What Job Should I Have? How to Choose a Career

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Explore careers you might enjoy based on your personality traits, strengths, and preferences.

[Featured Image] Someone in red glasses looks out a window in thought.

According to Gettysburg College, the average person spends around one-third of their lifetime at work [1]. As such, many people want to find a job that aligns with their interests, personality traits, or strengths. That decision becomes even more important, considering 73 percent of Americans say their work is at least somewhat important to their overall identity, according to the Pew Research Center [2].

Choosing a career can be a trial-and-error process for many people. Figuring out what you enjoy doing can take time. To help get you started, we've compiled jobs you may be well suited for based on various personality traits, strengths, and interests. 

What job should you have based on your personality?

What you do in your day-to-day role can align with your dominant personality traits. If you have more introverted tendencies, you may enjoy jobs with greater autonomy. If you have more extroverted tendencies, you may enjoy jobs that require interfacing with colleagues and clients more often.

Below, we've pulled together job ideas based on different traits.

Careers if you're more introverted

Some people thrive when working independently. The career options below tend to emphasize independent work and study. 

Careers if you're more extroverted

Some people get their energy from engaging with others, and there are many ways to do that in the workplace.

Careers if you want to work from home

Working from home can be rewarding for a number of reasons. If your goal is to reduce or eliminate your commute, look over the following articles. 

Careers if you want greater flexibility

A growing number of workers want greater flexibility in their job. This could mean working remotely or having a job that allows you to travel more often.

Jobs based on strengths

Everyone has unique strengths, and finding a job that lets you tap into yours and make a big impact can be rewarding. We've outlined several jobs based on major strengths. 

Careers for creative people

If you enjoy thinking outside the box and working in creative mediums, you may want to incorporate these career paths into your job search.

Careers for leaders

The careers below suit someone with great leadership or management skills. 

Careers for tech-savvy people

Do you enjoy learning about and using the latest technologies? Consider the careers outlined in the articles below. 

Jobs based on interests

You can find a job that aligns with one of your interests. When your job involves your passions or aligns with your values, you may feel more motivated on a daily basis.

Think about activities you enjoy outside of work and what it is about those activities that gives you energy. For example, a job involving logic and critical thinking may be a good option if you enjoy playing chess. If you enjoy volunteering at an animal shelter, finding a job involving empathy and collaboration may be a strong fit.

Below, we've gathered some examples of careers based on popular interests.

Careers if you love video games

If you enjoy playing video games and consuming gaming-related content, use the articles below to help you explore related careers. 

Careers if you love health and fitness

If taking care of your body is important to you, your ideal career might involve helping others do the same.

Careers if you love people

If you enjoy connecting with and helping others, there are a variety of careers you can explore.

Careers if you like popular culture and trending topics

If you enjoy staying on top of current trends and connecting with audiences either via content, campaigns, or social media, there are many jobs in marketing that might be a good fit. 

How to decide on a career: Additional resources

Trying to determine which job you should have may entail a career change. We've got you covered. Learn more about how to embark on a career change with our step-by-step guide. We've also outlined what career changes look like at ages 30, 40, and 50.

Consider a career coach

If you'd like additional help figuring out which job is best for you, it may be worth hiring a job coach or a career coach. Either of these trained professionals can meet with you, learn about your goals, and help you determine which job is best for you.

Explore courses to help you decide on a career on Coursera

Learn new skills or strengthen existing ones with a beginner-level Specialization on Coursera. Explore ways to inspire and motivate individuals, manage talent, influence without authority, and lead teams with the Leading People and Teams Specialization, or improve your effectiveness with words in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization, both offered by the University of Michigan. Or, learn skills to help you balance the rational and emotional to make the best possible decisions with Dartmouth’s Strategic Leadership: Impact, Change, and Decision-Making Specialization. All of these Specializations are offered on Coursera. 

Article sources

1. 

Gettysburg College. “One-third of Your Life is Spent at Work, https://www.gettysburg.edu/news/stories?id=79db7b34-630c-4f49-ad32-4ab9ea48e72b.” Accessed February 26, 2025.

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