5 WAYS IDENTIFYING YOUR PERSONAL STRENGTHS CAN IMPROVE YOUR JOB SEARCH by DeVry University

As I was researching on Personal Strengths I came across this really cool article by DeVry University Which is helping thousands of people to improve their job search.

1. ADD SELF-AWARENESS TO YOUR JOB SEARCH

Instead of broadly searching for any position that requires your certification or degree, use your top five strengths to find jobs that align with your best abilities—and filter out those that don’t. As you read a job description, think about your personal strengths and focus on one (or more) of them to determine if you’d like to apply for the position. View this step as your own method of screening employers; your own time-saving strategy. When assessing positions, think “quality over quantity.”

2. BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

“It’s much easier to tell employers who you are when you know more about yourself,” says Hellige. “Use your top five strengths to tell employers who you are in a brief bio, the skills section of your resume or LinkedIn profile.” This will help you develop a personal brand that is honest and authentic.

3. ANSWER CHALLENGING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Besides responding to the common opener “tell me about yourself,” the next likely question you’ll hear on a job interview is: “Why do you want to work here?” or “Why do you want this position?”

And although the humorist in you may want to state the obvious (“to get a job, duh”), that won’t be a sufficient answer—at least not one that may impress employers. Instead, lean into authenticity, using your personal strengths to guide your response.

4. WIN AT CAREER ADVISING

If you decide to leverage a career advisor during your job search, share your top five strengths with your advisor to get the most out of your counseling experience. “When you combine personal advice with self-assessment, that’s where the magic of career advising really happens,” says Hellige. “An advisor can teach you how to translate your unique strengths in how you relate to employers, search for jobs, and promote yourself in applications.”

5. TELL AN ENGAGING STORY

Employers often ask situational questions that start with the phrase, “Tell me a time when…” or they may even require written personal statements. To prepare an effective response, write out your top five strengths in a list and jot notes for a story that corresponds with each strength. Note stories that relate to your current or previous work experience. “This is a great way to talk about your current work and relate it to the job you’re applying for,” says Hellige. “Ultimately the assessments give you a versatile framework to share information about yourself and that’s really what most job-seekers need to make the best impression.”

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