When looking for careers and working with a career mentor, identifying strengths and weaknesses is all part of the process. Through scientific methods, career mentors identify both. Strengths are defined as positive knowledge, traits, or talents. Weaknesses are identified as attributes that are not well developed or problem areas. Helping a client recognize their strengths and weaknesses, can help people discover the best parts of themselves. Pinpointing what strengths means and how to work on improving weaknesses, a career expert helps their clients build confidence in shaping their future.
What are areas of strength to identify?
The number of things that could be labeled as strengths is endless. However, research has identified 5 different types of strengths:
- Interpersonal strengths: are characterized by how a person interacts with others. The strengths in this area are the following:
- Fairness
- Working in Teams
- Kindness
- Forgiveness
- Intellectual strengths: are characterized by how a person reasons or understands. The strengths in this area are the following:
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Being Openminded
- Love of learning
- Emotional strengths: are characterized by how a person instinctually reacts to situations in a relationship or their overall mood. The strengths in this area are the following:
- Hope
- Zest for life
- Bravery
- Restraint strengths: are characterized by the level of self-control a person has over their emotions. The strengths in this area are the following:
- Self-regulation
- Honesty
- Forethought
- Theological strengths: are characterized by the level of faith that a person has beyond themselves and maybe an area they draw strength from. The strengths in this area are the following:
- Appreciation for life
- Faith or religiousness
- Gratitude
These are all areas in which people may find themselves strong in and when feeling a lack of confidence can build on their skills in this area. Career mentors help their clients identify these strengths and build confidence.
Weaknesses and why clients identify them?
Strength and weakness are always brought up in interviews because it speaks to how a person may perform in a particular role. In common culture, weaknesses can have a negative connotation. It means to struggle or acts as a challenge to someone. However, a career expert may reframe this weakness as a way to strengthen a skill that has always challenged a client. With finding a career it is important to have a growth mindset to truly steel oneself for any challenge. Picking a problem area allows for real growth and a surge in confidence.
Why a client uses their strengths?
A career advisor will help a client use their strengths to accomplish their goals and be successful. For example, if you are an extremely creative person, an advisor could help that person find a career that highlights that creativity. That creativity may also help with a number of possible careers, such as marketing, graphic design, or artistic endeavors. With those strengths, people can achieve their goals in their professional lives.
In sum
Strengths are components of our personalities that can help us achieve our goals. Identifying weaknesses leaves opportunities for people to improve themselves. Working with a career mentor, allows clients to recognize their strengths and develop their weaknesses.
Book a complimentary 30 Min session with me at https://www.paulallencareercoach.com/contact/
Paul Allen,
From Possibility to Reality.
