Written by Gary Matsuda
You may have a hunch about your strengths and weaknesses but if you ask friends and relatives to give you their honest evaluation, you might get something along the lines of, ‘I love you just the way you are’. Nor are you likely to get feedback if you didn’t get the job offer other than you “weren’t a good fit”. So how can you get a true assessment of your value and areas of improvement? It seems no one else knows you like you do.
Except for DISC. This 21 question test taken in just a few minutes with about 80% accuracy, can provide an appraisal of what you bring to (or take away from) others. Good to know before you apply for jobs and prepare for interviews!
KEYNOTE
As a career planning application, DISC measures behaviors that are descriptive and observable, rather than your ‘why’ or what motivates you. The DISC profile report can be quite overwhelming at first, so Career Connectors brought in leadership expert, Marleen Lundy, Senior Partner, Magna Leadership Solutions. She breaks down how DISC can enhance what you know about yourself, what situations to avoid, and how to improve your professional image and connections. Not only will you know yourself better, but it will help identify others DISC profiles so you’ll know how to speak their language. What a way to create better relationships, build your network more easily, and get what you want!
D.I.S.C. stands for 4 personality styles:
- Dominance: How you handle problems, are you driven, ambitious, strong willed.
- Influence: How you handle people by being, enthusiastic, warm, persuasive.
- Steadiness: How you handle pace, do you think fast, act fast. Are you loyal, relaxed, patient.
- Compliance: How you handle procedures/ constraints, do you follow rules. Are you detail oriented, conventional, exacting.
The DISC profile report will summarize the general characteristics of your work style into:
- Major talents.
- How you deal with problems/challenges.
- Your communication style.
Value to the Organization
DISC identifies what talents or behaviors you bring to the job, so you’ll want everyone to see this on your cover letter or resume! This section will specifically describe what you offer and how you could fit into an organization. Some statements in these results can actually be copied into your resume or cover letter. Easy!
Ideal Environment
No matter how strong your talents are, they’ll be of little use in the wrong place. DISC will also indicate the Ideal Environment that fits your work style. Here’s where you should consider if the work culture will be favorable or unfavorable to your behavioral preferences. During a phone screen or interview, the type of work environment that’s described could give you clues if the organization suits you. If there seem to be too many limitations on your naturally in-born behaviors, it could mean the job or the culture are not right for you.
Also, the results identify specific duties that you enjoy and those that cause frustration. Inquiring about job responsibilities can be the basis for questions that you can ask during an interview. Of course, we all need have to have flexibility and adapt to different people and situations, but at least you have warning if an organization is too far out of your comfort zone.
Keys to Motivating (you)
This describes how your productivity is driven by external wants. Generally, these motivators are short term, once they are met, they are no longer motivators. But there could be several wants that motivate you (For instance, wanting to be the best at what you do, checking off your to-do list).
Keys to Managing
Shows how you prefer to be managed so that you perform at an optimal level. These needs are more permanent within you and should exist in the way you are managed, or the working relationship will be strained. This information about you can be used to create your development plan so that your manager knows how to bring out the best in you.
Areas of Improvement
It’s easy for others to notice where we fall short, but the trick is finding someone who can tell us objectively and still be friends. Your DISC profile will objectively point out your possible limitations and what behaviors could hinder your performance. Don’t be surprised if this section shows a long list of possible shortcomings, everyone needs to improve. Break it down so that you’ll work on just one or two at a time. This is where you can get the most out of DISC since a concrete plan can be developed and put into action to reduce this barrier to performance.
Communication Tips
Also included in your DISC report are tips on how you can relate better to other DISC profiles which is especially useful during a phone screen or interview. It will specifically tell you what to say so that someone with a different profile will understand you. So, if you want to mirror the other person’s actions while you are on a call or interview, this is great to have as a reference guide.
But check this out: see if you can identify DISC profiles in TV show and movie characters. Films and shows will try and include every personality type in their show so that you can relate to (and be hooked) to their programming. This can be a quick and easy exercise to help you develop observation skills to read other people profiles without knowing their DISC test results.
Identify others by Body language
Communication is 78% body language and inflection. Therefore, to make it easier to build relationships, you should make it easier for others to read you too. That is if they can see you, so be sure to turn your camera on for virtual meetings (unless there’s good reason you want to remain hidden).
