You may have considerable practice with this interview question, either as an interviewer or interviewee. There are numerous websites that offer insight as to the best way to respond to this question and just as many websites encouraging interviewers to remove this question from their repertoire. Despite its use in hiring, understanding personal strengths and capitalizing on them is a predictor of success (Shaff & Hoyt, 2017).
Marilyn Vos Savant once offered the following wisdom to the parents of a 14-year-old boy who struggled with math: “If I were you, I’d forget about the math and concentrate on what your son can do well. Success is achieved by development of our strengths, not by elimination of our weaknesses” (Savant, 2014). Understanding strengths provides professionals an opportunity to clarify their goals, proactively identify how to spend their time and effort, and may help to enhance the ability to work with others (Shaff & Hoyt, 2017).
As part of this Week’s Assignment, you will complete Gallup’s StrengthsFinder assessment. The StrengthsFinder assessment will identify your personal strengths, which have been shown to improve motivation, engagement, and academic self-confidence. Through this assessment, you will discover your top five themes, which you can reflect upon and use to leverage your talents for optimal success. After you take the assessment, you will apply the results to your potential future profession and to your doctoral study in a written assignment. You will also describe how you already use the strengths in your professional life.
References
Shaff, C., & Hoyt, E. (2017). The CliftonStrengths: Focusing on strengths as a predictor of success. Career Planning & Adult Development Journal, 33(4), 75–82.
Vos Savant, M. (2014, October 31). Developing your strengthsLinks to an external site.. Parade. https://parade.com/350733/marilynvossavant/developing-your-strengths-2/
1. Learner®
You have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites you.
2. Achiever®
You work hard and possess a great deal of stamina. You take immense satisfaction in being busy and productive.
3. Relator®
You enjoy close relationships with others. You find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
4. Belief®
You have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for your life.
5. Arranger®
You can organize, but you also have a flexibility that complements this ability. You like to determine how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING themes help you build strong relationships that hold a team together.
STRATEGIC THINKING themes help you absorb and analyze information that informs better decisions.
CliftonStrengths® Top 5 for Semiloore Akerele
This report presents your five most dominant CliftonStrengths revealed by your responses to the CliftonStrengths assessment. Use this report to learn more about these strengths, how they
uniquely show up in your life and how you can use them to fulfill your potential.
EXECUTING themes help you make things happen.
INFLUENCING themes help you take charge, speak up and make sure others are heard.
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1. Learner 2. Achiever 3. Relator 4. Belief 5. Arranger
INFLUENCING
Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo
STRATEGIC THINKING
Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic
You Are Uniquely Powerful Your unique sequence of CliftonStrengths and the personalized Strengths Insights in this report are the result of your answers to the CliftonStrengths assessment.
We designed this report to help you learn more about your most dominant CliftonStrengths: what they are, how they interact and how to use them to succeed.
What do the colors mean?
Each of the 34 CliftonStrengths fits into one of four domains. These domains describe how CliftonStrengths helps you execute, influence others, build relationships, and absorb and think about information.
EXECUTING
Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliberative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Adaptability Connectedness Developer Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator
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STRATEGIC THINKING
1. Learner®
What Is Learner? People with strong Learner talents constantly strive to learn and improve. The process of learning is just as important to them as the knowledge they gain. The steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence energizes Learners. The thrill of learning new facts, beginning a new subject and mastering an important skill excites people with dominant Learner talents. Learning builds these people’s confidence. Having Learner as a dominant theme does not necessarily motivate someone to become a subject-matter expert or strive for the respect that accompanies earning a professional or academic credential. The outcome of learning is less significant than the “getting there.”
Why Your Learner Is Unique These Strengths Insights are personalized based on your CliftonStrengths results.
Learner Achiever Relator Belief Arranger
Instinctively, you favor reading about precise research results or thoroughly conducted projects. You love to collect information you can use someday. You are attracted to books, journals, documents, or Internet sites that many people would find quite boring and beyond their ability to understand.
Driven by your talents, you value education and scholarship at any level and at any age. Your thirst for knowledge causes you to explore many topics of study or specialize in one particular subject. You thoroughly enjoy opportunities to acquire additional information, skills, and experiences.
By nature, you often spend considerable time examining the details underpinning an idea. Rather than rush through your research, you typically stick with it until you are convinced everything makes sense.
