Research from the University of Edinburgh suggests that common stereotypes about which personality traits suit different professions are often accurate. The study provides insight into why some people excel in creative fields, others are drawn to leadership, and some find purpose in care and counseling roles.

Analyzing personality profiles across over 250 occupations, the researchers assessed people on the Big Five traits—agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness—revealing significant differences in how these traits align with various careers. Extraversion and openness, which include traits like curiosity, creativity, and willingness to take risks, showed the largest differences between jobs, while agreeableness varied the least.

Attracting certain personalities

The study found that creative fields such as art, writing, and design tend to attract people who score high in openness, often characterized by imagination and curiosity. Sales and public relations professionals, by contrast, are typically extroverted and thrive in social, people-oriented environments. Managers, who also lean toward extroversion, are generally more conscientious—responsible and organized—and tend to be less emotionally reactive, which helps them manage workplace stress.

Interestingly, roles like sales, management, and real estate often require a level of disagreeableness, as these jobs involve challenging or sometimes confrontational interactions. Professions with higher levels of neuroticism—emotional sensitivity—include acting, journalism, and other creative fields.

“Many intuitions about personality traits and jobs turn out to be surprisingly accurate,” the researchers said, noting that their study was the first to confirm these patterns on such a large scale.

The team also developed free interactive tools that allow people to explore how their own traits match with different occupations. Beyond the Big Five, the researchers assessed specific qualities like competitiveness, decision-making, and influence. Managers and legal professionals, for example, were more competitive, while judges and pilots often excelled at decision-making. Psychologists and HR managers ranked highest in influence, while religious workers and lorry drivers were among the least liberal.

“This large-scale approach enabled us to confirm trends across a wide range of jobs, sometimes revealing details that challenge conventional assumptions,” the authors concluded, offering a fresh perspective on how personality and career are deeply interconnected.