Welcome to People Like Me

The 12 Types of Scientist

The 12 types of scientist are based on research from the Science Council. Each type has different aptitudes and strengths - our People Like Me quiz helps you find out which types you are most like. Once you know which types match your personality, use the list below to discover the different types of careers you might be happy and successful in in the future!

Explorer

• Inquisitive and practical, often quite competitive
• Likes to be the first to know something and to understand why and how things happen
• Good at reading, searching out information and experimenting
• Likes to work alone but good at listening to other people’s ideas
• Likes to concentrate on a particular topic and to solve puzzles

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

universities or hospital laboratories or for charities, to understand why things happen or how things work

JOBS

IT Support, Test Engineer, Astronomer, Research Assistant, Research Chemist, Geneticist, Research Veterinary Scientist, Pharmacist, Zoologist, Geologist, Cosmologist, Professor

INVESTIGATOR

• Logical and cooperative
• Likes to work with others to collect ideas and information
• Good at remembering lots of facts and piecing them together to find the answer
• Good at understanding a range of subjects
• Often works in a team so needs to get on well with other people

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

the Research and Development department of universities or businesses

JOBS

Programme Analyst, Flood and Coastal Risk Management Officer, Customer Analytics Officer, Computer Modeller, Meteorologist, Physiologist, Psychologist, Ingredients Technician, Sound Engineer

SERVICE PROVIDER

• Polite and conscientious
• Good at explaining things to non-specialists such as politicians
• Has a good eye for detail
• Enjoys writing reports
• Diplomatic and conscientious
• Likes to find out and review information in order to
• improve public services and make sure laws are based on evidence

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

local or national government, for ‘think-tanks’ or policy units.

JOBS

Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Lawyer, Head of

Government Affairs, Policy Officer, Head of Engineering

and Society, Chief Scientific Advisor, Sustainability

Consultant, Conservation Officer

REGULATOR

• Honest with a sense of fairness
• Likes things to be fair, legal, honest and safe > Likes to check that details are correct
• Good at spotting errors and unforeseen consequences and deciding if something conforms to regulations, so that the public is not put at risk
• Has a natural sense of justice and is willing to challenge the status quo

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

laboratories or offices, checking that companies are honest and that products and processes are safe and legal

JOBS

Compliance Officer, Regulatory Affairs and Risk, Fire Safety Engineer, Digital designer, Interactive Designer, Technology Lawyer, Patent Lawyer, Drug Tester (e.g. in Sport), Food Safety Analyst, Measurement and Control Technician, Fingerprint Officer, Conservation Building Surveyor

PERSUADER

• Imaginative and persuasive
• Understands what people want
• Has lots of creative ideas
• Good with words and/or design
• Organised and able to meet deadlines

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

marketing, advertising or PR in businesses or universities Membership

JOBS

Development Officer, Outreach Officer, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Manager, Campaigns Manager, Publicity Officer, Head of Advertising, Film Producer, Home Energy Advisor

COMMUNICATOR

• Good with words and people
• May be good at a foreign language > May be good in front of a camera
• Good at simplifying complex information and explaining technical facts in documents
• Understands the audience and how to use different media to get a message across

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

businesses, charities or the media including TV and radio, advertising and promotion or in journalism and social media

JOBS

Events Officer, Science Communications Officer, Outreach Officer, Medical Writer, Head of Scientific Programming (TV), TV Researcher, Science Journalist, Science Festival Director, Museum Curator, Science Publisher, Technical Translator. Website Designer

MANAGER

• > Highly organised and good motivator
• > Likes to make clear plans
• > Enjoys working out budgets
• > Likes to find ways to get things done efficiently
• > Good at motivating and persuading others to work as an effective team

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

small or large businesses, consultancies, education institutions or local government

JOBS

Media Manager, Project Planner, Head of Resource and Competence Management, Product Development Manager, Business Analyst. IT Manager, Flood Risk Manager, Special Effects, Supervisor

TRAINER

• Understanding and helpful
• Good at finding ways to keep people’s attention
• Passionate about sharing knowledge
• Likes to help people improve their skills and confidence
• Good at explaining ideas

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

businesses running workshops to train people to do their job better or to be more confident. They also work in colleges or schools teaching science subjects, or lecturing in a university

JOBS

Teacher, Trainer, Life Coach, Text Book Author, Journalist, TV Presenter, Exhibition Content Designer, Museum Curator, Science Communicator, Outreach Officer T T

DEVELOPER

• Creative and practical
• Likes to design and develop products for a better tomorrow
• Good at empathising with others to understand their needs
• Good at coming up with creative ideas to solve problems
• Can use practical skills to design and build better things

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

businesses designing or developing new products, structures, buildings or services

JOBS

Software Developer, Space Craft Structures Engineer, Signalling Designer, Research & Development Design Scientist, Product Designer, Piping Designer, Sport Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Specialist, Civil Engineer, Transport Planner, Apprentice in engineering

SUPPORTER

• Creative and understanding
• Likes helping people get what they need
• Naturally good at making friends and getting on with a wide range of people
• Able to listen and understand what people want
• Takes pride in exceeding people’s expectations

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

Customer Relations or Customer Support in businesses, helping people to use a product or to buy a new one. They support businesses in trying to improve

JOBS

Planning Assistant, Personal Assistant (PA), Client Relationship Manager, Customer Service Manager, Management Consultant, Risk and Compliance Advisor, IT Supply Chain Specialist

ENTREPRENEUR

• Confident and creative
• An ideas person
• Likes to make things happen
• Combines empathy, teamwork and financial awareness
• Good at thinking laterally > Understands what customers want
• A natural leader

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

businesses, charities or the public sector as the Chief Executive or as a consultant finding innovative ways to improve the business or solve society’s problems

JOBS

Founding Director, Chief Executive, Consultant, Managing Director, Innovation Lead, Business Analyst, Operational Research Consultant, Energy Efficiency Advisor

POLICY MAKER

• Polite and conscientious
• Good at explaining things to non-specialists such as politicians
• Has a good eye for detail
• Enjoys writing reports
• Diplomatic and conscientious
• Likes to find out and review information in order to improve public services and make sure laws are based on evidence

PEOPLE LIKE THIS WORK IN

local or national government, for 'think-tanks' or policy units

JOBS

Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Lawyer, Head of Government Affairs, Policy Officerm Head of Engineering and Society, Chief Scientific Advisor, Sustainability Consultant, Conservation Officer