Strengths:
Your strengths are a mixture of your talents, knowledge and skills. The theory behind strengths is based on positive psychology: everyone has strengths they are born with but few people know what these are. By identifying your strengths and matching yourself to the role, you will enjoy it more and perform better that those who have to try hard to fill the role.
What Are My Strengths?
Your scores can vary from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 16.
Creative 15
Outgoing 12
Conscientious 11
Adaptable 10
Helicopter 11
Cautious 7
Determined 10
Leader 13
Organiser 12
Goal-Orientated 9
Analytical 10
Cooperative 11
Caring 12
Creative 15
Outgoing 12
Conscientious 11
Adaptable 10
Helicopter 11
Cautious 7
Determined 10
Leader 13
Organiser 12
Goal-Orientated 9
Analytical 10
Cooperative 11
Caring 12
Defining My Strengths:
Cautious individuals have a few deep friendships rather than many superficial relationships. They need to spend time alone and prefer one to one communication to large groups, preferring to listen rather than talk. They tend to have good judgment and are often careful thinkers, spending a lot of time reflecting. They are often good at solving problems.
They don't like to take risks, taking care when making decisions, considering all the consequences, and carefully consider what they do or say.
They often do very well in finance and law e.g. solicitor, legal executive, accountant, air traffic controller, insurance underwriter, publishing editor, actuary, medically-related jobs such as doctor, nurse and occupational therapist
OUTGOING
These are very sociable types; they like large groups and are talkative, gregarious, and extrovert
They tend to be impulsive, acting first, and thinking later, thinking on their feet and making quick decisions. Excitable, they seek new sensations, enjoying variety and change in relationships. They are usually cheerful and optimistic and assertive.
They are often active, doing lots of sport and exercise but are also more likely to smoke and drink.
INTERESTING FACT: People tend to become more outgoing as they grow older.
Jobs for outgoing types include sales, marketing, barrister, management consultant, advertising, media, journalist, social worker, events manager, and PR
CARING
Caring individuals are kind, generous and compassionate. They have a high capacity to give altruistic love and be loved, to give and accept feelings and emotions.
They like helping others and taking care of them, often thinking about the needs of others more than their own needs. They value close relations in particular those where sharing and caring are reciprocated.
Naturally sensitive to people needs and reactions, they instinctively employ personal feelings and consider the impact on others when they have to make decisions.
They are unsettled by conflict, hating disharmony.
They are often found in the helping careers: social work, youth work, careers guidance, counselling, teaching, and nursing.
CREATIVE
Creatives are full of ideas. They are original, ingenious and quick to find new perspectives. They are good at thinking of novel and productive ways to do things and introduce new ideas to groups in which they work. They frequently enjoy creating art, music, writing or acting, but may show creativity in other ways, such as designing computer games.
Jobs for creative types include journalist, TV producer, advertising account manager and copywriter, publishing editor, multimedia designer, radio station assistant.
See our page on lateral thinking for more on this.
HELICOPTER
People with this attribute have the ability to soar above problems like an eagle or a helicopter and see the whole picture in perspective. They are good at seeing patterns in complex data: identifying the key points in complex information. They are usually good at putting things in perspective and finding the links between seemingly unconnected information. They have the ability to ignore the superficial and irrelevant and focus on what is of real import. They are good at looking at a range of possible solutions and then narrowing these down to the best one.
Because they like to focus on the bigger picture rather than fine detail and are more concerned with major issues than with details, this can sometimes be a weakness.
Careers where this strategic ability is invaluable include management consultancy, marketing, chartered accountancy, armed forces officer and higher level management jobs of all types.
See our page on problem solving for more on this.
ANALYTICAL
Analytical individuals use facts and logic when making decisions. They prefer to use objective and critical analysis and are logical and rigorous in thought. They are excellent with data and good at evaluating competing proposals.
They are ruled by their head and not their heart and are not easily swayed by emotional arguments. They tend to be sceptical and sometimes can hurt others in this way, accepting conflict as a normal part of relationships with people.
Analytical types do well in finance (e.g. underwriting), science, engineering, and computing.
See our page on decision making for more on this.
GOAL ORIENTATED
Goal orientated individuals take action to make things happen. They are doers more than thinkers with a constant need for achievement. They have lots of energy and work long hours.
They have clear destinations and set themselves specific and clearly defined goals. Getting things done quickly and efficiently is more important to them than getting them done perfectly. Getting the task completed successfully is the only thing of real importance.
They are impatient with delays and obstacles and become restless and discontented if they are doing nothing.
Careers where goal orientation is very important include: sales, marketing, advertising, production management and armed forces officer
See our page on time management for more on this.
ORGANISER
These people plan things in advance before taking action. They are well organised individuals who are good at keeping to deadlines, indeed they work best and avoid stress when able to keep ahead of deadlines. They use targets, dates and standard routines to manage their lives. They often keep their work space tidy so that they can work efficiently.
