Know yourself, Know your journey

Marilyn vos Savant, who is known for having the highest recorded IQ according to the Guinness Book of Records, states, “Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses.” As individuals we tend to focus on “negative” traits we have, rather than identifying skills we have that are good. You may have a hard time being flexible and adaptable, but you forget your strengths in being structured and organized.

Becoming self-aware of your strengths is critical to your career development. Knowing your strengths allows you to utilize and benefit on the key components of your work ethic. Applying these strengths helps you to be more successful in your future professional development.

How you think, learn and study are all things unique to you. However, assessing your strengths on your own can be difficult. Virginia Tech Career Services provides students the opportunity to assess their strengths through a variety of self-assessments.

Strengths Quest: http://www.dsa.vt.edu/aspirations/strengths/

This assessment categorizes you into your top five strengths, out of over 30 possible strengths. Strengths could range from Positivity and Responsibility, to Strategic and Learner. According to their website, “Gallup has created resources to help you develop and use your strengths to achieve greater success in academics, in your career, and in life.”

Myplan.com: http://www.myplan.com/

This assessment focuses on interests, values, personality type, and skills in order to see a journey in to a unique career path for you. Overall, the assessment fits your strengths with career fields. You can take the assessment for free through Career Services.

Do What You Are: This assessment can be given through an appointment at Career Services

The assessment is based on your initial preferences to certain values and traits. When you take this tool, you have the possibility of being one of 16 different personalities. After finding your results, you can be categorized into personality areas that fit best with certain areas of study and work.

You never know what strengths you have, that maybe you don’t even consider as strengths. It is important for you to understand these strengths when deciding and exploring your future journey. Identifying your strengths can help lead you down the path that suits you best. The positivity of focusing on your strengths, rather than your weaknesses, can open so many doors of possibilities.

Be sure to make an appointment with an advisor at Career Services to better help you understand your self-assessments and strengths. To find out more about who you are and your strengths, check out the links provided in this page of our Career Services web site: http://www.career.vt.edu/MajorCareerExploration/SelfAssessment.html