CliftonStrengths® (formerly StrengthsFinder®)
The CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder®) assessment can assist you with discovering and understanding your strengths and talents. Completing the assessment will provide you with a list of your “top five” signature themes, which can help you enhance the behaviors that lead to success. You will be able to focus on your strengths and understand how they can translate into a career or post-graduate education plan. We encourage students to schedule an appointment with Network staff to discuss results. Keep in mind that the assessment is not a "career-finding" tool, but does assist in the exploration of future goals.
This assessment is only available through our office to current undergraduate students with at least one major in the College of the Liberal Arts at University Park campus or World Campus. If you are not a student in the College of the Liberal Arts, contact your college and/or career services office at your college for information about assessment tools available to you. Please do not share your code with another student; this tool is paid for by Liberal Arts alumni and should only be used by Liberal Arts students.
Completing CliftonStrengths® can help you:
- Recognize talents and shape them into strengths
- Identify skills that will help with your future career
- Assist with exploring careers that match your strengths
- Offer guidance about how to build your strengths and talents
- Provide interview preparation tips
To complete CliftonStrengths®:
- Complete the CliftonStrengths® Access Code Request Form . Please allow three business days to receive your code.
- After receiving your access code, go to http://www.strengthsquest.com.
- On the upper-right hand corner of the main page, click "Redeem Access Code."
- On the Registration page, enter your access code and click "Continue". Follow the on-screen prompts to create your account, including your username (email address) and password.
*NOTE: The access code is not case-sensitive. (If you need help signing in, please visit the help center at https://my.gallup.com/Help/HelpCenter) or call the StrengthsQuest Help Desk at 1-888-211-4049). - When you are finished with the registration, click "Create Account" to complete the CliftonStrengths® assessment. Allow 45 minutes. If you lose your connection, sign in with your username and password; you will automatically be returned to where you left off. You have 20 seconds to respond to each item. Once you’ve completed the CliftonStrengths®, you will have access to your reports and additional resources in your account.
After you receive your Signature Theme Report, schedule an appointment via Nittany Lion Careers with a Career Enrichment Network staff member who has (Liberal Arts) next to their name. Make sure to:
- Have your report accessible for your meeting.
- Bring any professional development materials you are working on: resume, cover letter, internship/job description, etc.
- Bring along questions and discussion topics that will assist with completing any class assignments related to CliftonStrengths®.
- Think about what you'd like to get out of the meeting. For example:
- Are you preparing for an upcoming interview and do you want to learn how to integrate your strengths into your answers?
- Would you like to improve your resume by talking about your strengths more powerfully?
LA 103 Professional Development Course
LA 103 Professional Development for the Liberal Arts Student provides liberal arts students with the techniques and information necessary to specify and implement post-graduation educational and career plans.
Course topics include:
- Resume and cover letter writing
- Interview skills including mock interviews with alumni and employers
- Networking
- Leadership enhancement
- Employer panels
Liberal Arts Career Week
Liberal Arts Career Week (January 23–27, 2023) is a week-long event designed to provide students with opportunities to develop professional skills and provide networking opportunities that will support their future career paths. By participating in this week’s employer and alumni panels, workshops, and networking events, students can learn skills needed to embark on their career journey and achieve success in their professional lives.
Join the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network and take advantage of all the great events and networking opportunities! Visit the #LACareerWeek website for more details and a full schedule of events!