Careers where planning and organising are very important include: logistics manager, retail manager, events manager, advertising account manager, charity fund-raiser, publishing editor, training manager, marketing and librarian.
See our page on action planning for more on this
DETERMINED
Determined people take pleasure in completing tasks and persevere to achieve whatever they are striving for. They work hard to reach their goals and tackle obstacles as they arise. They finish what they start. It is not about being a perfectionist and the goals they have tend to be realistic.
They are resilient, taking a positive attitude towards frustration and failure. They persevere when things are not working out and persist in a course of action in spite of obstacles.
They tend to be intrinsically motivated and do not need extrinsic rewards (money, prizes etc.) to help them achieve: research suggests such motivators do little to help us persevere over the long term.
Careers where determination and resilience are very important include: police officer, environmental health officer, estate agent, tax inspector, barrister, selling, retail manager, marketing, journalist and charity fund-raiser.
See our page on determination for more on this.
LEADER
Leaders consciously seek, and frequently obtain, leadership roles. They usually lead and coordinate the team effort. They are good at persuading people to their point of view. They stick up for their opinions and try to argue persuasively and with logic for them.
They have to be careful not to be confrontational, opinionated and to impose their views without consultation.
Careers where leadership skills are very important include: armed forces officer, police officer, retail manager, production manager and hotel manager.
See our page on leadership skills for more on this.
CONSCIENTIOUS
Conscientious individuals have strong self control. They are responsible, diligent and usually somewhat cautious and slow to act.
They tend to plan in advance and focus on achieving their aims, focusing on goals and following things through to completion. Tend to feel guilty if they have not completed a task.
They are well organised, purposeful and determined. They may be perfectionists, punctual and tidy having an obsession for doing things right.
It can can be a drawback in jobs with lots of change: as these people persist with task rather than adapting to changing circumstances.
Careers where conscientiousness is very important include: law, accountancy, public sector administration, and actuarial work.
Interesting facts:
You are very adaptable and resourceful and like variety. You are good at multi-tasking (doing a number of tasks at once): juggling a number of balls at the same time. You are very flexible and comfortable about moving into action without a plan; planning on-the-go. Naturally tolerant of time pressure, you work best close to deadlines. You tend to avoid commitments which interfere with their flexibility, and freedom to do things.
Adaptable people make good event managers and work well in advertising, the media and sales.
Other careers requiring a lot of adaptability include barrister, journalist, arts administrator, hotel manager and management consultancy.
Cooperative Cooperative individuals tend to be prepared to compromise their own ideas and views to get on well with others. They naturally seek consensus and support and praise other team members. They try to keep relations between group members harmonious. they help others to find compromises between differing viewpoints.
They don't normally like competitive situations.
Almost every graduate level job requires this, but careers where cooperating are very important include public sector management, teaching, health care jobs, marketing and social work
See our page on team working for more on this.
They don't like to take risks, taking care when making decisions, considering all the consequences, and carefully consider what they do or say.
They often do very well in finance and law e.g. solicitor, legal executive, accountant, air traffic controller, insurance underwriter, publishing editor, actuary, medically-related jobs such as doctor, nurse and occupational therapist
OUTGOING
These are very sociable types; they like large groups and are talkative, gregarious, and extrovert
They tend to be impulsive, acting first, and thinking later, thinking on their feet and making quick decisions. Excitable, they seek new sensations, enjoying variety and change in relationships. They are usually cheerful and optimistic and assertive.
They are often active, doing lots of sport and exercise but are also more likely to smoke and drink.
INTERESTING FACT: People tend to become more outgoing as they grow older.
Jobs for outgoing types include sales, marketing, barrister, management consultant, advertising, media, journalist, social worker, events manager, and PR
CARING
Caring individuals are kind, generous and compassionate. They have a high capacity to give altruistic love and be loved, to give and accept feelings and emotions.
They like helping others and taking care of them, often thinking about the needs of others more than their own needs. They value close relations in particular those where sharing and caring are reciprocated.
Naturally sensitive to people needs and reactions, they instinctively employ personal feelings and consider the impact on others when they have to make decisions.
They are unsettled by conflict, hating disharmony.
They are often found in the helping careers: social work, youth work, careers guidance, counselling, teaching, and nursing.
CREATIVE
Creatives are full of ideas. They are original, ingenious and quick to find new perspectives. They are good at thinking of novel and productive ways to do things and introduce new ideas to groups in which they work. They frequently enjoy creating art, music, writing or acting, but may show creativity in other ways, such as designing computer games.
Jobs for creative types include journalist, TV producer, advertising account manager and copywriter, publishing editor, multimedia designer, radio station assistant.
See our page on lateral thinking for more on this.
