Whether you’re about to graduate or you’re just starting to apply for colleges and mulling over what you should declare as your major, it’s a good idea to consider the type of person you are and what might be a good fit for you. While it might take you more than one job to obtain the career of your dreams, there’s no saying you won’t enjoy whatever job you land right out of school.
Work can have its challenging aspects no matter what type of job you end up having, but there’s something to say for finding a career field that you love. Knowing yourself and what kind of practice and people you mesh well with can do a world of good as you’re contemplating what type of career might be a good fit for you.
We’ve pulled together a few helpful things to think through as you’re working to discern what kind of job might suit your personality best.
1. Introvert or extrovert?
An introvert refills his or her energy tank by spending time alone, while an extrovert refills his or her energy tank by being with people. No matter what job you choose, you’ll more than likely have to interact with people in some capacity, but the amount of time you spend with other human beings will vary depending on the job you choose. If you’re more introverted, you might not mind sitting in a research lab conducting experiments in silence for a few hours on end. However, it might feel arduous to try and force yourself into a sales position that requires cold calling a whole slew of strangers. If you’re an extrovert, however, you might delight in a job that has you up in front of people speaking, like teaching, or some sort of other people-oriented position, like nursing, where you’re interacting with patients all day long. Entertainment is a great field for extroverts as well.
Whatever position you choose, consider how much interaction with other people you want in a day, and let that influence the direction you choose.
2. Structured or unstructured?
This preferred method of work can sometimes be a bit more difficult to discern, but it can be a helpful way to figure out if a certain position might be a good fit for you or not. Are you the type of person who likes a lot of structure in your life? Are you on time, prefer deadlines, and keep your life pretty organized? Or are you someone who is a bit more free-spirited? Someone who gets the job done—but in his or her own time?
Take a good look at how you naturally structure your own life, and if you’re having a bit of trouble discerning which direction you lean, enlist a couple of friends to help you think through it.
3. Logical or emotions-based?
Do you make most of your decisions based on logic and data? Or do you tend to decide things based on how you feel? Considering how your mind operates when faced with these types of choices can do a world of good in helping you select a job that will naturally fit with your tendencies. A job as a counselor or psychologist may be a good fit for someone who is used to engaging their emotions to interact with other people. A career in the field of accounting or engineering or a job as a software developer might be a great fit for someone who makes decisions based on the facts.
4. Take a personality assessment
If all else fails, and you’re having a lot of trouble figuring out what your personality might be like, take an online assessment and see what you get! At the very least, it will give you some language and categories to consider as you mull over what kind of temperament and tendencies you lean toward. More than one type of personality can work a certain job, so it’s important to not box yourself into certain types of work. It’s simply a helpful practice to consider the type of everyday work you want to commit to, and knowing your personality can be a huge help with that.