Im bored and frustrated with so many things. I find it easy to connect with others because of my high levels of empathy, and I feel fulfilled when I interact positively with others. My issue I believe is like yours in that I like where I work, and that is what has kept me at my job of 5 years. First, thank you for this great article. 4. While she didnt like learning that about herself, it helped her understand that if she was going to make a change, she needed to do it with small, incremental, low-risk experiments. So my being a Relator tells you only about the organizational culture I need to look for, not a particular type of job Im suited for. They believe harming others will be harming themselves. Im currently a commercial underwriter. (I know, it sounds less of a strength than a real weakness). Ive made mistakes in the pastby moving to a new area because its exciting and new. Once you try that and see how it works, youll have a lot more credibility, either as a coach or as a business consultant (which is often just another type of coaching). Analytical At the same time, from List 2 she realized that the highly regimented process of becoming a doctor had made her very risk-averse and somewhat fearful of change. Or think about a possible career area and get a Dummies book about it. OK, heres my response in another blog post! Our natural tendency is to have high emotional attachment to anything weve invested in, so if youve spent a lot of time training for a particular job, it is very hard to shift gears and imagine what else you could do. For some people, List 1 and List 2 are nearly the same, and so the results are not surprising. But Im drawn to it because of the difference I can make in students life and have the sense of responsibility and freedom as well. However I have a question: You started to do this with your questions in the last paragraph- do you need a flat organization etc. Apply to Customer Service Representative, Spark Leadership Development Program Candidate, Business Development Specialist and more! If you like what you see, migrate to a different job inside your business. And its good to do your homework (like youve started to do with StrengthsFinders) to figure out what you like and dont like. Id recommend you start by learning more about other areas in your business. If you arent familiar with the List 2 strengths that the test came back with, read the descriptions. Knowing your natural talents and learning how to develop them into Strengths has been proven to lead people to success and. What makes it great for you? StrengthsFinder is designed to help you find the right path by clearly identifying what skills you like to use in your work and how you like to relate to your colleagues. Its challenging when you dont have held any jobs that have truly inspired you. You may feel an incredible responsibility, and that leaving this job is somehow shirking responsibility for your cause. I would recommend that you ask yourself what you like and dislike about your current career. I can see how my themes and personality type intertwine, however, I am also aware of how the economy is right now and dont want to risk pursuing a career in counseling or psychology (jobs that have been applied to my personality type) because I hear from family members who are also psych majors how hard it is to get a job after college in these fields or have not been compensated well pursuing them. Rather, you need to spend more time figuring out what X actually is. These skills came in handy one day, and I was discovered and eventually offered a contract gig at an international contractor doing something closer to what I studied. All that being said, I have no idea what I want to do with my life or should be doing with my life. I have recently been looking for a different job in a different industry but have not an idea as to where to start looking. I have also done marketing for a small construction firm where I put out print ads did market analysis, etc., basically focused on how to get the phone to ring more. I feel like Im wanting to simplify my life by just showing up and not have to deal with product placement, logistics, et. How can I possibly know the answers to these questions without hands on experience? If youre the type of person who sorts your books at home by topic, then by size, then by color, you should be an accountant. Here in Silicon Valley, our engineers are typically software engineers, and those who want to dream up new projects often go into product management, or just start a project/company on the side. I have the spirit of an entrepreneur & I am strategically-minded (four out of my five strengths fall into the strategic domain!) Write a marketing plan for it. Things I find interesting: Psychometrics, Psychology, Data analysis, Photography, Being able to make things better. Youre Strategic? Youre not a bad person for striking out on your own let yourself do it! I prefer stability, decent income, and comfortable working environments. Its seems the harder I work at this, the further from an answer I get. I get a number of questions like yours, and it made me realize that I should really compile my definitive answer to all these questions in a single blog post. My strengths are activator, strategic, relator, learner and input. I feel like its an interesting time career-wise and feels rather heavy as it seems I should really make a choice and go for it. This process is designed to help you figure out these strengths, reflect on whats important for you, and most importantly, to move forward on a new path. Growing Talent to Strength: Featuring StrengthsFinder 'Connectedness' Things happen for a reason. School is just a means to an end: it signals hey, I wanna do X! and it teaches you a few skills needed to get started. Do you think these strengths would be suited to a accounting career? Im a 24 year old full-time administrative employee and student. I decided that it was important for me to focus on marketing with a strong strategic aspect not technology, not product management. Ive worked in roles from product development, to market development, to now heading up a testing lab (leading people