What Type of Career Will Suit You?

What motivates you? What do you find satisfying? What projects do you naturally excel at? What sorts of tasks and activities could you do every day, without getting bored?

These are key questions to ask when searching for a career. Your ideal career will make the most of your strengths, so that your work feels natural and comfortable to you. It will also tap into your core motivations, so that you have a sense that what you do is important and authentic to who you are. It will also suit you in a practical sense, by asking you to work on the sorts of tasks and activities that you naturally enjoy.

These factors are different for every individual. Some people are motivated by money and fame, while others simply want to know they are making the world a better place. Some people like to use their minds in their work. Others prefer to use their hands.

In this report, we'll look at both your personality and interests, so that you get a full picture of the type of career that will make the most of your strengths and bring you satisfaction over the long run. You'll discover what motivates you, what you're naturally best at, and how to match your innate characteristics with a real-world career.

This is a sample report for the TypeFinder for Career Planning. To see which careers are right for you, take the test!

You're a Caring Creator

You are concerned with helping others and making practical contributions to the world around you. For you, work is an opportunity to be of service to the people and organizations that you care about. You are caring and supportive and like to feel that you have been helpful to others.

You are a natural caretaker who tends to see what other people need and step in to offer assistance when you can. You like a sense of camaraderie and cooperation, and want a workplace where everyone works together to get things done.

You appreciate systems and processes that allow you to be efficient and effective in accomplishing useful tasks. You like clear expectations and want to know how your work has helped others in practical ways. 

You are drawn to work that allows you to express your unique vision. You want to be an individual and come up with original ideas. You like a lot of freedom in your work so that you can do what inspires you.

The chart below describes your overall approach and core motivations in your work. To read this chart, look at the size of each quadrant. A larger area indicates that a particular style is a better fit for you. Smaller areas indicate that the style is not a very good fit.

Idealistic

Driven to make the world a better place. Creative and imaginative in coming up with insightful solutions to meaningful problems.

Caring

Wants to be of service to others. Prefers to work within established institutions to find ways to maintain stability and security for people.

Analytical

Likes to solve complex, rational problems. Uses analytical skills to come up with innovative ways to improve logical systems.

Pragmatic

Wants to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Enjoys working within structured, logical systems to accomplish realistic goals.

This chart shows broad patterns in how you work, and can give you a handy reminder of what's most important to you in a career. Next, we'll go deeper into the details, to get a more complete understanding of what you bring to your work.

Your Personality Type

Your personality type drives the most fundamental aspects of your motivation and satisfaction at work. Personality is at the core of who we are, and does not easily change. In contrast with your interests, which we will explore later, your personality type stays mostly constant throughout your life, forming the core of what you want, what you enjoy, and what you're good at.

In this section, we'll take an in-depth your personality type profile to understand how you approach your work and what strengths you bring to a career. We'll start with an overview of your personality type, then look at how it drives your needs, motivations, and work style.

 

You're an ESFP

You are a vivacious entertainer who charms and engages those around you. You are spontaneous, energetic, and fun-loving, and take pleasure in the everything in your environment: food, clothes, nature, animals, and especially people.

This is a sample report for the TypeFinder for Career Planning. To see which careers are right for you, take the test!

The Meaning of Your Type Code

Your four-letter type code is a quick way of describing your preferences on four key dimensions of personality. Each of the letters signifies an important aspect of how you think, make decisions, and navigate the world around you.

This score describes how you manage your energy. As an Extravert, you tend to be energized by being around others. In contrast, Introverts are more energized by being alone.

This score describes how you process information. As a Sensor, you focus on concrete, factual information. In contrast, Intuitives focus on imagination and interpretation.

This score describes how you prioritize values. As a Feeler, you are most concerned with people and their personal needs. In contrast, Thinkers focus on logic and objectivity.

This score describes how you manage your life. As a Perceiver, you prefer to be spontaneous and flexible. In contrast, Judgers prefer to be orderly and organized.

 

Your Values and Motivations

You live in the moment, enjoying what life has to offer. You are especially tuned into your senses and take pleasure in the sights, sounds, smells, and textures around you. You like to be in the middle of the action and the center of attention. You have a playful, open sense of humor, and like to draw out other people and help them have a good time.

Your Core Values:
  • Enthusiasm
  • Realism
  • Playfulness
  • Empathy
Your Key Motivators:
  • Encouraging interaction
  • Observing facts about people
  • Entertaining others
  • Experiencing sensory pleasures

You are characteristically fun-loving, but also practical and down-to-earth. You are grounded in reality and are usually keenly aware of the facts and details in your environment, especially as they pertain to people. You are observant of others and their needs, and responsive in offering assistance. You enjoy helping other people, especially in practical, tangible ways.

You are warm and talkative and have a contagious enthusiasm for life. You like to keep busy, filling your life with hobbies, sports, activities, and friends. Because you'd rather live spontaneously than plan ahead, you can become overextended when there are too many exciting things to do. You hate nothing more than missing out on the fun.

How Others See You

You are often the life of the party, entertaining and engaging others with humor and enthusiasm. You notice whether other people are having fun, and do your best to create a good time for all. Typically at home in your physical environment, you may take the lead in getting everyone involved in some active diversion. You are generally friendly and likable, but can be hard to get close to; although you tend to be very open, you are reluctant to be serious or to talk about anything negative.

You are tuned into your senses, and often gravitate towards pleasing colors and textures in your environment. You often carefully choose fabrics and decorations with which to surround yourself. This attention also often translates into your appearance; You may prefer to dress in sensuous fabrics or bright, dazzling colors. You are often up on the latest trends, and like to excite the people around you with new environments and experiences.

