It's a new year and a new life. Now is as good a time as any to find a job. But don't make the mistake most newbies do, by sending applications to any and every opening they can find. One of the secrets to successfully finding the right job is carefully assessing your personality accurately and matching it with the kind of job that fits you. It's not as simple as getting employed - doing one's job well also entails a degree of enjoyment. This leads to a feeling of fulfilment, job well done, satisfied employers and co-workers, and a healthy, well-rounded work life.

Some people think that personality is the least important aspect (in terms of job compatibility) to evaluate, compared to other aspects like aptitude or skill. But it is vital, especially in helping you adapt to the nature of the job or the company culture. Remember: it's easier to change jobs, than it is to change your personality.

What kind of person are you and what kind of job fits you best? Here are the categories, according to Business Trends Philippines:

Realistic
Are you athletic? Do you have mechanical abilities? Do you prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants, or animals, or just be out doors, in general.

Chances are you belong to the Realistic group. These people are mostly endowed with competencies like reading blueprints, carpentry work, making mechanical drawings, using heavy equipment, and those related to mathematics. If you're a Realist, you'd best work as an engineer, architect, fish and game warden, forester, industrial arts teacher, pilot, military officer or enlisted personnel, craft person, or occupational therapist.

Investigative
If you like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate, or solve problems, you are part of this group. Most likely, too, you're the type who is scientifically inclined, comfortable with using technical equipment, adept at using log tables, interpreting chemical formulae, or understanding how a transistor works.

The best job to find would be any of the following: chemist, economist, physician, anthropologist, pathologist, physicist, production planner, biologist, psychologist, research or systems analyst, surgeon, dentist, engineer.

Artistic
Artistic people are usually innovative or intuitive, prefer to work in unstructured situations, and tend to use more of their imagination or creativity. If you like playing musical instruments, singing, acting, making interpretative readings, debating, dancing, sketching and similar competencies, then you belong to this group.

Try to look for jobs that match any of the following: artist, English teacher, musician, singer, actor, foreign language interpreter, philosopher, orchestra conductor, advertising executive, public relations specialist, fashion model, writer, reporter, photographer, or interior decorator.

Social
Social people tend to like working with others and are adept at informing, enlightening, helping, training, developing, curing, or communicating. If you think you can explain things well to others, feel competent with peers older than yourself, can effectively plan community functions effectively, is a good judge of personality, and enjoys working as a volunteer, then this is your personality.

Try to take educational and social welfare occupations. These include: counselor, social service director, interviewer, teacher, educational administrator, therapist, nurse, training director, recreation leader.

Enterprising
If you are influential, persuasive, or can lead an organization for economic gain, then you are an enterprising individual. Such people tend to be elected into office, can supervise other's work, have unusual energy or enthusiasm, good at getting people to do things their way, good in sales, have organized a club or organization, good debater, and have started own business or service.

If you're enterprising, managerial or sales occupations are best for you. You'd also do well as a market analyst, broker, manager, salesperson, personnel recruiter, contractor, insurance underwriter, or salary administrator.

Conventional
Do you like to work with data? Do you have clerical or numerical ability, carry things out in detail or follow well on other's instructions? If the answer is yes, you belong to the Conventional type. Such people are usually good in typing letters or papers, keeping financial records, using business math, and organizing records or files.

If you are this type, try to get into clerical or office occupations. You can also consider the following career options: certified public accountant, banker, business teacher, financial expert, estimator, clerk, office manager or department secretary, data processor, proofreader, credit manager, public administrator.