Does Your Work Environment Suit Your Personality?

Tweet

What does personality have to do with job satisfaction? Quite a bit, it turns out. John Holland, PhD, of John Hopkins University dedicated his professional life to the question of what truly accounts for satisfaction in a career. He found that individuals who took the time to understand their vocational personality type could find greater satisfaction in their career choice.

6 personality types and the work environments that match

Holland's Six Personality Types were established by years of research and can accurately pinpoint the kind of career or job environment that is best for a particular person. As with most personality studies, an individual might not fall into one particular type but could range over two or three of them. The key is to figure out your dominant type, and then look at the potential careers that would work for you or the job environment that you would thrive in.

Ready to figure yourself out? Decide which of these best describes you:

1. Realistic

You enjoy things that keep your hands busy. In fact, you might prefer to work with things rather than people. You tend to be athletic and practical. You are very frank in your dealings with others, and sometimes you feel awkward in social situations. You are quite skilled with mechanical things and love to see tangible results.

• Ideal work environments: workshop, studio, outdoors
• Sample career paths: HVAC technician, veterinarian, welder, firefighter

2. Investigative

You want a challenge. You love to solve problems--the more complex and abstract the problem is, the better. You enjoy research and adventures in math and science, which suits your introspective nature quite well. You place a high value on learning and see your scientific or mathematical ability as one of your greatest assets.

• Ideal work environments: classroom, laboratory, library
• Sample career paths: medical scientist, computer software engineer, biomedical engineer

3. Artistic

You have a thirst for creativity. You can't stand conformity or convention. You are very open and expressive, but sometimes that can backfire when you become emotional or impulsive. You possess great skills in creative endeavors, such as writing or music. You are original, intuitive and have a vivid imagination.

• Ideal work environments: home, studio, stage
• Sample career paths: Art teacher, performer, writer, graphic designer

4. Social. The welfare of others is very important to you. You communicate in a warm, friendly way that makes others trust you. You might be wary of mechanical things and prefer the human element instead. You are a great counselor who can work with others to solve their problems. You are a very responsible and idealistic person.

• Ideal work environments: office, classroom, shop or restaurant, hospital or clinic
• Sample career paths: Physical therapist, skin care specialist, registered nurse, school counselor

5. Enterprising

You are always moving forward. You are ambitious and very confident, which might explain why you love to seek out leadership roles. You can be very persuasive, whether you are talking to one person or speaking before a crowd. You thrive on meeting goals. You are very assertive, but some people might view you as domineering.

• Ideal work environments: office, small business or start-up
• Sample career paths: Entrepreneur, sales manager, social media marketer

6. Conventional

You like a predictable and stable world. You are very careful and conscious of all the things happening around you. If someone needs organization, they know you have the answers. You are very responsible, but might sometimes wish you were more imaginative or creative.

• Ideal work environments: office, clinic, retail
• Sample career paths: accountant, dental hygienist, pharmacist

When choosing the best job environment, going with what suits your personality can mean a happier, more productive professional life. Self-evaluation can help ensure you don't wind up in an adventure you despise, but instead, that you find a great opportunity to thrive.