Because of your strengths, you are motivated to continually acquire knowledge and skills. Discovering new ways to use your talents energizes you. You are likely to escape from situations and avoid people who want you to keep doing what you already know how to do well. Maintaining an intellectual status quo is unacceptable to you.
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It’s very likely that you enjoy examining books, journals, documents, artifacts, or data. They broaden your knowledge and allow you to acquire new skills. Firsthand experiments and personal experiences contribute mightily to your qualifications and credibility as an expert and specialist.
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1. Learner 2. Achiever 3. Relator 4. Belief 5. Arranger
How Learner Blends With Your Other Top Five Strengths LEARNER + ACHIEVER
When you’re working on a task, you really want to get it done. When you’re exposed to something new, you really want to understand it.
LEARNER + RELATOR
Your deepest, longest friendships don’t stagnate because you strive to discover something new about those who are familiar.
LEARNER + BELIEF
While your mind is certain and unchanging about a few important matters, it remains curious and open about many other things.
LEARNER + ARRANGER
Your willingness to learn something new helps you come up with novel and better ways of getting things done when you lead others.
Apply Your Learner to Succeed Develop expertise in areas that interest you the most.
Regularly study new topics and skills. Challenge yourself to learn about complex ideas, programs or experiences others might not want to explore.
Refine how you develop your expertise. For example, you might learn best by beginning a new project; if so, find new tasks or projects to start. Or you might learn best by teaching; if so, find ways to present to others.
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EXECUTING
2. Achiever®
What Is Achiever? Achievers have a constant need for attainment. They have an internal fire burning inside them. It pushes them to do and achieve more. People with strong Achiever talents feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day, they must accomplish something meaningful to feel good about themselves. And “every day” means every single day: workdays, weekends, holidays and even vacations. If the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, Achievers feel dissatisfied. After finishing a challenging project, they rarely seek with a reward of a rest or an easy assignment. While they appreciate recognition for past achievements, their motivation lies in striving toward the next goal on the horizon.
Why Your Achiever Is Unique These Strengths Insights are personalized based on your CliftonStrengths results.
Learner Achiever Relator Belief Arranger
Driven by your talents, you put much effort into keeping various areas neat and shipshape. When others notice and appreciate this ability, you are quite motivated to maintain a high level of tidiness.
It’s very likely that you probably derive far less satisfaction from your work or studies when you are separated from your friends. Partnering with them usually motivates you to work very hard to complete tasks and reach goals.
Because of your strengths, you do much more than just try to live up to your commitments. You persist working until you can deliver on your promises. This certainly enhances your reputation for being trustworthy, reliable, and dependable.
Instinctively, you have a reputation as a hard worker. You probably help people understand your talents and areas of excellence. They frequently observe you practicing the use of your talents, skills, and knowledge. You sense you can do various things much better tomorrow as long as you refuse to take your abilities for granted today.
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By nature, you work with much more intensity in the evening. This awareness probably allows you to increase your productivity, improve the quality of your outcomes, enhance your efficiency, and better manage your priorities.
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1. Learner
2. Achiever 3. Relator 4. Belief 5. Arranger
How Achiever Blends With Your Other Top Five Strengths ACHIEVER + LEARNER
When you’re working on a task, you really want to get it done. When you’re exposed to something new, you really want to understand it.
ACHIEVER + RELATOR
For you, there is no better feeling than working hard with a few good friends to get a big job completed.
ACHIEVER + BELIEF
When your diligence is directed toward an important cause or mission, your efforts have greater intensity and meaning.
ACHIEVER + ARRANGER
You are personally productive because of your intense efforts, and you help groups be productive by coordinating others’ efforts.
Apply Your Achiever to Succeed Use a scoring system to keep track of all achievements.
Display metrics that matter in a place where you can see them often. The visual measurement of your productivity will encourage you to keep making progress toward your goals.
Put personal achievements on your scoring system. This will help you direct your busy energy toward family and friends and work.
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RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
3. Relator®
What Is Relator? Relator talents describe a person’s attitude toward their relationships. People with strong Relator talents are drawn to others they already know. They do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people — in fact, they may have other themes that cause them to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends — but they do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around their close friends. A person with strong Relator talents forms close relationships with people.
Why Your Relator Is Unique These Strengths Insights are personalized based on your CliftonStrengths results.
Learner Achiever Relator Belief Arranger
Because of your strengths, you traditionally desire to know a lot about members of your team. When you become more familiar with individuals, it probably is easier for you to collaborate with them.
