JDQ Radar showing the typical personality type demands made in career as an assitant.
Key: darker areas indicate high demand, lighter ones less demand. That is, if your personality type is a darker area, then this career matches your personality.
Below you will find comments by people in this career. They were asked to rate their job (out of 6) and what they liked or did not like about their job. Their comments are sorted by the rating they assigned. The actual job title they gave is in brackets with, if provided, the personality type they declared.
Rating 6/6
I like the varied nature, the lots of different people and the kudos of my position. I don’t like the lack of imposed structure. (Creative Development Assistant for a large hospitality company - food development amongst other things - ESFP)
Its easy and pays well. (Plant Technician - ISFP)
Rating 5/6
i like the networking i like the industry i don’t like the inconsistencies in procedures (Assistant Buyer - ENFJ)
I like the customers, not the management (Dispatcher - ENTP)
social aspect, freedom (Inside Sales Assistant - INFJ)
Love the freedom to express myself with music and clothing, and to get things done in my own time, I dislike not knowing everything there is to know yet (Retail Shop Assistant - Record Store - INFP)
I like a consistant pace of work and this job sometimes gets a bit slow. (Special Projects Assistant - ISFJ)
I like the variety of tasks, I dislike the lack of structure. (Office assistant/animal care provider)
Rating 4/6
its boring, but I like the people. (receptionist - ENFJ)
it’s a little boring (Office Assistant - ENFP)
The hours. (Receptionist - ISFJ)
no training, vague future, low salary, no system, (Assistant controller)
like creativity. Dislike not really knowing what to do/is expected of me (assistant fundraiser)
Working for an elderly person who doesn’t understand technology. (Assistant to the Editor)
I like the diverse work i hate the mundane analytical work i like getting out and about working on new concepts. i hate pointless meetings. (buying assistant)
I like to talk to people and help solve their problems. I hate desk based job. (Purchaser)
Rating 3/6
no physical activity (payroll assistant - ENFJ)
Not enough interaction with others; too much boring process and detail (Technical Support Assistant - ENFP)
I dislike to report to multiple managers, I like to work for one person and organize everything for that person. I like to be appreciated for what i do and have harmony in my work environment. (executive assistant - ESFJ)
Boring (Administration Assistant)
i like the challenges it poses as it is in a international hub (management trainee-HR, Corporate communications - ESFP)
variety (assistant - ESTP)
freedom to do things my way working with people of different cultures achieving goals together lots of paperwork, not enough travel (key account assistant - ESTP)
I like my ability to work with students and to generate create responses to their needs within those sessions. It’s hard for me to realize that outside of these contacts, I have no autonomy or decision-making capacity within my office. If it’s discovered that I handled a student or an issue in an unexpected, unorthodox, or “other” way, ...I’m in big trouble. That’s hard. I feel like the job works against the best talents I have. (academic counselor - INFP)
lack of control over how I accomplish my goals (Education Assistant - INFP)
Managing people, being closely managed, unable to be as creative/have as much independence as I would like, institutional and office politics (Instructional Support - ISFP)
I like that my job isn’t stressful and I work for a small company so I get to do a variety of tasks and work more as a team player than an assistant. I don’t like that my job isn’t meaningful to me. I don’t really care about the things that I accomplish. I’m not learning much of anything. (Admin Asst.)
I think my job is boring and does not allow me do stuff, and it is so monotonous i could die. I love the fact that I sometimes get to meet with costumers. (assistant to planning manager)
The people I work with are quite nice, but the actual job of collecting money isn’t. Angry customers are hard to deal with. (Debt collection)
I like my manager’s flexibility regarding working hours and I dislike the presence of a clique (the head of which is the manager). (library assistant)
Not structured working on bitty things. Role not clearly identified. Too much interaction with the public. (Project support officer)
I like the individuality Its a new project so I’ve had to create, think, apply, make mistakes, learn from mistakes See whats going to work for the team, organising I dont like the fact that I’m always blamed for things that I’m sometimes not involved in. I dont feel the salary lives up to the stresses involved. (Project Team Assistant)
I like that it is organised and friendly, I dislike the fact that it is not very fun. (receptionist/filing)
Rating 2/6
I like to work in a small group, but I don’t like the actual job as there is either too much to do or not enough. There can also be confrontation with customers which is not nice. (Debt Collection - ENFJ)
Not being taken seriously; not given opportunity to excel at what I’m good at; being give menial jobs. (program assistant for programs in africa - ENFP)
I like the fact that it’s music television, and it’s a great first job in the media as I’ve learned loads, but I hate working on my own: Especially on the 12 hour nightshifts. (Scheduling Presentation Assistant - I check through schedules and correct them both prior to and during transmission - ESFJ)
Lack of contact with others usuall contact by phone rather than face to face. (communications assistant - ESFP)
there is no development and no definition to the role. I have had minimum support or recognition, I want to move on to more responsibility, more fulfiling role. (Regional Assistant - ESFP)
I like the people. I dislike that my natural tendencies are inappropriate to the role. (Assistant Bank Manager - INFP)
dislike not enough challenge (Buyer - INFP)
Managing people, being closely managed, unable to be as creative/have as much independence as I would like, institutional and office politics (Instructional Support - INFP)
My boss (administrative assistant - INTJ)
administration (Learning & Development Coordinator - INTP)
it’s task-driven, I don’t create anything permanent, it’s just maintaining a system (Administrative Assistant)
tedious,monotonous communicate people (clerical)
no people interaction, sitting at a desk all day (library assistnat)
I like being productive and using my inititive. I like to help people and my boss. (Receptionist)
the wages (secretary)
Rating 1/6
Having to work completely against my personal values in the way staff are treated. (Assistant Manager - ENFJ)
not going anywhere, not meaning (deli clerk - ENFP)
Mundane, not challenging, monotonous, no money (Paralegal - ESFJ)
Bosses here rule the company in an autocratic manner. They treat managers like gods whilst the needs and feelings of support staff are ignored. (admin executive - ESTJ)
interaction with supervisor could be better and more productive. office is two people, which is WAY too small. i’m not particularly interested in the mission of the organization, which i believe leads to dissatisfaction in my daily work. (administrative and program coordinator - ISFP)
Government job. No merit pay, no promotional opportunities, no sense of accomplishment. (Data Conversion Operator - ISTP)
I dislike going into work doing the same repetative job EVERY day, that doesnt require any brain power. (Messenger)
I would like to interact with people face to face. I don’t like being on computer all day. (Sales Assistant)
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