Career Types and Personalities

A career is a job or profession that gives one an opportunity to progress in some ways that are important to a person.

In summary a career:

• Constitutes your purpose.

• Is a process of your self-discovery, self-expression and self-assertion.

Your career should answer the following questions about yourself:

• Who am I?

• What am I capable of doing?

• What do I want to become?

A career involves transforming your dreams and wishes into achievements and believing in yourself and your unique talents and characteristics.

It also means turning your aspirations into achievements and believing that you can become anything you aspire to be.

Why do you need a career?

• Earn a living

• Fulfil a demand for skilled labour

• Enhance your skills

• Propagate your knowledge and skills

• Create wealth

• Keep fit and healthy

• Make personal contribution to society

You may have realized that certain people never fit in certain jobs no matter how qualified or hard they work. For example, some people find it difficult to sit down in offices the whole day. They are at their best and happiest working out-doors with their hands. This is because we all have different traits which determine whom we actually are.

There are six career types in which different people fit. These are the realistic, investigative, artistic, social careers, enterprising and conventional careers.

1. Realistic careers

These are the skills and technical oriented jobs. Work here involves tangible and practical skills where people work with tools, machines, plants and animals.

The people in these jobs are highly practical and physically strong. They often enjoy dealing with things rather than people.

They are good in technical subjects such as:

• Agriculture

• Metalwork

• Woodwork

• Home science

• Technical Drawing

• Drawing and Design among others.

They excel in;

• All kinds of engineering such as electrical, mechanical and Agricultural engineering

• Wildlife management

• Wood science and technology

• Armed forces and related careers

2. Investigative careers

The professionals here are scientific and laboratory-oriented. They have a high curiosity, intellectual input and empirical approach to issues.

Their work involves analysing facts, solving puzzles, dealing with charts, numbers, formulae, graphs and data processing.

These people enjoy observing, studying, analysing, interpreting and solving complex challenges. They do well in leadership positions, social gatherings and activities.

They are good in;

• Mathematics and the sciences

• Business studies

They excel in;

• Medicine

• Architecture

• Microbiology and related courses

• Criminal investigations

• Accounting, statistical analysis, money, financial and related fields

• Veterinary, zoology and related fields

• Computer science and information communication technology

3. Artistic careers

Those who excel in these careers are arts-oriented, creative, expressive and aesthetically conscious.

Their jobs involve a lot of imagination. Consequently, those who excel here are highly original, emotional, non-conforming, unconventional, independent, idealist and introspective. They take risks and like producing distinct products.

They are good in;

• Languages

• Literature

• Drawing and design

• Music

They excel in;

• Drama and theatre arts

• Graphic designing

• Literary studies

• Writing, painting and poetry

• Acting

• Home decorating, fabric designing

• Photography, singing, drawing cartoons

4. Social careers

These involve working with people. Those who excel here have an inner urge for helping others. They like training, informing, enlightening, arbitrating and organising other people.

They are sociable, friendly, understanding, empathetic, generous, helpful, cooperative, responsible and hard working. Often, they are sober, welfare - minded and articulate.

They are good in;

• Languages

• Literature

• Humanities

They can also be good in the sciences if they put more interest and effort in them.

They excel in;

• Administration

• Education

• Law

• Theology

• Journalism and mass communication

• Human and public relations

• Political science and related fields

• Counseling

5. Enterprising careers

These careers involve influencing and persuading other people. There is a lot of goal and profit orientation in these jobs. Those who excel are enterprising, ambitious, talkative, argumentative and domineering people. They are also energetic, self-confident, optimistic, sociable, competitive, impulsive and persuasive. They enjoy chairing meetings and committees. Often they run for elected offices, head important functions and motivate others.

They are good in;

• Mathematics

• Business studies

• Sciences

They excel in;

• Business management

• Sales and marketing

• Hotel management

• Politics

• Industrial consultancy and related fields

6. Conventional careers

The careers here involve highly orderly, routine and practical jobs. Often, there are some inflexible activities. Those who excel have a common denominator of being obedient, practical, calm and orderly. They are also efficient and conforming.

They are good in;

• Business studies

• Computer and office practice

• Home science

• Sciences

They excel in;

• Accounting

• Bookkeeping

• Auditing

• Statistics

• Inventory control

• Store keeping

• Secretarial

• Office management

• Computer operations

7. Adventuring

This involves being involved in situations and tasks that require physical endurance, competing with others, and some degree of risk-taking. People with this career interest enjoy involvement in athletics, working in the military/ law enforcement professions and participating in risky and adventurous events.

They usually get satisfaction from competing with others where they have opportunities to win and/or win by working with others in a team.

They often seek out excitement and are generally quite confident of their physical abilities and skills.