How You Match Your Personality With Your Career Path
Finding the right career path in a world filled with hundreds of them isn’t easy, but there are ways to figure out what your strengths are and match them with the perfect job. Once you’ve discovered your passion in life, you can begin paving your path toward becoming the person you want to be.
With that said, consider the following seven categories and which one best describes you. Before you know it, you may just find out what you want to be in life.
1. The Nurturers
If you find yourself wanting to take care of other people, then careers in counseling, therapy, training, planning, and medicine are ideal for you. People who want to help are usually interested and in tune with how others are feeling and enjoy creating order and structure. These traits are not the only traits that need to be a part of the person. A confident type of person is also great at being a nurturer because a lack in confidence in a therapist for example, can cause a patient to believe less in the treatment that they are receiving. These kinds of people choose careers where they can use their people skills to determine what people need or want and their organizational abilities to create a plan for achieving it. Nurturers generally have the following traits:
-Observant and aware of peoples' reactions and feelings
-Work long and hard to see that the job gets done
-Value tradition, security, and peaceful living
-Considerate and kind
-Extremely uncomfortable with confrontation and conflict
2. The Guardians
If you’re a natural-born leader and enjoy creating order and structure, then careers in the military, business administration, law enforcement, and the judicial system may interest you. If you are a very intense person who does not question authority but rather embraces this, you might be a guardian. Guardians have a lot of flexibility in the careers they choose because they’re usually good at a lot of different things. They put forth a lot of effort toward doing things the right way and have a natural drive to take charge and lead others. Guardians generally have the following traits:
-Loyal
-Have no patience with inefficiency or incompetence
-Wholesome and athletic
-Dependable and hard-working
-Have a clear set of standards and beliefs they live by
3. The Doers
If you’re good at analyzing and assessing other peoples' perspectives or motives, chances are you’d excel with a career in computer technical support, marketing, sales, or entrepreneurship. Doers have a few beneficial traits that are unique to their personality type. They’re detailed observers, react quickly and effectively to an immediate situation, and dislike being confined in regimented or structured environments. This type of person has the personality of somebody who takes the bulls by the horns. They show a large amount of initiative and don't wait for somebody to fix a problem but rather fix it themselves. Doers generally have the following traits:
-Live in the present moment
-Dislike abstract theory without practical application
-Adaptable and flexible
-Excellent people skills
-Attracted to risk and adventure
4. The Performers
If you have the urge to have contact with people and experience new things, you’d probably excel in a career involving artistry or acting, child care, designing or decorating, photography, or consultation. Although you might not be the most outgoing of people, you are confident in doing your craft to a large extent. If you’re a performer, it’s essential that you take advantage of your practical perspective and people skills, challenging yourself so you don’t become bored. Performers generally have the following traits:
-Are excited and stimulated by new experiences
-Warmly interested in people
-Spontaneous
-Hate routine and structure
-Feels special bond with children and animals
5. The Thinkers
If you enjoy analyzing or generating theories and proving or disproving them, you’re likely headed for a career in science, math, computer programming, or technical writing. Often times this type of person is more introverted about problems because they are looking for an answer to their problem through logic. Thinkers are known for having a great deal of insight while being able to think creatively. They also have extraordinary logical and rational reasoning skills, allowing them to thoroughly analyze theories to uncover the truth about them. They’re driven to seek clarity in the world. Thinkers generally have the following traits:
-Love abstract ideas and theory
-Dislike mundane details
-Independent, original, and possibly eccentric
-Value competence and knowledge above all else
-Usually ingenious and brilliant
6. The Idealists
If you think of yourself as a sensitive individual who needs a career that means more than just a job, consider writing, teaching, counseling, and psychiatry as professions. Idealists need to feel that everything they do is in harmony with their strongly felt value systems and is moving them in a positive direction. This person is closely related to the nurturers in their personality type. They're driven to do something purposeful and meaningful with their lives, working toward the greater good of humanity. Idealists generally have the following traits:
-Inspirational and creative
-Complex and sensitive
-Individualistic and original (“out of the mainstream”)
-Dislike dealing with routine work and details
-Want to be appreciated and seen for who they are
7. The Mechanics
If you like concentrating and thinking through tough problems, then choosing a career in detective work, forensics, engineering, mechanics, or piloting may be your best option. This person is the type of person who you would want on your side when it comes to fixing something random. This is the friend who seems to have a knack of fixing anything possible that works in a logical way. Whether it’s solving a case for the FBI or working at a Kool Smiles dental office examining teeth, mechanics lead a lifestyle that offers a lot of autonomy and lets them apply their reasoning skills against facts and data to discover the underlying solution or structure to practical questions. Mechanics generally have the following traits:
-Interested in why and how things work
-Learn best “hands-on”
-Highly realistic and practical
-Usually easygoing and laid back with people
-Risk-takers who thrive on action
Finding out what category you fall into isn’t easy, but determining your strengths and personality traits will help you find the path you’re supposed to take.
