You’ve probably felt it before: that sinking feeling of sitting in a meeting or behind a screen, wondering if you’re really cut out for this. Maybe your job pays the bills, but it drains you. Maybe you’ve sent out dozens of CVs and heard nothing back. Or maybe you’re one of the 32.9% of South Africans officially unemployed, stuck in a limbo where every “no” chips away at your belief in yourself.
Here’s the thing: that voice that says you’re not good enough? It’s lying. And Jean-Paul Sartre, the French philosopher you probably last thought about in matric, has something to say about it.
In his 1946 lecture “Existentialism is a Humanism,” Sartre declared: “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.” That’s the foundation of his most famous idea: existence precedes essence. In plain South African terms: you are not born with a fixed purpose or a set of talents. You first show up in the world, and then, through your choices and actions, you build who you become.
This isn’t abstract philosophy. It’s a career-confidence toolkit. And in a country where 80% of employees feel disengaged at work (Gallup, 2023), sticking with a “default” job is a luxury you can’t afford. Let’s dive into how Sartre’s insight can help you find work that actually fits your strengths – and why that’s the smartest move you’ll make this year.
What does “existence precedes essence” really mean for your career?
Sartre was pushing back against the idea that we have a pre-made “essence” – like an oak tree that comes from an acorn with its fate baked in. He argued you start as a blank slate. Every choice you make writes the story.
Practical translation: You are not born “good with people” or “bad with numbers.” You become those things by repeatedly choosing actions that reinforce them. If you’ve spent years avoiding public speaking, you’ve built a habit of hiding. If you’ve volunteered to lead the team presentation three times, you’ve built a strength in communication.
This is empowering, but it’s also a responsibility. Sartre would say you have no excuse: you are radically free to choose what you become. Blaming your upbringing, the economy, or load shedding is avoiding that freedom. The real question is: what are you choosing to become good at – and is it aligned with the work you want?
Key takeaway: Your strengths aren’t buried treasure waiting to be discovered. They are skills and patterns you’ve actively developed, often without noticing. The first step toward career confidence is recognising that you have already built a unique set of capabilities. Now you just need to name them.
Why strengths-based work matters – especially in South Africa
Gallup’s research is clear: teams that focus on their strengths are 12.5% more productive. Individuals who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged at work. In a job market where only 3 in 10 positions are filled through traditional applications (the rest coming from networking or direct approaches), engagement and energy are your silent salespeople.
When you’re working in your strengths zone, you don’t just feel better – you produce better results. And results build reputation, which builds opportunities. In South Africa’s economy, where every competitive edge counts, knowing your strengths is the difference between being one of 200 applicants and being the person someone actively refers.
Stat to hold onto: Only 20% of employees in sub-Saharan Africa are engaged at work (Gallup, State of the Global Workplace 2023). That means 80% are coasting, clock-watching, and disappearing into the afternoon. If you can show up with real energy and focus, you immediately stand out – whether you’re interviewing for a formal job or pitching clients for freelance work.
The load-shedding connection: When the lights go out, your ability to pivot depends heavily on your strengths. If you’ve built a strength in planning and troubleshooting, you’ll instantly protect your data and shift to offline work. If your strength is adaptability, you’ll see the power cut as a creative break rather than a disaster. Strengths aren’t just nice to have – they’re your personal backup generator.
How to do a practical strengths audit (the Sartre way)
Sartre said you define yourself through action. So let’s look at your actions – past and present – to uncover the strengths you’ve already built. Set aside an hour this weekend. Grab a notebook, a cup of strong rooibos, and work through these three steps.
Step 1: Analyse your past victories
Think of three moments in your life when you felt proud of what you accomplished. They don’t have to be work related – they could be organising a family braai, helping a friend move, or teaching yourself something online.
For each victory, ask:
- What did I actually do?
- What skills did I rely on? (e.g., planning, listening, problem-solving, persistence)
- How did I feel before, during, and after?
Write down the skills that show up repeatedly. Those are your emerging strengths.
Step 2: Gather outside perspectives
You can’t see your own back. Ask three people who know you well – a trusted colleague, a friend, a mentor – this simple question: “When have you seen me at my best? What was I doing?”
Don’t let them give vague compliments. Push for specifics. “You were great when you calmed down that angry customer” tells you you have a strength in conflict resolution or empathy.
Pattern alert: If multiple people mention the same thing (e.g., “You always know how to explain complicated stuff simply”), that’s a strength you’ve built through repeated choices.
Step 3: Use a formal assessment (optional, but powerful)
If you want a structured map of your strengths, the CliftonStrengths 34 assessment from Gallup is the gold standard. It costs around R1,100 (USD $59.99, exchange rate dependent) and gives you a ranked report of your top talent themes.
For a lower-cost option, try the free VIA Character Strengths survey or a simple StrengthsFinder 2.0 book that includes a one-time code. Many South African career coaches also offer strengths debriefs for around R500–R800.
Important: Don’t treat the assessment result as your destiny. Sartre would remind you it’s just a snapshot of your current habits. You can always choose to develop a new strength.
Quick reference: strengths to remote role mapping
| Your strength (example) | Aligned remote role ideas | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical + Focus | Data analyst, financial analyst, virtual bookkeeper | You enjoy digging into details and staying on task without office buzz. |
| Communication + Empathy | Customer support, coaching, content writing | You connect with people virtually as easily as face-to-face. |
| Strategic + Learner | Project manager, online course creator, AI consultant | You love planning ahead and picking up new tools quickly. |
| Restorative + Responsibility | Virtual assistant, quality assurance, operations | You solve problems and take ownership, even remotely. |
How to load-shed proof your career using your strengths
Load shedding isn’t going away anytime soon. But your career confidence can be built on something more reliable than Eskom’s schedule: your unique set of strengths, which you can deploy anytime, anywhere.
