3:00 snapshot #330, plus personality memes

[urbpan]

I took this personality test that's going around, that seems pretty darn accurate. It said I was a 'Spontaneous Idealist.' First I thought that sounded a little too positive, like a Chinese restaurant placemat horoscope, but then I realized that it only seemed positive because I like the thought of being a spontaneous idealist--someone else would hate being called that. Alexis is an 'Individualistic Doer.' There's a compatibility comparison button on the site that eerily predicted our relationship conflicts, particularly my apparently insane and irrational need to know where we're going to move some day.


Then there's a complementary site where you can pretty simply translate the jargon from the last personality test to a new one. In this one, I'm an ENFP type, which stands for Extravert Intuitive Feeling Perceiving. Okay, whatever. This is all done to facilitate career counseling. It correctly predicted that I'm good at starting projects but crap at finishing them, that I have had numerous career changes, and that I have a desperate need to be liked. But they then list the recommended career choices for my personality type. Ready?

Advertising Creative Director
Advertising Sales Executive
Artist*
Career Counselor
Cartoonist
Character Actor*
Chemical Engineer
Chemist
City Manager
Clergy
Columnist
Comp. Systems Analyst
Computer Support Rep.
Conference Planner
Consultant
Copywriter
Corrections Officer
Development Trainer
Editor
Employee Assistant Specialist
Engineer
English Teacher*
Entrepreneur
Facilitator
Housing Director
Insurance Agent
Interior Decorator
Inventor
Journalist
Lawyer
Librarian
Marketing Consultant
Medical Assistant
Musician/Composer*
Newscaster
Occupational Therapist
Ombudsman
Pastoral Counselor
Preschool Teacher
Psychodrama Therapist
Psychologist
Public Relations Specialist
Publicist
Rehabilitation Worker
Reporter
Sales: Intangibles/Ideas/Services
Screen/Play Write*
Social Scientist
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist
Speech Pathologist
Strategic Planner/Researcher
Teacher: Liberal Arts
Teacher: Special Education
Travel Agent

So, the bolded ones are actual stops on my career, almost entirely short-lived and disastrous, or practically imaginary (I swear I've got a couple good screenplays in me). The starred ones are dreams that I haven't totally given up on, but will probably have to wait until I retire from trying to make a living, except for English teacher, which I just thought of as a career choice ,like, last week. Of these, I probably still only have a legitimate claim on 'columnist,' although aren't we all (us bloggers) columnists these days?

How 'prison guard' got in there is baffling to me, and don't even ask me what a 'psychodrama therapist' is; I don't think I want to know.

Comments

[harrietbrown.livejournal.com]

Aw, Jef, you're having fun with the career memes! That's so sweet! But you have a career! Seriously, if only you could figure out a way to get paid for this blog, you'd have it made - Soylent Screen, Urban Nature, the 365 Species, Noticing the Year ... am I missing anything? the Picture a Day series ... the Doors of Brookline ... ???

But seriously, there's got to be a better way to make a living than cleaning animal poo in 90 degree heat. I feel your pain - bad enough I have to walk through piles of it *geese & turkey :( *

In any case, did you find it helpful?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

if only you could figure out a way to get paid for this blog, you'd have it made

there's got to be a better way to make a living than cleaning animal poo in 90 degree heat

I couldn't agree more. :)

[corivax.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful picture.

thanks for your post

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Urbpan,
Like you I am a spontaneous idealist as described by the ipersonic website or I am also described as an ENTP (Extravert, iNtuitive, Thinker, Perceiver) from PersonalityType.com (I was close to be a Feller rather than a Thinker). I really find myself in those descriptions although, and thanks to your post, I really do not find the career choices provided in those books any use for me. From the list you have posted, I can confirm I am an Engineer, I have been working in Sales (as a Sales Engineer), I am an inventor and an artist. The rest of the descriptions do not fit me at all and a career choice as an Engineer, Inventor or Artist is far too broad to be useful!! One thing I can surely say (after 3 years in that field) is that sales is not made for me (may be Us). This field, although interesting for the customer relationship side and technical advice (as a Sales Engineer), was definitely not satisfying as there was no creativity involved and this is also far too much of a political job for me to keep on doing so many years.
In the result of your post, I am glad i didnt purchase the £15 book on several personality profile websites and found out the poor list of career choices, and in fact, just by reading about our profiles, reading our career choices, I just found the link between all i like and all i want to do: Lighting engineer/designer. I always loved light :)
Cheers
Philippe

life is hard

[(Anonymous)]

I was given the same results SI, and im a truck driver that has had 12 truck driving jobs in the last 6 years, but what I really like to do is help people solve their problems, from emotional to financial and I've helped a few friends get their stuff together, things ranging from child custody, finding doctors, drug addiction, or just sit and listen to them. I have a nack for this type of work but I found out too late. now have three kids and have to support them and have to work 12 to 14 hour shifts. young people please think before you decide to have a family. find yourself 1st.