as well as doing technical work). Youll learn the most by living it. Im an undecided college freshman having difficulty deciding on a major and future career path. All of them have found it clarifying if not transformative, and Ive also learned some unusual lessons along the way. Or is there a specific job I should choose based on my CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) Top 5? Let's call it your strongest moment. Quantitative and problem-solving skills are valuable if not essential in some areas, such as digital marketing or market research. I always feel good when I am of service, listening and helping others find resolutions and recognizing the potential in a project or scenario and Im a detail person. I wanted to transition into tech (strategy, account management) because I simply felt it had more of the organizational culture that I sense I would fit better within (compared to the often regimented, traditional structure in finance, and especially at the firm where Ive been at for over 4 years). In other words, StrengthsFinder can tell you what you like and dislike, but its not a career recommendation tool. Discover courses and other experiences that bring out whats best in you, the people around you and your entire organization. m 26 years old and have been out of school for a few years. Could you give me some advice? If you like a structured environment that would allow you to use these strengths, and with the S in the Myers-Briggs, I think you could enjoy school social work. I decided to take the Strengthsfinder test at home at 1 a.m. to compare with my Drucker-based analysis results. My top 5 strengths are Intellection, Input, discipline, Harmony and Responsibility. Ive been a scientist in an biotech analytically instrument company but I recently felt that I am not in the right field. But I couldnt stand the mundane and repetitive Work. how to use StrengthsFinder for career assessment, How to Choose Marketing Automation Software, Why Branding Matters for Online Marketing, An open letter about proposed construction at 1752 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, How to Audit Your Digital Marketing Channels. And even now, before I face a new gig, I ask: will this work stimulate me? I also think I have positivity, adaptability and ideation. Now that we are all (kids too) older, I would like to spend the next 15 years applying my talents. I took the test: Activator, Positivity, Relator, Developer, Command. Im not sure of where to turn to feel happy in my career. I really enjoyed reading this article and the follow up career article as well. The first three have resulted from the two tests, the others only once. As a result, people have confidence in them and see them as trustworthy. I do get a bit frustrated with people who underperform due to laziness or apathy but I do like to see people succeed in life and help them to do that. You probably have a board. -Give examples of times you have enjoyed a task so much you forgot you were working. Gallup https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/249455/specific-career-best-match-top-cliftonstrengths.aspx, Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street, Washington, D.C., 20001, U.S.A. better match your talents and improve your effectiveness. Plus youre on the side of the angels, so its easy to justify overwork to yourself. Further down the road however I see more and more that coaching is definitely something that I LOVE and fits with my personality type and strengths. When interviewing, ask how much planning is required in the job, and dont take a job that is effectively pre-programmed. Understanding my strengths has helped me in setting the direction. Amy Shuman's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Communication, Competition, Maximizer, Significance and Focus. Its absurd! Significance Daniel, There are many directions that might make use of your skills. I am struggling in finding joy in my job. I wasnt able to fully define my strengths nor separate them from personal preferences to work or my personal qualities. It was great reading through these comments, and is so nice of you to take the time out to respond to others that are feeling lost. The industry you consulted to? The fact is, what youre looking for is more about the culture of an organization, not a particular industry or role. Several hundred UTEP community members have . Nobody expects much of you in your 20s anyway. Working alone must be even tougher. Your questions will help me move closer, but tell me, how did you arrive at marketing? Hello, I have been searching for something that fits my strengths better but this test (although great insight) left me at a stand still because I would love to start interviewing and begin a new career that encompassed more of my strengths. COMPENSATION: Pursuant to applicable regulations, if this job is performed in a relevant State, the salary range is $55,000- $67,000 plus bonus potential. It said that my leadership theme was Influence, i was wondering what type of career would i flourish in?. I also, 20 years ago, worked as a newspaper reporter. StrengthsFinder Definition - Input. My line of work is all I have ever known and it drove me to pursue an MPA to really excel and now Im not sure if its the direction I want to go in. Yes, some of the themes arent exactly proper English.) Read more about it at the official Gallup page. When I read the results the immediate next thought was, how would I then link the results to a potential future career which involves the results above ? Positivity In that role, you would work with individuals, identifying strengths and deficits, and creating goals and plans to overcome some of those deficits, as well as working with a team of people to accomplish goals within the school and for individuals. This turned out to be the right decision. One, at least for me, is that it is boring. Thanks a lot! I would love to hear your thoughts in this matter. My biggest fear is the lack of a steady paycheck and if I can make a good income doing sales to support my family and 2 young children. Anything about it? I loved the people I worked with and felt really energized. These domains help you understand how to use individual. I know thats not really the case, but I feel like Id have figured out what I should be doing by now. I realize you wrote this two years ago, and you may be in a totally different place right now, but in the case that you are still considering changes for your future, this is what I have to offer. I have been searching for something like this for months now, i completed strength finder test, my top five strengths are command, significance, competition,communication,relator ,how can i use them in a productive way, which careers should i focus on or what business should i start to use my strengths. 