How to Identify Your Career Strengths When You’re Feeling Stuck

Let’s be real for a second. Feeling stuck in your career is the absolute worst. You know you’re capable of more, but every day feels like running on a hamster wheel. You’ve tried different strategies, read all the articles, maybe even updated your resume… but nothing seems to stick. Newsflash: it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. It’s because you haven’t fully tapped into one of the most underrated tools for career growth - your strengths.

Knowing your strengths isn’t just about feeling good or patting yourself on the back. It’s about identifying what sets you apart so you can leverage it to move forward in a meaningful way. Here’s how to figure out what you’re actually great at - even if you feel completely stuck right now.

1. Take Inventory of Your Wins

Start with a simple exercise: make a list of your biggest wins over the past 5–10 years. Not just “I did my job,” but moments when you truly shined.

• Did you turn around a failing project?

• Did someone compliment your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly?

• Did you figure out a solution no one else saw?

Once you see all those wins on paper, patterns start to emerge. Maybe you’re a natural problem-solver, a people person, or a master at getting things done under pressure. That’s your starting point.

2. Ask the People Who Actually Know You

Your strengths aren’t just what you think - they’re also what other people recognize in you.

Send a few trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors a short note: “I’m trying to get clearer on my strengths. What do you think I do really well?”

Trust me, the answers might surprise you. People usually point out strengths you don’t even notice in yourself.

3. Notice What Comes Naturally

Here’s a little secret: your strengths often feel easy. Almost too easy.

• Do you naturally calm tense situations?

• Do people come to you for advice because you have a knack for clarity?

• Do you pick up new skills faster than others in your team?

These are not coincidences - they’re signals that your brain and personality are wired for these types of tasks. Embrace them.

4. Look at What Energizes You

Career experts talk about “flow” for a reason. When you’re doing work that aligns with your strengths, you feel energized instead of drained.

Think about the projects or tasks that make you lose track of time. The ones that make you excited to get to work in the morning. Those aren’t random - they’re clues. Write them down. Circle the common threads. That’s your strengths roadmap.

5. Use Tools Without Overthinking Them

Yes, I’m talking about personality tests and skills assessments like StrengthsFinder, DISC, or MBTI. These tools can be super helpful - but only if you don’t treat them as gospel.

Here’s the thing: I can administer several of these assessments and help you figure out which one actually matches your needs. Think of it as getting a roadmap tailored specifically to you instead of guessing which test to take next.

Take the results as hints, not rules. Combine them with your own observations, your wins, and the feedback from others. The real magic happens when you connect all the dots.

Ready to get clarity on your strengths and the assessment that fits you best? Book a session with me here.

6. Stop Chasing Jobs That Don’t Fit

Knowing your strengths isn’t just about boosting confidence. It’s about making smarter career moves.

If your strengths are getting lost in your current role, start exploring opportunities where they can shine. And yes, sometimes that means going for a role that feels “entry-level” in title but is a perfect fit for your skills. (Spoiler: you’re more qualified than you think.)

Feeling stuck in your career sucks, but the solution isn’t always more work - it’s clarity. When you know your strengths, you stop spinning your wheels and start moving strategically.

Take the time to figure out what makes you exceptional. Ask yourself the tough questions. Ask others. Notice what energizes you. And then use those insights to start moving toward a career that actually makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning.

Because at the end of the day, you’re not stuck - you’re just figuring out the path where your strengths finally get to shine. And trust me, that’s where the magic happens.