As you search for your job, it is critical that you develop a sense of self-awareness. You must be able to convey to potential employers who you are, what you are good at and, occasionally, what you are not good at. Though you might sometimes feel desperate to find employment, it is important to remember that you are not a fit for every job, and not every job is a fit for you. Understanding yourself and developing a sense of “confident transparency” is a pillar of leadership, and leadership is a trait that all employers desire.
Sometimes, the best way to assess your own traits is to use a third-party assessment tool. These tools help us to better understand us and what we are good at.
Recommended assessment tools and tests
There are thousands of different assessments that are available and provide real-time feedback. Here are some of the more popular assessments that you can pick from:
The DISC Assessment. This is one of the most widely known and accepted assessments. We recommend two different reports – the Management-Staff report and the Personal Interests, Attitudes and Values assessment.
Strengths Finder 2.0. This book was a past #1 on the Wall Street Journal best seller list. Its promise is to help you “discover what makes you stand out.” Based on the theory that we spend more time trying to fix our shortcomings rather than developing our strengths, the book provides an online test that helps you to uncover your top five personal strengths. The book also contains valuable information about how you can apply these strengths.
The Career Direct Complete Guidance System. This system analyzes four critical areas – your personality, interests, skills and values. It helps you to maximize your own talents and abilities. While the tool is based on some research and has been validated, it also approaches career guidance from a biblical perspective.
Myers-Briggs. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a type of personality test that helps identify the ways that you prefer to take in information and make decisions. It also indicates how you are energized and resolve issues. While this is a very popular tool, it may require some interpretive assistance.
We encourage you to research more about each of these tools and tests to determine which one is the best fit for you.
Remember, developing a strong self awareness of one self has the potential to set you apart from other candidates and can be the difference maker that you are looking for.
