MFin

The Rotman School of Management has a strong brand aligned to its core values of Diversity, Excellence, Integrity and Respect. Our values guide how we engage with business and society. As part of the Rotman community, students are to adhere to these values at all times during their time at Rotman. Rotman’s Professional Conduct Agreement is in place to help maintain our brand with employers and to encourage professionalism amongst our students. When you create your RCareer profile, the PCA will appear as a pop-up window, requiring you to acknowledge your agreement to the terms before proceeding.

The Professional Conduct Agreement covers:

• Honesty and Integrity
• Attendance
• Dress Code
• Behaviour and Communications

Download the Professional Conduct Agreement.

Keep in mind the portions of your previous job(s) you have most enjoyed in the past, what you think you are good at, and what others have indicated you are good at, as well as your motivations for coming to Rotman to do your Masters. We recommend having your current resume and past employment performance assessments/reviews with you as you go through this section.

Gallup research proves that people succeed when they focus on what they do best. When they identify their talents and develop them into strengths, people are more productive, perform better, and are more engaged. Gallup’s CliftonStrengths (previously known as StrengthsFinder) assessment is the first step in helping you identify your talents.

The odds of someone having the exact same top 5 Strengths as you in the exact same order is 1 in 33 million, which means your individual results enable you to tap into your unique talents. The CliftonStrengths assessment uncovers which talents you rely on to build relationships, think strategically, execute plans and influence others to accomplish goals. When you know your unique set of these talents, you’re empowered to succeed by doing what you naturally do best. Every. Single. Day.

Curious to learn more about the assessment? Click on the following video.

Access CliftonStrengths

Please contact your designated Career Coach to request access to CliftonStrengths.

Analyze your CliftonStrengths Results

Upon completion of the assessment, go to the ‘Reports’ tab on the Gallup main dashboard to download your results and read through them thoroughly. The most useful report is called ‘CliftonStrengths Top 5’ which offers personalized results based on how you uniquely answered each question.

Share your results with others (family, friends, partners, colleagues, etc.) to gain their perspective and insight on how they see you using your natural talents. 

Harnessing the power of your Strengths

Continue building your knowledge and appreciation of your unique talents, and learn how to intentionally leverage them by using the following tools and resources:

1. Read the additional theme descriptions of your top 5 Strengths. From your Gallup dashboard, click on ‘Learn More’ next to each of your Top 5 Strengths and review the lesson summary sections for more insight into each theme.
2. Review the Action Items associated with each of your Top 5 Strengths.

• • In the “If (theme) is a lesser theme for you” section of the lesson summary, click on the ‘Download” button to obtain a useful resource document that contains more insight into the theme and its Action Items.
  • Select one Strength to work on each month and identify the most relevant 3-5 Action Items to focus on. Post these action items somewhere so they are top of mind.

3. Listen to the ‘Theme Thursday’ webcasts or podcasts of your top 5 Strengths. These are available via the Gallup website or your preferred podcast platform under ‘Gallup Theme Thursdays’.

• • Season 1: Theme Definition and Understanding
  • Season 2: Pairing and Expanding your Strengths (including distinguishing between raw vs. mature talent)
  • Season 3: Strengths based Leadership
  • Season 4: Investing in the theme with a focus on success (i.e. how to do something with it)

CliftonStrengths Wellbeing series

Many of us have had our wellbeing challenged significantly over the past few years. How can you maintain a thriving wellbeing, or move to a place of thriving, in each of the five wellbeing elements as identified by Gallup – career, social, financial, community and physical? To help people learn how to leverage their top talent themes to become someone who thrives, Gallup has created a new CliftonStrengths Wellbeing webcast series.

As a working professional student, you may want to explore options to advance your career within your current organization by leveraging your professional reputation, successes and company network — and the skills and knowledge you’ve gained at Rotman. Here’s how to navigate an internal career transition:

Assess your environment

Is a transition the right step for you? What are you looking for and why?

• Externally – What does the marketplace look like? How does your company stack up to the current economy and competition?
• Internally – Take a look at where you stand. If you were to move up, what role(s) would you pursue? Is your company positioned for success? What are the reputations of your colleagues? Do they support you? Does your boss advocate for your development? How are you perceived within your organization and in your field?
• Self-assessment – Take stock of your current skills, motivations, career transition risk level and long-term career goals.

Know your organization

• What are your organization’s mission, vision and values?
• What are the primary products, programs and services that your organization provides?
• Who are your organization’s largest customers or clients?
• What is your organization’s three-to-five-year strategic plan?
• What is your organization’s competitive advantage?
• What are the biggest external and internal threats to your organization’s future?

Position yourself

• Identify gaps (real or perceived) – What skills or competencies do you need to learn?
• Make it known – Have you shared your interest in advancement with your superiors?
• Learn more – What are the requirements, skills, etc., needed to move up?
• Market yourself – Join committees, volunteer, etc.; make yourself known.
• Create allies – Find sponsors and mentors throughout your organization.
• Map out a plan – Meet new colleagues and learn about what they do.
• Get creative – Push yourself to think differently about your role and what’s possible.

Once you find and are offered your next internal role…

Transition to your new role

• Discuss with your old boss: end date, boundaries, how you can add value even in your new role
• Discuss with your co-workers: archives of previous work, work plan for projects, ground rules
• Discuss with your new boss: determine start date, serve as a bridge to previous group