You Connect By:
  • Sharing activities and interests
  • Being empathetic and caring
  • Making time for your loved ones
  • Keeping things fun and lively

You are fun and social, and enjoy keeping the lives of your loved ones fun and active. You value family, and prioritize spending quality time with them above all else. You likely have a large circle of friends, and are always the first to offer to lend a hand or throw a party. Although you are sympathetic and supportive, you usually prefer to move on to the next activity, rather than spend time focusing on difficult issues.

Your Communication Style

You are an enthusiastic, light-hearted communicator. You often love just interacting with people, with no particular goal in mind, and tend to keep conversations fun and full of laughter. You are a good problem-solver when it comes to practical and interpersonal issues, and often draw people in with your positive approach and ability to observe other people’s needs.

You Communicate By:
  • Appreciating fun and liveliness
  • Sharing positive feedback
  • Developing connections
  • Observing feelings and emotions

ESFPs are easy going and effervescent communicators, capable of creating great rapport with their audience. You engage in dialogue easily, perhaps too easily, and often make conversations the main part of your day. Humor, anecdotes and personal stories play a major part in your conversations; take care that your whimsical remarks are not misinterpreted as flippancy or disrespect.

Your Communication Strengths:
  • You communicate easily with a wide range of people
  • You excel at presenting information, teaching or facilitating groups
  • You easily provide positive feedback, making others feel appreciated
  • You have a natural ability to lift the mood and make people laugh
Potential Blind Spots:
  • You are primarily concerned with personal experience and may disengage from the dialogue if it becomes too logical or theoretical
  • You may irritate others by jumping from one topic to the next, seemingly at random
  • You have a tendency to deflect or avoid serious conversations, especially when feelings may be hurt
  • Others may perceive that your lighthearted communication style is unbusinesslike or has no respect for the seriousness of a situation

Your Personality at Work

At work, you want to be hands-on and in the middle of the action. You prefer an active, social work environment where you are free to be spontaneous and have fun, with co-workers who are friendly, laid-back, and enthusiastic.

Your Ideal Work Environment:
  • Social and collaborative
  • Allows flexibility and autonomy
  • Focused on practical results
  • Attractive aesthetically
Your Ideal Work Roles:
  • Energetic Entertainer
  • Enthusiastic Motivator
  • Observant Aesthete
  • Responsive Helper

You are pragmatic, realistic, and tuned into the needs of others. You often choose a job that allows you to be of service to people, and where you can see real, tangible results for your efforts. You are talented at solving practical, people-centered problems, and can put this skill to good use in assisting others.

You are keenly tuned into your senses and often have an artistic streak. You may choose careers that engage your sensual nature through food, textiles, art, or music. You often want a career that allows you to move around, and generally prefer a work environment that is aesthetically pleasing.

What You Contribute:
  • Offering the practical viewpoint based on common sense
  • Encouraging harmony and cooperation
  • Accepting others as they are, even treating them generously
  • Bringing energy, enthusiasm and fun
What You Like Doing Best:
  • Providing realistic solutions to problems
  • Hands-on work that produces immediate and tangible results
  • Communicating with a wide range of people
  • Helping others in practical ways

Your Leadership Style

ESFPs are highly energetic and motivated to solve present problems in real and practical ways. These strengths make you a talented and likable "troubleshooting" leader; however, you may struggle with strategic leadership and the setting of long-term goals. Your biggest contribution as leader is the ability to build team support and encourage others to perform. In the long-term, your goal is to build a caring organization known for its friendly culture, productivity and performance.

Your Leadership Strengths:
  • Acting swiftly to address crises
  • Building relationships
  • Encouraging teamwork
  • Taking direct action

In leadership positions, you are realistic, encouraging, and enthusiastic. Your strength lies in your ability to energize and motivate a team to address immediate goals and crises. You are keenly observant of the moods and behavior of other people, and typically use this perceptive ability to connect with your employees and provide them with what they need to succeed.

How You Inspire:
  • You use your clear enjoyment of life to motivate others
  • You foster an energetic, "can-do" environment that encourages participation
  • You provide a moderating perspective when situations become stressful
  • You are quick to spot the frustrations and feelings of others, providing support when it is needed
How You Get Things Done:
  • You use your large network of contacts to find the right people for the job
  • You establish friendships, then use your popularity and interpersonal skills to make things happen
  • You are not interested in controlling people, preferring to give employees the flexibility and freedom to do things their own way
  • You go out of your way to accommodate the needs of others

Your Teamwork Style

You are a fun-loving team member who brings a sense of humor to the process. You simply love socializing with people, and typically see teamwork as a chance to interact and engage in a lighthearted way. You may not seem particularly driven or task-oriented to your teammates, but you keep an eye out for the needs of others, and offer assistance and support in a practical, down-to-earth way.

Your Teamwork Strengths:
  • Providing practical support
  • Engaging socially
  • Fostering connections
  • Inspiring positivity

ESFPs were born to work in teams and gain considerable energy from the group dynamic. Your practical troubleshooting skills and cheery disposition make you a reliable and entertaining team player who motivates people to get up and moving with projects. You love to socialize and can usually be relied upon to incorporate fun, spontaneity and laughter into the workplace. This may not please everyone, however, since some people will be overwhelmed by your endless diversions and distractions.

