Career choice: consider your personality when deciding on a line of work

Jobseekers are being urged to be honest about their personality before applying for a role. Experts explain how to match your personality to a more fulfilling career.

• Compare your pay to 1000 other Aussie jobs
• How to find a job in 2020

There is no single factor that leads to making the perfect career choice but jobseekers who match their role to their personality are off to 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 on the NSW Government’s LifeLauncher 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.”

How suited are you really to your dream job? Picture: iStock

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 as they have to come up with new ways to get people to part with their money.

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

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

Psychologist Sabina Read says there are many factors to consider when choosing your career path. Picture: Supplied.

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,” she says.

“If someone wants to earn truck loads 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.”

NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT? TAKE A PERSONALITY QUIZ

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.

Real estate agent Justin Kurenda says his job is a great match for his outgoing personality. Picture: MATT LOXTON

MORE NEWS:

Important skills Aussies need to land a job

Entire staff’s brutal revenge on boss

CONSIDERING A CAREER CHANGE?

Justin Kurenda, a real estate agent and managing director of Ray White Glenelg, started his career in finance and accounting but made the switch to property as it was a better fit for his personality.

“I found myself in front of a computer bogged down in spreadsheets, whereas I like to meet new people and have a social type role,” he says.

“After 10 years of accounting I got into real estate (and) I am getting more out of my career as a result.”

Kurenda, who has a Bachelor of Commerce, CPA qualification and real estate licence, initially fell into finance because he enjoyed working with numbers but is glad to have since made the switch.

He recommends the real estate industry to people who have a client focus.

“You have to be a person who can adapt and speak to all different types of people, whether a first-home buyer who is young and inexperienced or a down-sizer who has been quite successful and knows what they want,” he says.

“Customer service and being respectful are very important in this game.

“You also have to have that drive. There is a lot of competition out there so it can be tough at times.”

READ MORE EMPLOYMENT NEWS IN THE CAREERS SECTION OF SATURDAY’S THE COURIER-MAIL, THE ADVERTISER, THE HERALD SUN AND THE DAILY TELEGRAPH