The principle: When you know your core strengths, you can adapt faster. A strength like “Discipline” means you’ll schedule deep work around confirmed power slots. A strength like “Ideation” means you’ll use dark hours for brainstorming, not panicking.
Build a portfolio career – multiple income streams that rely on different strengths. For example:
- A part-time remote job using your client relationship strength.
- A weekend side hustle (like tutoring or content creation) using your teaching strength.
- A small online shop tapping your creativity or organisation strength.
When one stream dips because of load shedding or a client freeze, your other streams keep flowing. This is exactly what Sartre would have advised: don’t anchor your identity to one role. Make yourself by making multiple choices.
Red flag to watch for: If your strength set relies heavily on constant electricity (e.g., video editing requiring a powerful desktop), build a backup: a cheap power bank, an inverter, or a shift to offline-first skills like writing, planning, or manual drafting. Your strengths should be platform-independent.
How to talk about your strengths so employers actually listen
Many South Africans struggle to “blow their own horn.” It feels arrogant, or we worry about sounding like we’re making things up. But if you can’t articulate your strengths, you’re leaving opportunities on the table.
Sartre’s answer: You are the sum of your actions, not your words. So when you talk about your strengths, talk about what you’ve done. Use STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Weak phrasing: “I’m a good communicator.”
Strong phrasing: “In my last role, I noticed team meetings were running over time. I proposed a new agenda format and timed each agenda item (Action). After three months, meetings were 40% shorter, and decisions got made faster (Result). Communication is a strength I’ve built through consistent practice.”
Sentence starters for your CV and interviews:
- “My strength in [strength name] showed when I …”
- “One thing I consistently choose to do is …”
- “People who work with me often say I’m good at … because I …”
Practice these out loud. Record yourself. The more you own your strengths, the more confident you sound – and confidence is contagious.
The skills-first hiring shift: your strengths are your degree
Here’s great news: companies are moving away from strict degree requirements. They want verifiable skills. That shift is a huge win for anyone who can clearly show what they can do, regardless of their formal education.
What this means for you: You don’t need a psychology degree to become a coach if you’ve built listening and empathy strengths through years of volunteering. You don’t need a computer science degree to get into tech if you’ve taught yourself coding through online courses and built a portfolio.
Your task: Create a “strengths portfolio” – a one-page document or online profile (LinkedIn, a simple website) that lists your top 5 strengths, with a concrete example for each. This becomes your new CV. It shows potential employers or clients exactly what they’re getting.
AI as a co-pilot: Don’t fear AI. Use it to amplify your strengths. If you’re strong at strategic thinking but weak at grammar, use AI tools to polish your writing. If you’re strong at creativity but struggle with data sorting, use AI for quick analysis. Your uniquely human strengths – judgement, empathy, context, ethics – are the ones AI can’t replicate. Lean into them.
Final word: you are what you make of yourself – so start making
Sartre’s quote isn’t a cold existential shrug. It’s a call to action. You are not stuck in a job you hate, in a country with high unemployment, or in a world of rolling blackouts. You are in a moment of choice.
Every time you choose to develop a strength – whether it’s learning a new skill, asking for feedback, or applying for a role that scares you – you are writing your own essence. And that’s the ultimate source of career confidence: the knowledge that you built yourself, and you can rebuild again.
Your first action: Pick one strength from your audit today. Write down three small actions you can take this week to use it more deliberately. Maybe it’s volunteering for a project that uses your strategic thinking. Maybe it’s updating your LinkedIn headline to feature your communication strength. Maybe it’s having a brave conversation with your boss about shifting your role.
The lights might go out. But your strengths? They stay with you. And that’s a power source that never runs dry.
Frequently asked questions about finding work that fits your strengths
How do I know if I’m actually using my strengths at work?
Look for signs: you lose track of time, you feel energised rather than drained after the task, people comment on how well you handle it, and you naturally volunteer for similar activities. If you dread a task and it takes huge effort, that’s likely a weakness area, not a strength.
What if I don’t have any obvious talents or strengths?
Impossible – you’ve just not recognised them. You’ve survived this long in life, which means you’ve built coping skills, problem-solving habits, and ways of interacting with people. Even traits like reliability or patience are powerful strengths. Ask a friend what they rely on you for – that’s a strength.
Can I build a strength I don’t currently have?
Yes. Sartre says you become what you choose. Deliberate practice – focusing on a specific skill with feedback – can develop new strengths over months or years. But it’s more efficient to double down on existing strengths than to fix weaknesses. Build a career around what you’re already good at.
How do strengths fit with AI and automation?
Focus on human strengths: creativity, empathy, complex problem-solving, strategic thinking, ethical judgement. These are hardest to automate. Use AI to handle repetitive tasks so you can spend more time on your core strengths. The best career moves today pair human strengths with AI tools.
How much does a formal strengths assessment cost in South Africa?
The CliftonStrengths 34 full report is about R1,100. There are free alternatives like the VIA Character Strengths survey or the High5 test. Many career coaches offer a strengths debrief session for R500–R800. You don’t need a paid assessment to start – your self-audit is powerful enough.
What if my strengths don’t match any traditional job?
That’s actually a green light for a portfolio career. Combine two or three strengths to create a unique offering. For example, if you’re good at writing and have a strength in organising events, you could become a freelance copywriter who also plans product launches. Or if you love teaching and have technical skills, you could build an online course. The job market is changing – your job can be a hybrid you design.