November is Career Month in Canada. Canada Career Month brings together Canadians from all walks of life to celebrate the value of meaningful work and the vital role that Career Development Professionals play in making this possible. We are proud to join this national celebration, recognizing the incredible efforts of individuals and organizations across Canada working to connect people with their preferred futures. Personality Dimensions is an important tool used by Career Development Professionals across the country and around the world for helping people understand more about themselves, and make better decisions with their career journeys.
Understanding your personality is a pathway to discovering the ideal work environment that aligns with who you are; your natural talents, values, and definition of success. It helps clarify these, shedding light on what energizes you and where your natural abilities shine. By offering insights into the types of work environments and responsibilities that might feel most fulfilling, your personality can also guide your decision-making. Recognizing these strengths and understanding how you approach challenges builds self-confidence, making it easier to present yourself authentically in interviews or networking. As well, understanding your personality helps you evaluate whether a potential workplace or team aligns with your preferences. Ultimately, choosing a career path that reflects your personality increases how likely you’ll be happy and satisfied in the long run, allowing you to choose a path that feels meaningful and motivating.
Are some jobs suited to certain personalities? Absolutely! Inquiring Greens gravitate toward analytical and strategic roles that require deep problem-solving, like a strategic consultant or civil engineer. Authentic Blues frequently excel in people-oriented careers like social work or HR specialist. Organized Golds find satisfaction in detail-oriented positions requiring reliability and organization, like an archivist or project manager. Resourceful Oranges thrive in dynamic, action-oriented roles with variety, like a chef or trauma nurse.
But that doesn’t mean you have to have a certain personality preference to succeed in a career, and find it fulfilling. Other factors like skills, experience, and interests play major roles. While your core personality stays the same, we become more adaptable over time, and become more comfortable using other parts your personality.
There are also a number of careers that appeal to all four dimensions, but for different reasons. Take teacher, for example; Inquiring Greens enjoy diving into subject matter, researching, and sharing knowledge. Authentic Blues love helping students grow and creating a supportive learning environment. Organized Golds thrive on structured lesson plans, schedules, and clear objectives. Resourceful Oranges appreciate the dynamic, interactive environment of a classroom. There’s also conservationist; Inquiring Greens can delve into scientific aspects and strategize for solutions. Authentic Blues are drawn to the purpose-driven mission of helping the planet and people. Organized Golds contribute through detailed project management and organized campaigns. Resourceful Oranges enjoy active, outdoor work and hands-on efforts to create change. Regardless or the “why,” each dimension has their own approach, and find these careers fulfilling because they align with their values, and natural talents.
In these last couple weeks of November, take some time to reflect on the difference Career Development Professionals make in people’s lives. From guiding individuals toward fulfilling futures to offering tools like Personality Dimensions that help make good decisions with career paths, Career Development Professionals play an essential role in building confidence and creating opportunities. Their work ensures that more people can find careers that align with their strengths, values, and goals, making the journey to meaningful work more accessible.
Canada Career Month reminds us of the power of career development in helping people build better futures. By supporting this initiative, we’re working toward a future where everyone has the support they need to succeed, and the work of Career Development Professionals is valued and understood. Let’s keep working together to make sure everyone has the tools, resources, and confidence to thrive in the world of work.
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work. Brad is also on the board of directors for the Career Professionals of Canada, and an advisory committee member with the Career Development Practitioners’s Certification Board of Ontario.
