Type A Vs. Type B Personalities And The Careers That Are Best For Each

There are limitless ways to define ourselves, whether it's by the astrological placements of planets for our zodiac signs, the degree of extrovert energy in the Myers-Briggs personality test, or the way that we give and receive love in our love languages. Cardiologist Meyer Friedman, MD and Ray H. Rosenman, MD wrote in the 1974 book, "Type A Behavior and Your Heart" about how our personalities affect our cardiovascular health (via Well + Good).

The two main classifications are Type A and B, with Type A being more ambitious and analytical and Type B being more laidback and social. A TikTok video explains the stereotypical dichotomy between the two personality types really well, where both types are asked how they're spending summer break. The Type A is "working full-time, getting my driver's license, teaching myself Russian and posting twice daily on TikTok" while the other is "just hanging out with friends."

However, it isn't always as straightforward as that — you can have a mix of the two personality types. But if you feel yourself identifying strongly with either one, read on to know what kind of work you'd thrive doing.

Dr. Friedman and Dr. Rosenman characterized Type A personalities as overachievers who are organized, analytical and rule-following (think: Virgo in every planet placement). But they can also be irritable and impatient when things don't work out, per Well + Good. For the office, that means that they require goals to exceed and prefer leadership roles. According to Indeed, roles like coordinating events, operations, and finances while managing people may best fit into a Type A person's life. These jobs channel their meticulous nature and strong drive to keep things in order while allowing them to dictate the outcome.

Type B personalities are supposed to be less competitive and prefer to be in more relaxed environments at work (via Indeed). "A Type B person is more about the process, the experience, and the ideas that are coming out, and is fairly concerned with the quality of the end product as well." Maggie Mistal, a career coach, told Well + Good. This disposition also allows them to be more creative; roles like writing and teaching come naturally to them. In addition, they value relationships at work, making them great therapists or sales representatives.

Both personalities channel ambition in different ways; knowing your personality type can help you understand which way works best for you.