Assess your job personality

Think of a time or times when you did something truly satisfying, maybe something you received praise for. With this in mind, answer the following questions.

• What did I do, and what was it that made me feel satisfied?
• What skills and qualities did I use?
• How would someone else describe me? For example: fast, thorough, flexible, dedicated, or something else?
• When others were involved, how did I work with them?

Which skills apply to you? Write them down. Can you think of additional skills? Add them to your notes.

• Critical thinking: I am able to think outside the box, view facts through a critical lens, and review where information comes from.
• Sales skills: I have experience with work in sales. I am skilled at selling ideas to others, and getting them to choose the option that I present.
• Analytical: I am good at analysing facts and drawing conclusions.
• Problem solving: I solve problems quickly and easily. I find it easy to come up with new ideas and new angles.
• Collaboration: I am good at collaborating and often take initiative to work together. I can easily see how others can contribute.
• Creative: I think creatively and easily come up with many new ideas.
• Leadership: The ability to lead others.
• Communication: I am able to communicate well in speech and writing. I understand how different people communicate and I adapt accordingly.
• Planning: I am skilled at planning.
• Take in new information: I actively seek new information, for example through books, classes, or other people. I easily take in new information and new methods.
• Social skills: I am good at social interaction with others, I find it easy, and I enjoy interacting with others.
• Digital skills: I am familiar with digital tools and channels.
• Initiative and drive: I am proactive and often take initiative.
• Intercultural skills: I have insight into and knowledge of other cultures.
• Administrative skills: I have administration experience and am service-minded and thorough.
• Results-oriented: I am used to measuring and presenting results. I care about being able to see the effects of my own or others’ work.

Think about what is important to you in a job and why. Choose the values you consider most important. Write them down. Add any values you think are missing.

• Pay: Am I looking for a high salary? How high? Do I have a lower limit?
• Development: Do I want to be able to develop and advance at work?
• Colleagues: Are they important to me? What should they be like in order for me to feel at ease?
• Tasks: Do I want them to be varied, carried out independently, simple, interesting, or something else?
• Work on teams or independently: Do I want to work by myself, with others, or both?
• Workplace: Do I want to work outside, inside, or both? Do I have other thoughts on workplace location?
• Work environment: Is it important to me that the work environment is clean, allergen-free, safe, or anything else?
• Practical or theoretical: Do I want an office job or a more practically oriented job?
• Active or desk-based: Do I want to work at a desk or do I want a more active job? Do I want to use my whole body or work with my hands?
• Contact with people: Do I want contact with many people through my work? Or would I rather work alone, without many contacts?
• Work hours: Do I want to work full-time or less than full-time? Fixed or flexible hours? Nights and weekends?
• Distance to workplace: Is it important to me that my workplace is near my home? Could I commute? If so, how far?