How You Contribute:
  • Making sure all relevant facts have been identified and presented
  • Seeing other people's viewpoints
  • Adding a sense of humor and optimism to team meetings
  • Organizing the team's social calendar
  • Appreciating everyone's contribution and celebrating everyday success
Potential Blind Spots:
  • Interrupting people's routines whenever you feel the urge to discuss something
  • Seeking immediate gratification and avoiding tasks that provide only future payoff
  • Allowing yourself to be pulled in many directions so that you are unable to complete your tasks
  • Being overly sensitive to feedback from others, since you live in the moment and are not usually prone to self-reflection
This is a sample report for the TypeFinder for Career Planning. To see which careers are right for you, take the test!

Your Career Interests

Your personality type is an important part of your career discovery process, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. In addition to understanding what drives you and where your natural strengths lie, it is also crucial to understand the daily tasks and activities typically required by a job and how these match up with what you like to do. While it may seem simplistic, many people find that they like the idea of a career but don't enjoy the actual day-to-day work. To choose a job that you'll truly enjoy doing, it's important to take a detailed look at your interests and how these match up with potential careers.

This section shows your top career interest areas. There are 6 total interest areas, each with its own set of typical work tasks, roles, and values. Some of these interest areas will appeal to you, while others will be less attractive. Choosing a career which is a good match for your interest profile ensures that you enjoy your daily work and get fulfillment out of your accomplishments.

The Six Interest Areas

Each of the six interest areas describes a cluster of related work tasks and activities. People who are drawn to each of these interest areas tend to have certain characteristics, preferences, and traits in common.

Building

Building jobs involve the use of tools, machines, or physical skill. Builders like working with their hands and bodies, working with plants and animals, and working outdoors.

Thinking

Thinking jobs involve theory, research, and intellectual inquiry. Thinkers like working with ideas and concepts, and enjoy science, technology, and academia.

Creating

Creating jobs involve art, design, language, and self-expression. Creators like working in unstructured environments and producing something unique.

Helping

Helping jobs involve assisting, teaching, coaching, and serving other people. Helpers like working in cooperative environments to improve the lives of others.

Persuading

Persuading jobs involve leading, motivating, and influencing others. Persuaders like working in positions of power to make decisions and carry out projects.

Organizing

Organizing jobs involve managing data, information, and processes. Organizers like to work in structured environments to complete tasks with precision and accuracy.

Your Top Interests

Your top interest area is Creating, which indicates that your primary drive is to use your creative talents and express yourself artistically through your work. You have a strong aesthetic sense and seek work that allows you to connect with experiences that stimulate the senses. You enjoy art, music, drama, dance, architecture, and literature, and seek work that exposes you to various art forms and allows you to communicate your own vision among them.

Top Job Tasks

  • Creating Art
  • Writing
  • Interpreting
  • Designing
  • Expressing Ideas

Your Core Values

  • Individuality
  • Creativity
  • Originality
  • Freedom
  • Flexibility

Sample Career Fields

  • Fine & Craft Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Design
  • Writing, PR, & Communications
  • Film & Media

Because you are a Creator, you will seek a career that allows you a great deal of freedom to express yourself. You want to imagine, envision, experiment, and create. You want to develop your own unique point of view and see it manifest in your chosen field.

Creators tend to be idealistic, artistic people who are drawn to cultural experiences. They often have many artistic interests and seek out novel forms of expression, from modern art museums to experimental dance. They tend to be unconventional and interested in the offbeat and unusual.

Creators like their work best when they can be free of rules and regulations, and follow their inspiration to create something original. As a Creator, your primary career goal will be to decide on the best outlet for your artistic talent and creative expression, and then to create a plan for channeling your inspiration into a profitable career.

Your secondary interest area is Building, indicating that you will be interested in physical work that uses your hands and body and gives you a tangible result for your efforts. You may be drawn to work with tools, machines, plants, or animals. You may find that it is important to you to be physically active during the day, and you may want a career that takes you outdoors. You value tasks that have a practical benefit.

To satisfy your interest in Building, look for a career that allows you to use and hone your hands-on skills. You may enjoy learning to construct, craft, repair, maintain, or tinker. You will be interested in creating practical things and fixing essential systems. 

This is a sample report for the TypeFinder for Career Planning. To see which careers are right for you, take the test!

Your Career Matches

Now that we've looked at both your personality type and your interests, let's look at how your profile matches up with possible careers. In this section, we'll show you the top careers that match your personality type and interests profile. There are a few things to keep in mind as you read over these career suggestions:

1. These career titles are just a starting point. The careers listed here are among the most commonly found in the labor market and are careers that many people will recognize, like lawyer or physician. However, many people have jobs that don't exactly fit any of the descriptions listed here. You might end up with a job that combines several of these typical roles. You might have a job that's specific to one company or industry. Or you might invent a new career altogether! In short, do not limit your imagination to the jobs listed here. These are a representative sample of jobs that fit your personality, but they do not cover every possibility or opportunity that you will come across in your career path.

2. Your individuality is key. The careers in this section are listed generally by how well they fit your profile. However, you should not assume that the first career on the list is the best career for you, that the second career listed is the second-best, and so on. You may find careers that spark your interest anywhere on this list. You may also see several careers that do not interest you at all. This is normal and does not mean that your results are not accurate! Everyone is unique, and even someone with an identical profile to yours will have different inclinations, passions, and preferences. So while this assessment can point you in the right general direction and give you some good ideas to get started, the ultimate choice of your best career will be up to you.

3. Ultimately, the choice is yours. Because no assessment can tell you exactly which career will be perfect for you, the best way to think of this list is as a starting point for your career research. You can use this list to get ideas of careers that may suit you, but you'll still need to read more about each career that interests you, do real-world research (like interviewing or shadowing people in the field), and evaluate each career according to your own personal criteria. We'll discuss this in more detail later in your report, but for now, just read over this list with an open mind. See if any career ideas stand out as particularly interesting, and which seem worthy of further inspection.

