Do you know what your top five character strengths might be, within a list that includes creativity, critical thinking, courage, persistence, teamwork, leadership, discretion, etc.? Have you ever reflected on what makes life meaningful and satisfying for you? Or thought about how you might use this self-knowledge to secure internships and community engagement opportunities, as well as turn prospective employers on to what you can offer their organizations?
Check out the Positive Psychology movement’s list of online questionnaires at http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/ where you can register to use the VIA Signature Strengths Survey, among others.
Just to give you some advance warning, the Strengths Survey involves answering 245 questions according to a five point scale. Scroll down the main questionnaires page to find the link to the 24-item Brief Strengths Test if you want something that’s ostensibly shorter – although that requires you to think of actual behavioral examples of situations in which you used particular personal strengths.
Whichever survey you decide to answer, the chances are that this experience will help you become more aware of how you perceive the world, and the unique contribution you make to it.
