What Jobs Match Your Personality
By Dr. Stacie Cooper – March 1, 2011
Personality and temperament can influence what particular types of jobs are a good fit for each of us. Thus, it is important to have an understanding of yourself, as well as the traits that impact your professional choices, career satisfaction, and success.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality style measure that takes about an hour to complete, and results in one of 16 personality types. The 16 types are comprised of four different categories for personality style: 1) extraversion versus introversion; 2) intuition versus sensing; 3) feeling versus thinking; and 4) judging versus perceiving. The first category, or scale reflects how you prefer to draw energy - from others and the environment (extraversion), or your internal emotions and ideas (introversion). The second scale reflects what you pay more attention to – facts, and your five senses (sensing), or your intuition. The third represents how you make decisions – based more on your emotions (feeling), or in a logical manner (thinking). Finally, the fourth scale represents your preferred lifestyle: spontaneous (perceiving) or planned and organized (judging).
People who take the MBTI fall on a continuum for each category, and then a 4-part code type is developed (for example, I am an “ENFJ” - extraversion, intuition, feeling, judging). For each of the 16 code types, there are chapters and websites overflowing with information about communication styles, preferred environments, areas of potential conflict, strengths, and careers that are likely to be a good match for you. In general, ENFJs, for example, are organized, enjoy variety and challenge, love helping others, are sensitive to criticism, value others’ feelings, and have great people skills. Some professions that are indicated for ENFJs include: writers, counselors (interesting, the two professions I chose!), consultants, teachers, events coordinators, and politicians.
I recommend that you take this test (and other validated, widely used personality tests for career assessment), for more comprehensive understanding. However, here are a few examples of personality traits and what your personality style may indicate about career fit.
1) Do you prefer to work independently, see the big picture, and trust your intuition? Do you also value knowledge, have high standards for yourself and others, and think in a logical, rationale manner? Are you often inpatient when others do things more slowly than you, or don’t seem to care about their work? Do you get bored easily unless challenged to work with complex and creative issues? If so, you may prefer a career allowing for autonomy, and critical, strategic thinking, such as: a professor, doctor, lawyer, computer programmer, engineer, or scientist.
2) Do you love new experiences, working with and learning about people, and being spontaneous? Are you good at living in the present moment rather than dwelling on the past, or worrying about the future? Do you get bored with structure and routine, but excited about creating fun and joy in the lives of others? If so, you may prefer a career allowing for interaction with people, variety, and new experiences, such as: an artist, fashion designer, counselor, sales rep, or photographer.
3) Do people tell you that you are a natural leader, hardworking, organized, and honest? Are you loyal, traditional, and driven? Do you enjoy being physically active? Do you become inpatient when others are inefficient or lazy? Do you love being in charge of structuring things? If so, then you may be successful at a career involving leadership, and a job that allows you to create structure or order within a system, such as: a business manager, financial officer, executive, criminal investigator, or military leader.
There has been extensive research highlighting strengths and weaknesses of each personality type, as well as careers that may be indicated for someone with a specific personality type. This article just tapped the surface to give you a flavor of the rich information available if you are interested.
You can access the MBTI and a wealth of pertinent information at: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/. Once you have determined your type, also be sure to visit: www.personalitypage.com or www.personalitypathways.com and check out the detailed information, including possible career paths, for your particular personality profile.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality style measure that takes about an hour to complete, and results in one of 16 personality types. The 16 types are comprised of four different categories for personality style: 1) extraversion versus introversion; 2) intuition versus sensing; 3) feeling versus thinking; and 4) judging versus perceiving. The first category, or scale reflects how you prefer to draw energy - from others and the environment (extraversion), or your internal emotions and ideas (introversion). The second scale reflects what you pay more attention to – facts, and your five senses (sensing), or your intuition. The third represents how you make decisions – based more on your emotions (feeling), or in a logical manner (thinking). Finally, the fourth scale represents your preferred lifestyle: spontaneous (perceiving) or planned and organized (judging).
People who take the MBTI fall on a continuum for each category, and then a 4-part code type is developed (for example, I am an “ENFJ” - extraversion, intuition, feeling, judging). For each of the 16 code types, there are chapters and websites overflowing with information about communication styles, preferred environments, areas of potential conflict, strengths, and careers that are likely to be a good match for you. In general, ENFJs, for example, are organized, enjoy variety and challenge, love helping others, are sensitive to criticism, value others’ feelings, and have great people skills. Some professions that are indicated for ENFJs include: writers, counselors (interesting, the two professions I chose!), consultants, teachers, events coordinators, and politicians.
I recommend that you take this test (and other validated, widely used personality tests for career assessment), for more comprehensive understanding. However, here are a few examples of personality traits and what your personality style may indicate about career fit.
1) Do you prefer to work independently, see the big picture, and trust your intuition? Do you also value knowledge, have high standards for yourself and others, and think in a logical, rationale manner? Are you often inpatient when others do things more slowly than you, or don’t seem to care about their work? Do you get bored easily unless challenged to work with complex and creative issues? If so, you may prefer a career allowing for autonomy, and critical, strategic thinking, such as: a professor, doctor, lawyer, computer programmer, engineer, or scientist.
2) Do you love new experiences, working with and learning about people, and being spontaneous? Are you good at living in the present moment rather than dwelling on the past, or worrying about the future? Do you get bored with structure and routine, but excited about creating fun and joy in the lives of others? If so, you may prefer a career allowing for interaction with people, variety, and new experiences, such as: an artist, fashion designer, counselor, sales rep, or photographer.
3) Do people tell you that you are a natural leader, hardworking, organized, and honest? Are you loyal, traditional, and driven? Do you enjoy being physically active? Do you become inpatient when others are inefficient or lazy? Do you love being in charge of structuring things? If so, then you may be successful at a career involving leadership, and a job that allows you to create structure or order within a system, such as: a business manager, financial officer, executive, criminal investigator, or military leader.
There has been extensive research highlighting strengths and weaknesses of each personality type, as well as careers that may be indicated for someone with a specific personality type. This article just tapped the surface to give you a flavor of the rich information available if you are interested.
You can access the MBTI and a wealth of pertinent information at: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/. Once you have determined your type, also be sure to visit: www.personalitypage.com or www.personalitypathways.com and check out the detailed information, including possible career paths, for your particular personality profile.