With that in mind, let's look at some careers!

The following list shows the careers that best match your personality type and interests. For more information about any career, click the Read More link on the bottom right of the career listing. This will open a new window with a full description of that career.

Advertising and Promotions Manager
Creating, Persuading

Average Earnings: $129,380

Projected Growth: 10%

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in a product or service. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically do the following:

  • Work with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection of advertising media, or products to be advertised
  • Gather and organize information to plan advertising campaigns
  • Plan the advertising, including which media to advertise in, such as radio, television, print, online, and billboards
  • Negotiate advertising contracts
  • Inspect layouts, which are sketches or plans for an advertisement
  • Initiate market research studies and analyze their findings
  • Develop pricing strategies for products to be marketed, balancing the goals of a firm with customer satisfaction
  • Meet with clients to provide marketing or technical advice
  • Direct the hiring of advertising, promotions, and marketing staff and oversee their daily activities
  • Sales Manager
    Persuading

    Average Earnings: $121,060

    Projected Growth: 7%

    Sales managers direct sales teams of organizations. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for the sales representatives of the organization.

    Sales managers typically do the following:

  • Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service
  • Prepare budgets and approve expenditures
  • Monitor customer preferences to determine the focus of sales efforts
  • Analyze sales statistics
  • Project sales and determine the profitability of products and services
  • Determine discount rates or special pricing plans
  • Develop plans to acquire new customers or clients, through direct sales techniques, cold calling, and business-to-business marketing visits
  • Assign sales territories and set sales quotas
  • Plan and coordinate training programs for sales staff
  • Public Relations Manager
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $111,280

    Projected Growth: 10%

    Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.

    Public relations managers typically do the following:

  • Write press releases and prepare information for the media
  • Identify main client groups and audiences and determine the best way to reach them
  • Designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source for media inquiries
  • Help clients communicate effectively with the public
  • Develop their organization's or client’s corporate image and identity
  • Assist and inform an organization’s executives and spokespeople
  • Devise advertising and promotion programs
  • Assign, supervise, and review the activities of staff
  • Producer or Director
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $71,620

    Projected Growth: 12%

    Producers and directors create motion pictures, television shows, live theater, and other performing arts productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience.

    Producers and directors typically do the following:

  • Select scripts
  • Audition and select cast members and the film or stage crew
  • Approve the design and financial aspects of a production
  • Oversee the production process, including performances, lighting, and choreography
  • Oversee the post-production process, including editing, special effects, music selection, and a performance’s overall tone
  • Ensure that a project stays on schedule and within budget
  • Approve new developments in the production
  • Multimedia Artist or Animator
    Creating

    Average Earnings: $70,530

    Projected Growth: 8%

    Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

    Multimedia artists and animators typically do the following:

  • Create graphics and animation using computer programs and illustrations
  • Work with a team of animators and artists to create a movie, game, or visual effect
  • Research upcoming projects to help create realistic designs or animations
  • Develop storyboards that map out key scenes in animations
  • Edit animations and effects on the basis of feedback from directors, other animators, game designers, or clients
  • Meet with clients, other animators, games designers, directors, and other staff (which may include actors) to review deadlines and development timelines
  • Fashion Designer
    Building, Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $67,420

    Projected Growth: 3%

    Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear. They sketch designs, select fabrics and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they designed.

    Fashion designers typically do the following:

  • Study fashion trends and anticipate designs that will appeal to consumers
  • Decide on a theme for a collection
  • Sketch designs of clothing, footwear, and accessories
  • Use computer-aided design programs (CAD) to create designs
  • Visit manufacturers or trade shows to get fabric samples
  • Select fabrics, embellishments, colors, or style for each garment or accessory
  • Work with other designers or team members to create a prototype design
  • Present design ideas to the creative director or showcase them in fashion or trade shows
  • Market designs to clothing retailers or directly to consumers
  • Oversee the final production of their designs
  • Musician or Singer
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $54,000

    Projected Growth: 6%

    Musicians and singers play instruments or sing for live audiences and in recording studios.

    Musicians and singers typically do the following:

  • Perform music for live audiences and recordings
  • Audition for positions in orchestras, choruses, bands, and other types of music groups
  • Practice playing instruments or singing to improve their technique
  • Rehearse to prepare for performances
  • Find locations for performances or concerts
  • Travel, sometimes great distances, to performance venues
  • Promote their careers by maintaining a website or social media presence or doing photo shoots and interviews
  • Interior Designer
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $51,500

    Projected Growth: 4%

    Interior designers make interior spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They read blueprints and must be aware of building codes and inspection regulations.

    Interior designers typically do the following:

  • Search for and bid on new projects
  • Determine the client’s goals and requirements of the project
  • Consider how the space will be used and how people will move through the space
  • Sketch preliminary design plans, including electrical layouts
  • Specify materials and furnishings, such as lighting, furniture, wall finishes, flooring, and plumbing fixtures
  • Prepare final plans, using computer applications
  • Create a timeline for the interior design project and estimate project costs
  • Place orders for materials and oversee installing the design elements
  • Visit after the project to ensure that the client is satisfied
  • Craft or Fine Artist
    Building, Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $49,160

    Projected Growth: 6%

    Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create handmade objects, such as pottery, glassware, textiles or other objects that are designed to be functional. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, create original works of art for their aesthetic value, rather than for a functional one.