It’s very likely that you feel upbeat and cheerful when you keep busy. Without question, you derive much satisfaction from producing tangible outcomes.
Driven by your talents, you are quite content with your results as long as you can honestly say you are producing as much as you can. You maintain an optimistic outlook on life regardless of the value some people place on your results.
By nature, you thrive in settings where you can accomplish things. Of course, you have your own step-by- step way of performing repetitious tasks. As long as you can stick to your preferred plan of action, you usually enjoy handling the details and deadlines related to jobs, chores, projects, hobbies, assignments, or errands.
Chances are good that you typically do your best work when you can bring your expertise to an enterprise. You prefer activities that keep you busy from start to finish.
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1. Learner 2. Achiever
3. Relator 4. Belief 5. Arranger
How Relator Blends With Your Other Top Five Strengths RELATOR + LEARNER
Your deepest, longest friendships don’t stagnate because you strive to discover something new about those who are familiar.
RELATOR + ACHIEVER
For you, there is no better feeling than working hard with a few good friends to get a big job completed.
RELATOR + BELIEF
Authenticity is important to you, so you are open about who you are and what you believe, especially with those who are closest to you.
RELATOR + ARRANGER
Interacting with your closest friends is critical to your well-being, and engaging your teammates is critical to your well-doing.
Apply Your Relator to Succeed Make time for one-on-one interactions with your friends.
Make sure you get enough one-on-one time with the important people in your life. Periodic opportunities to interact with them will energize you.
Take time to tell others how your relationship with them creates happiness in your life. Ask them how it enhances their happiness. Doing this with each person will show you care about them.
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EXECUTING
4. Belief®
What Is Belief? People with strong Belief talents have enduring principles that they live by. These values vary from one person to another, but those with powerful Belief talents have deeply held ideals and a strong sense of purpose in their lives. These core values affect their behavior in many ways. Their sense of mission gives their lives meaning and direction; in their view, success is more than money and prestige. Their Belief talents guide them through temptations and distractions toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for their relationships. Others view them as dependable and trustworthy.
Why Your Belief Is Unique These Strengths Insights are personalized based on your CliftonStrengths results.
Learner Achiever Relator Belief Arranger
Chances are good that you are compelled to admit the truth. If someone asked you or told you to intentionally mislead someone, you would reply, “I cannot and I will not do that!”
Because of your strengths, you tend to be quite selective about the company you keep. You prefer to spend time with individuals who are trustworthy. You consciously avoid people whose words and deeds indicate they value honesty less than you do.
By nature, you realize the wealth you accumulate means little to you when you are not surrounded by a delightful and diverse mix of people. You relish differences and would be ill at ease — that is, feel anxious — if forced to remain only in the company of people who are very much like yourself.
Instinctively, you have faith in your convictions about life. You contend that they are well-founded and enduring. You value your freedom and independence.
Driven by your talents, you feel better about yourself when you are honest and forthright with people. Telling untruths and omitting important facts violates your personal code of ethics.
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1. Learner 2. Achiever 3. Relator
4. Belief 5. Arranger
How Belief Blends With Your Other Top Five Strengths BELIEF + LEARNER
While your mind is certain and unchanging about a few important matters, it remains curious and open about many other things.
BELIEF + ACHIEVER
When your diligence is directed toward an important cause or mission, your efforts have greater intensity and meaning.
BELIEF + RELATOR
Authenticity is important to you, so you are open about who you are and what you believe, especially with those who are closest to you.
BELIEF + ARRANGER
You orchestrate the efforts of many to make a difference in the world. Your approach is flexible, and your values remain stable.
Apply Your Belief to Succeed Reflect on your values and how they play a part in your everyday life.
Think about your best day to better understand what you like the most about what you do daily. How did your values contribute to the satisfaction you felt that day? What can you do to have more days like your best?
Find a cause that matters to you and actively support it. Not just believing in something, but also getting involved, helps to fuel your passion even more.
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EXECUTING
5. Arranger®
What Is Arranger? Arrangers are conductors. When faced with a complex situation involving many factors, people with strong Arranger talents enjoy managing all of the variables, aligning and realigning them until they are sure they have arranged them in the most productive configuration possible. They are shining examples of effective flexibility, whether they are changing travel schedules at the last minute because they found a better fare or are mulling over just the right combination of people and resources to accomplish a new project. From the mundane to the complex, they are always looking for the perfect configuration.
