The Gallup StrengthsFinder Test - Sample Questions & Guide

Kemi, Big Five Personality Test Expert at JobTestPrep
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The CliftonStrengths Assessment, previously called the Gallup StrengthsFinder Test, is a personality test developed by the Gallup organization to help individuals and organizations identify and understand people's unique talents, skills, and abilities, and how they can be leveraged to improve the workplace and personal performance.

Gallup's CliftonStrengths Test has 177 questions, which typically take 30-45 minutes to complete. These are used to identify your strengths out of 34 themes (“CliftonStrengths themes”), that is, personality characteristics that drive the way you deal with and behave in different situations.

Invited also to take an ability test? Learn about cognitive assessments with our free practice tests, such as PI Cognitive Assessment or the CCAT Cognitive Test

About to take the CliftonStrengths Gallup Test to get hired? Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Gallup StrengthsFinder Test Sample Questions

The Clifton Strengthsfinder test consists of 177 paired personality statements you are required to rate. In each question, you are asked to choose one statement out of the two presented to you that describes you the best.

Here is an example of a possible question:

The challenge posed by questions in the CliftonStrengths test is picking between two statements that represent different values or qualities, that seem unrelated at first sight. You will have to make this choice in 20 seconds or the test will automatically move on to the next question.

When taking a closer look at the statements above, we can see that this question assesses the Analytical theme (strength) in the Gallup personality test:

"Strongly Describes Me" on the right-hand side of the scale indicates that you seek to understand patterns and connections logically. Positions requiring research or a deep understanding of data, such as analyst or academic researcher, benefit from this strength.
Choosing "Strongly Describes Me" on the left-hand scale presents a more outcome-driven approach that benefits positions that require results like sales and marketing.

In this example, we can see that the question assesses the Deliberative theme (strength) in the Gallup test:

Choosing "Strongly Describes Me" on the left-hand side of the scale contributes to the deliberative scale, meaning that you approach life with a more reserved, planned ahead, and serious approach, and can anticipate risks. For positions requiring a methodical approach, such as those in the health and safety field, this is a valuable skill.
Choosing "Strongly Describes Me" on the right means you are more intuitive, which is a desirable characteristic for jobs that need quick, intuitive decisions.

Check out our Predictive Index Personality Types guide to learn all about the different personality types.

When used for talent assessment, the Gallup personality test is given to potential employees to evaluate whether they possess the required strengths to perform well on the job. Some of the main employers using the Gallup test are Spirit Airlines, Highmark health organization, Westpac Bank, Stryker, and altar'd state.

These are the 3 most important tips to best prepare for Gallup's talent assessment:

Read the job description and talk to people who work in the same position to understand the most important characteristics and abilities required to succeed in your position.
Go over the Gallup strengths list and identify the most critical strengths for your role.
Practice answering personality questions to be able to quickly recognize the assessed traits, and to choose answers that align with required strengths. If possible, check your answers to make sure they express relevant strengths.

In our personality test preparation, you'll get a complete practice test and position-specific feedback for each assessed trait, so you could learn what answers are expected in each question and ensure you exhibit essential characteristics and personal abilities.

Learn more about our personality test practice

As mentioned, the CliftonStrengths assessment evaluates a list of themes, each of which represents a unique talent. When completing the test, clients (employers or individuals) receive the results in the form of a report.

There are two types of Gallup Strengths lists that can be purchased and produced:

The Top 5 Clifton Strengths - This version of the report includes a list of your top 5 CliftonStrengths, ranked from 1 to 5. These are usually the things you naturally do best, which make you stand out.
The 34 CliftonStrengths - This report ranks all 34 Clifton Strengths, listing your top 5 strengths amongst them, and suggests tools and additional counseling services to further develop and maximize strengths.

According to the Gallup organization, the most common top 5 Clifton Strengths are achiever, responsibility, learner, relator, and strategic. achiever, responsibility, learner, relator, and strategic

According to the Gallup organization, the least common top 5 Clifton Strengths are command, self-assurance, significance, discipline, and context.

The Gallup Strengthsfinder test can be used for several purposes other than employee selection:

Individuals - the CliftonStrengths test helps individuals get to know themselves and their strengths better, so they can improve their achievements and live up to their potential, both professionally and in relationships, by using natural strengths.
Students - the StrengthsFinder for students is for those who want to choose a career path that is a good fit for their strengths and abilities, leading to greater satisfaction and success in their future careers.
Organizations/ companies - Gallup's talent assessment is used to select or assess existing employees, to make the most out of each employee and their strengths, build better teams and develop leaders and managers.
Managers, Leaders, and Potential Leaders- the Gallup leadership assessment is for those who wish to learn how their strengths can be applied in a leadership or managerial role. It provides individuals with a deeper understanding of how their strengths can contribute to their success as a leader/manager, and how they can build a strengths-based leadership style.

Headed toward a managerial position? Learn everything you need with our Leadership Assessment Test guide, or check out our Korn Ferry Leadership Assessment Practice [KFALP, KF4D, ViaEdge].

Another type of personality test that many employers use when recruiting is gamified tests. These tests involve playing a series of mini-games designed to assess various personality traits and cognitive capabilities. Unlike traditional personality tests, where it's usually clear which trait is being measured based on the question, the games are more sophisticated and less straightforward. Thus, it can be hard to tell exactly what is being measured in each game, making the experience more stressful for the participants. A renowned example of such gamified personality tests is the Pymetrics Games.