Does Your Personality Hold the Key to the Perfect Job?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Are you structured or free-wheeling? Your personality really can determine whether you merely survive in your position or thrive in your career.
While there is no good or bad personality type, there are certain jobs that suit one personality better than another.
Often personality traits are revealed as particular strengths and weaknesses in job performance. For instance, quieter, more introverted people may not do well in a position that requires delivering frequent presentations to senior management or a packed seminar hall.
Below is a list of common personality traits and examples of jobs that may fit well with those traits. Do you see yourself? Does your current career match with the suggested vocations?
Are you:
Logical, factual, organized -- These traits make management, accounting, electrician, computer programmer or technical writing careers a good fit.
Sensitive, intuitive, hands on -- Look to counseling, ministry, nursing or teaching.
Enthusiastic, outspoken, ambitious -- A career in television, radio or advertising may suit you.
Optimistic, inquisitive, full of energy -- You may need a dynamic career to keep you interested, such as tour guide or a sales position with extensive travel.
Precise, detail-oriented, analytical, neat -- Research, statistics or investigation may keep your mind occupied.
Gregarious, independent, born to lead -- You may be drawn to power positions, such as a CEO, editor or government official.
Imaginative, dramatic, philosophical -- Positions in psychology, drama, painting or music could hold your interest.
Nurturing, humanitarian, progressive -- Consider a vocation in social work, philanthropy or a judicial career to foster your need to help people.
Creative, spontaneous, insightful -- Graphic arts, photography or working as a chef might help keep those creative juices flowing.
While this list may oversimplify the complex issues of personality profiling for employment, there is a burgeoning industry of personality profilers who are hired by both employers and individuals to help assess a person?s chances of success in a particular job.
Jack Brantley, President of Fitability Systems, LLC, a leading online assessment company says employers use personality profiles to reduce turnover. "A valid test, used properly, can indicate which candidates are likely to perform well and stay longer in a job." Personality profiles also can help individuals discover insights into their strengths and challenges.
"Fitability has job-fit profiles for over 700 occupations which were created using test data from 300,000 persons," Brantley says. "Each profile shows which traits are associated with performance and satisfaction on the job."
"For example, accountants and auditors' key traits are being industrious, highly task-oriented and organized," Brantley says. "They are also more private and practical than most. Computer programmers also tend to be industrious, highly task-oriented and organized; however they are more inquisitive, critical and resilient."
Personality and aptitude tests may help you uncover hidden talents and discover your true calling. You could end up reaffirming your current career choice or following a completely different direction.
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