Workplace unhappiness is a challenge that most people face sooner or later in their careers, and it is often triggered by poor work environments, limited growth opportunities, or simply having a terrible boss.
However, suppose you consistently experience feelings of dissatisfaction, boredom, or anxiety at work that have no clear trigger. In that case, the problem may lie much deeper—your very personality may be inconsistent with your career.
In this article, you will learn what you can do to avoid a job that doesn’t match your personality. Or, if you’re already at one, how to succeed and make the best of it!
What is an Inconsistent Personality Pattern?
Having an inconsistent personality can describe one of two situations—having an inconsistent Holland personality profile or having a personality that is inconsistent with your job.
What is the Holland Inconsistent Personality Profile?
Among the six personality types in the Holland RIASEC model, there are some whose characteristics appear to contradict each other. They are — Realistic-Social, Investigative-Enterprising, and Conventional-Artistic. If your career personality test reveals that your two most dominant personality types are any of these unusual combinations, you have an inconsistent Holland personality profile.
Although rare, inconsistent Holland personality profiles are absolutely normal. Initially, you might struggle more than others to satisfy both sides of your personality, but you can remedy that by creating your own unique career niche. An inconsistent personality could even turn out to be an advantage as it makes you uniquely suited for jobs that combine opposing personality interests, such as technical writer and police officer.
However, it is important to note that although they sound similar, inconsistent personality patterns differ from inconsistent job-personality matches (which is the subject of this article). Each can have wildly different implications for your life and career.
Why Is It a Problem if Career Doesn’t Match Personality?
A recent study of employees in the US revealed that while 65 percent of workers are satisfied with their jobs, only 20 percent are truly passionate about them. These shocking results may link to the fact that when we ask ourselves, “What job fits me?” we don't consider how well said job meshes with our personality.
Working at a job you are dispassionate about or even hate is detrimental to your physical, emotional, and professional well-being. You will also be less productive at your work, which isn't good for the employer.
Since you spend a large portion of your waking hours working, how you feel during that period is bound to bleed into other aspects of your life. If left unchecked, a personality-job mismatch can even lead to burnout syndrome, negatively impacting your job performance and leaving you feeling drained and exhausted.
Signs Your Job Is Inconsistent with Your Personality
How can you tell your job is inconsistent? What are the signs to look out for, and how do you distinguish them from other causes of workplace unhappiness? There are clear warning signs that your job and personality don't match, and we’ve highlighted a few of them to help you gauge your job suitability.
You Feel Out of Place at Work
You know your job and personality don't match if your work leaves you feeling out of your element or like a fish out of water (even with proper skills and training). For example, if you love to work in groups or lead teams, but you work in a job that restricts you to a cubicle all day.
You Feel Unfulfilled
Job fulfillment is what drives you to work harder, improve, and advance in your job. Therefore, if you struggle to dredge up motivation for the new work week, are conflicted about the ethicality of your job, or are only in it for the money, it might be time to reevaluate your job-personality match.
You Experience Stress and Anxiety
Work stress is a challenge everyone faces at some point in life, irrespective of career. However, such moments of stress should be the exception rather than the norm. Take a burnout test to see if the stress of your job has become unmanageable and crossed over into burnout territory. A positive result may signify that your job is incompatible with your personality — or that you are simply not getting what you need from it.
You Feel Stuck
Certain personality types, like the enterprising personality type, are industrious and constantly looking for ways to upskill and better themselves. For such people, working at monotonous jobs that offer little to no room for advancement may be deeply unsettling. If you feel bored, stuck, or that you have no future at your job, it may mean that it is incompatible with your personality type.
How To Avoid Getting A Job That Doesn’t Match Personality
A poor job-personality match can have negative effects on your life and career. Instead of blindly experimenting to find jobs that blend with your personality, save yourself time and effort by following these few easy tips:
Take a “What Job Should I Have” Test
A “What Job Should I Have” or career test is a simple quiz that provides insight into your professional personality and what types of jobs best suit you. You can use that information when you go job hunting to avoid work environments that would be a bad fit.
Try Out Different Things
Do you have hobbies? Are there careers you find interesting? Try them out. Spend some time volunteering or interning to get a feel of what it's like to actually work in those fields. Sometimes, the reality of a job is different from the ideal we hold in our heads, so try out each job first to see if it actually satisfies your personality interests.
Carve Out Time For Self-Reflection
Personality types are a broad classification of characteristics or interests people share. However, the truth is that every person is different with a unique personality. Spend some time getting to know every facet of yours down to the last detail. Only then can you truly understand what you want from your career and what job meets those needs.
How To Succeed In A Job That Doesn’t Match Personality
Sometimes, for financial, social, or other reasons, you may have to stick it out in a job you know conflicts with your personality. If this is you, here are a few things you can do to manage the situation and ensure that you succeed at your job.
Find Your Place
Sometimes the key to thriving in an inconsistent career is finding the spot where you best fit in. In other words, taking on tasks that match you, your personality, and your interests. For example, if you work in a hands-on career like engineering, but your interests lie in helping others, you can take on installation jobs that allow you to solve people's engineering problems.
Take On a Side Project
If your job is not providing the stimulation, excitement, or passion you need, take on a side project or hobby that does. Do something that leaves you feeling rejuvenated and passionate without getting in the way of your actual job. This side project can be your outlet through which you satisfy the facets of your personality neglected at your real job.
Shift Your Focus
If you focus on something, it becomes all you can see. Similarly, if you constantly focus on the feelings of unfulfillment and boredom at your job, they will seem magnified and even more unmanageable. Instead, focus on the things you do love about your job. What parts of it meet your personality interests? Focusing on those little things can shift your perception of a day and, in the long run, your job.
Is It Time To Change Careers To One That Matches Personality?
If you can't find a way to reconcile your job and personality, it might be time for a move. It's never too late to change careers, and it is better to make the switch sooner rather than later. Job satisfaction is important to your well-being!
You don't need to quit your job right this instant, but you should at least start considering alternative career options. You can start by taking a few courses in your desired field, volunteering, and otherwise getting used to the idea of a new career.
How Do I Find A Job That's Right For Me?
The first step in answering the age-old question, “How do I know what job is right for me?” is knowing where to look. Personality tests help out by pointing you in the right direction and helping you avoid careers that are inconsistent with your interests. Remember to keep an open mind and that experimenting is okay. What matters is finding a career that interests you and makes you happy.
