Navigating Career Change for Every Personality Type

Sometimes in life we find ourselves at a crossroads. We can choose to keep following the same trajectory with the same old routines because it’s what we know, or we can listen to the little voice in the back of our head that tells us there is more for us in the world.

Of course, this is a lot easier said than done. Change can be pretty scary, especially when it comes to something as serious as pursuing a new livelihood.

The thought of venturing into the unknown territory of a career change can ignite a flurry of insecurities and uncertainties. “What if I fail?” “What if I can’t find a good job in a new field?” “What if I don’t have enough money to pay my bills?” It’s only natural to think about how things can go wrong when we are on the precipice of a huge change. And this pressure can feel even more intense if we have other people in our life depending on us.

But have you ever stopped to consider what would happen if things went right? What if you could make more money? What if you could find more fulfillment and more success if you just took a leap of faith? Career change may be a daunting endeavor, but sometimes it’s exactly what you need to build the life that you want and deserve. And it’s not something that you have to take on alone!

In this article, we will offer a simple guide for navigating career change. In addition to outlining some helpful steps, we will explain how different personality traits might impact the process of choosing a new career path. Our hope is that by better understanding the role that personality plays in this process, you can approach career change in your own life with more self-compassion and confidence.

1. Be Honest with Yourself

The first step forward on the journey of career change usually involves being honest with yourself about wanting to move on from your current business or career. And even though this honesty can be a hard pill to swallow, it may help to know that you are not alone in wanting something different for your life. In fact, according to our “Careers” survey, about 55% of people across the personality type spectrum say that they often think of changing their career.

This willingness to seriously acknowledge the desire for a career change may be more challenging for certain personality types than others.

For example, after years of investment in a stable career, people with Thinking and Judging personality traits may have a hard time allowing themselves to move on after all their hard work. Thinking personalities may not view a major career change as a rational choice, especially if they are well paid and have decent benefits. For Judging personalities, it may seem out of the question to veer off the course that they had set for themselves many years ago.

On the other hand, Feeling personalities may be more willing to seriously acknowledge a desire to move on, as they are more likely to allow their emotions to play a part in making important life decisions. People with this personality trait may feel sentimental about the possibility of ending an important chapter in their life, but if their desire for something different is greater, they may be more likely to take a leap of faith. Similarly, Prospecting personalities may be more inclined to embrace the realization of their desire for a career change rather than suppress it, as they are generally more open to new experiences.

For Extraverts, acknowledging that they want to reinvent themselves in a career would likely be exciting, but these individuals may struggle with the idea of potentially disappointing coworkers, family members, or anyone else in their life who might not understand their decision. Introverts, on the other hand, may mull over this recognition for some time, carefully considering the implications and effects on their lives before deciding to act. However, Introverts can sometimes be more hesitant to instigate significant changes.

2. Figure Out Your Why

When you want to make a career change, the first step is acknowledging that you are ready to move on. But in order for you to take legitimate strides forward, this admission needs to be more than just acknowledging a desire for change. It also requires you to dig deep and figure out why you aren’t satisfied in your current career.

Maybe you want to pursue a career with a higher salary. Perhaps you are burned-out in your current career and want a job that provides more of a work-life balance. It could be that you have come to realize that your current career does not align with your values or who you are as a person. Or it is possible that you have an overwhelming desire to pursue one of your passions.

Whatever the case may be, getting clear with yourself about your reasons for wanting to move on will help when you reinvent yourself in a different arena. But engaging in this kind of self-reflection is something that different personalities approach at varying frequencies and with unique methods.

For instance, Intuitive personalities in particular usually engage in self-reflection more often than other personalities, with roughly 72% saying that they practice self-reflection every single day, according to our “Self-Reflection” survey. This may be because people with the Intuitive trait can easily envision different scenarios and foresee the potential benefits that could be possible if they were to make a change.

On the other hand, Observant personalities are usually much more focused on the tangible world around them. They often base their decisions on immediate realities, which could make it somewhat challenging for them to ponder future-oriented possibilities. Consequently, instead of regularly daydreaming about their perfect job, they may first start to notice the things that they do not enjoy about their current position in real time.

Introverts and Extraverts may also approach the self-reflection stage a bit differently. Extraverts are more likely to prefer engaging in an open dialogue with their trusted confidants to figure out why they aren’t happy in their current job, while Introverts may choose to spend some time in solitude to get to the heart of the matter.

