9 career path personas that say a lot about how you develop your career

What are the personas of different "career pathers"? And, which one are you?

When we develop our career, there's no one size fits all. Everyone has their own approach, style, and mentality. Personas are a great way to understand what's possible, reframe our choices, and help us see why we act the way we do.

In career development, some people are comfortable going it alone and others want a guidebook. Is that bad? No, it just means they have different ways of going about it.

Here are a few personas of "Career Pathers" I've been thinking about:

THE PATH FOLLOWER:

They like to try and go from A to Z. They prefer to follow the beaten path or in the footsteps of others. Traditional, goal-oriented. Might be trying to climb to the top, but might not be. The path is what they know.

THE BUSHWHACKER:

They're in the rough, overgrown terrain finding their own way. Doing their own thing. Who knows really where they're going. They set off into the wild to see what happens. Sometimes they intersect the main path, but then they prefer to go off the trail again. Might have a goal in mind but might not. May feel lonely or be struggling or also invigorated by the unknown.

THE TRAILBLAZER:

Carving their own path. Setting a trail no one has been on before. Set off to do their own thing. Determined. Driven. Creating a path others will eventually follow. Seeking something fresh and original.

THE FORAGER:

Making do with what they find. Very resourceful. Find satisfaction in the small things. Everything is an opportunity. Hunter/gatherer mentality.

THE CRISS-CROSSER:

Goes between multiple paths. Likes to try new paths and go back to or revisit old ones. Moves around a lot. Paths become well trodden old friends where you know all the twists and turns, and remember your favorite spots. You cover a lot of ground in one lifetime.

THE NOMAD or WANDERER:

Pretty much how it sounds. You like to set off and see what happens, but not all who wander are lost.

THE GROUNDSKEEPER or STEWARD:

You find one path, or one part of the path, that you love and stay there to tend to it, mind it, and help others along the way. Your mission is to maintain the trail and make it better while others journey.

THE HYBRID:

A blend of any or all of the above into a combo that suits you.

THE PILOT:

Able to defy gravity and move as the crow flies instead of bound by paths. You found your wings and enjoy flying instead of pathfinding. You may be destination oriented, or not. Instead, you feel freedom in your career and a strong sense of how to apply your abilities to solve problems, wherever and whatever those may be.

Which one are you?