JDQ Radar showing the typical personality type demands made in a career in project management.
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 interacting with the various Teams. I learn something new all the time. Effective problem solving is wonderful (Lean/Six Sigma Master Blackbelt in Healthcare - ENFP)
where do I go from here no apprent rout (Operational programme manager - ESTJ)
bean counting, data entry (Project Analyst)
Like interaction with people, like creating standards that have a big impact, like managing others, like having resource of people with specific skills and my relationships with them. Dislike learning about things at the last minute when lots of preparation is required. (Project Manager)
I like the challenges, constant change and innovation, the variation in workload, communication with diverse individuals, and the chance to prove your worth. I dislike the lack of a permanent team, sometimes feel disjointed from the rest of the department. (Project Officer)
Rating 5/6
Like: being able to be creative and innovative. Dislike: the details needing to be very organized. (Event Planner - ENFP)
too many stakeholders (project manage novel system safety critical - ENFP)
I like designing the path and the structure to get from beginning to end and planning all the activities in between. I like to be in control of the schedule rather than being at the whim of someone else’s schedule. I like to make things run smoothly and efficiently. (Program Manager - ESTJ)
Likes: independent work environment, creativity encouraged, working toward a great cause, making a difference (Sustainability Coordinator at a college - ESTP)
variety, achievement, helping business expand (assistant to a rural development programme - INFJ)
the Changing environment, reveiwing old processes implimenting new. Collegues not assessing impact, unrealistic targets (Financial Manager - INTJ)
like: self motivated, set own daily adjenda, having ideas heard, feeling I make a difference, seeing long-term results of my efforts, influencing others dislike: managing others as a “manager”. (project management - INTJ)
Like the people I work with in my team. Detest the bureauratic decision making process, i.e. political implication more important than the value of the outcome. Abhor the fact that appointments are often not merit-based. Loathe the favouritism and nepotism. (Senior Consultant - INTP)
structure discipline compliance (Records Manager - ISTJ)
Lack of direct control over operational decision making! But in reality I like project work and the time to think through objectives - that I know isn’t possible in the world of operational management. (Assistant Director Quality - ISTP)
design aspect - getting paid (artwork selection for commercial interiors)
Logical and structured approach to managing a project (Assistant Project Manager)
Ability to change processes to be more efficient. Ability to organize processes. Autonomy . (Business Analyst)
Enjoy the variety that a day can bring (Coordinator Projects)
I like working with people. (Depute Operations Manager)
amateurs (Lead a Professional Services Team)
Like change Like working with people Like bringing organization from chaos Like accomplishing Like making a positive change Dislike red tape (Project Manager)
I like: I get to analyze technical problems and work with a team to solve them. I get to coordinate activities and communication between cross-functional teams. I get to learn to use new tools. I work from home a lot (telecommute) (Quality Assurance Project Manager)
Rating 4/6
I like the people I work with (Gather requirement and translate them ito a end result with the help of the team, keeping on top of schedule, costs and contolling all chages effectively - ENFJ)
I like the research, advertisement, marketing but not the follow up (execution). I would rather sell an end product that I have more control over. Self Sufficient / Independent/ Entrepreneurial roles would sum my taste. (Project Management - ENFP)
I like the people interaction and the use of tools. I dislike the carelessness. (Compliance Manager - ENTJ)
too much time at computer, not enough time with people. not enough resources to do work well dont like working on my own (manager- policy and member support - ESFJ)
Freedom to act on my own decisions. (Information Technology Manager - ESTJ)
Long term planning and organisation (Princilpal Engineer - ESTJ)
Variety of projects I am given & am able to use my creativity (Project Coordinator - INFP)
Like helping resolve issues for the clients. I dislike being tied to a specific date driven plan. (Small Project Coordinator - INFP)
My programmes and projects with clients are interesting, challenging and fun, the back office demands of my firm are frequently in conflict with this, even contradictory - so can often feel we are not pulling in the client direction, which is frustrating. (Management Consultant - INTJ)
low pay (portfolio manager - INTJ)
unforseen chages, and variables (project manager - ISTJ)
Report writing, repetetive and detailed analysis, having to evidence opinion (Risk Assurance/Internal Audit - ISTJ)
like content of work, dislike need to sell myself, working conditions, (consultant)
systematic things, procedures, repeating work, administration, politics (contract manager)
bad managers inflexibility (event and marketing coordinator)
Dislike - Politics Like - dynamic industry and ownership of projects (IT Compliance Auditor)
Dislike - project sponsors who change their mind half way through a project Like - variety - no two projects are the same (Process Improvement Manager)
Limited mandate to make wholesale change (Programme Office Manager)
No clearly defined objectives Not enough focus on one project Pulled in many directions (Project Support Officer)
Dislike: I end up “cleaning up” the projects that have become problems for others. This is valuable to the organization however. (Technical Support Coordinator)
Rating 3/6
Not enough credibility from the boss (Project Coordinator - ENFJ)
Need to focus on meaningless details. Repetitive. Not challenging. Work w/ unintelligent people. (Field (Staff) Improvement - ENTJ)
Like Pressure, challenge Dislike, inward looking scpects. (Programme Director - ENTJ)
Boring (Project Manager - ENTJ)
Like - identifying goals, meeting requirements dislike - resourcing, administration (Project Manager - ESFP)
