Strong Interest Inventory®: Person - Environment Fit, Part III

One of the foundations underlying the Strong is the idea that both people and environments can be sorted into six primary areas. While it's true that most jobs and people are more complex than a single category, it's likely the case that one of the six environmental types is dominant in a workplace. The concept is that the more closely a person's personality matches his or her work environment, the more likely that person is to enjoy a career, stay in a job, or persist in developing a career.

This issue we'll examine how this interaction works with Artistic environments and people.

Artistic people often value creative expression of ideas, emotions, or sentiments. They usually see themselves as innovative, intellectual, open to new experiences, and lacking clerical or office skills. They prefer activities and jobs that focus on the literary, musical, or artistic aspects. They prefer to avoid routines and conformity to established rules. Others can see Artistic types as unconventional, creative, and disorderly.

As you might imagine, Artistic work environments are quite similar. They require innovative or creative abilities or emotionally expressive interactions with others. Imagination in artistic, literary, or musical accomplishment is often rewarded or expected in such jobs. Unconventional ideas or manners are accepted and aesthetic values are important in Artistic jobs. Many such jobs are unstructured, and involve performing and other creative pursuits. Some examples of jobs that fit this category are musician, interior designer, author, poet, opera singer, and entertainer.