Standout Strengths: Character

Character Explorer

The Career Development and Job Search strategy in the world is to be so reliable that you are referable. This means that former employers and even customers are willing to write reference notes and letters on your behalf.

You are born with talent and you develop skills, but character is something you choose... every single day.

Most reliability and therefore most references depend on 5 habits of character:

1. Show Up

2. Be On Time

3. Do What You Say

4. Finish What You Start

5. Say Please and Thank You

These 5 Habits may seem to basic or simple but it’s surprising how many people with huge talent miss out on opportunities because they don’t do these 5 things. Many people depend on charm to take the place of these 5 choices. That sometimes works for a very short period of time. But at the end of the day, nothing replaces these 5 character choices.

We ask that you begin to choose these 5 habits today as you work through this program.

But wait there's more...

Print out the following character traits and rate yourself on a scale of 1-10. You are really only a choice away from getting a 10 on each one.

Commitment

Showing Up

Promptness

Follow Up

Finish

Responsible

Hard Work

Diligence

Active

Busy

Initiative

Attitudes
Gratitude
Humility
Kindness
Teachable
Patient
Forgiveness
Servant
Generous
Compassion

Respect
Authority
Honor People
Polite
Considerate

Attention
Fully Present
Anticipation

Cheerful
Up Beat
Enthusiastic
Encouraging
Fun
Humor

Truthful
Honest
Scrupulous
Trustworthy
Ethical

Excellence
Workmanship
Quality
Presentable

Restraint
Self Control
Discipline
Clean-Sober

Thinking About Strengths

"Most job-hunters who fail to find their dream job, fail not because the lack information about the job market, but because they lack information about themselves."

~Richard Bolles, Author of 40 year best-seller, What Color Is Your Parachute

"The people who will hire you first need to differentiate you from other candidates. Your most immediate recognizable advantage is that unlike your competition, you understand the skills and attributes necessary for professional success. That you know who you are, what you offer, and how you want to be perceived will differentiate you from others. And because you understand yourself and can communicate this understanding you will project a unique presence."

~ Martin Yate, Author of the 25 year best-seller, Knock'em Dead Job Search Guide

"Try to think of the responsibilities from jobs you've had that you love so much that you would do them for free. Then, search for positions with those types of responsibilities.... When you love what you do, it no longer seems like work, and that should be the ultimate goal for each and every one of you."

~Abby Kohut, Corporate Recruiter and Job Search Expert

"Condense your whole career onto five 3x5 cards."

~Lou Adler

"Your professional profile identifies your profession or field of expertise. It might also mention which parts of that profession are your strongest suits, the areas you're most interested in."

~Orville Pierson, Highly Effective Job Search Author

"People always ask me, "Which career-aptitude tests do you use?" We don't use test. We talk to people. Can you tell us stories? Who are you? Who have you always been?" We collect stories and we look for the through line. The through line starts ten or twenty or thirty years ago. It starts in childhood. This stuff is in us."

~Liz Ryan, The Human Workplace

"I had to get to know myself, my resources, my strengths and know what I have to sell. Then I had to have the patience and the knowledge to find the right venue for what I had to offer. I had a faith that the right venue would show up...and it did.

~Occupation Change the World

Standout Strengths

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Character

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