Here’s what to look for when attempting to identify someone’s profile:
Dominance
- Voice: Does their speaking sound strong, clear, confident, fast-paced, forceful.
- Volume: Turned up to 11!
- Body Language: Direct eye contact, points finger, leans towards you.
Influence
- Voice: Animated, friendly, rambles, explains, casual.
- Volume: Fairly loud.
- Body Language: Smiles a lot, uses expressive gestures.
Steadiness
- Voice: Low voice tone, warm detail-oriented, methodical.
- Volume: Soft volume.
- Body Language: Small hand gestures, relaxed, non-emotional.
Compliance
- Voice: Monotone, precise, deliberate.
- Volume: Quiet.
- Body Language: Very few hand gestures, minimal but direct eye contact, controlled and composed.
Identify Others Communication Types
These communication style indicators can be clues to determining someone else’s likely DISC profile. Not only will these sharpen your listening and observation skills, but if you can match how the other person prefers how to be communicated with, the other person may become more relaxed with you and you will be more liked.
Dominance
- Jumps right into conversation without saying hello or using a common greeting.
- Brief, forceful and gone.
- Puts entire message in email subject line.
Influence
- Entertains when talking.
- Holds long conversations.
- Emails are log and overuses exclamation points, underlines, and emoticons.
Steadiness
- Asks “How are you?” and sincerely wants to know.
- Projects genuine warmth.
- Patient and good listener.
- Writes to stay on touch.
Compliance
- Prefers formal names (Pay attention how they pronounce their name and nail it.).
- Emails are sent to clarify or explain.
- Uses attachments as supporting data.
There is a wealth of useful information in the DISC report to help your resume and cover letter be a stand-out, how to communicate and present yourself during professional interviews and improve other personal interactions. And you can get it FREE with Career Connectors!
For more insight on how you can use your DISC profile and more of Marleen’s career services (Career Connectors get a %15 discount) contact: Marleen Lundy for more information.
HIRING COMPANIES
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Nancy Stanford, Recruiting Manager
Everyone needs genuine help now and then and if you’re sympathetic and want to make direct impact on your neighbors who need a temporary boost, consider the opportunities with AZ DES!
There are meaningful opportunities that will make you rethink that working for the government isn’t purposeful and these include:
- Adult Protective Services Investigator
- Direct Care worker
- Case manager
- Administrative Assistant
- Financial Analyst
- HR Generalist
- Mainframe programmer
- Legal assistant
- Administrative Law Judges
- And many more! Postings change daily
- Get hired and you’ll be eligible for the Arizona State benefits that are rarely matched in the private sector.
Apply thorough AZ State Job Board: www.azstatejobs.gov
Express Employment Professionals
Daria Orozco, Owner
You wouldn’t think of a staffing company as a career choice, but here you are.
Express Employment Pros gives you a personalized approach to job seeking and provides:
- Training, skills assessment
- Career choice (over 200 positions open in many industries)
- Time to evaluate position
- Benefits to cover you while you are temping
- Market you to their client companies
- Wage negotiations, resume and interview advice
Although this is a staffing company, it has various employment options. You don’t have to stay employed with Express Pros forever, but you can if you want to.
Internally they are hiring for:
- Outside Sales/Business Developer
- Front Office Coordinator
- Employment Specialist
- Professional Recruiter
- Franchise Manager
Express valley-wide is hiring for over 200 positions, including:
- Accounting Analyst
- Procurement Specialist
- Scheduler
- Customer Service
- Bilingual HR Assistant
- Bilingual Cashier
WealthWave
Jason Wiseman, Sr. Marketing Director
If you aren’t sure about returning as a corporate employee with a steady paycheck, here’s an opportunity to exploit your strengths through your own business or side gig. At the same time if you are hesitant about going all in towards being an entrepreneur, this organization is flexible enough so they can help you transition into something part time.
Their mission is to educate on financial matters so people are prevented from making easy avoidable financial mistakes, through their program, ‘How Money Works’. If you want to help those who are frustrated with investments, consider this business opportunity. You can jump in with both feet or dip your toes in first and start part time.
Speak to:
Jason Wiseman, Sr. Marketing Director
480.861.6111
Jason.Wiseman@wealthwave.com
https://wealthwave.com/jasonwiseman
https://howmoneyworks.com/jasonwiseman
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