3 Achiever Micromanaging bosses who wont give me the room to have ownership over my work and allow me to be creative and to shine. Id love to provide a simple answer, but it wouldnt be the right thing. Consistency I think it will be more illuminating to you. 401 (k) with matching! Health, dental, vision, Employee Assistance Program, Hospital, Accident, Critical Illness, Life and even Pet Insurance are offered! DONT choose the answers that you think will make you look good its a waste of time and youll get less insight into yourself. OK, you should be a manager. Daniel, nice combo! 4. Sometimes, it reveals the skills you most wanted to use when you were starting your career. (The book itself provides a few ideas for this.) For example, do you like interior decoration? Im working on this right now, and it should be complete in the next few days. This helped her realize that going from one hired gun job to another would never bring her ultimate satisfaction. First, its interesting that you characterize the skills marketers need as assertive or aggressive thats not been my experience with marketing. I took strenghfinders twice years ago. Sometimes you gotta shake things up. Thanks! I found it stressful to have to lay down the law, and hold people accountable when they didnt show up or complete things on time. I wonder if perhaps these characteristics are more common to the people in your marketing class, rather than being typical of marketers you know. I like to feel like my life is helping other people and that I am accomplishing something as responsibility is one of my strengths. Nevertheless, its clear that there are a bunch of things she should NOT do, like accounting, say. My name is Courtney. As a result of this new level of awareness, I have been seeking out more opportunities to be in front of a room sharing information, writing more blogs, and volunteering to lead workshops wherever and whenever I can. Based on your results, though, have you considered sales management? If a particular degree seems scary or weird, dont do it instead, find a job relevant to that degree and do that for a while. Its hard to recommend anything without even knowing what kind of engineer you are. You like to learn, and process new info. Input And you like people, and are fair-minded about how you deal with them. Command. aligning your talents with what you do every day, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Perhaps business ownership of some kind? People with the Strength of Connectedness have a unique way of seeing events, people, and the world. Ive done email marketing, market research, account manager for a digital marketing agency, product marketing, content strategy & writer & industry marketing. Also, although I still use my design skills, I feel they might be too rusty compare to others to venture back into that world though I miss being creative. INPUT People with Input talents bring tools that can facilitate growth and performance. What is most important in marketing is a desire to understand people and communicate with them, since thats what marketing is all about. I advocate a process that depends on where you are. I ended up with: 1. This has nothing to do with my role in the company or my industry, and everything to do with the organizational culture of the company and department I work in. Namely textile design and interior design. Since then the company reorganized, some people have left and my position changed to a fundraising. Never before in my lifetime, but now, I feel like this decision to change careers, may be my last and feel like I cant make a mistake; really annoying. First, Id like to echo a lot of the other commenters and thank you for continuing to respond to comments. Usually resources are limited, you wear many hats, and demands are high. Their world is best described by the order they create. I am about to start studying Marketing Management but i am so worried i will not reach my full potential, or go in the wrong direction and get stuck. I work in software sales and know it is not the right profession for me, but what to do? Talk to the consumers of your data, and see what their life is like. Molding your practice around your preferred strengths may be difficult unless you, say, get into writing articles or books or giving regular seminars which are ways you can take your knowledge and process it into new ideas. Plus, the skills you mention might be good for an accounting career, but they might also be just as good for a marketing career. Your email address will not be published. Each strength has applicability in so many different fields that I think it would be reductive and inappropriate to guide people into a particular career just because of just a handful of strength themes. Gallup Strengths: Input, Intellection, Connectedness . Talk to your fellow students. Although certain themes do appear to be quite consistently dominant within certain professions, it would be wrong to say that a given profession requires dominant talents in certain themes. Great post, very good approach to principle which is widely applicable rather than just a particular instance that say everyone is the same. I have done the test and my results were Competition,Command,activator, futuristic and significance. Are you bored? Youre a newly minted MPA, and nobody will question your desire to go in a new direction or to want to explore something new. You can read more about this in my post onStrengthsFinder as a career guide. Provo, Utah