    Craft and fine artists typically do the following:

  • Use techniques such as knitting, weaving, glass blowing, painting, drawing, or sculpting
  • Develop creative ideas or new methods for making art
  • Create sketches, templates, or models to guide their work
  • Select which materials to use on the basis of color, texture, strength, and other qualities
  • Process materials, often by shaping, joining, or cutting
  • Use visual elements, such as composition, color, space, and perspective, to produce desired artistic effects
  • Develop portfolios highlighting their artistic styles and abilities to show to gallery owners and others interested in their work
  • Graphic Designer
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $48,700

    Projected Growth: 13%

    Graphic designers create visual concepts, by hand or using computer software, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.

    Graphic designers typically do the following:

  • Meet with clients or the art director to determine the scope of a project
  • Advise clients on strategies to reach a particular audience
  • Determine the message the design should portray
  • Create images that identify a product or convey a message
  • Develop graphics and visual or audio images for product illustrations, logos, and websites
  • Create designs either by hand or using computer software packages
  • Select colors, images, text style, and layout
  • Present the design to clients or the art director
  • Incorporate changes recommended by the clients into the final design
  • Review designs for errors before printing or publishing them
  • Chef or Head Cook
    Building, Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $45,950

    Projected Growth: 10%

    Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants or other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.

    Chefs and head cooks typically do the following:

  • Check freshness of food and ingredients
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of cooks and other food preparation workers
  • Develop recipes and determine how to present the food
  • Plan menus and ensure uniform serving sizes and quality of meals
  • Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas for cleanliness and functionality
  • Hire, train, and supervise cooks and other food preparation workers
  • Order and maintain inventory of food and supplies needed to ensure efficient operations
  • Monitor sanitation practices and ensure that kitchen safety standards are followed
  • Jeweler or Precious Stone and Metal Worker
    Building, Creating

    Average Earnings: $37,960

    Projected Growth: -7%

    Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, manufacture, and sell jewelry. They also adjust, repair, and appraise gems and jewelry.

    Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically do the following:

  • Examine and grade diamonds and other gems
  • Create jewelry from gold, silver, and precious gemstones
  • Shape metal to hold the gems when making individual pieces
  • Make a model with carved wax or with computer-aided design, and then cast pieces with the model
  • Solder pieces together and insert stones
  • Smooth joints and rough spots and polish smoothed areas
  • Clean and polish jewelry using polishing wheels and chemical baths
  • Repair jewelry by replacing broken clasps, altering ring sizes, or resetting stones
  • Compute the costs of labor and material for new pieces and repairs
  • Actor
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $35,000

    Projected Growth: 12%

    Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media. They also work at theme parks or other live events. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience.

    Actors typically do the following:

  • Read scripts and meet with agents and other professionals before accepting a role
  • Audition in front of directors and producers
  • Research their character’s personal traits and circumstances to better portray them to an audience
  • Memorize and rehearse their lines with other actors
  • Discuss their role with the director and other actors to improve the overall performance of the show
  • Perform the role, following the director's directions
  • Photographer
    Building, Creating

    Average Earnings: $33,490

    Projected Growth: -6%

    Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images that visually tell a story or record an event.

    Photographers typically do the following:

  • Market and advertise services to attract clients
  • Analyze and decide how to compose a subject
  • Use various photographic techniques and equipment
  • Capture subjects in commercial-quality photographs
  • Enhance the subject’s appearance with natural or artificial light
  • Use photo enhancing software
  • Maintain a digital portfolio, often on a website, to demonstrate work
  • Dancer or Choreographer
    Building, Creating

    Average Earnings: $33,009

    Projected Growth: 4%

    Dancers and choreographers express ideas and stories, using dance. There are many types of dance such as ballet, tango, modern dance, tap, and jazz.

    Dancers typically do the following:

  • Audition for a part in a show or for a job with a dance company
  • Learn complex dance movements that entertain an audience
  • Spend several hours each day in rehearsals to prepare for their performance
  • Study new and emerging types of dance
  • Work closely with instructors or other dancers to interpret or modify choreography
  • Attend promotional events, such as photography sessions, for the production in which they are appearing

    Choreographers typically do the following:

  • Audition dancers for a role in a show or with a dance company
  • Choose the music that will accompany their dance routine
  • Assist with costume design, lighting, and other artistic aspects of a show
  • Teach complex dance movements that entertain an audience
  • Study new and emerging types of dance to design more creative dance routines
  • Help with the administrative duties of a dance company, such as budgeting
  • Announcer
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $31,500

    Projected Growth: -9%

    Announcers present music, news, and sports and may provide commentary or interview guests about these topics or other important events. Some act as masters of ceremonies (emcees) or disc jockeys (DJs) at weddings, parties, or clubs.

    Radio and television announcers typically do the following:

  • Present music, news, sports, the weather, the time, and commercials
  • Interview guests and moderate panels or discussions on their shows
  • Announce station programming information, such as program schedules and station breaks for commercials, or public-service information
  • Research topics for comment and discussion during shows
  • Read prepared scripts on radio or television shows
  • Comment on important news stories
  • Provide commentary for the audience during sporting events, at parades, and on other occasions
  • Select program content
  • Make promotional appearances at public or private events
  • Floral Designer
    Building, Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $26,350

    Projected Growth: -6%

    Floral designers, also called florists, cut and arrange live, dried, and silk flowers and greenery to make decorative displays. They also help customers select flowers, containers, ribbons, and other accessories.

