Career Personality Types

Each of us is born with a different temperament. One theory, known as the Myers-Briggs Personality Types, gives 16 basic personality types. Another, the Keirsey Temperament Theory, gives four basic temperaments. Knowing the characteristics of your personality type can help you in deciding what career might best suit you.

Personality Theories

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® was developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, who adopted many of the principles that pioneering psychiatrist Carl Jung detailed in "Psychological Types" (1921). The MBTI identifies 16 distinctive personality types divided among four temperaments: introverted or extroverted; sensing or intuitive; thinking or feeling; and judging or perceiving. The temperaments are based on indicators such as how you take in information, make decisions and deal with the world on a day-to-day basis.

The Keirsey Temperament Theory, formulated by educational psychologist David Keirsey, divides temperaments into four types: Idealists, Artisans, Guardians and Rationals.

Idealists

According to Keirsey, if you are an idealist, you are always striving to gain knowledge and for self-improvement. You are enthusiastic, loving, kindhearted and intense. Idealists seek self-knowledge and desire to help others advance on their own journey of self-discovery. Occupations for idealists include counseling, teaching and medicine.
Famous idealists include Princess Diana, Eleanor Roosevelt, Oprah Winfrey and Joan Baez.

Artisans

According to Keirsey, artisans have a natural ability to excel in the arts and make creative, imaginative leaders when given this role. They are fun-loving and not preoccupied with future events. As an artisan, you are spontaneous, playful and optimistic, and seek out exciting friends and situations. With exceptionally keen senses, you enjoy working with your hands. You work well with tools, vehicles and instruments. Artisans excel as painters, musicians, athletes, politicians, mechanics and salesmen. A few famous artisans are Ernest Hemingway, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart and Bruce Lee.

Guardians

According to Keirsey, if you are a guardian, others depend upon you for leadership and example. You are dependable, loyal and hard-working. You deal cautiously with others, are humble, and tend to hold traditions in high esteem. If you are a guardian, you excel as a manager and supervisor. You are practical and down-to-earth and strive to "get the job done," expecting others to do the same. Guardians might seek to become administrators, supervisors, inspectors or homemakers. Some famous guardians include George Washington, Mother Teresa, Harry S. Truman and Sam Walton.

Rationals

According to Keirsey, rationals are the problem-solvers of society. You love complex situations that require deep analytical thinking. You are independent, strong-willed and very intelligent. As a rational, you remain even-tempered and look for logical reasoning to solve controversies. If your temperament is that of a rational, you might enjoy a career as an engineer, architect or inventor. Some well-known rationals are Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Thomas Jefferson and Margaret Thatcher.

References

• Keirsey.com: About the Four Temperaments
• Myers & Briggs Foundation
• MBTI® Basics

Resources

• Information about Personality Types
• Career Personality Test
• How We Develop our Personality Types