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What Personality Types Become Sociologists?
While a career in sociology surveying and studying how human beings interact with others might sound fascinating and enticing to you, it's crucial to make sure you have a suitable personality type for it, too. Individuals with focused and diligent personality types often thrive in sociology work.
Focused and Determined
Focused people with ample self-discipline often become sociologists, working in a broad range of environments, from colleges to youth counseling centers. A career as a sociologist calls for an extensive educational background. Four-year bachelor's degrees are necessary. In some cases, advanced degrees are necessary. Sociologists have to be passionate about their line of it work, as it often revolves sitting in offices studying and drawing up assessments. Fieldwork is also a major component of the career.
Logical and Rational
Logic is a big part of working and succeeding in the sociology realm. When sociologists conduct research, they have to be able to closely and thoroughly pick apart their findings in order to come up with rational conclusions and ideas. Working as a sociologist involves a lot of experimenting with concepts, often centered around data. If you have a logical and meticulous personality and are capable of retaining many facts and details, you might have the right personality for a job in sociology.
Outgoing and Extroverted
Outgoing people who don't bat an eye at the notion of talking to others, including strangers, often excel as sociologists. Communication is a prominent skill necessary in sociology. When sociologists gather information, they often do so by interacting with others, frequently through conducting question-and-answer sessions. While interaction is important for sociologists collecting data, it's also important for them when they're working in groups. Teamwork with fellow sociologists is commonplace in evaluating findings. Skilled team players often make successful sociologists.
Assertive and Eloquent
Individuals with assertive personality types often flourish in sociology. If you can lead a group of people with confidence and poise, then being a sociologist might be in the cards. A lot of being a sociologist involves the art of persuasion. If you have an idea, you have to be able to effectively convey it to others -- and help them understand your thought process and why exactly it makes sense. If a sociologist has a theory about how a wealthy person's background affects his interactions with people in large groups, for example, she has to be able to eloquently and confidently present her research, even in the presence of others who don't necessarily agree with her findings. Successful sociologists have the ability to use language and persuasion to get others to see their points of view.
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Sociologists - What Sociologists Do
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Sociologists - Work Environment
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Sociologists - How to Become a Sociologist
- Centenary College New Jersey: Is a Sociology Degree Right for Me?
- Rutgers University Department of Sociology: Careers in Sociology
- University of Northern Colorado Sociology: Careers in Sociology
- Boise State University College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs: Sociology Careers
- Our Social World; Jeanne H. Ballantine and Keith A. Roberts
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