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CHOOSE WORK THAT SUITS YOUR PERSONALITY

PERSONALITY IS IMPORTANT BUT IT DOESN’T DEFINE EVERY PART OF WHO WE ARE

THERE is no single factor that leads to making the perfect career choice but jobseekers who match their role to their personality have a solid start. School leavers and career changers unsure what they want to do are urged to reflect on their individual characteristics and qualities or take personality tests.

NSW Skills and Tertiary Education Minister Dr Geoff Lee says more than 45,000 people have taken personality quizzes available through his government’s LifeLauncher website portal since they were made available early last year.

“There are a whole heap of people who don’t know what they want to do when they finish school,” he says.

“I think you need something that inspires you.”

SkillsOne chief executive Brian Wexham says it is “essential” for people to consider their personality when choosing a career path.

“You might want to be a teacher but don’t like standing up in front and you are not confident in speaking so maybe that is the wrong choice for you,” he says.

Meanwhile, people who are nurturing, patient and empathetic may be suited to aged care, disability care or childcare; and people who are innovative may be suited to charity work.

“(Demand for inquisitive personalities) extends to any industry because you are looking at how things can be done better,” Wexham says.

“Whether that be retail or farming, it’s about solving problems.”

But personality is not the only factor to keep in mind when making these types of decisions.

SEEK resident psychologist Sabina Read says people should not “hang everything” on the one consideration.

“Other factors that play into career choice include values, life goals, career motivations,” she says.

“If an extroverted person has no motivation, it doesn’t matter how extroverted they are, they won’t make it in sales.

“If someone wants to earn truckloads of money, they might be very caring but may not go into nursing because their primary motivation is financial.

“Personality is important because it drives our decision making and approach to life but it doesn’t define every part of who we are.”

Read says the onus is on workers to “massage” their roles so they honour all parts of their personality.

For example, barristers often enjoy being centre stage and are quick on their feet so may dabble in acting or singing gigs on the side.

“In any work we do there are ways to explore our personality,” she says.