Using the Big Five in your career search

Using the Big Five in your career search 

In addition to salary and duties, an important part of career success is how you fit with your company’s culture. Company culture includes work environment, company mission and core values. Knowing your Big Five composition can help you find a workplace environment that matches your personality. For instance, if you’re a highly conscientious person, you might thrive better in a formal business environment. As an extrovert, you would likely prefer a more casual atmosphere where you work with a large group of people. 

After testing yourself for your Big Five traits, consider these jobs based on your unique personality makeup. 

1. Openness
2. Conscientiousness
3. Extroversion
4. Agreeableness
5. Emotional stability
6. Openness

If you scored highly in openness, you will probably appreciate one of these careers:

Tour guide

National average salary: $14.01 per hour

Primary duties: Tour guides arrange trips with groups of people. As a tour guide, you will ensure the safety of your group while explaining landmarks of cultural or historical importance. To be a successful tour guide, you will need excellent communication and presentation skills. Tour guides need at minimum a high school diploma and extensive knowledge of their chosen subject, and some even pursue bachelor’s degrees in a field related to their tour specialty.

Pilot

National average salary: $72,854 per year

Primary duties: Commercial pilots operate airplanes while maintaining a safe flight for the crew and passengers. However, you could also be a cargo pilot who delivers important items between destinations or a helicopter pilot who offers sightseeing trips. As any kind of pilot, you will need to monitor weather patterns and communicate with air traffic controllers to ensure a quick and safe arrival. Most pilots need a bachelor’s degree and a pilot’s license.

Conscientiousness

As a conscientious person, you likely have excellent attention to detail. Consider one of these careers for your personality type:

Accountant

National average salary: $53,978 per year 

Primary duties: As an accountant, you will review the expenses and income for businesses or individuals and make recommendations for more effective fund management. You will also likely prepare tax documents and maintain a system for keeping financial information secure. Accountants also manage budgets and prepare expense-related reports. Most accountants need a bachelor’s degree, and some pursue a Certified Public Accountant certification for a higher earning potential.

Sales manager

National average salary: $74,703 per year 

Primary duties: In a sales management position, you will set sales goals and quotas while creating strategies to expand your customer base. Your responsibilities will also include hiring, training and supervising members of your company’s sales staff. Many sales managers earn a bachelor’s degree in business or marketing, and most have relevant sales experience.

Extroversion

If you like to be around people, one of these jobs might suit you:

Event planner

National average salary: $15.79 per hour

Primary duties: In your career as an event planner, you will be the point of contact for clients and be responsible for coordinating guest lists as well as scouting and booking event locations. You will likely also be responsible for ordering food, music and audio/visual equipment. Event planners need excellent time-management and communication skills in order to coordinate multiple concurrent activities. Many positions require a bachelor’s degree in business or hospitality, though some roles may only require relevant experience.

Personal trainer

National average salary: $21.10 per hour 

Primary duties: As a personal trainer, you will create fitness plans for and teach exercise techniques to clients. Personal trainers set goals for their customers’ diet and exercise and monitor progress toward health goals. To be successful, personal trainers need to enjoy working with a variety of clients and have a strong focus and dedication. Many personal trainers have a high school diploma and need to earn certification in personal training.

Agreeableness

As an agreeable person, consider a job where you can help others:

Elementary school teacher

National average salary: $19.05 per hour

Primary duties: In an elementary school teacher role, you’ll produce lesson plans for students between kindergarten and sixth grade. You will usually teach a variety of subjects including math, science, history and language arts. Your responsibilities will also include grading assignments and communicating with parents. Elementary school teachers need a bachelor’s degree in education and a state teaching license.

Human resources specialist

National average salary: $51,660 per year

Primary duties: As a human resources specialist, you will be responsible for preparing documents for new hires, promotions and terminations and insurance benefit forms. You will likely also be responsible for ensuring workplace safety and that employees follow company policies. HR specialists typically help resolve employee challenges as well. To become an HR specialist, you need a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field.

Emotional stability

If you can stay calm under pressure, consider one of the following jobs:

Social worker

National average salary: $56,596 per year

Primary duties: Social work is a broad field, but most people in this role assist clients of a variety of age levels with mental, emotional or physical ailments. Your duties could include individual or family counseling and communicating with law enforcement in certain circumstances. As a social worker, you’ll need strong emotional intelligence. Social workers need at minimum a bachelor’s degree, though many choose to specialize by earning a master’s degree.

Psychiatric nurse

National average salary: $110,262 per year

Primary duties: As a psychiatric nurse, you will diagnose and treat a range of mental health issues. In addition to dispensing medication, you might also direct your patients to non-medical care providers like social workers or family therapists. Psychiatric nurses must first become registered nurses before specializing in mental health.