    Floral designers typically do the following:

  • Grow or order flowers from wholesalers to ensure an adequate supply to meet customers' needs
  • Determine the type of arrangement desired, the occasion, and the date, time, and location that each arrangement is needed
  • Recommend flowers and greenery for each arrangement
  • Consider the customer’s budget when making recommendations
  • Design floral displays that evoke a particular sentiment or style
  • Answer telephones, take orders, wrap arrangements
  • Model
    Building, Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $22,900

    Projected Growth: -1%

    Models pose for artists, photographers, or customers to help advertise a variety of products, including clothing, cosmetics, food, and appliances.

    Models typically do the following:

  • Display clothing and merchandise in print and online advertisements
  • Promote products and services in television commercials
  • Wear designers' clothing for runway fashion shows
  • Model accessories, such as handbags, shoes, and jewelry, and promote beauty products, including fragrances and cosmetics
  • Pose for workers taking photos or creating paintings or sculptures
  • Work closely with photographers, hair and clothing stylists, makeup artists, and clients to produce a desired look
  • Create and maintain a portfolio of their work
  • Travel to meet and interview with potential clients
  • Conduct research on the product being promoted—for example, the designer or type of fabric of a particular article of clothing
  • Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons
    Building

    Average Earnings: $42,900

    Projected Growth: 12%

    Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons (or, simply, masons) use bricks, concrete blocks, and natural and man-made stones to build fences, walkways, walls, and other structures.

    Masons typically do the following:

  • Read blueprints or drawings to calculate materials needed
  • Lay out patterns or foundations using a straightedge
  • Break or cut bricks, stones, or blocks to their appropriate size
  • Mix mortar or grout and spread it onto a slab or foundation
  • Lay bricks, blocks, or stones according to plans
  • Clean excess mortar with trowels and other hand tools
  • Construct corners with a corner pole or by building a corner pyramid
  • Ensure that a structure is perfectly vertical and horizontal, using a plumb bob and level
  • Clean and polish surfaces with hand or power tools
  • Fill expansion joints with the appropriate caulking materials
  • Cement Mason or Terrazzo Worker
    Building

    Average Earnings: $42,900

    Projected Growth: 12%

    Cement masons pour, smooth, and finish concrete floors, sidewalks, roads, and curbs. Using a cement mixture, terrazzo workers create durable and decorative surfaces for floors and stairways.

    Cement masons typically do the following:

    • Set the forms that hold concrete in place
    • Install reinforcing rebar or mesh wire to strengthen the concrete
    • Signal truck drivers to facilitate the pouring of concrete
    • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using a trowel, float, or screed
    • Mold expansion joints and edges
    • Monitor curing (hardening) to ensure a durable, smooth, and uniform finish
    • Apply sealants or waterproofing to protect concrete

    Terrazzo workers typically do the following (in addition to what cement masons do):

    • Measure ingredients for terrazzo
    • Blend a marble chip mixture that may have colors in it
    • Grind and polish surfaces for a smooth, lustrous look
    Fishers or Related Fishing Workers
    Building

    Average Earnings: $28,530

    Projected Growth: 11%

    Fishers and related fishing workers catch and trap various types of marine life. The fish they catch are for human food, animal feed, bait, and other uses.

    Fishers and related fishing workers typically do the following:

  • Locate fish using fish-finding equipment
  • Direct fishing operations and supervise crew
  • Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments
  • Maintain engines, fishing gear, and other onboard equipment by doing minor repairs
  • Sort, pack, and store catch in holds with salt and ice
  • Measure fish to ensure they comply with legal size
  • Return undesirable or illegal catches to the water
  • Guide nets, traps, and lines onto vessels by hand or using hoisting equipment
  • Signal other workers to move, hoist, and position loads
  • Sheet Metal Worker
    Building

    Average Earnings: $47,990

    Projected Growth: 9%

    Sheet metal workers fabricate or install products that are made from thin metal sheets, such as ducts used for heating and air conditioning.

    Sheet metal workers typically do the following:

  • Select types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material
  • Measure and mark dimensions and reference lines on metal sheets
  • Drill holes in metal, for screws, bolts, and rivets
  • Install metal sheets with supportive frameworks
  • Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites
  • Maneuver large parts to be installed, and anchor the parts
  • Fasten seams or joints by welding, bolting, riveting, or soldering
  • Writer or Author
    Creating

    Average Earnings: $61,820

    Projected Growth: 8%

    Writers and authors develop original written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, and online publications.

    Writers and authors typically do the following:

  • Choose subject matter that interests readers
  • Write fiction or nonfiction through scripts, novels, and biographies
  • Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail
  • Write advertising copy for use by newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, and the Internet
  • Present drafts to editors and clients for feedback
  • Work with editors and clients to shape the material so it can be published
  • Line Installer or Repairer
    Building, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $64,190

    Projected Growth: 8%

    Line installers and repairers (also known as line workers) install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.

    Electrical power-line installers and repairers typically do the following:

  • Drive work vehicles to job sites
  • Install, maintain, or repair the power lines that move electricity
  • Identify defective devices, voltage regulators, transformers, and switches
  • Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment
  • String power lines between poles, towers, and buildings
  • Climb poles and transmission towers and use truck-mounted buckets to get to equipment
  • Operate power equipment when installing and repairing poles, towers, and lines
  • Follow safety standards and procedures

    Telecommunications line installers and repairers typically do the following:

  • Drive work vehicles to job sites
  • Install, maintain, or repair telecommunications equipment
  • Inspect or test lines or cables
  • Lay underground cable, including fiber optic lines, directly in trenches
  • Install aerial cables, including under lakes or across rivers
  • Operate power equipment when installing and repairing poles, towers, and lines
  • Set up service for customers
  • Drafter
    Building, Creating

    Average Earnings: $54,170

    Projected Growth: 7%

    Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings and plans. Workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.

