Your Pet Can Help Your Job Search!

Next time you have a job interview, don’t be surprised if the hiring manager asks about your PETS! Research psychologist Dr. Sam Gosling from the University of Texas, Austin says knowing whether you’re a dog or cat person – even if you don’t have any pets right now – can tell job recruiters a lot about your personality, and whether you’re a good fit for the job. For example:

First: Dog people are about 15% more extroverted, agreeable and conscientious, on average than cat people. Dog owners are also likely to stick to a schedule because dogs like to eat and take walks at the same time every day. Personality-wise, the research shows dog people tend to be more forceful, assertive, persistent, self-assured and self-confident. All in all, that makes dog lovers a good fit for people-centric jobs, like in event planning, teaching, fundraising, service, law or sales.

So, what can job interviewers learn about cat lovers? Well, they tend to be less forceful and dominant. Cat people are also more detail-oriented, and more open to new ideas and methods. They’re also more likely to be introverted, straightforward, open-minded and creative. That means cat lovers are better suited for lower-stress jobs with less interpersonal interaction, like a private chef, pilot, bookkeeper, lab or IT technician, graphic designer, or editor.