You probably have all kinds of interests. If you can match these interests to the job you have or want, you’ll enjoy your work a lot more.
You may be keen on sports or music or the arts. But when it comes to occupational interests, it’s more about the way you like to work. For example, do you like to be in charge or work in a group? Do you prefer to follow standards or work things out by experimenting?
Once you know which interests you have, you can narrow down your education and training choices—and focus on the kinds of jobs where having those interests is an asset.
Here’s a tool that will help you explore your interests:
The Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI)
The CWPI breaks down occupational interests into 5 categories. It is used in the Government of Canada’s Career Handbook and here on alis to identify occupations that people with different interests are likely to enjoy.
Discover which of these interests you have and how you can apply them to different occupations:
1. Directive (or take-charge) interest
People with a directive interest like to:
Take charge
Be responsible for projects
Plan, make decisions, and coordinate the work of others
Organize their own activities
Manage others
Give directions and instructions
Feel independent
They likely express these skills, values, and traits:
Skills—leading, persuading, motivating, communicating, selling
Values—independence, money, power, decision making, contact with people
Traits—decisive, self-confident, risk-taking, sociable
And you’ll often find them in these types of work settings:
Wholesale and retail companies—as salespersons, public relations representatives, managers, owners, and operators
Promotion industry—as advertising account managers, product demonstrators, and fundraisers
Service industry—as restaurant managers, real estate agents, travel agents, and insurance salespersons
For example, retail store managers are interested in coordinating information so they can direct and evaluate the operation of their stores. They hire or oversee staff recruitment, manage staff, and assign duties.
Dietitians also like to take charge. They gather and develop educational materials for various audiences. They are also interested in planning, evaluating, and conducting nutrition education programs.
Other examples of occupations that may work well for people with this interest include chef, conservation officer, and health service administrator.
2. Innovative (or creative) interest
People with an innovative interest like to:
Explore things in depth
Find solutions by experimenting
Create different ways to solve problems or present information
Be challenged with new or surprising experiences
Deal with scientific subjects
Deal with change
Work with ideas
Express themselves through their work
They likely express these skills, values, and traits:
Skills—creating, inventing, performing, designing, decorating, using senses, risk-taking, reading
Values—freedom of time, unstructured situations, trust in own mind, body, and feelings
Traits—artistic, musical, independent, imaginative, expressive, able to work alone
And you’ll often find them in these types of work settings:
Entertainment industry—as dancers, actors, makeup artists, set designers, film editors, and cartoonists
Advertising and graphic arts industries—as illustrators, graphic designers, and visual merchandisers
Service industry—as floral designers, interior decorators, and meat cutters
Publishing industry—as reporters, creative or technical writers, translators, and editors
An information systems consultant needs an interest in innovation to analyze information to design and develop systems that will help businesses achieve their goals. Emergency medical personnel also need to be innovative when assessing and treating trauma, overdose, and poisoning victims, and other ill or injured people.
Other examples of occupations that may be a good fit for people with this interest include land surveyor, illustrator, and drafting technician.
3. Methodical (or logical) interest
People with a methodical interest like to:
Have clear rules
Be organized in their activities
Work under the direction of others
Work with clear instructions or well-understood procedures
Work on 1 thing until it’s done
Follow a routine
Avoid surprises in their work
Work with data and details
They likely express these skills, values, and traits:
Skills—Keeping records, thinking logically, noticing details, working with numbers, using office equipment and computers
Values—Security, order, neatness
Traits—Precise, stable, organized, good at finishing tasks, good with words
And you’ll often find them in these types of work settings:
Business offices—as bookkeepers, office personnel, and dispatchers
Government offices—as information management technicians, administrative assistants, and legal assistants
Financial industry—as mortgage agents, accountants, and insurance claims adjusters
Nursery operators like to coordinate information to logically organize nursery and greenhouse operations. They need to order materials such as fertilizer, garden and lawn care equipment, and other nursery needs.
Biomedical engineering technologists look after medical, biomedical, and other electronic equipment and systems. They express their methodical interest when conducting and supervising the installation and operation of medical equipment such as diagnostic imaging equipment.
Other examples of occupations that may work well for people with this interest include auditor and data administrator.
4. Objective (or hands-on) interest
People with an objective interest like to:
Work with their hands
Work with tools, equipment, instruments, and machinery
Make or repair things
Follow standards and use approved methods
Find out how things are built and how they work
They likely express these skills, values, and traits:
Skills—operating or maintaining equipment, constructing, working with numbers, mechanics
Values—seeing results of work, stability, creativity, a challenge
Traits—independent, able to work alone, precise
And you’ll often find them in these types of work settings:
Construction industry—as labourers or in the trades as painters, bricklayers, electricians, cabinetmakers, and plumbers
Manufacturing—as assembly line workers, shippers and receivers, and welders
Agriculture and forestry industry—as farmers, loggers, nursery workers, taxidermists, and landscape gardeners
Sports and recreation industries—as groundskeepers, athletic equipment custodians, and icemakers
Service industry—as mail carriers, firefighters, cooks, food and beverage servers, office equipment technicians, and taxi drivers
Carpenters are interested in using measuring tools to prepare layouts that conform to building codes, just as dentists are interested in using dental and surgical instruments for precision work.
Other examples of occupations that may suit people with this interest include farm worker or technician, locksmith, and makeup artist.
5. Social (or people-person) interest
People with a social interest like to:
Deal with and care for other people
Help other people figure out what they need
Help solve other people’s problems
Work and co-operate with others
They likely express these skills, values, and traits:
Skills—listening, communicating, helping, leading, teaching
Values—being helpful, doing something worthwhile, variety, being co-operative
Traits—trusting of personal feelings, understanding of other people, responsible, compassionate, creative
And you’ll often find them in these types of work settings:
Education industry—as teachers, teacher aides, and child and youth care workers
Social service industry—as social workers, probation officers, counsellors, and mental health workers
Recreation industry—as recreation co-ordinators, fitness instructors, and coaches
Health care industry—as nurses, therapists, paramedics, residential aides, and dental assistants
Service industry—as police officers, flight attendants, daycare workers, and outdoor sports and recreation guides
Barbers and hairstylists are interested in serving clients by cutting and styling their hair and performing related services. They may also train and supervise other stylists, apprentices, and helpers. Chiropractors like to mentor patients by advising them about corrective exercises, posture, lifestyle, and nutrition.
Other examples of occupations for people with this interest include tour guide, bus driver, and human resources professional
Use your interest scores to explore your career options
After you have finished the CAREERinsite Interests Exercise, you’ll have a list of your top interests and some occupations that relate to them. This list will help you plan your education and training and find work that will let you explore your interests. You can share the results of this exercise with your career counsellor.
Explore the recommended occupations to learn how your interests are reflected in the day-to-day work. Each occupation will list the top 3 interests and describe how they are applied. Schedule informational interviews with people in your network who are in these occupations to find out more.
Recognizing and following your interests will help you find occupations you are likely to enjoy—and liking what you do is an important key to success.