Area. I am bored & feel that I am being underutilized in my job. My strengths are: Empathy, Achiever, Developer, Responsibility, Input, and until June, I was working as a teacher. Thank you. Intellection After reading through all of the descriptions it seems like I would do well in a small start-up, but I honestly have no idea where to start. Whatever you do, dont let the old you stand in the way of the new you. I dont know how to utilize my top 5 strengths for my unknown future career. Note that almost any job can be strategic you just need to find out what your companys objectives and business strategy are (or write down what you think they are) and align your work with that strategy. I found your website upon doing a search for job paths related to my Strengthsfinder top 5 (Empathy, Relator, Developer, Maximizer, Connectedness) and Im so glad it led me to this page. Well, I dont recommend you go into marketing, at least in English, since your English language skills could use work. Is it bad luck, or your motivation? If its motivation, is it about the product, your company, or your role? . First, I would say: relax. This process is designed to help you figure out these "strengths," reflect on what's important for you, and most importantly, to move forward on a new path. Thanks! 1. i have a bachelor degree in business and finance. Ive been tortured by this for years and can practically see the stress related wrinkles setting in! Their natural ability to be in the moment can help others see the way forward. I have recently taken the strength finder test and have received the following 5 as my best strengths, any thoughts? In some cases, these strengths are obvious to us that is, they are professional or intellectual skills that we are good at and enjoy. . Honestly, I dont know whether Im working in the wrong field/Company because I do not see any personal or career growth specifically in the position that I am in. Ask what they do and how they like it. Do not ignore these hidden strengths, because they reveal something deep about you. Do you want prestige or validation which maybe youre getting now, and are scared to lose? Im planning on entering the workforce full time again when my youngest is in full time school, 3 years away. People with Connectedness in their top 5 StrengthsFinder (CliftonStrengths) results believe that they are part of something larger. You could find this ideal cultural environment in a lot of different industries. My strengths are: Achiever, Discipline, Learner, Adaptability, and Relator, Ive got lots of ideas, but dont want to keep making the same mistakes and keep going all over the place. Hi Daniel, My past experience is in management of restaurants and grocery stores. Ive tried IT consulting, a startup as an account manager, and recruiting/onboarding at a consulting firm (current role). So any general advice and/or recommendations in courses would be a great help. Discounted Personal Training options! 3) Find the top 4 to 5 strengths that you think apply to you. I completed the Strengthsfinder assessment which identified my areas of strength as Developer, Positivity, Includer, Relator and Consistency. Finally, dont be hard on yourself. Its clear I am a people person from my recent rest results but Im not sure if its reflective of my actual strengths or my current feelings towards my job situation, seeing as I work alone. Event planning? I am currently serving in a position that previously was considered my dream job and after a year and a few months, I am burned out and unsure of whats next. where what I have is a physical booklet [published a law review article], yellowed newspaper articles [wrote over 500 of them], and assorted church newsletters, etc. It would make much more sense for you to investigate your options first, using the process I describe below. Significance Ugh! Much appreciate you getting back. Reflect on what you liked about the work you did. What you do right now? See what they are like, and what motivates them. I did well in the job but I wasnt excelling and flourishing like I want to be. They are: Relator, Ideation, Empathy, Input and Adaptability. I am 12 years in my IT career but now I am not able to see myself doing the work in software industry in near future. Learner I think a more traditional career guidance test would say you should be in a teaching profession, or go into HR. I need a loose leash too:). Jul 1997 - Feb 20024 years 8 months. The pieces all fit together, they have immense satisfaction in their role and it's clear why they pursued their career path in the first place. Its incredibly frustrating to have the pieces of the puzzle, but not know how they fit into the big picture. You are sure of it. Understand the culture you have, define the one you want and make your organizational identity a competitive advantage. I graduated with a bachelors in speech pathology. The only thing I can think of is to move away to an area of the country where teachers are in such demand that districts wont mind paying me what the union pay scale says Im worth, and starting a blog and submitting articles in my free time, to update my writing skills. 3. My top five strengths are Input, Intellection, Context, Learner, and Arranger. This led her away from straight management consulting and into work that had more opportunities for organizational and leadership development. Focus more closely on your strongest moment. Im a professional flounderer. So Id recommend you talk to people at your company in those areas. On 21 April 2020 The CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Connectedness talent theme is one of 34 unique talent themes in the Gallup StrengthsFinder Assessment. For now, my activator strength is telling me to get something off the ground just so I can experience the process of running an online business. However, Im still very frustrated. I now realize that teaching skills are great but it is not everything. I faced this same issue a few years ago. I have primarily been into sales from the begining of my career and after 9 long years of woking in different facets of sales i am somhow disheartened with the way my career is progressing.