3. Figure Out Your What

After you figure out why you aren’t satisfied with your current career, you can start brainstorming what new career paths might help you reach your major life goals or provide you with more fulfillment. This phase in the career change process is all about exploring your options and figuring out what really resonates with you.

If you are an Observant personality, try experimenting with different career options through hands-on work. For example, you may find it beneficial to engage in job shadowing, internships, part-time roles, or even volunteer work in your new field of interest. This can allow you to ground your decision-making process in lived experience.

If you are an Intuitive personality, your brainstorming period may look a bit different. Because you are more inclined to let your imagination play a part in major decision-making, you might start by researching various careers online, envisioning yourself in those careers based on what you learn, and perhaps even seeking guidance from career coaches or mentors – anyone who can help you turn your big-picture ideas into a more tangible reality.

Thinking and Feeling personalities also tend to handle this kind of decision-making differently. People with the Thinking trait are more likely to approach this stage with logical reasoning and with a desire for efficiency. So if you’re a Thinking personality, consider putting together a comprehensive pro and con list for each potential new career path. Meanwhile, those with the Feeling trait are more likely to lean on the shared insights that come from connection with others. So if you’re a Feeling personality, you might seek out individuals who already work in the careers that you’re interested in and ask them to sit down for an informational interview, so that you can learn what they like and don’t like about their job.

All this said, remember that regardless of your personality type, sometimes it’s good to step outside your comfort zone and try different strategies that you wouldn’t usually gravitate toward while on the hunt for a new career. Really take your time during this in-between period and give yourself permission to experiment.

4. Figure Out Your How

Once you have decided which career path seems like the right fit for you, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and figure out how you can make this new dream a reality. Will you have to go back to school? Will you have to participate in some sort of training? What kind of experience do you need to be considered for the position that you would like to obtain?

This planning period is essential to the career change process, but making a game plan and executing that plan in a timely manner is something that Judging and Prospecting personalities generally approach differently.

Making plans tends to come more naturally to Judging personalities, as they usually prefer structure and organization. Consequently, a Judging personality type would likely be more comfortable with creating a systematic plan of action when approaching something like career change. Individuals with the Judging trait often tend to set personal deadlines and stick to them. According to our “Self-Motivation” survey, when asked whether they set specific goals that they hope to accomplish every day, 66% of Judging personalities say yes, compared to only 34% of Prospecting personalities.

Prospecting personalities are more likely to dive into the process of career change without having every detail planned out. They are more inclined to go with the flow and get to work when they feel energized and excited about a new opportunity. A long to-do list can stress them out rather than help them stay on course.

However, for something as serious as a career change, it helps to find a healthy balance between planning and doing. Setting small, achievable goals will be instrumental in moving the process forward, but allowing yourself some flexibility to move away from a plan when necessary can be just as important.

5. Trust Yourself

Navigating through a career change can be incredibly challenging, as there are many uncertainties to face as you work toward a new career and a new life. That’s why it’s important to trust in yourself and your abilities throughout this process.

We acknowledge that trusting yourself is a challenge in and of itself, but as difficult as it can be, you may be able to foster more self-trust through realistic goal-setting and small successes throughout this journey.

This is something that might come more naturally to Assertive personalities, who tend to believe in their ability to achieve success. This can allow them to move through the career transition process with less anxiety and more positivity.

Conversely, people with the Turbulent trait may doubt themselves more than others as they navigate a career change, but they have many strengths that can help them put their best foot forward when it comes to their work. They tend to regularly worry about potential failures or mistakes, which can be stressful at times, but this worry can actually help Turbulent personalities when it causes them to be extra aware of how their actions may impact their lives. And it may spur them to overprepare for any worst-case scenario.

That said, whether you are an Assertive personality type or a Turbulent one, remember that you deserve to pursue a career that will help you live the life that you want to live, and that you are capable of turning your dream into a reality.

Final Words on Career Change

If you are facing a career change, we encourage you to remember that your journey is as unique as you are. There are many different paths to success and many different ideas of what true success really looks like. With that in mind, adapt the guidance in this article to suit you and your personal goals.

We’re eager to hear about your experiences on your career change journey. What strategies have you found to be most effective in helping you through this transition period? Leave us a comment below, and let’s grow together on this journey of professional fulfillment.