The main reason to have a second job might seem obvious – you need more money. Economic pressure can be compelling, but is it the only factor? People perceive things differently, so working a second job may be influenced by personal preferences – and personality type. Ding! Research time.
We asked some questions on this topic in our “Second Jobs” survey, and here we’ll see how different personality types weigh in (as you can do with that link). Some results show more variance among different types, some show very little, but both can be informative and interesting.
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Strategy groups shows us that the biggest difference here is between Introverts and Extraverts – but why? Perhaps it’s because Extraverts are not only generally more tolerant of extended external engagement but also more likely to seek and enjoy it. Whether it’s bustling personal activity or face-to-face interactions with others, people with this personality trait often focus their energy outward – and receive positive mental stimulation in return.
So having a second job might seem less onerous and more enjoyable for Extraverts than Introverts who don’t feel as rewarded by longer periods of external engagement. Of course, the difference here is more relative than earthshaking, but worth noting nonetheless.
Judging and Feeling traits are influential here, making Diplomats (who are all Feeling types) and Sentinels (who are all Judging types) the groups more likely to agree. Feeling personalities tend to prioritize emotion overall and may view an emotional connection to a job as a more significant factor.
For Judging personalities, the emphasis might be more on the “investment” part, as these types tend to value dedication and stability. Anything that they believe is worth investing in takes on importance because consistency itself is a favored path to motivation and satisfaction. By comparison, Prospecting personalities’ attachments can shift more often, including their feelings about a job.
Intuitive personalities are more likely than Observant personalities to answer “passion.” They may be more likely to have inspired personal passions or to follow them. Intuitive types are known for their active imaginations, and many indulge in whims, theories, and ideas at the cost of practicality. By comparison, Observant types may be more concerned with immediate realities and pragmatic goals.
Analysts, are somewhat more likely to agree. Why are these types more likely to pursue an independent side hustle? It may be because Intuitive personalities often conceive imaginative possibilities, making it more likely that they’ll pursue a personal passion (as we previously saw above). Whether or not they succeed, they may be more likely to imagine that they can achieve something unusual.
They may also feel more constrained by convention than Observant personalities do and, as a result, seek an unfettered way to express their creativity and goals. Working for themselves can provide a kind of freedom that they don’t feel elsewhere.
Explorer groups. Prospecting personality types often thrive without much of a set routine, typically handling uncertainty better than Judging personalities. Intuitive types tend to envision all of the possibilities under the sun, so for either type, a desire to explore unconventional forms of employment might seem more like an opportunity than a risk.
Sentinels, on the other hand, often feel that something more traditional is also more secure – and they value stability highly. They can certainly adapt to unconventional kinds of work, but doing so may not feel as easy or appealing to them, so they’re less likely to seek it with interest and enthusiasm.
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