    Drafters typically do the following:

  • Design and prepare plans for using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software
  • Produce effective product designs by using their understanding of engineering and manufacturing techniques
  • Add structural details to architectural plans from their knowledge of building techniques
  • Prepare multiple versions of designs for review by engineers and architects
  • Specify dimensions, materials, and procedures for new building projects or products
  • Work under the supervision of engineers or architects
  • Athlete or Sports Competitor
    Building, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $51,370

    Projected Growth: 7%

    Athletes and sports competitors participate in organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators.

    Athletes and sports competitors typically do the following:

  • Practice to develop and improve their skills
  • Maintain the equipment they use in their sport in good condition
  • Stay in the best physical condition by training, exercising, and following special diets
  • Take instructions from coaches and other sports staff during games regarding strategy and tactics
  • Obey the rules of the sport during competitions and games
  • Assess how they did after each event and identify their strengths and weaknesses
  • Hand Laborer or Material Mover
    Building

    Average Earnings: $25,870

    Projected Growth: 7%

    Hand laborers and material movers transport objects without using machines. Some workers move freight, stock, or other materials around in storage facilities; others clean vehicles; some pick up unwanted household goods; and still others pack materials for moving.

    Hand laborers and material movers typically do the following:

  • Manually move material from one place to another
  • Pack or wrap material by hand
  • Keep a record of the material they move
  • Use signals, when necessary, to assist machine operators who are moving larger pieces of material
  • Ensure a clean and orderly workplace
  • Material Moving Machine Operator
    Building

    Average Earnings: $34,830

    Projected Growth: 6%

    Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or the land around a mine. Others move goods around a warehouse or onto container ships.

    Material moving machine operators typically do the following:

  • Control equipment with levers, wheels, or foot pedals
  • Move material according to a plan or schedule they receive from their superiors
  • Set up and inspect material moving equipment
  • Make minor repairs to their equipment
  • Record the material they have moved and where they moved it from and to
  • Taxi Driver or Chauffeur
    Building, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $24,880

    Projected Growth: 5%

    Taxi drivers and chauffeurs drive people to and from the places they need to go, such as airports, homes, shopping centers, and workplaces. They must know their way around a city in order to take both residents and visitors to their destinations.

    Taxi drivers and chauffeurs typically do the following:

  • Check their car for problems and do basic maintenance
  • Keep both the inside and outside of their car clean
  • Refuel their car when necessary
  • Pick up passengers and listen to where they want to go
  • Operate wheelchair lifts when needed
  • Help passengers load and unload their luggage
  • Drive to passengers' destinations
  • Obey all traffic laws
  • Collect fares, including allowed extra charges
  • Provide a receipt if the passenger requests one
  • Keep a record of miles traveled
  • Art Director
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $92,500

    Projected Growth: 5%

    Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design of a project and direct others who develop artwork and layouts.

    Art directors typically do the following:

  • Determine how best to represent a concept visually
  • Determine which photographs, art, or other design elements to use
  • Develop the overall look or style of a publication, an advertising campaign, or a theater, television, or film set
  • Supervise design staff
  • Review and approve designs, artwork, photography, and graphics developed by staff members
  • Talk to clients to develop an artistic approach and style
  • Coordinate activities with other artistic or creative departments
  • Develop detailed budgets and timelines
  • Present designs to clients for approval
  • Insulation Worker
    Building

    Average Earnings: $39,930

    Projected Growth: 5%

    Insulation workers install and replace the materials used to insulate buildings and their mechanical systems to help control and maintain temperature. Workers are often referred to as insulators.

    Insulation workers typically do the following:

  • Remove old insulation and dispose of it properly
  • Read blueprints and specifications to determine job requirements
  • Determine the amounts and types of insulation needed
  • Measure and cut insulation to fit into walls and around pipes
  • Fasten insulation in place with staples, tape, or screws
  • Use compressors to spray insulation into some spaces
  • Install plastic barriers to protect insulation from moisture
  • Follow safety guidelines
  • Industrial Designer
    Building, Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $65,970

    Projected Growth: 4%

    Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers focus on the user experience in creating style and function for a particular gadget or appliance.

    Industrial designers typically do the following:

  • Research who will use the product and the various ways it might be used
  • Sketch out ideas or create blueprints
  • Use computer software to develop virtual models of different designs
  • Examine materials and production costs to determine manufacturing requirements
  • Work with other specialists to evaluate whether their design concepts will fill the need at a reasonable cost
  • Evaluate product safety, appearance, and function to determine if a design is practical
  • Present designs and demonstrate prototypes to clients for approval
  • Delivery Truck Driver or Driver/Sales Worker
    Building, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $29,250

    Projected Growth: 4%

    Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks with a 26,000-pound gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity or less. Most of the time, they transport merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households.

    Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically do the following:

  • Load and unload their cargo
  • Report any incidents they encounter on the road to a dispatcher
  • Follow all applicable traffic laws
  • Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
  • Keep their truck and associated equipment clean and in good working order
  • Accept payments for the shipment
  • Handle paperwork, such as receipts or delivery confirmation notices
  • Editor
    Creating, Persuading

    Average Earnings: $58,770

    Projected Growth: -1%

    Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.

    Editors typically do the following:

  • Read content and correct for errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar
  • Rewrite copy to make it easier for people to understand
  • Verify facts, using standard reference sources
  • Evaluate submissions from writers to decide what to publish
  • Work with writers to help their ideas and stories succeed
  • Plan the content of publications according to the publication's style and editorial policy
  • Develop story and content ideas while being mindful of the audience
  • Allocate space for the text, photos, and illustrations that make up a story
  • Approve final versions submitted by staff
  • This is a sample report for the TypeFinder for Career Planning. To see which careers are right for you, take the test!

