Personality tests are popular in the recruitment world. You might be familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
It’s a form of psychometric testing based on a multiple choice quiz aimed at providing insight into how one socialises, perceives information, and make decisions.
Psychometrics or personality science is fairly new and is often a topic of controversy.
Human minds have an obsession with categorising everything around us (even ourselves) to make better sense of the world and how we interact with it, yet not everything fits into neat little boxes
The Enneagram psychometrics is the newest test everyone’s talking about. The system is based on nine different aspects of human consciousness and personality—within those categories are varying levels of self-actualisation.
The benefits of understanding your Enneagram type include finding a deeper satisfaction in work and relationships and understanding natural gifts and self-made limitations to help guide decision making and understanding of others.
We’re going to do a brief run-through the 9 Enneagram personality categories and the jobs that align with these characteristics. If you have 10 minutes, you can take the Enneagram test here.
Type 1: The Reformer
Most commonly associated with Type A characteristics. Reformers desire to improve upon the world around them and have a fine eye for detail and are sometimes known affectionately as perfectionists.
They are ambitious, driven, workaholics, and list-makers who get things done.
Career: Reformers prefer working in structured work environments. Offices with clear structure and order are great for the reformer’s keen attention to detail and organisation.
They make great accountants, lawyers, administrative managers, and computer programmers.
Type 2: The Helper
Love is the helper’s highest ideal, and selflessness is their duty—Helpers will go the extra mile for the people they care about.
Helpers are warm, emotional people and put a lot of effort into maintaining personal relationships.
Career: Helpers are motivated to make a difference in the world with their nurturing personality.
Teachers, hospitality workers, first responder, and event planners are roles that helpers thrive in.
Type 3: The Achiever
Achievers are charismatic, self-confident, and assertive. The achievers are naturally social and corporate ladder climbers.
They enjoy being around people and making connections which make them great networkers.
Career: Achievers enjoy public recognition and are excellent performers, life/business coaches, political activists, and public relations coordinators.
Type 4: The Individualist
The individualists are the artists and identity seekers who enjoy feeling unique and different.
They are idealistic, have a keen eye for beauty, and are in tune with their own emotions of others around them.
Career: Individualists thrive when they have freedom of self-expression within their roles.
They make great artists, psychotherapists, or holistic health practitioners.
Type 5: The Investigator
Investigators have a passion for the pursuit of knowledge and ideas. They are well-read and tend to be scientifically oriented.
Investigators observe everything with extraordinary perceptiveness and insight.
Career: Investigators are most comfortable in the realm of their own thoughts and work productively on their own
Investigators are great engineers, web developers, and IT support.
Type 6: The Loyalist
The loyalists are excellent troubleshooters because they are in tune with the value of cooperation. Their greatest strength is their commitment.
They are warm, dependable people and expect the same of the people they surround themselves with.
Career: Loyalists prefer stability in their roles and are adverse to risk-taking.
They are great financial aid counsellors, paralegals, and bankers.
Type 7: The enthusiast
The enthusiasts are looking to lead the life of adventure. They are future-oriented, multi-talented, and restless pleasure seekers.
Enthusiasts are big dreamers but are also great at putting plans into action.
Career: The enthusiasts are always seeking the next adventure and don’t enjoy sticking to one job.
Enthusiasts are excellent entrepreneurs, travel-writers, photographers, and athletes.
Type 8: The Challenger
Challengers believe that they are the masters of their own fate. They enjoy taking charge of situations and are good at it.
Challengers are strong-willed, decisive, practical, and energetic.
Career: The challenger’s strong instincts and natural leadership can take them to great places in roles like event coordinator, marketing manager, strategists, and CFO/CEOs of any sized company.
Type 9: The peacemaker
The peacemaker has an optimistic approach to life and is generally introverted. Like the title suggests, peacemakers enjoy peace and harmony and tend to avoid all conflicts.
They feel most fulfilled when they are connected to people.
Career: The peacemakers are laid back and content anywhere they are.
Artistic careers, teaching, animal training or anything low stress and slower paced are much more suited for the peacemakers.
Remember when looking to hire or looking for your next career to not let these labels define you and the decisions you make because not everyone fits into these neat little boxes— your work ethic cannot be translated through a 10-minute quiz.
These psychometric tests are a helpful guide in highlighting your strengths and areas of improvement in your own personality.
