How to Use Your StrengthsFinder Results on Your Resume
Your CliftonStrengths results are more than just words on a report — they are a powerful way to differentiate yourself in the job market. Employers increasingly look for candidates who understand their strengths and can demonstrate how those strengths contribute to team and organizational success. Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively showcasing your StrengthsFinder results on your resume.
1. Why Include StrengthsFinder Results on Your Resume?
Most resumes list job experiences, education, and technical skills. However, in today’s competitive market, employers also value self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to bring unique value to a team. Sharing your StrengthsFinder results can:
- Provide concrete language to describe your natural talents.
- Show that you are intentional about personal and professional growth.
- Differentiate you from candidates who rely only on generic skill descriptions.
- Give recruiters insights into how you work best and what you can contribute.
For example, instead of saying “Strong team player,” you might say: “Leveraged Harmony and Empathy strengths to mediate conflicts and improve team collaboration.”
2. Where to Feature Your StrengthsFinder Results
There are multiple sections in a resume where your CliftonStrengths results can be featured naturally without overwhelming the reader:
Professional Summary
Use this section at the top of your resume to highlight your top strengths in a narrative form.
Example: “Results-driven project manager recognized for Strategic, Achiever, and Arranger strengths that consistently deliver complex projects on time and within budget.”
Skills Section
List your top 5 StrengthsFinder themes alongside other professional skills.
- Strategic Thinking: Strategic, Analytical
- Executing: Achiever, Discipline
- Relationship Building: Empathy
Work Experience
Frame achievements around your strengths. Employers value results, so connect your talents to measurable outcomes.
Example: “Applied Input and Learner strengths to research emerging marketing trends, resulting in a 20% increase in campaign engagement.”
Cover Letter
While not part of the resume itself, your cover letter is a perfect place to expand on your strengths with detailed stories.
3. Match StrengthsFinder Themes to Job Descriptions
Not every strength needs to appear on every resume. Instead, tailor your highlighted strengths to align with the role you’re pursuing.
- For leadership roles: Emphasize Command, Strategic, or Maximizer.
- For client-facing roles: Highlight Woo, Communication, or Positivity.
- For analytical roles: Showcase Analytical, Intellection, or Deliberative.
- For operational roles: Use Achiever, Responsibility, or Discipline.
This customization ensures hiring managers see the direct connection between your natural talents and their needs.
4. Write Strength-Based Resume Bullet Points
Each bullet point under your work history should connect an action, a strength, and a measurable result. Here’s a formula you can follow:
Formula: Action + Strength + Result
Example: “Leveraged Arranger strength to reorganize team workflows, improving efficiency by 30%.”
This approach keeps your strengths grounded in real outcomes instead of vague personality traits.
5. Sample StrengthsFinder Resume Phrases
Strength | Resume-Friendly Phrase | Impact |
---|---|---|
Achiever | “Consistently exceeded project milestones by leveraging Achiever strength.” | Shows reliability and high productivity. |
Strategic | “Developed forward-looking strategies that increased revenue by 15%.” | Demonstrates vision and business impact. |
Empathy | “Strengthened customer relationships through empathetic service delivery.” | Highlights people-oriented skills crucial for client work. |
Analytical | “Applied data-driven insights to optimize marketing campaigns.” | Underscores problem-solving with evidence. |
Woo | “Built strong networks that expanded client base by 25%.” | Proves influence and relationship-building skills. |
6. Avoid Common Mistakes
While showcasing your strengths is powerful, there are pitfalls to avoid:
- Don’t just list strengths without context. Employers want proof, not labels.
- Avoid jargon. If the hiring manager isn’t familiar with CliftonStrengths, explain briefly or provide examples.
- Don’t overstuff your resume. Focus on 3–5 strengths most relevant to the role.
- Balance with hard skills. Strengths complement, not replace, technical qualifications.
7. Example Resume Excerpt Using StrengthsFinder
Professional Summary: Motivated team leader recognized for Strategic, Achiever, and Communication strengths. Skilled at designing and executing complex projects, building strong client relationships, and delivering measurable business outcomes. Experience: Project Manager | XYZ Corporation | 2021–Present - Leveraged Strategic and Achiever strengths to oversee multi-department projects, consistently delivering results ahead of schedule. - Applied Communication strength to lead cross-functional meetings, increasing team alignment and reducing miscommunication by 40%.
8. Using Strengths in Interviews
Even though the focus here is resumes, remember that interviews are the natural extension of what you present on paper. If you list strengths, be prepared to discuss them with real examples.
Example Interview Response: “One of my top strengths is Ideation. In my last role, I created three new approaches to customer engagement that resulted in a 12% retention increase.”
Final Thoughts
Adding your StrengthsFinder results to your resume is about more than filling space — it’s about communicating the unique value you bring to employers. When you strategically align your top strengths with the requirements of the job, you show not only what you’ve done, but how you naturally operate at your best.
Ready to discover your top strengths? Take our free StrengthsFinder assessment today and start building a strengths-based resume that sets you apart.