Why Your Arranger Is Unique These Strengths Insights are personalized based on your CliftonStrengths results.
Learner Achiever Relator Belief Arranger
Instinctively, you probably have a reputation for being a hard worker. Even so, you are willing to accept help from people who have talents, knowledge, or skills that can make you more efficient. You resist the temptation to interfere in these people’s efforts once they begin making progress.
Because of your strengths, you derive genuine pleasure from allocating your team’s resources to where they are most needed at the moment. You are apt to place individuals in roles, establish a timeline to do tasks, manage the budget, and/or order the materials.
Driven by your talents, you have “aha!” moments. Amid chaos, efficiency presents itself. Your mind naturally sees new and better options in the midst of commotion.
By nature, you are the person who takes risks when most of your teammates are reluctant to do anything. You generally inspire individuals to be more daring. How? They observe you trusting yourself enough to try something new, different, or difficult. When you act boldly, they probably decide they can be brave, too.
It’s very likely that you continually assess each day’s requirements. You stop, start, respond, regroup — whatever it takes to react immediately — while monitoring all the moving pieces and looking ahead to what’s next.
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1. Learner 2. Achiever 3. Relator 4. Belief
5. Arranger
How Arranger Blends With Your Other Top Five Strengths ARRANGER + LEARNER
Your willingness to learn something new helps you come up with novel and better ways of getting things done when you lead others.
ARRANGER + ACHIEVER
You are personally productive because of your intense efforts, and you help groups be productive by coordinating others’ efforts.
ARRANGER + RELATOR
Interacting with your closest friends is critical to your well-being, and engaging your teammates is critical to your well-doing.
ARRANGER + BELIEF
You orchestrate the efforts of many to make a difference in the world. Your approach is flexible, and your values remain stable.
Apply Your Arranger to Succeed Help people figure out better ways of working together.
Come up with different ways to become more efficient. Look for redundancy and impediments in the processes you follow the most often so you can find new ways of doing them.
Look for chances to work in complex, dynamic environments that let you coordinate and develop strategies for getting things done. This will bring out your best.
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• What did you read that surprises you?
• What did you read that challenges you?
Click to View Activity
Our dedicated platform is focused on helping you fulfill your potential using your CliftonStrengths.
Click here or scan the QR code to sign in to your my.gallup.com account.
Inside, you’ll find articles, videos, learning modules and other tools created specifically for your strengths-based development.
Learn to Use Your Dominant Strengths Read about each of your top five CliftonStrengths in this report and reflect:
• What did you read that inspires you?
• What did you read that excites you?
Click here or scan the QR code to complete the following exercise for each of your top five CliftonStrengths:
Name It • Pick one of your top CliftonStrengths. • List the words or phrases you read about this strength that resonate strongly with you.
Claim It • When has this strength helped you be successful in the past? • How does this strength help you be successful in your role?
Aim It • In what two ways could you start using this strength more intentionally right away?
Hint: Read the action items in this report and on your my.gallup.com dashboard for ideas.
Use Your Resources in Gallup® Access
What’s Next? Take these steps to start unlocking your full potential using your CliftonStrengths.
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Already have your CliftonStrengths 34 report? Great! Take some time to explore your full results.
If you don’t have it yet, click here or scan the QR code to learn how your CliftonStrengths 34 report can help you:
• reveal your complete talent profile of 34 CliftonStrengths • learn how to use your top 10 CliftonStrengths to set and achieve goals • navigate your 11-34 CliftonStrengths, including understanding and managing weaknesses
Engage in a Conversation About Your CliftonStrengths®
Share your CliftonStrengths results with the people closest to you, including your family, friends, coworkers and teammates.
Spend time talking about your CliftonStrengths with a coach, manager, mentor or adviser — someone invested in your personal and professional development.
Click here or scan the QR code for helpful ways to share and discuss your CliftonStrengths with others.
Explore All 34 of Your CliftonStrengths®
Take time to explore any role-based CliftonStrengths reports you already have.
If you don’t have any, click here or scan the QR code to browse a range of reports tailored to specific roles and responsibilities.
We offer a suite of reports designed to help you use your CliftonStrengths to excel in various areas, whether it’s in management, leadership or even as a student.
Apply Your CliftonStrengths® in Specific Roles
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