HELICOPTER
People with this attribute have the ability to soar above problems like an eagle or a helicopter and see the whole picture in perspective. They are good at seeing patterns in complex data: identifying the key points in complex information. They are usually good at putting things in perspective and finding the links between seemingly unconnected information. They have the ability to ignore the superficial and irrelevant and focus on what is of real import. They are good at looking at a range of possible solutions and then narrowing these down to the best one.
Because they like to focus on the bigger picture rather than fine detail and are more concerned with major issues than with details, this can sometimes be a weakness.
Careers where this strategic ability is invaluable include management consultancy, marketing, chartered accountancy, armed forces officer and higher level management jobs of all types.
See our page on problem solving for more on this.
ANALYTICAL
Analytical individuals use facts and logic when making decisions. They prefer to use objective and critical analysis and are logical and rigorous in thought. They are excellent with data and good at evaluating competing proposals.
They are ruled by their head and not their heart and are not easily swayed by emotional arguments. They tend to be sceptical and sometimes can hurt others in this way, accepting conflict as a normal part of relationships with people.
Analytical types do well in finance (e.g. underwriting), science, engineering, and computing.
See our page on decision making for more on this.
GOAL ORIENTATED
Goal orientated individuals take action to make things happen. They are doers more than thinkers with a constant need for achievement. They have lots of energy and work long hours.
They have clear destinations and set themselves specific and clearly defined goals. Getting things done quickly and efficiently is more important to them than getting them done perfectly. Getting the task completed successfully is the only thing of real importance.
They are impatient with delays and obstacles and become restless and discontented if they are doing nothing.
Careers where goal orientation is very important include: sales, marketing, advertising, production management and armed forces officer
See our page on time management for more on this.
ORGANISER
These people plan things in advance before taking action. They are well organised individuals who are good at keeping to deadlines, indeed they work best and avoid stress when able to keep ahead of deadlines. They use targets, dates and standard routines to manage their lives. They often keep their work space tidy so that they can work efficiently.
Careers where planning and organising are very important include: logistics manager, retail manager, events manager, advertising account manager, charity fund-raiser, publishing editor, training manager, marketing and librarian.
See our page on action planning for more on this
DETERMINED
Determined people take pleasure in completing tasks and persevere to achieve whatever they are striving for. They work hard to reach their goals and tackle obstacles as they arise. They finish what they start. It is not about being a perfectionist and the goals they have tend to be realistic.
They are resilient, taking a positive attitude towards frustration and failure. They persevere when things are not working out and persist in a course of action in spite of obstacles.
They tend to be intrinsically motivated and do not need extrinsic rewards (money, prizes etc.) to help them achieve: research suggests such motivators do little to help us persevere over the long term.
Careers where determination and resilience are very important include: police officer, environmental health officer, estate agent, tax inspector, barrister, selling, retail manager, marketing, journalist and charity fund-raiser.
See our page on determination for more on this.
LEADER
Leaders consciously seek, and frequently obtain, leadership roles. They usually lead and coordinate the team effort. They are good at persuading people to their point of view. They stick up for their opinions and try to argue persuasively and with logic for them.
They have to be careful not to be confrontational, opinionated and to impose their views without consultation.
Careers where leadership skills are very important include: armed forces officer, police officer, retail manager, production manager and hotel manager.
See our page on leadership skills for more on this.
CONSCIENTIOUS
Conscientious individuals have strong self control. They are responsible, diligent and usually somewhat cautious and slow to act.
They tend to plan in advance and focus on achieving their aims, focusing on goals and following things through to completion. Tend to feel guilty if they have not completed a task.
They are well organised, purposeful and determined. They may be perfectionists, punctual and tidy having an obsession for doing things right.
It can can be a drawback in jobs with lots of change: as these people persist with task rather than adapting to changing circumstances.
Careers where conscientiousness is very important include: law, accountancy, public sector administration, and actuarial work.
Interesting facts:
- People tend to become more conscientious as they grow older.
- Conscientiousness is the best predictor of future job performance: it is linked to better motivation and task completion and also with work satisfaction.
See our page on personal styles for more on this.
You are very adaptable and resourceful and like variety. You are good at multi-tasking (doing a number of tasks at once): juggling a number of balls at the same time. You are very flexible and comfortable about moving into action without a plan; planning on-the-go. Naturally tolerant of time pressure, you work best close to deadlines. You tend to avoid commitments which interfere with their flexibility, and freedom to do things.
Adaptable people make good event managers and work well in advertising, the media and sales.
Other careers requiring a lot of adaptability include barrister, journalist, arts administrator, hotel manager and management consultancy.
Cooperative Cooperative individuals tend to be prepared to compromise their own ideas and views to get on well with others. They naturally seek consensus and support and praise other team members. They try to keep relations between group members harmonious. they help others to find compromises between differing viewpoints.
They don't normally like competitive situations.
Almost every graduate level job requires this, but careers where cooperating are very important include public sector management, teaching, health care jobs, marketing and social work
See our page on team working for more on this.