4 DISC Personality Types: Career Insights

Learn your DISC personality type to support your career development.

Personality assessments can be helpful tools in finding the right career path. They can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, your impulses and abilities.

The DISC model is a specific personality assessment that can be used to better understand individual differences. It doesn't measure intelligence or aptitude but instead looks at aspects of your personality. It uses indicators like how you respond to certain challenges and how well you work with others. The model then identifies your DISC personality type.

In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the four DISC personality types and provide career insights for each type. We'll also offer some tips for working with each personality type.

What is the DISC personality types system?

DISC assessments are behavioral self-assessment tools based on the DISC emotional and behavioral theory that psychologist William Moulton Marston created back in 1928. The tools are designed to predict job performance.

DISC is an acronym that stands for four different personality types:

Dominant
Influential
Steady
Conscientious

These four types are based on where a personality lands on a scale of two different axes: 1. task-oriented vs. people-oriented and 2. extrovert vs. introvert.

For example, someone who is both task-oriented and extroverted is considered a dominant personality type. They are confident and decisive.

Someone who is people-oriented and extroverted is considered an influential personality. They are good at persuading and motivating others. They enjoy being around people and often have a strong social network.

People-oriented and introverted folks fall under steady personalities. They are calm and patient, which makes them good listeners.

Finally, people with conscientious personalities are task-oriented and introverted. They like to plan and organize their work, and they pay attention to detail.

Why do employers refer to DISC personality types?

Each of the DISC personality types has its own strengths and weaknesses, which can make them better suited for certain careers. Companies often use the DISC assessment to improve team performance and optimize team construction. You, too, can use the DISC assessment for a better understanding of your own personality and to make better choices about your career path.

How does the DISC personality assessment work?

The DISC assessment is done simply by completing a questionnaire that asks you to respond to simple statements where you indicate how much you agree with each statement or how you would react in a given situation.

The questionnaire regards you as the expert on yourself. There are no right or wrong answers. It takes only about 15 to 20 minutes to complete and includes approximately 80 items. Computerized adaptive testing is used to produce the most accurate results.

Typical questions look like this:

In my work environment, it is most important to me...

To help co-workers and to be in a peaceful environment.
To feel that my co-workers admire me and to be free from rigid rules.
To know exactly what is expected of me and to finish one task before moving to another.
To get things done and to see results.

When someone offers an opinion or conclusion and I disagree, I am most likely to...

Tell them that I disagree.
Say something humorous.
Ask for more information.
Nod and say nothing.

You don’t need to focus on one area of your life while answering the questionnaire. You can think about how you behave in different scenarios — at work, at home, and socially. It won’t significantly change your results.

Sometimes the assessment is administered by a professional. But plenty of online quizzes are available if you’d like to try and find out your own DISC personality type.

What are the 4 DISC personality types?

Now that we’ve discussed the axis markers and the assessment questionnaire, let's take a look at the 4 personality types of the DISC model:

Dominant
Influential
Steady
Conscientious

Type 1: Dominant

People with a DISC D or dominant personality are task-oriented and extroverted. They:

Are typically competitive and ambitious
Are natural leaders and often take charge in group situations
Display confidence and decisiveness and are action-oriented
Like to be in control, and may sometimes come across as bossy or domineering
Are instinctually more interested in results than environments
Prioritize taking action, accepting challenges, and achieving results

People with the D-style personality tend to place a strong emphasis on shaping the environment and overcoming opposition to accomplish results. They’re motivated by winning, competition, and success and often described as direct and demanding, strong-willed, driven, and determined. D-styles tend to be outspoken, but can be rather skeptical and questioning of others.

Here’s a brief summary of characteristics common for the D-style:

Fears being seen as being taken advantage of or vulnerable
Values competency, action, personal freedom, challenges, concrete results
Assertive, insistent, and competitive
Gravitate towards classic social roles like Developer, Go-getter, Commander

Some career paths that might suit a dominant personality include:

Sales
Marketing
Management
Entrepreneurism
Law
Politics

Type 2: Influential

People with influential personalities are people-oriented and extroverted. They:

Are typically good at persuading and motivating others
Tend to place an emphasis on shaping the environment by influencing or persuading others
Are motivated by social recognition, group activities, and relationships
Prioritize taking action, collaborating, and expressing enthusiasm

I-styles are often described as warm, trusting, optimistic, magnetic, enthusiastic, and convincing. They love to take a new idea and run with it, energize teams, and build enthusiasm for projects. But, they can also be a bit erratic if placed in charge and might not prioritize consistency or caution. Influential personalities often have a strong social network.

Here’s a summary of what you might notice about yourself if you fall under the I-style:

Fears being ignored, loss of influence, rejection, disapproval
Values freedom of expression, coaching, and counseling
Charming, optimistic, and energetic
Gravitate towards classic social roles like Counselor, Appraiser, Promoter, Persuader

Some careers I-styles might enjoy include:

Marketing Specialist
Public Relations Specialist
Creative Director
Graphic Designer
Realtor
Arts Management

Type 3: Steady

People with a steady personality are people-oriented and introverted. They:

Tend to be calm and patient, which makes them good listeners
Often place an emphasis on cooperating with others within existing circumstances to carry out a task
Are motivated by cooperation, opportunities to help, and sincere appreciation
Prioritize giving support

S-styles are often described as calm, patient, predictable, and deliberate. As leaders, they are natural collaborators who like to create win-win situations. However, they can sometimes be passive and overly trusting, letting others take advantage of their patience.

