Clifton Strengths

You know you’re better at some things than others, but you’re not sure how to answer the question: “What is your greatest weakness?” A good starting point is understanding how different strengths can benefit and work against you in different situations. 

CliftonStrengths is an assessment designed to help you understand your top 5 talents. It encourages you to learn what you’re naturally good at rather than focusing on weaknesses, and then learning about how even a strength like “learning” can work against you in certain situations. For example, excelling at learning might not be helpful when a situation demands decisiveness. Understanding your strengths helps you choose roles that align with what you do best, communicate that effectively to employers, and understand how to support coworkers with different strengths. 

After completing this assessment, you’ll receive a detailed report describing your top 5 themes and how they show up in your work. Here’s how to make it useful: 

  • For career exploration: If you’re trying to decide between two roles, ask yourself which one better uses your top strengths. A role that aligns with your strengths can help prevent burnout When you show up at your best, people are more likely to recommend you for new opportunities 
  • For interviews: When asked “Tell me about a weakness,” use your CliftonStrengths language. It shows self-awareness and gives you a framework to talk about how you work 
  • For team dynamics: If you’re working on a project, knowing your teammates’ strengths helps you understand how to collaborate effectively. People with different strengths complement each other 
  • For conversations with managers: Share your strengths with supervisors. This helps them place you on projects that leverage what you do best and understand how you like to work 

Here’s how to make the most of your CliftonStrengths results: 

  1. Visit Career Design to see if CliftonStrengths is the right assessment for your needs 
  1. Take the assessment and review your top 5 talent themes 
  1. Debrief your assessment with a Career Counselor who can help you interpret what the results mean to you 
  1. Explore aligned roles – Think about jobs and environments where these strengths would thrive 
  1. Use your language in applications and interviews – Reference your strengths when telling your career story 

How We Can Help 

Drop in or set up an appointment with a Career counselor to: 

  • Help you understand the right assessment for your unique career path 
  • Explore what each talent theme means and how it shows up in work 
  • Connect your strengths to specific career paths and roles that tend to energize people with your profile 
  • Show you how to communicate your strengths to employers authentically 
  • Help you understand how your strengths complement different team members 

Questions? 

Reach out to Career Design at huskycareers@northeastern.edu or visit the Career Studio for additional guidance.