Easy Answers for What Talent Do You Have
How To Answer the Question: "What Am I Good At?"
By Indeed Editorial Team
Updated September 28, 2021 | Published February 4, 2020
Updated September 28, 2021
Published February 4, 2020
If you've ever wondered what you're good at, you aren't alone: Many people aren't sure where their strengths lie. When choosing a career, however, it's important to opt for a job that utilizes your strengths. In this article, we explain why it's important to know what you're good at and provide some tips on how you can gauge your skillset.
Related: Guide: 16 Personality Types
Why it's important to know your strengths
It's important to know what you're good at before deciding on a career path—success requires using your talents and strengths as well as hard work and perseverance. For some people, success may mean making a lot of money, whereas for others it's about gaining satisfaction from work well done or knowing that they are making a difference in the world.
However you choose to define it, you are more likely to reach your version of success and be happy in your job if you choose a career that plays to your strengths. It is easier to succeed, remain passionate and stay motivated if you can apply your talents and strengths in the execution of your daily tasks.
Talents and strengths are not only the skills that are immediately apparent, such as the ability to draw well or run fast. Your strengths may lie in the fact that you enjoy being around people and making new acquaintances or that you are an organized person who enjoys creating schedules. Qualities like these are valuable in the workspace, and a vast array of careers utilize such strengths.
Related: How to Determine What to Do With Your Life
How to know what you are good at
It is one thing to know that you should choose a career that involves your talents and strengths, but quite another to know precisely what it is you are good at. Although some people's strengths are obvious, many people don't know what they are good at and may even believe they aren't good at anything.
However, everyone has talents and strengths. Talents are innate qualities you are born with, like the ability to sing on key or learn languages quickly. When you practice and work at your talents, they become strengths. For instance, if a person who is good at understanding languages has applied this talent and learned new languages, they have translated their talent into a strength and can use it to build a successful career. However, even if you have not developed your talents, it is never too late to do so.
If you are one of those people who is not sure what they are good at, here are a few tips you can follow to find your talents and strengths:
1. Look at the things you do in your spare time
The activities you engage with voluntarily and regularly are normally things you enjoy and find energizing. In most cases, you will also find that you are naturally good at these activities and that they engage your strengths. For instance, if you have good hand-eye coordination, you may enjoy playing sports. If you are artistic, you might enjoy painting or drawing in your spare time.
Writing down the activities you enjoy may help you make your talents more concrete and workable. Just let your thoughts flow freely when listing what you like doing without being critical of yourself or overthinking things. There are no right or wrong answers. You may think that listing certain extracurricular activities aren't useful, as you cannot apply them in the workspace. However, all activities utilize talents and strengths that you can apply to a job.
Related: How to Find Your Passion
2. Consider what you were good at as a child
A foolproof way of gauging what your talents are is to think back to your childhood. Those qualities that stood out when you were a child and that your parents, teachers or family members noticed are your natural abilities. Sometimes people grow up developing and nurturing their natural abilities and turning these into strengths they can apply to their everyday lives. However, this is not always the case.
The reasons for this are multiple, ranging from children whose parents or teachers perhaps encourage them to focus on more academic pursuits to those who stop developing their talents because they don't like the pressure and competition. Adults who stopped developing their talents as children may very well have forgotten what they are good at. In such cases, it is beneficial to recall childhood interests and talents, as these are innate abilities that remain and can be developed at any time.
3. Take compliments seriously
If you wonder what your talents or strengths are, start paying attention to the compliments that people give you. When you do, you will probably notice that the compliments you receive are often quite similar, which means that multiple people have noticed a certain quality, or qualities, about you that they like or admire.
Some people may discard compliments because they regard them as frivolous or think that people are remarking on qualities that are not of value. However, you should take note of what people say about you. For instance, if over the years many people have noted how well you dress, you may have an eye for design and the latest trends. This does not mean that you necessarily have to become a fashion designer; what it does mean, however, is you are probably a creative person and you tend to think visually, which are talents you can apply in many careers.
4. Ask your friends and family
Another way to gauge what your strengths are is to ask people who know you well for advice. As friends and family members have known you for many years, they are bound to know what your talents are. It is easy to lose sight of one's own strengths and passions when trying to decide on a career, as there are many other things to consider, such as salary, job availability and required qualifications. Asking a person who is close to you what they think you are good at can be very beneficial, as they can provide you with an objective view of where they think your strengths lie.
5. Take a test
Taking an aptitude test is another great way you can learn more about your natural abilities and strengths. There are many different kinds of tests you can choose from, ranging from free online tests to professional aptitude tests. Here are a few options:
Johnson O' Connor Aptitude Test
The Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation developed this assessment that consists of a collection of aptitude tests. These evaluate your skills and strengths in categories like inductive reasoning, structural visualization and concept organization. Once you have completed the tests and established where your strengths lie, you receive a list of jobs that align with these, which helps narrow down the scope of career options you should consider.
CliftonStrengths Assessment
This online assessment, which is also sometimes referred to as the StrengthsFinder, helps to identify natural abilities you can develop into strengths. After completing 177 questions, you will receive reports that provide insight into your own unique talents as well as guidelines on how you can grow these to reach your full potential.
O * NET Interests Profiler
This aptitude test by the U.S. Department of Labor consists of 60 questions that candidates must answer in 20 minutes. After the test, candidates receive a score report that provides them with comprehensive information regarding their key attributes and characteristics, as well as a list of careers that are a good fit.
Related: Using the Color Psychology Test to Explore Your Job Options
6. Recognize patterns
It can become confusing to figure out what your talents and strengths are if you receive contradictory feedback or if what people say about you does not necessarily correlate with what you enjoy doing in your spare time. The best way to go about it is to try to ascertain whether there are any links or correspondences you perhaps may have overlooked.
Even seemingly disparate qualities may have commonalities that can point toward your strongest abilities. For instance, if your friends state that you are good at taking initiative and instigating interesting activities, and in your spare time you enjoy doing volunteer work, you may have strong leadership qualities and good interpersonal skills.
Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-am-i-good-at
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