Like: Work at own pace. Knowing about projects. Getting involved on projects and managing begining to end. Dislike: Boss does not inform me or talk to me about goals, key information pieces, treats me as a support person instead of a partner. (Manager of New Business Development - ESTP)
no one listens when I have great ideas for growth (project manager - INFJ)
freedom (planner - INFP)
Too easy, technical, boring (Project Coordinator - INFP)
I dislike no processes being put in place, (Service technical leader - INFP)
lack of structure lack of decisionmaking (international projectmanager - INTJ)
I dislike the lack of responsibility, creativity, prospects and direction from management. I like the freedom to complete a task my way and to contribute ideas to the team. (Project Coordinator - INTJ)
No processes. not rewarding (Service/technical leader - INTP)
Conflicting goals, ideals, personalities. No clear plan or direction, too many cooks in the kitchen, micromanagement (Education Director for Non-Profit Professional Organization)
have more that can be done but I have no control over. (Events Coordination)
Lack of control Politics (IT Project Manager)
I work in an international development agency. I respect and admire the ideals of the organization. However, I dislike the nature and content of my job, much of which are related to economics (my second least favorite subject in school after accounting) and development policies. (Project Assistant)
Consult business areas on what they should do to improve a process. (Project Consultant)
Like to learn new thing dislike to meet the schedule meeting with client (Project Engineer)
I like that I am respected in my position (and opinion) but I dislike that I have no clear path for future growth. (Project Management/Culture Chairperson)
my boss (project manager)
do more work than paid for. Need more respect in my position. (technical support, implementation, training, manage development team)
Being constrained and micromanaged (Transport Planner)
Rating 2/6
monotony, management and micromanagement (Content Coordinator - ENFJ)
Dislike isolation from clients (Project Manager - ENFJ)
Being micromanaged, attending to many details (Senior Project Manger - ENFJ)
like: variety, meeting new people, being a leader, writing dislike: untangible results, dealing with big egos, unrewarding, lack of creativity (Media Relations - ENFP)
I dislike the rules, regulations, limitations, lack of flexibility, extreme attention to detail, lack of a big picture, lack of intellectual depth. (protocol officer - ENFP)
I dislike conflict, especially politicaly driven conflict. I also dislike the lack of concrete results. (Transportation and Land Use Planner - ESFJ)
Like - team interactions, impact on greater good. Dislike - lack of direction, scattered approach to projects, lack of foundation for operations, lack of communication/info sharing (Manager, NonProfit Program - ESTJ)
dislike lack of interaction with others, dislike not getting a ‘provable answer’. (project manager - ESTP)
Imposed processes some of which are cumbersome and have no ROI. Unrealistic expectations of management and over-optimism by contributors. (Software Project Manager - ESTP)
Documentation (dislike). Volume of work. (dislike). Interacting with people and how they use systems (like.) (Business Analyst - INFJ)
too much process and tasks based work and insufficient people and ideas based work - limited opportunity to use my woo talents (IT project manager - INFP)
I love managing people, being a resource and problem solver, keeping an eye on the big picture and where we are in terms of our values. I dislike high levels of responsibility for project management details. I dislike follow-through. (Project Coordinator at a non-profit - INFP)
Dislike: It is too fast-paced, and there is not a lot of time to step back and make sure we are doing things the best way that we can. Like: I really enjoy research, especially when it comes to understanding people and how they see things. (Research Project Manager - INFP)
Structure, fear of taking risks, not open to ideas, not thinking of people (Town Planner - INFP)
Like : freedom dislike : pay, inertia of the organisation (IT project manager - INTJ)
Too much administrative work (Operations Manager - INTJ)
A monkey could do it (Project manager - INTP)
I like many new things, I don’t like working with people who can’t do their jobs (Vice generarl manager - INTP)
Asking questions relating to why the requestor wants to make a change (Business Analyst)
Not strategic enoug (Business Change)
too much focus on processes not on results (civil servant)
Determine through calculations job costs and submit proposals. (Estimator)
politics, harrasment by bullies, male chauvinism (IT Auditor)
I like the autonomy; I hate the politics. (IT project manager)
writing reports (Management consultant)
I like fast paced challenging situations but get frustrated when things are not progressing. i enjoy diversity and get bored easily. I enjoy being responsible for a prokect and making things happen but dislike project management tools and constraints. I like the legal and analytical aspects of my job. (Policy asviser)
Dislike: does not allow for creativity. (Product Manager)
I dislike about my job is too much administrative job that required multiple follow up with people who are incompetent, or not accountable for their work. (Project Coordinator)
Dislike: too fast-paced, not creative enough Like: writing emails, communicating with others (project editor)
Lack of authority to properly manage resources. (Project Manager)
I like being out of the office, I dislike the inefficiencies of working for a large organisation and the lack of creative oppotunities (Rural Land Agent)
Very limited scope with little meaning or responsibility (Senior Support Officer)
I like the freedom and autonomy but hate having no support and not enough authority to make things happen. I work for the NHS so it’s very frustrating with too much red tape and jobsworths. (Workplace wellness project manager)
Rating 1/6
Don’t like detail oriented stuff. (Project Analyst - ENFP)
Confinement (Sr manager csr projects - ENTP)
Bureaucracy, lack of flexibility and innovation in process, no sense of accomplishment, “slave to the process” (Associate Business Manager - INTJ)
I like solving design problems and coming up with ideas. I do not like politics, managing other people, and being micro-managed. (Project Coordinator/Designer)
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