Careers That Suit Investigative Personalities And Require An Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

by Noah Smith

Monday, April 20, 2015

Most people are one of six personality types according to psychologist John L. Holland who developed a a theory of careers and vocational choice based upon thses personality types. This theory has been well research and has been adopted by the U.S Department of Labor as one of the classification methods for occupations.

The personalities are

Realistic (Doers),
Investigative (Thinkers),
Artistic (Creators),
Social (Helpers),
Enterprising (Persuaders),
and Conventional (Organizers).

Each letter or code stands for a particular code which some refer to as Holland Codes or RIASEC. You can learn more about the Holland Codes here.

The following careers are best suited for those who have a personality that is investigative and are interested in careers that frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally and require a minimum educational equivalent of an associate's degree (or other 2-year degree).

Microbiologists
Microbiologists investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
Median Annual Salary: $65,920 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 12.18%

Medical scientists
Medical scientists conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities. Includes physicians, dentists, public health specialists, pharmacologists, and medical pathologists who primarily conduct research.
Median Annual Salary: $76,700 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 40.36%

Environmental scientists and specialists
Environmental scientists and specialists conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.The other type of personality that strongly associated with this occupation is realistic.
Median Annual Salary: $61,700 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 27.86%