How Strengths Assessments Can Aid in Workforce Development
by Pradip Ananda, Associate Director of Career Guidance
The modern-age of career discovery and acquisition is tumultuous at best. On the one hand, we have the most tools available to us through technology (e.g. LinkedIn, Indeed, Google) and yet we also have a hidden job market where some say upwards of 85% of jobs are acquired through networking alone. So how are we supposed to know where to start? It’s a simple answer, but it’s not always the easiest path to walk down: you start with your strengths and interests.
People who enjoy their job find more motivation, productivity, and longevity with the company, and that’s a benefit to all parties. Employees experience less burn-out, but they also find a place where they can see a career path forming. For employers, the benefits are less turn-over and higher productivity. The goal for both employers and employees is to get people into not just any job, but the right job – that’s why we center that idea in our workforce development efforts.
At RIT Certified, we believe in a strengths-based approach to helping people discover the best fit for themselves. We work with individuals to help them gain self-awareness into the types of behaviors they enjoy and are naturally drawn to which can help highlight different career pathways. There are several strengths-based assessments out there, but we use Strengths Profile from Cappfinity because it’s based on three different metrics: performance, usage, and, most importantly, energy.
How Can Your Strengths Be Used in a Job Search?
Let’s look at an example of how we can use someone’s strength profile results to find a job that’s the right fit for them.
Sandy is currently looking for a new job and has worked for a manufacturing company the past 10 years. Sandy has always worked in manufacturing so she starts looking at other companies within the same industry. According to LinkedIn, she has some connections at some of these other companies that she reaches out to chat and ask about the jobs. These conversations are called “coffee talks” or, more formally, “informational interviews.” She hears things like,
Company 1: “It’s a great place to work! Everyone is so laid back; it’s very casual and fun.”
Company 2: “The company just started so we work crazy hours. The owners really want to make this company different from all the other companies out there.”
Company 3: “I wouldn’t recommend this place! There’s an expectation that you get involved in everything because they want everyone to buy into their mission. I just want to do my work and go home.”
Three different companies and three very different descriptions of the working conditions. At first glance, Company 1 is the standout! A glowing review and a fun and casual atmosphere; sounds great! The other two companies seem to have their own agenda for what they want from their employees and Sandy’s connections seem to range from being tolerant to fed-up with those types of environments. But here’s where Sandy’s self awareness comes into play.
When Sandy started her job-change journey, she took a strengths assessment and found that her top strengths were things like mission (pursuing things that provide a sense of purpose), legacy (desire to create things that will outlast you), and improver (looking for ways to improve and do things better). Sandy also discovered that she has an affinity for persistence (keep going to achieve success, especially when things get difficult), but hasn’t been utilizing this strength in her current role.
In Sandy’s current role, she’s a cog in the wheel and has been doing the same thing, day-after-day for nearly 10 years; she’s ready for more, but she wants that “more” to be meaningful. By recognizing her strengths, Sandy recognizes that Company 1 isn’t for her at all. She wants a challenge! Company 2 and 3 are much more appealing to her strengths, but for Sandy, Company 2 is even more appealing because she wants to help build something (her legacy strength). Now Sandy has a path for going forward where she’s going to feel more motivated to find success.
There are some important lessons to take away from Sandy’s situation:
Self Awareness: It’s important to know when we’re feeling burned out and/or ready for a change. We want to move toward a goal vs. running away from a problem. Sandy also took the time to complete a strengths assessment where she recognized the behaviors that give her fulfillment and enjoyment.
Research: Sandy took the time to have informational interviews with some connections at various companies based on an initial search. Rather than sending an application to every company she wanted, she learned more about the companies to see if they aligned with what she wanted.
Perspective: Sandy’s connections were kind enough to share their thoughts on the company, but we need to remember that someone else’s thoughts are based on their own personal experiences and biases. The connection at Company 3 didn’t recommend the company, but the environment was more suited for Sandy’s working style and strengths.
With all of this in mind, we hope Sandy is ready to apply for a new position and feel really confident in why she is applying to that particular company. A common interview question is, “what interests you in this position and working for ____?” You could say, “I need a job and you have an opening,” but I don’t recommend that. When you’ve done your due diligence to find the places that are right for you, you can have an answer that goes something like, “After 10 years in manufacturing, I’m ready for a new challenge, but I’m also wanting more. Your company is young and gives me the opportunity to help create something that will last a long time. I know there are going to be challenges, but I thrive on those and look forward to taking them on.”
Use Your Strengths
And now it’s your turn! If you’re finding yourself ready for a change but not sure where to start, start with you. Take the time to understand the things that really drive you and let that information move you toward a job or organization that keeps you happy and motivated.
