Investigative personality type

By 123test team. Updated June 4, 2024

An investigative personality type tends to be analytical, intellectual and scholarly. They enjoy research, mathematical or scientific activities. These individuals live in their mind and prefer to deal with the real world from a distance. They like to read, study, use books and other data instead of working hands-on. These individuals are unconventional and independent thinkers, who are curious and very insightful.

Investigative personality type enjoys solving problems

Using logic and solving highly complex, abstract problems are what these individuals enjoy most. An investigative personality type tends to focus on ideas when they are involved with people. Wherever they are, they collect information and analyze situations before making decisions. If they enjoy the outdoors, it's because they are curious, not because they enjoy rugged, heavy, physical work.

Investigative personality type is intelligent but not a leader

An investigative personality type sees themselves as highly intelligent, but they may be introverted and lack leadership and persuasive skills. They use their mind /information to achieve, rather than their association with people and things. These individuals often avoid activities that seem mundane, commercial or enterprising. Take a free personality test to learn more about other work preferences and to test personality.

Free career test

Want to know which careers best suit your personality? Take the free career test.

To the career test

Possible occupations that fit an investigative personality type

An investigative personality type prefers working in an environment that encourages scientific competencies, allows independent work and focuses on solving abstract, complex problems in original ways. Some of the occupational areas that fit this personality are:

Investigative/Artistic	Research, solving and specializing, in combination with creativity, creating things and design.
Typical occupations	Investigative journalist Art historian Anthropologist Professional engineer
Investigative/Conventional	Research, solving and specializing, in combination with organizing, ordening, accuracy and reliability.
Typical occupations	Climatologist IT applications programmer Structural engineer Judge University researcher Lawyer
Investigative/Enterprising	Research, solving and specializing, in combination with undertaking and influencing.
Typical occupations	Market researcher Structural engineer Judge University professor Journalist
Investigative/Realistic	Research, solving and specializing, combined with working outdoors, animals, operating machinery, working with your hands, traveling, tackling work.
Typical occupations	Archaeologist Dentist Surgeon Electrical engineer (professional) Laboratory analyst Civil engineering technician Food scientist
Investigative/Social	Research, solving and specializing, combined with social activities like helping people or working together.
Typical occupations	Relationship counselor Psychiatrist Internist

A free personality test gives you more insight

One of the most popular models used for personality tests today is the Holland Codes developed by psychologist John L. Holland. The investigative personality type is one of six personality types in his theory. Find out more about your work preferences and personality type and take a free career test based on the Holland Codes now.