Your Piece in the Puzzle: How Your Personality Can Impact Your Career
When the promotion to Marketing Manager was offered to her, Cecelia didn’t hesitate in accepting it. She had worked in the Marketing Department for many years as a graphic designer, a position she loved and was very good at. She was known for “getting things done” – meeting deadlines, being creative, and staying organized. But after a few months in the position, Cecelia realized that she had made a mistake. In her old position, she had worked with other staff members, planning and producing their print jobs, but had never had to manage her co-workers or work on any teams. As time went by, Cecelia realized that she didn’t like managing other people – “babysitting” as she thought of it – and working on teams that wasted her time. Knowing that she couldn’t go back to her old position, it wasn’t long before Cecelia was updating her resume, looking for a way out.
Too often people find themselves in a job they thought was perfect, only to discover it is not the dream job they expected. Why does this happen? Is it a misrepresentation of the position by the company? Does the job seeker see the opportunity through rose colored glasses and ignore the red flags? Are the obvious negative aspects ignored in hopes that this job will be ideal? In some situations, I believe the answer to these questions is “yes.” However, in many situations, it is a matter of a misunderstood fit because the job seeker has not considered how their personality will affect the appropriateness of the position.
Your personality significantly impact on how well your position fits you, your happiness with the position, and even your success in that position. Over the years, I have come to understand the various personalities and how they affect career satisfaction by studying the Myers/Briggs Type Indicator and reading many of the books by Florence Littauer. I would like to share with you four areas to consider and several questions to ask yourself as you search for your ideal position.
To deal with people or to not deal with people…what is your preference?
Start with your attitude towards people. When you are around people, do you feel energized? Do you find you make friends with anyone, anywhere? Do you like to talk? Answering these questions can help you determine if you are suited for a career that requires a high level of interaction with people. It probably means that you either enjoy people in general or that you like to work with people to accomplish goals. Some individuals enjoy being with others because they like to entertain or be entertained. They are usually good storytellers and look forward to social interaction. Others might like being around people when they are working on a project or completing a task together. These individuals are usually concerned with accomplishment and would much rather work on a cause than attend a party. If you consider yourself a people person, careers that offer you significant interaction with others will be an ideal fit and will add to your job satisfaction. Examples of good choices for careers might be sales, corporate training, teaching, or occupational therapy.
Some people, on the other hand, feel exhausted when they have to work with people. They dread spending a great deal of time with others and prefer a quiet, uninterrupted environment that allows them to think. Although interaction with a few co-workers can be enjoyable, a steady stream of conversation, meetings, and office noise is very distracting. Does this sound like you? If the answer is yes, you are going to want to focus your job search in a field that doesn’t require you to constantly be around people. Good examples might be a career in accounting, writing, or some field of research. You will need a career that allows you the “quiet time” you require to do your best work.
Many career fields require working in teams. In some fields, it is the way the whole organization functions. In others, teams are not as widely used. Asking yourself some questions up front can save you headaches and frustration later on. Are you the type of person that thinks creatively when you are able to bounce ideas off others? Do you enjoy the camaraderie that results from a small group of people striving toward a goal? Or, does working with a group make you feel like you have an anchor around your neck because everything moves so slowly? Does the exchanging of ideas and possible conflict involved in team meetings make you uncomfortable? Working in teams is such an important part of many careers, that it is an aspect for consideration in any job search.
Were you at the front or the back of the line?
Many of us played the simple game of follow the leader when we were younger. Think back to when you played that game; where were you in line? Were you the child that had to be in the front of the line leading the rest of the group around the room? Now that you have grown up, do you still like to be in charge? Are accomplishments important to you? Do you enjoy providing direction to a group of people? Answering “yes” to these questions indicates that a position with leadership should be a successful match, so look for a position that includes leadership. This will allow you to use your skills to the benefit of your team, your company and yourself. Pursuing a leadership position will help you avoid the frustration of being at the middle or the back of the “follow-the-leader line”. There are many examples of careers that utilize leadership skills – business, marketing, management, and law to name a few.
On the other hand, you might have been one of those kids that liked to be at the back of the line. You would prefer to play a supporting role and find it hard to get motivated to be the one in charge. If this description resonates with you, then you will want to concentrate your job search for a position without specific leadership responsibility. As you search for a position, consider what the company expects from you as an employee. If your success rests on how well “your team” does than that position is probably is not ideal for you. You will most likely find it hard to motivate your team to achieve the goals and stay on task because you have a hard time finding the motivation. Finding that ideal position in which you will be successful, will require some inquiry during the interview process. Working within a larger department in a field that interests you might be a good fit; you will find motivation in the work but not be required to lead.
Organized…or not?
Each person has his or her own method of caring for their belongings, managing projects, and keeping track of details. And some are better at it than others. This is certainly an area of concern when looking for a job. Some of us have a spot for everything and make sure that items are returned to that spot. Others will just let them fall where they may. When you are searching for a job, ask yourself if you have trouble staying organized. Does your work area typically look like a tornado hit it? Do you struggle to keep papers and projects in order? If your answer is yes, you are going to be more successful in a position that allows you some freedom; a position that does not require you to have everything necessary to do your job in a precise location. Also, if you struggle with disorganization, positions that do not have a lot of deadlines are going to be a better fit for you. You also do not want to be in a position that requires you to share a workspace with others. More than likely you will know where to find that paper, but that probably won’t be the case for your teammates.
On the other side of the coin, is your motto “a place for everything and everything in its place”? If a co-worker came in to look for a folder, would they be able to find it without much trouble? An answer of “yes” means your ideal position is one that will give you the opportunity to showcase that organizational ability. Positions that require planning and have a schedule will be best for you. You will want to find a position that requires follow-through because you will find creative solutions to finish a project that is started. A position with deadlines will not be a problem for you; in fact, you most likely will have the task completed long before it is due. You will also want to find a position where you will have your own workspace. Sharing a workspace with a messy co-worker will have you updating up your resume in short order.
Big picture or paint by number?
Some people are “big picture” thinkers and can see the end product but are unable to tell you how they got there. Do you constantly have new ideas for programs and projects? Can you envision what that project will look like when in a completed state but feel overwhelmed when trying to figure out how to achieve your vision? If so, then you will find your success in a position that allows you to develop strategic plans but you not have to be in charge of planning how the project will be completed. Your success will not be found in a position that has a lot of tedious details. However, you will be a great motivator for those that are assisting you in the development of the project or program as you achieve the goals together.
Other people are very talented at carrying out the plans of an overall vision. They prefer a “paint-by-number” approach. When a co-worker presents an idea to you, are you able to see all the steps that need to be accomplished to make that idea come to life? Do you like charts, graphs, and lists? Do you like a structured approach on projects? If these questions can be positively answered, then positions in which you will find satisfaction are positions that allow you to work with details. Positions that work with schedules, coordination of people and events, and working on the ‘little things’ to achieve the goal will serve you well. You will be the person that gives a realistic view of what is needed to achieve the goal and will keep your co-workers grounded and focused.
What should Cecelia have done?
Can you see where Cecelia, the unhappy Marketing Manager, went wrong? She assumed that because she was good at managing projects, she would be good at managing people. But for many people, it doesn’t work that way. As you begin the search for your ideal position, considering your personality will help you find a position at which you can be successful and satisfied. Working outside your personality is like pushing a rock up a hill all day long, resulting in fatigue and frustration. However, finding a career that suits your personality can be very rewarding, even energizing. Although every job has some aspects that aren’t exciting, wouldn’t you like to feel happy and content at the end of the day? I encourage you to discover more about your personality and to use that knowledge to find a career that you enjoy!