There are close to eight billion people in the world today, but psychologists believe they can all be categorised into five groups.
The Big Five Personality Traits is a model that’s widely recognised and scientifically validated way to measure and understand human personalities.
As unique as we may all think we are, the Big Five Personality Traits put forth a theory that all that we are, despite our quirks and habits, can be grouped neatly into just five categories.
They can be abbreviated into OCEAN:
For each of the categories, imagine a spectrum of two extremes. For example, very agreeable versus not agreeable at all. Then, picture where you would fall on this scale.
You can try the test for yourself here.
The most stable trait is conscientiousness, as it tends to increase as we age and remain relatively stable throughout adulthood.
Naturally, our conscientious behaviours — such as discipline, responsibility, and organisation — are reinforced by our life experiences, work, and social expectations.
As people grow older, they tend to become more reliable and goal-oriented, making this trait more stable compared to others like extraversion or neuroticism, which may fluctuate based on life circumstances.
Surprisingly, one of the rarest traits to have a high score is openness to experience.
Most people tend to fall somewhere in the middle, but extreme openness is rare. It’s linked to traits like creativity, intellectual curiosity, and a strong desire for novelty, which can sometimes lead to unconventional or non-conformist lifestyles.
In many societies, cultural norms and traditional structures favour a balance between openness and practicality, making extreme openness less common.
Seems simple, but don’t underestimate how powerful the Big Five Personality Traits are in today’s world — and in your world too.
All smiles — understanding which of the Big Five personality traits you have could lead to career success and a happy life. Source: AFP
Personality tests may seem a little cringe at first, but they help us know ourselves better — and in turn, helps us make better decisions in life, such as what to study in college, what career to choose and how well we want to do in our jobs.
How you answer these questions can have a big impact on your life. This study between lifelong singles and those in relationships describes how those who score high in extraversion and openness are more likely to get out, meet people, and potentially find themselves in a relationship that will force them to try out new things.
On the other hand, those who were lifelong singles reported lower levels of extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness.
Another example can be linked to gender. This study between 410 physical education students in China showcased how neuroticism correlated with higher aggression, agreeableness was linked to lower physical aggression, and conscientiousness was associated with reduced verbal aggression. From the results, male students exhibited higher physical aggression, while female students showed more anger.
Why does this matter? They could play into your career.
For companies, these personality tests can be a mandatory step in your job application process. For some individuals, it can be a career path guide.
Our personalities are consistent in driving our behaviour. Who we are ultimately influences how we react or respond to people and situations at work.
For example, if you’re a highly conscientious individual, you might thrive better in a formal business environment rather than small companies or start ups.
Or if you’re an extrovert, you would likely prefer a more casual atmosphere where you work with a large group of people, rather than the deafening silence of an office with endless keyboard noises.
This study on individual personality traits and team dynamics influenced virtual collaboration solving — think online Zoom meetings for work. Teams who scored lower in agreeableness showed the most significant performance improvement, while highly agreeable teams or those with mixed agreeableness levels experienced less performance gain due to conflict avoidance.
In short, if you never speak up, you’ll never make progress.
If you’re in an environment that does not suit your personality, negative feelings — such as moodiness, anxiety, worry, fear or frustration — will begin to set in. And all you can do is try to convince yourself to stay — for the salary, the benefits, or your family.
But as much as one can try to fake it till they make it, there’s only so much one can do. That’s when the burnout sets in, and the career switch starts.
Switching career lanes can be unnerving and scary. What if it all goes wrong again?
But staying in the wrong job for your personality can be worse. It makes little sense to put up with a workplace environment that makes you feel like a misfit.
Choosing a job to which you’re inherently better suited — as opposed to one that only pays well — will lead to better performance and job satisfaction. As a result, you’ll increase your chances of landing higher paychecks, and even explore more lucrative opportunities in the future.
You just have to take a stand.
If you take a test such as the Big Five Personality Traits to pinpoint your own traits and personality, it may be easy to settle into a suitable job that you’ll eventually thrive in.
For example, creative jobs like artists, writers, and designers often attract those who are imaginative, curious, and open to new experiences. But they may find it hard to be around large groups of people for an extended amount of time.
Managers, leaders, and salespeople often score high on conscientiousness as they have to be organised and responsible, coping with the demands of their role. But they can also be disagreeable, as their roles involve complicated, and sometimes emotional interactions and confrontations with others.
Let’s take a look at some of the best jobs for each personality trait:
Meryl Streep isn’t the first person who comes to mind when you think of introverts. Source: AFP
Extraversion is one of the Big Five Personality Traits, and it describes how outgoing and social you are. If you score high on extraversion, you tend to be more friendly, talkative, and energetic.
Those who score low are usually introverts who prefer spending time alone or with a small group of close friends.Â
If you love attending parties, making new friends and are often the one to start conversations, you are most likely an extravert.Â
If you have this personality trait, you might be good at networking and excel in careers requiring social interaction, like sales or event planning.Â
People with higher extraversion scores often report higher job satisfaction when their work involves social interaction and teamwork. However, those who lean more towards introversion tend to be more content when they have jobs that allow for independent tasks and fewer social demands.Â
Here’s a list of careers that are well-suited for individuals with extraverted personalities:
People who score high on agreeableness are those who often go out of their way to make others feel comfortable. Source: AFP
If you score high in agreeableness, you tend to be more cooperative, compassionate, and considerate of others’ feelings.
While those who score low might be more competitive and straightforward, focusing on their goals and less concerned about pleasing everyone.Â
If you’re always willing to help, are a great listener and often go out of your way to make others feel comfortable, check out the career paths below:
Those who score high for conscientiousness tend to do well in careers as project managers as they are organised, reliable and detail-oriented. Source: AFP
Conscientiousness is defined by high levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control and goal-directed behaviours.Â
If you score high in conscientiousness, you tend to be organised, reliable, and detail-oriented. You may enjoy planning ahead and always consider how your behaviour affects others.Â
On the other hand, if your score is lower, you might be more flexible and spontaneous, with a tendency to prefer a less structured lifestyle.Â
Here’s a list of careers that are well-suited for individuals with a conscientious personality:
Neuroticism is a personality trait characterised by emotional instability, irritability, anxiety, self-doubt, depression and other negative feelings. Source: AFP
Neuroticism is one of the Big Five Personality Traits that is characterised by sadness, moodiness, and emotional instability. People with high neuroticism tend to experience mood swings, anxiety, irritability and sadness.Â
If you have a lower neuroticism score, you are generally more emotionally stable and better at handling stress.Â
Someone with a high neuroticism score tends to get anxious before exams or important presentations and often worries about what might go wrong. These people might find their calling in careers that benefit from their sensitivity, such as psychology or counselling, where empathy and understanding can make a substantial difference.Â
If you score high for neuroticisms, the best careers for you include:
Openness refers to how open-minded you are to new ideas or experiences. Source: AFP
Openness is one of the Big Five Personality Traits that describe someone who is curious, creative and willing to embrace new experiences.Â
If you score high in openness, you’re likely imaginative and eager to explore new ideas and concepts. However, you may lean towards practicality and familiarity if you have a lower score.Â
If you are someone who is enthusiastic about trying new things, whether travelling to foreign countries, experimenting with different art forms, or engaging in philosophical discussions, you might be well-suited for careers in creative fields like graphic design, journalism, or research.
Studies also found that you’re likely to be fulfilled in roles that encourage creative thinking and exploration, while those with lower scores may thrive in roles that demand routine and established procedures.Â
Scored highly for openness? Your life’s calling could be one of the below careers:
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on March 12, 2025.
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