutes answering the questions. Upon completion, they will receive results in their top ive strength areas and resources to help them grow professionally and relationally in each.
Likewise, Miller encourages any student group that would like to have training in StrengthsQuest to stop by the Career Development Center.
StrengthsFinder gives an assessment of 34 areas. Here are the 3 most common and the 3 least common strength areas according to strengthsquest.com.
Most Common Strengths:
Achiever: Those talented in this theme have a great deal of stamina an hard work. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.
Adaptability: Those talented in this theme prefer to “go with the flow.” They tend to be “now” people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.
Responsibility: Those talented in this theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.
Least Common Strengths:
Self Assurance: Those talented in this theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right.
Significance: Those talented in this theme want to be important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.
Command: Those talented in this theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions.