Find the Right Job for Your Personality: 7 Types, 7 Tips

Is your job just a way to pay the bills, or would you prefer it to be a source of great fulfillment?

If you chose the latter, one way you might be able to reach that goal is to ensure that your career matches your personality.

While we are all individuals and none of us want to be encumbered with labels, certain personality types complement certain types of jobs.

This article explores seven common personality categories and the types of jobs that may lead to more success—and ultimately, happiness.

You are self-confident, decisive, have excellent communication skills, and love to organize both people and projects. People look up to you, often approaching you with issues and problems that you relish solving.

You prefer to approach things in an orderly and structured manner, but typically don’t like routine or detail-oriented tasks. You are uncomfortable in the role of follower.

Try careers that put you in the driver's seat and come with lots of responsibility and mentoring/teambuilding opportunities, such as Professor, Life or Business Coach, Lawyer, Judge, Executive Officer, or Entrepreneur.

You love to create, are typically original and unconventional, and feel confined by rules and schedules.

You avoid routine tasks and want the time and space to go in your own direction. You prefer a slow-paced atmosphere to a stressful atmosphere.

How you spend your time is very important, and you tend to focus on the present, rather than on the future.

Try careers that allow you to create and explore independently and with flexibility. Ideally, rules, regimens, timelines, and deadlines should be less of a focus than the end result.

Graphic Artist, Interior Designer, Writer, Product Designer, Marketing Professional, and Advertising Executive are all good choices.

You are a resourceful, observant, action-oriented individual who likes a fast-paced environment.

You enjoy coming up with quick solutions to thorny problems, but tend to solve problems on the fly, rather than coming up with a detailed plan.

You are the first in your group to embrace an adventure, and don't mind taking a risk. You work well with others, and are typically well-liked and perceived as fun to be around. You enjoy initiating projects, but often need help seeing projects through.

Seek out careers that allow you to take advantage of your people skills, provide new and exciting experiences, and allow you to jump in and react quickly to immediate needs, such as Financial Planner, Real Estate Agent, Medical Professional, Sales Representative, Policeman/Detective, Computer Technician, Marketing Specialist, or Entrepreneur.

You value knowledge and love analyzing ideas and theories.

Once you understand something, you are content to pass that understanding on so someone else can apply it.

You like to work alone, don't like being told what to do, and don't consider yourself a leader or a follower. When it comes to work, you typically hold yourself to high standards, and tend to trust yourself more than you trust others.

Choose careers that focus on creative thinking, use logical and rational reasoning skills, and allow autonomy such as Engineer, Computer Programmer or Analyst, Scientist, Strategic Planner, Technical Writer, or Researcher.

You prefer hands-on work, and like to use facts, knowledge, and reasoning to learn how and why things work, as well as to solve problems.

You prefer action-oriented "doing" rather than abstract thinking, and are extremely focused on results.

Try careers that allow you to use a combination of reasoning skills and hands-on action, such as Engineer, Mechanic, Carpenter, Computer Specialist, Pilot, Furniture Maker, or Forensic Pathologist.

You enjoy working with complex material and theories, and thrive on difficult challenges, especially those that pertain to improving the future. You are analytical, rational, and logical, and value attention to detail.

You have high standards of performance, and do well in high-paced, stressful environments. You are an excellent leader.

Focus on careers that allow you to work with complex theories to devise long-term strategies and solutions, such as Physician, Scientist, Teacher, Corporate Strategist, Military Leader, Business Manager, Lawyer, and Judge.

You are highly attuned to how people are feeling and what they want. You are practical and prefer coming up with down-to-earth, realistic solutions to problems and issues.

You are structured, responsible, ordered, and dependable. You are service-oriented, and tend to put the needs of others above your own.

Try careers that combine your observation, people, and organizational skills such as Nurse, Childcare Worker, Social Worker, Designer, Manager, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, or Retail Worker.

Chances are you recognize some of your personality traits in one of the seven descriptions portrayed in this article.

Taking some time to ensure that your personality traits complement your job choice will increase the odds that you have a successful -- and happy -- career.