Your Personality Type Could Shape Your Career

Chances are, you know people who always seem happy and triumphant in their careers, and you're tempted to assume they have skills and insights you lack. The truth is that successful professionals make career choices based on their personality type so they stay passionate and motivated rather than fighting against their natural instincts. Whether you're starting a career or making a change, embracing your personality type could reshape your future.

Creator or Executor?

Creatives, tinkerers and problem-solvers work in many careers such as copywriting, marketing, information technology, plumbing and construction. Some enjoy developing innovative ideas and overseeing the big picture. Others are skilled at implementing ideas but aren't as concerned with creating a vision of their own. While creators, such as architects and app developers, love bringing new ideas into being, executors, such as structural engineers and data analysts, love discovering how things work and finding ways to improve upon techniques and processes.

Pragmatist or Idealist?

Values determine what's important to you, which is why you shouldn't ignore them. Idealists are often deeply principled, loyal and driven by a desire to accomplish something meaningful, making it unwise to pursue careers where ruthless, self-serving behavior is the norm. Pragmatists are perceptive and thoughtful, relying on concrete facts and realistic observations to make smart career choices. Both personality types work in every profession, but your choice of employer should depend on your sense of purpose and perception of social justice, ethical standards, work-life balance and professional rewards.

Leader or Supporter?

Past hobbies, role models and jobs can help you identify yourself as a leader or supporter. If you naturally gravitated toward editing the school newspaper, leading the debate team or starting your own grass-mowing business, you may have the intelligent, confident, self-starting character of a leader. Fortunately, it's okay to avoid the spotlight and focus on perfecting operations and easing your boss' burden, enabling better efficiency and teamwork. Supporters are more motivated by the quality of the outcome and don't have an innate need to be in charge.

Introvert or Extrovert?

An introverted or extroverted personality type can have a significant impact on your productivity and engagement. Introverts are typically drained by excessive stimulation and energized by independence and personal reflection, making them crave calmer workspaces and greater autonomy. Many extroverts thrive in busier environments with more team contact and are less likely to stay engaged without stimulation. Either personality type can be outgoing or reserved, or proactive or passive, and detecting those subtle variations can help you choose between becoming an educator, attorney, documentary filmmaker, museum curator or archivist.

Pleasure-Seeker or Traditionalist?

Pleasure-seekers and traditionalists are the most different. The former craves variety and satisfying experiences, while the latter doesn't need personal fulfillment to do a job well, making traditionalists steadfast and hardworking under any conditions. However, if you enjoy a changing work environment with flexible responsibilities and opportunities for growth, pursue dynamic careers that involve travel, consulting, hospitality, project coordination or event planning.

Most personality types aren't clear cut, so you can be an exceptional creator and executor or a fun-loving people-pleaser who enjoys leading a team or serving a cause. Your unique blend of traits makes you a valuable, one-of-a-kind asset to an employer, and you can achieve success again and again by leveraging your distinct talents.

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