THE QUESTIONS:

1) Your ideal working environment is…

 

A. Independent and self-led

B. Creative and homely

C. Structured and collaborative

D. Dynamic and fast-paced

 

 

 

 

2) Do you listen to your heart or head?

 

 

A. Always my head, no matter what

B. Always my heart, no matter what

C. I’ll take notice of my heart, but ultimately I usually go with my head

D. Generally my heart, but it can be fanciful

 

 

3) How do you act around your boss?

 

 

A. I try to avoid them as much as possible

B. Probably a little too friendly – I’m keen to connect with them

C. Professional, helpful and approachable

D. I don’t really notice

 

 

4) Are you good at giving your full attention to something?

 

A. If it’s something I find interesting, then yes – for hours on end

B. Not really, I often get distracted and prefer to discuss ideas

C. Yes, I find doing one thing at a time the most efficient way, and then I move on to the next

D. No, I get bored easily and swap between different tasks a lot

 

5) When the conversation gets philosophical, you…

 

A. Debate all your theories and share your findings

B. Lead the discussion – starting with a moral or emotive angle

C. Present the facts and see the whole thing as trivial

D. Switch off or try to move the conversation back to the present

 

 

 

6) Something’s gone wrong at work and the finger is pointed at you – how do you react?

 

A. Immediately retort, and feel quite irritated

B. Ask to discuss what’s occurred and try to get to the bottom of it

C. Feel embarrassed, beat yourself up in private but remain stoic in front of everyone

D. Say sorry, see if there’s any way you can help fixing it, and move on

 

7) Your passions are typically …

 

 

A. Abstract, intellectual and potentially obsessive

B. Creative, emotionally led and a key part of your identity

C. Useful, measurable and linked to some kind of bigger plan

D. Spontaneous, practical and often fleeting

 

 

8) Is planning ahead important to you?

 

 

A. Yes, and I’m pretty decisive

B. Yes, but I struggle to make decisions

C. Yes, I hate the thought of being unprepared

D. No – I like to just see where life takes me

 

THE RESULTS:

MOSTLY As … MARIE CURIE – THE ACADEMIC

“Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.” – Marie Curie

Similar to pioneering scientist Marie, you’re strategic, strong-willed and feel your best when exercising your mind. Working independently and free from more structured environments is where you thrive – although you’re always up for joining in a debate.

Personality obstacles to remember… You can be quite the perfectionist both at work and home, and feel stifled by any kind of bureaucracy. As a Thinker type, you can come off as a little cold and dismissive of other peoples’ feelings – especially when you’re deeply immersed in a project – so make a conscious effort to check in with those around you and remind them that you care.

 

MOSTLY Bs … MAYA ANGELOU – THE ADVOCATE

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.” – Maya Angelou

As a Feeling type, you place more value on emotional understanding than achievement, and form strong connections with people. Like poet and activist Maya, you are creative and open-minded, so careers centred around telling stories are right up your street.

Personality obstacles to remember… Your idealistic nature leaves you incredibly affected by any perceived injustice or criticism, and so you may respond in an unnecessarily combative way. Remember that you can’t please and help everybody. Feeling things very deeply makes you a fantastic shoulder to lean on, but you’re your own worst critic.

 

MOSTLY Cs … JOHN D ROCKEFELLER – THE EXECUTIVE

“The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit… a reputation, character.” – John D Rockefeller

Highly practical, you typically shun philosophical discussion in favour of measurable, concrete goals – and like the famous businessman John D Rockefeller, are not afraid of honest hard work. You enjoy socialising with reliable, drama-free friends and thrive in ordered, stable and hierarchical workplaces.

Personality obstacles to remember… Concerned by reputation, you can be inflexible in your thinking and struggle to entertain an idea or aspiration if you don’t deem it attainable. As a Judging type, you are highly organised but try to be more open to new ideas and suggestions, and remember that it’s okay to go with the flow now and then, and let someone else take charge.

 

MOSTLY Ds… STEVE IRWIN – THE ADVENTURER

“I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I’m just fine with it.” – Steve Irwin

Spontaneous and fearless like the Crocodile Hunter himself, you throw yourself into new projects and are a master of thinking on your feet. Your socially dynamic, fun-loving yet laid-back and resourceful nature means that you form relationships with new people very organically, and you thrive in hands-on and fast-paced pursuits.

Personality obstacles to remember… As a Prospecting type, you are never afraid to act on a whim, but may struggle to stay motivated if the pay-off isn’t immediate. This can lead to a resistance to commit and little planning ahead – so just make sure that you don’t focus so much on living in the moment that you lose sight of the people and prospects that you know you’ll still want around you in the future.

 

In this personality quiz, we’ve used a combination of Jung and Myers-Briggs tools. Here’s a quick decode:

Introvert – Focused on the internal world vs Extrovert – Focused on the external world

Thinking – Valuing rational evaluation and objective logical outcomes vs Feeling – Prioritising emotional intelligence and personal impact