Certain personality types are a better fit for high-powered careers - find out what career may suit your style.
When you see people in positions of power, do you ever wonder whether
or not they have anything in common? Beyond education, knowledge, and
experience, there could be another factor at work.
To an extent, the qualities of your personality can determine how
satisfied you may be in your career. Just ask Erin Nichole Smith, a
success coach for the National Society of Leadership and Success.
"Understanding what environments your personality is more predisposed
to thrive in may help provide important insights," she explains.
Discovering your personality type could help you tap into your passion
and cultivate lasting satisfaction in your work, says Smith.
We have come up with some common traits of six high-powered careers
based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test (MBTI). This test divides
personalities into 16 types, but it is really the combination of four
main categories that creates four letter codes.
- Extroversion (E)/Introversion (I)
- Sensing(S)/Intuition (I)
- Thinking (T)/Feeling (F)
- Judging (J)/Perceiving (P)
Dr. Carole Stovall, a psychologist and the CEO of SLS Global Assess,
an online test site that offers the MBTI test, says the test does not
necessarily measure one’s success in a given career but rather helps
determine the best fit for your persona.
Of course, there is more than one personality type that could fit
these careers, but here are a few examples of some good matches
according to our career and personality experts. Also, it may take years
of experience in order to reach these high-powered careers, but you
could take steps toward these careers today. Keep reading if you’re
ready to find out which career could best suit your personality and
empower you, too.
Career #1: Financial Manager
Personality Match: The Duty Fulfiller (ISTJ)
If your personality type reveals that you are dependable, orderly,
and logical, such as an ISTJ, a high-power career as a financial manager
might be one you may want to consider.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, financial managers help
keep an organization in good financial standing. It is their
responsibility to produce reports, coordinate investments, and
strategize how to help reach financial goals.
Why It's A Match: "You want someone who is good with
handling money as well as thinking with that money," says Stovall. "An
ISTJ-type person likes structure, details, and they like a world that is
pretty predictable. They’re also very big planners and that’s very
important in terms of being a financial manager."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Program.
Education: To pursue a financial manager career, you
usually need at least a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience
in another business or financial occupation such as loan officer or
accountant, says the Department of Labor. The minimum education for this
job is a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business
administration, or accounting. The Department also says many companies
often now seek applicants with a master’s degree, preferably in business
administration, economics, or finance.
Career # 2: Public Relations Manager
Personality Match: The Doer (ESTP)
Are you a creative thinker and a solid communicator? Would others
describe you as friendly, action-oriented, and persuasive? An
influential career as a public relations manager sounds like it’s
written all over you.
Public relations managers and specialists strive to keep a positive
persona of their employer or client with the public, according the U.S.
Department of Labor. Their key responsibilities include writing press
releases, coordinating and evaluating public relations campaigns, and
raising funds for their company.
Why It's A Match: Smith says ESTP is a good fit,
because "they are often ‘the doers’ and their ability to calmly respond
to and solve pressing problems inspires confidence and helps to persuade
others."
Education: A bachelor’s degree in public relations,
journalism, English, business, or communications is typically a
requirement, says the Department of Labor. Some companies prefer a
master’s degree in public relations or journalism.
Career # 3: Medical or Health Services Manager
Personality Match:The Duty Fulfiller (ISTJ) or The Guardian (ESTJ)
Are you keen on being organized and getting the job done right? Are
you best described as hardworking and practical? Whether you’re
introverted or extroverted, you could do well in the important career of
medical or health services manager.
As the U.S. Department of Labor notes, these professionals work
closely with medical staff in the planning and delivery of health care.
Their job involves creating work schedules, managing a facility's
finances, and keeping up-to-date on new laws and regulations. Heath care
service managers may work in the offices of hospitals, nursing homes,
or group medical practices, adds the Department of Labor.
Why It's A Match: Stovall says there are many
personalities that are suitable for this high-power career path
depending on their reasons for entering the profession. "If they enter
health care to make money and are interested in the business, they could
easily be I/ESTJ! Their type could be more similar to a business
executive."
Education: Most medical or health services managers
need at minimum a bachelor's degree in health administration to enter
the profession, says the Department. Master’s degrees in health
services, long-term care administration, public health, public
administration, or business administration are also common.
Career #4: Construction Manager
Personality Match: The Mechanic (ISTP)
Are you more hands-on in nature and a methodical thinker? Do you find
yourself interested in the way things work? Then a powerful career as a
construction manager may be right up your alley.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, construction managers
oversee construction projects from early development to completion, as
well as coordinate the plans and the budget.
Why It's A Match: "A career in construction
management is a good fit for ISTP personality types," says Smith. "As
‘The Mechanics,’ ISTPs are at their best when they take on tasks that
require immediate action. ISTPs can stay calm under pressure and focus
attention on the most pressing issues at hand."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Engineering Program.
Education: Employers increasingly prefer applicants
with a combination of work experience and a bachelor's degree in a
construction-related field, such as architecture, engineering,
construction management, or construction science, says the Department of
Labor. However, for some positions, an associate's degree with
relevant work experience is enough.
Career # 5: Human Resources Manager
Personality Match: The Caregiver (ESFJ)
Are you loyal, dependable, and sensitive to the needs of others? A
career as a human resources manager might be suitable for you and also
give you the responsibility you're seeking.
What are the responsibilities of this high-power position? Human
resources managers coordinate everything from employee relations to
payroll and benefits, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They often
oversee recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new employees, as well
as act as a liaison between management and its employees.
Why It's A Match: Stovall says ESFJ "is somebody who
needs to be good at understanding and working with people." She adds
that human resources managers must value people, and ESFJs fit that
bill.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Program.
Education: The Department of Labor says that most
employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in human resources,
business, or a related field.
Career #6: Marketing Manager
Personality Match: The Guardian (ESTJ)
Are your strong points in leadership and organization? If you also
have a creative eye and commonly make decisions on logic rather than
emotion, you may want to look at the high-powered career of marketing
manager.
Marketing managers monitor trends and markets to predict demands for
goods and services that a business and its competitors offer, notes the
U.S. Department of Labor. They also develop pricing strategies to help
companies maximize profits while ensuring customer satisfaction.
These professionals may also be responsible for creating price plans
to help maximize a company’s bottom dollar while meeting expectations of
their customers, says the Department of Labor.
Why It's A Match: Stovall says ESTJs would be
well-suited to marketing manager positions, because ESTJs are natural
managers and leaders. She adds, however, that "you could have some sales people who are ESTP who work their way through the company and end up managing people."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Marketing Program.
Education: The Department of Labor says most
marketing manager positions require a bachelor’s degree. Courses in
business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics,
and statistics are useful in this field.