In this new era of the global gig economy, we are seeing an explosion and evolution of new careers every day. It is presumed that 65% of today’s children will be in jobs that have not been created yet. With more options and opportunities discovered and constructed than ever, it is no wonder that an average person has 5-7 careers during their lifetime. In a way, it is harder to find the right career for people.
We expect more now. A career and the work environment must offer emotional and personal fulfillment. We want employers that are willing to invest in our personal development and continuous learning. We want to be in an environment where we work shoulder to shoulder with others whose company we enjoy. Culture is more important than ever.
This is why many employers are now administering personality tests for new candidates to ensure your talent pipeline helps you maintain and improve the culture they’re trying to cultivate. According to DiSC studies, there are four distinct personality quadrants you can belong to Dominant, Inspiring, Supportive, Cautious.
- Dominant: Assertive and direct, want to feel validated, natural leader, action-oriented, and decisive
- Inspiring: Influential, collaborative, encouraging, lively
- Supportive: Helpful, reserved, accommodating, people-pleasing, gentle
- Cautious: Private, analytical, and logical
Based on the quadrant you believe you belong to, here are some career options that may be suitable for you.
1. For ‘Dominant’ Personalities
Dominant personalities are great for roles that require public speaking, people management, and setting high-level direction/vision. You want to be in the position of authority and be respected for it. You will see a lot of dominant personalities amongst consultants, lawyers, recruiters, sales, police officers, auditors, restaurant and construction managers, politicians, etc.
A dominant personality should be in an environment where you are expected and encouraged to be the most knowledgeable and charismatic person in the room. A dominant person can still be a team player but cannot be in an environment where you will be extremely micromanaged or dependent on others.
The best roles for dominant people are ones that involve creative problem solving, speaking to a wide audience, managing projects, and leading teams.
2. For ‘Inspiring’ Personalities
Inspiring personalities are easy to spot. They love telling stories in an animated way, enjoy making others feel great and motivated, and focus more on relationship management than tasks. They thrive in an environment where they interact with loads of people, rather than to carry out tasks quietly at their desks.
These personalities are great for trainers/educators, performers, writers, even planner, life coaches, and tour guides. Any work that requires precise reports or output is not meant for them. They need to be able to engage with people, guide them, and contribute to making their lives better in one way or another.
Another career path where inspiring personalities succeed in is any field involving working with children. It is probably perfect only for ‘Inspiring’ personalities as you need to be energetic, engage with children & adults equally well, and very skilled at playing characters.
3. For ‘Supportive’ Personalities
Supportive personalities are great for roles that contribute to social good and helping the underserved without bringing too much attention to themselves. They enjoy one on one interaction, not large gatherings, and want to accommodate others’ needs. They may shy away from conflicts but that doesn’t mean they are not social. They can be social in the right environment. Examples are aged care workers, community service roles, nurses, counselors, physical therapists, and executive assistants.
They are apt at showing compassion even while the other person is being difficult, which is a highly valuable attribute.
4. For ‘Cautious’ Personalities
Cautious personalities are exact opposites of ‘Inspiring’ personalities. ‘Inspiring’ focuses on relationships over tasks and ‘cautious’ prefers it the other way. EQ is not their strong suit and they don’t speak up often even if they have information that could be pertinent to the discussion in progress. They appreciate precision, scientific data, and logical responses. They are perfectionists who don’t respond well to extreme emotions and thus do not often enjoy the company of many.
They will be great for scientific research, academia, finance, detectives, architects, bakers, programmers, engineering, marine biologists, and pharmacists.
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