Here’s a quick look at the common attributes of an S-style:

Fears change, loss of stability, letting people down
Values security, loyalty, helping others
Accommodates, stays consistent
Listens to others’ perspectives; keeps their own needs to themselves
Gravitate towards classic social roles like Peacekeeper, Specialist, Agent, Investigator, Listener

Steady personalities are calm and patient, which makes them good listeners. They often do well in the following professions:

Counseling
Human Resources
Healthcare

Type 4: Conscientious

People with a conscientious personality are task-oriented and introverted. They

Often like to plan and organize their work, paying attention to detail along the way
Place an emphasis on working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ensure quality and accuracy
Are motivated by opportunities to gain knowledge, show their expertise, and produce quality work
Prioritize ensuring accuracy and challenging assumptions

C-styles are often described as careful, analytical, systematic, reliable, and trustworthy. They often have high standards for themselves and others and can also be seen as perfectionists. This attention to detail can be a strength, but it can also lead to rigidity and inflexibility. With the need to consider all options, conscientious people may struggle with making decisions quickly.

A C-style often presents with the following summary of characteristics:

Fears being wrong, criticism, and strong emotional display
Values accuracy and quality
Focuses on logic, objectivity, and facts
Gravitate towards classic social roles like Practitioner, Analyst, Objective Thinker, Perfectionist

Some careers that may be a good fit for conscientious personality types include:

Accountant
Auditor
Budget Analyst
Compliance Officer
Financial Analyst
Logistic Specialist
Project Manager

Are there DISC personality combinations?

There are absolutely combinations of the four DISC types. Most of us are a combination of two types. In fact, there are 16 possible DISC personality combinations depending on the dominance of one trait over the other, but there are four main combinations that are more common than others:

D/I or Dominant/Influential
I/S or Influential/Steady
C/S or Conscientious/Steady
D/C or Dominant/Conscientious

D/I or Dominant/Influential

D/I or Dominant/Influential personality type is the most common combination. This type of person is task-oriented and extroverted, and they are often natural leaders. They are confident and decisive, and they have a strong social network. Dominant-influential personalities often do well in careers such as management or sales.

Being both assertive and social is a winning combination in many careers, such as:

Art Director
Investment Banker
Journalist
Marketing Director
Sales Representative
Talent Acquisition Manager
Writer

I/S or Influential/Steady

I/S or Influential/Steady personality type is the second most common combination. This type of person is people-oriented and introverted, but they are also good at persuading and motivating others. They often have a strong social network. Influential-steady personalities do well in careers such as counseling or human resources.

Career paths on which an I/S can thrive, include:

Guidance Counselor
Community Organizer
Academic Adviser
Human Resources Manager
Teacher
Therapist

C/S or Conscientious/Steady

C/S or Conscientious/Steady personality type is the next most common. This type of person is task-oriented and introverted, and they also like to plan and organize their work. They pay attention to detail, and they are calm and patient listeners.

Conscientious-steady personalities often excel in careers such as:

Database Administrator
IT director
Research Scientist
Medical Technician

D/C or Dominant/Conscientious

D/C or Dominant/Conscientious personality type is the least common combination of the four but can be quite successful. This type of person is task-oriented, confident, and a decisive leader who is also meticulous. This combination of personality types results in an individual who can take charge of a situation and get things done efficiently.

Dominant-conscientious personalities may excel in these careers:

Architect
Business Strategist
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Lawyer
Physician

How can you use DISC personality types to your advantage in your career?

Understanding your personality type in a quantifiable way is a powerful tool that you can leverage to make strides in your career. Knowing where your personality fits in the DISC model helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses. This self-awareness can help you choose a career that is the best fit for you and where you will find the greatest success.

For example, if you know that you are an introverted person, you might choose a career that allows you to work independently or with a small team. Or if you are an extroverted person, you might choose a career that involves working with people or giving presentations.

On the other hand, if you have a great passion for a career that might not typically fit your personality type, the detailed nature of the DISC model can show you areas you can work on or even ways to find workarounds for your “weaknesses.”

For instance, are you by nature a C/S, but really want to be a doctor? You’re probably a great listener, which is an advantage, but you will need to learn how to be more decisive if lives depend on it.

Perhaps you’re an I/S who really wants to build a start-up. You’ll be great at networking, but you might need to hire someone to keep you on track.

How do you communicate with a DISC personality?

Understanding the DISC personality types of others can also help you improve your interactions with supervisors and colleagues. For example, if you know that a colleague is a dominant personality type, you might avoid interrupting them as it can lead to friction. However, since they prefer directness themselves, you might need to be more direct when communicating with them.

If you know that a team member is a C-type, making them more task-oriented and introverted, you might avoid putting them on the spot or putting them in a situation where they have to socialize too much. Instead, you would give them time to process information and allow them to share their thoughts in their own time.

If you have a colleague that you know to be a D/I or Dominant/Influential type, you’ll understand how good they are at persuading others. So, if you have conflicting ideas, you’ll need to be prepared to stand your ground.

Use DISC personality types to your advantage

When considering the various DISC personality types, no DISC style is better than any other. They each have strengths and weaknesses, as well as unique advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation.

In fact, no one is bound to any of the personality types at all times. The DISC model simply helps us find out which style we tend to gravitate toward most often — our base mode or comfort zone.

When we can understand our underlying tendencies and preferences, we can adapt our behavior to interact with others more effectively. By understanding your own DISC personality type and the DISC personality types of those around you, you can use this knowledge to your advantage in your career. You can choose a career path that best fits you, set yourself up for success in your current role, and communicate more effectively with others.

Does your resume represent your personality and skill set in the best light possible? Why not submit it for a free resume review to find out?

This article was originally written by Roberty Lyons. It’s been updated by Ronda Suder.