Square pegs in round holes
HAPPY at work? Because now there’s a way of checking whether you are in the right job for your personality.
It all depends on whether you’re a circle, a triangle, a squiggle or a square.
British workers apparently fall into one of these four categories – and your happiness may depend on whether you have matched your job with your “shape”.
Researchers who devised the system claim that more than 21million of us do work that does not suit our natural personalities.
Up to 75 per cent of employees are toiling away in unsuitable jobs or have taken completely the wrong career path for their character, the researchers say.
More than 2,300 people were questioned about their existing job and their social and professional aspirations.
Respondents were asked to choose one of four personality types that they believed best described themselves:
A circle if they were warm, friendly and optimistic. Famous example: actress Helen Mirren.
A triangle if they were the assertive, ambitious leader type. Famous example: model Kate Moss.
A squiggle if they were creative, impulsive and extroverted. Famous example: pop star Elton John.
A square if they were clear-thinking and “task-orientated”. Famous example: James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
The survey results provided some surprises.
Despite their tough reputation, 40 per cent of bankers and accountants were warm and people-orientated circles – they would have been expected to show up as squares.
In contrast, creative types working in the arts had the strongest, most headstrong triangle leadership qualities rather than being expressive and eccentric squiggles.
The poll also found that 40 per cent of secretaries had the triangle personality of leaders, while only 10 per cent of politicians and civil servants had good people skills.
Perhaps, reassuringly, those in education, health care and social work were good with people, with more than 60 per cent assessed as best suited for their present roles.
In the poll, by private health firm BUPA, a third of respondents came out as warm and friendly circle types, and another third as assertive and ambitious triangles. The rest were split evenly between impulsive and extroverted squiggles, and task-orientated squares.
Independent psychologist Dr Aric Sigman said: “It’s important to understand our individual personalities in order to find the right fit. Failure to do so means you could spend great chunks of life feeling like a square peg in a round hole.”
See what shape you're in
The thing you most enjoy in your spare time?
Meeting your good friends at the pub (CIRCLE)
Relaxing at home with family (SQUARE)
Working out at the gym or playing sport (TRIANGLE)
Doing something completely new (SQUIGGLE)
Your friends ask you to do a skydive. You reply:
Count on me (TRIANGLE)
Probably. Need some persuading (SQUIGGLE)
Probably not. Too risky but don’t want to look boring (CIRLCE)
No way. But you’ll sponsor them (SQUARE)
You’ve got a decision to make. Do you:
Worry till the last minute about every detail (SQUIGGLE)
Research every option to reach a rational response (SQUARE)
Make a snap decision on gut instinct (TRIANGLE)
Consult widely to make sure everyone is happy (CIRCLE)
If there’s one thing you can’t bear it’s when you feel:
Out of your depth (TRIANGLE)
Trapped like a caged animal (SQUIGGLE)
Let down by someone you love (CIRCLE)
Out of control (SQUARE)
What do YOU think? Are you unhappy in your job because of your personality type? Comment NOW on Have Your Say.
