Have You Ever Felt Like there was a Missing Link in Your Life?

By Marilyn Albert, Executive Director, Career Services

The key to job satisfaction, ultimately success is to link your work personality to your work environment. Whether you are dissatisfied with your job, or can’t figure out what you want to be when you grow up, this article is for you.

Contrary to popular belief, the world of work is not as random as it may appear. Tire of hearing well meaning relatives who give ancient career advice from a different time and economy? Aunt Jenny’s advice about her son, your cousin once removed, may be more than you can handle right now. Nobody, knows what is in your head at this time. So, until you learn a little more about how the work world is structured, ease up on you near misses, shaky interviews, and what-was-I-thinking(?), self-talk. Not only is will this information help you in choosing a career path, it can help you stay in a job that currently isn’t a good fit by learning more about others around you.

Let’s begin with the basics:

1. There are six different work personalities and environments. Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. You either fit in one of three of these or you don’t. Nobody, is one perfect type, we are all a combination of three of these work personalities and work environments.
2. People can either choose an environment they are interested in working in (such as a hospital, school, tall office building in the city) and then find a job they are interested in that environment. Example: working in a hospital. There dozens of different types of jobs in a hospital besides doctors and nurses. There are social workers, technicians, accounts, graphic artists, therapists, interpreters, etc...)
3. Or, it could be the other way around. Your personality is such that it can work in a variety of environments. Basically, the work personality chooses or creates the environment. Example: Writer. Writers work in journalism, public relations, advertising, television, the blogosphere, etc. They work as freelance or work for a specific company.

You can go to: http://careerservices.edgewood.edu
On the right side, clink on: “Work Personality”

Following are the six work personalities and work environments that all occupations fall into. Find your work personality and understand your work environment. Link this information in you educational choices, volunteer opportunities, resume, interviews and career choices. See how the world or work can change, in a good way, for you.

Realistic:		prefers concrete problems, see the results of their labor, avoid abstract situations
Investigative:		autonomous, prefers complex problems, analytical
Artistic:		creative & good problem solvers, flexible, avoids structure
Social:		supportive, philosophical, nurturing
Enterprising:		lead, persuasive, economic gain, manage, sell
Conventional:		routine, organized, structure, data, repetition

The Realistic Personality Type (prefers concrete problems, avoids the abstract)

Likes to see the results of their labor and concrete problems. Sees themselves as very practical in nature. Has good skills in working with tools, mechanical drawings, machines or animals. Values practical things you can see and touch -- like plants and animals you can grow, or things you can build or make better. Prefers physical activities.

Realistic Type Work Environment (see the results of their labor)

Values people who are practical and mechanical -- who are good at working with tools, mechanical or electrical drawings, machines, or animals. Usually, excels in athletic skills and enjoys the outdoors.

Examples of occupations that have a Realistic environment are:

Farmer		Forester		Fire Fighter
Police Officer		Flight Engineer		Pilot
Carpenter		Electrician		Diesel Mechanic
Athlete		Truck Driver		Locksmith

The Investigative Personality Type (autonomous)

Prefers complex problem solving and using their analytical skills. Likes to study and solve math or science problems. Has good skills at understanding and solving science and math problems. Values science, and sees self as precise, scientific, and intellectual.

Investigative Type Work Environment (prefers complex problems, analytical)

Values people who are precise, scientific, and intellectual -- who are good at understanding and solving science and math problems; as well as, complex psychological problems. They prefer a sense of autonomy (don’t fence me attitude).

Examples of occupations that have an Investigative environment are:

Chemist		Mathematician		Meteorologist
Biologist		Dentist		Physician
Veterinarian		Pharmacist		Medical Technician
Architect		Surveyor		Psychologist

The Artistic Personality Type (creative & good problem solvers)

Prefer creative and flexible environments. Good at problem solving. Has the ability to think of things over and over again until they see things differently or can create a new way doing things. Likes engage in creative activities and values things like art, drama, crafts, dance, music, or creative writing. Has good artistic abilities in creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. See self as expressive, original, and independent.

Artistic Type Work Environment (flexible, avoids structure)

Values people who are expressive, original, and independent -- who have good artistic abilities in creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art.

Examples of occupations that have an Artistic environment are:

Dancer		Book Editor		Art Teacher
Clothes Designer		Graphic Designer		Comedian
Actor		Disk Jockey		Writer
Composer		Musician		Social Media Marketing

The Social Personality Type (supportive, philosophical)

Likes engage in things to help people - like teaching, counseling, nursing, or giving information. Has good skills at teaching, counseling, nursing, or giving information. Values helping people and solving social problems; and, sees self as helpful, friendly, and trustworthy.

Social Type Work Environment (the process is more important than a decision)

Values people who are helpful, friendly, and trustworthy -- who are good at good at teaching, counseling, nursing, curing, giving information, and solving social problems.

Examples of occupations that have a Social environment are:

Counselor		Parole Officer		Social Worker
Dental Hygienist		Nurse		Physical Therapist
Teacher		Librarian		Athletic Trainer

The Enterprising Personality Type (lead, persuade)

Likes to lead and persuade people, and to sell things and ideas. Good at leading people and selling things or ideas; Values success in politics, leadership, or business; and, sees self as energetic, ambitious, and sociable.

Enterprising Type Work Environment (economic gain, manage, sell)

Values people who are energetic, ambitious, and sociable -- who are good at politics, leading people and selling things or ideas.

Examples of occupations that have a Enterprising environment are:

Auctioneer		Sales Person		Travel Agent
Recreation Leader		Judge		Lawyer
City Manager		Sales Manager		Bank President
TV Newscaster		Customs Inspector		Camp Director
Hotel Manager		Real Estate Agent		School Principal

The Conventional Personality Type (routine, organized)

Likes to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set, orderly way. Is good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way. Values success in business; and, sees self as orderly, and good at following a set plan.

Conventional Type Work Environment (structure, data, repetition)

Value people who are orderly, and good at following a set plan -- good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way.

Examples of occupations that have a Conventional environment are:

Court Clerk		Secretary		Bookkeeper
Bank Teller		Post Office Clerk		Mail Carrier
Typist		Title Examiner		Computer Programmer

References:
Making Vocational Choices, John J. Holland.
Dictionary of Holland A Occupations Codes