Top academic Year 12 and tertiary performers, exhibit one differentiating behaviour – they have a clear career end goal in mind. They have a clear mental image of who they want to be in the future, what they aspire to, and what inspires them.

Knowing what they want to achieve, gives them direction, provides them with a long term focus and motivates them to do whatever they need to do to make that goal a reality. It sets them up for success.

Many students, however, complete Year 12 without such clarity. Or, if they have got an answer to the question “What are you going to be when you grow up?”, they do not really know what they need to do to get there.

There are four steps to reaching your career end goals and having your dream job:

• Identify your unique strengths and values
• Discover your learning and working style
• Identify working environments and careers where you can best maximise your strengths.
• Develop a career “roadmap” outlining the steps you need to reach your goals.

If you want to succeed, you need to set clear career end goals.

Students who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged in class and 12.5% more productive. They are more effective, fulfilled and successful when they are able to focus on the best of themselves.

Using these three tips, you can learn to recognise your core strengths. Here’s how:

1. Listen to your emotions

When you engage in an activity where you are using your core strength(s), you feel energised, happy, alive, satisfied and motivated. There are visible signs when you engage in an activity you are truly good at.

Your pupils dilate, your speech quickens, and you are more animated.  They are moments when you dive into something, when you get “in the zone”, where you lose all sense of time and you don’t feel tired or bored.  They are moments when you feel challenged and/or creative without really trying.  Moments like these are great because you feel fulfilled and because they show you how great you can be.

Pay attention to what gets you out of bed in the morning.  You know, instinctively.

You can take an online survey, like the Clifton Strengths Test to help you identify and rank your greatest strengths.

2.  Pay attention to what you do differently to others

Notice those situations or moments when you stand out from the crowd, when you approach things differently and uniquely, when you are using your strengths.

3.  Put a word to your strengths

Come up with unique terms which encapsulate your specific strength. Naming your strength will help you apply your talents.

Everyone wins when you play to your strengths.  You win because you feel more engaged and more productive, your teachers win because they have a more engaged and successful member of class.  The school feels the difference because the tone of the school is one of vibrancy.

Find a career where you play to your strengths most of the time.