    Making the Most of Your Strengths

    If you're like most people, you've wondered what you're really capable of in your career. Maybe you've questioned whether you're smart enough, or motivated enough, to pursue a particular path. While there are no guarantees, choosing a path that suits your natural gifts is without a doubt the best way to maximize your chances of success. When you are not trying to be someone you are not—and instead, using the talents that come naturally to you—you are much more likely to do well in your career (and enjoy yourself in the process!).

    Let's look now at some of the ways you can make the most of your strengths and minimize your potential blind spots. 

    Becoming Your Best

    At your best, you are passionate and active, and enjoy engaging with others. You prefer taking direct, hands-on action, when you identify a problem. You typically jump into projects and activities with enthusiasm, knowing that you'll figure things out as you go. You are focused on enjoying life, and look for opportunities to help improve the lives of those around you.

    To perform at your best, look for opportunities in organizations that value energy and collaboration. You enjoy working with a team, and enjoy socializing and connecting on both personal and professional levels. You are most productive when you are not micromanaged; you need flexibility and the freedom to express yourself in order to thrive.

    Opportunities for Excellence

    • Choose roles that allow you to interact with others in an official capacity. Your ability to connect easily will give people a positive image of your organization.
    • Look for a cooperative and social work environment. Your ability to empathize with others will help you to bring people together.
    • Focus on practical implications of a course of action. You excel at understanding the direct and immediate repercussions of a plan that are often overlooked.
    • Look for ways to demonstrate your willingness to help. You are happiest when you are being of service, so make sure people know they can turn to you.

    Potential Pitfalls

    • Take care to respect other people's need for privacy and quiet time. Not everyone is as energetic and social as you are, so make sure to recognize when you might be a distraction.
    • Watch out for your love of socializing. You have a tendency to focus on fun before work, which could cause you to fall behind schedule.
    • Avoid organizations that do not have a sense of fun and cooperation. You are too lively and social to be happy in an overly serious and formal environment.
    • Don't be afraid to make hard decisions. You want to please everyone, but there are times when it simply isn't possible.

    Your Personal Strengths

    Your ideal career will allow you to regularly utilize these natural strengths. If there is a strength listed here that you are not sure describes you very well, then look for ways to develop in that area. You may find you are much more effective when you are using all of your natural strengths to their fullest potential.

    Action

    You have high energy levels and love bonding with others through activity.

    Sympathy

    You have a sense for other people’s emotions and want to do what you can to help.

    Practicality

    You use common sense when assessing a situation to understand what issues should take priority.

    Generosity

    You are open and giving with your time and attention, and want everyone to feel included.

    Choosing the Right Career for You

    Now that you’ve reviewed some possible careers, you may be wondering where to go next. Perhaps your list of suggested careers seems overwhelming and confusing. Perhaps you saw some career ideas that sounded interesting, but you’re not sure how to proceed, or how to decide which is really best for you.

    Before you begin researching careers, use this report as a starting point to build a sort of "wish list" for your new career. You don’t need to know exactly which career is right for you, but you do need to know what you are looking for. Re-read your report, and take notes on the parts that seem most important to you. Take note of what you want and need in a new career. Equally, take note of any aspects of a career that you want to avoid.

    The following are some suggestions based on your profile, which you can add to or edit to create your personal career wish list.

    Signs a Career is Right for You

    • You are able to be useful to other people and to help them in practical ways
    • You have the opportunity to work in a supportive environment where people care for each other
    • You are able to use your skills and experience to assist others
    • You can clearly see the tangible results of your efforts on a regular basis
    • You have the opportunity to practice useful skills to the point of mastery

    Signs a Career is Wrong for You

    • You work mostly with ideas, objects, or data, with little personal connection
    • You are constantly asked to change direction or learn new methods
    • There is little interest in relationships and the people around you focus only on the task at hand
    • You work with people who take advantage of your good nature to overburden you or disregard your needs
    • There is a lack of clear expectations and you are unsure how to succeed

    Key Questions to Ask About Potential Careers

    • Will this career allow me to feel that I am make a real, positive impact in the lives of others?
    • Will this career allow me to work cooperatively with people who share my values?
    • Will this career let me use my experience and skills to help others in practical ways?
    • Will I able able to work steadily toward a feeling of mastery in this career?
    • Will this career allow me to come up with my own unique and original way of doing things?
    • Will this career allow me to be authentic and true to myself on the job?
    • Does this career take advantage of my creative talents?
    • Will this career put me in environments which are aesthetically pleasing and stimulating to the senses?

    Once you've used your report to create your personal list of what you are looking for in a career, use this list as your guide as you begin researching careers. 

    When you're ready, revisit your list of careers and pick out the ones that sound most appealing. Click on the "Read more" link next to each of these careers to learn more about them. Think about whether each career seems to meet your criteria. For those that do, or ones where you are not sure, you will want to do further research by searching the job title online, looking for magazines or trade journals that are focused on the industry, and/or interviewing people in your desired occupation or field.

    At each step of the research process, keep your priorities clear. Do not be distracted by what other people say is a "good" career or a career to avoid. Remember, everyone wants something different out of their career, and your only question is whether a job will be good for you. If you find yourself becoming unsure, come back to this report to refocus on what's most important to you.

    You have plenty of work ahead of you to find your ideal career, but you should now feel well prepared to get started. The very best of luck to you in your search!

    This is a sample report for the TypeFinder for Career Planning. To see which careers are right for you, take the test!

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