What Personalities are Best Suited for the Trades?

3. Physical and Mental Resilience: Grit Under Pressure

Trade jobs are physically demanding, often involving long hours, heavy lifting, or working in extreme conditions. 

Think about roofing in the summer heat or fixing water lines in freezing crawlspaces. Physical prowess alone, however, is not enough for the rigors of the job without an equal measure of mental resilience. 

Tenacity, perseverance, fortitude, and emotional stability are also critical for handling job stress, setbacks, and client demands. 

Why It Matters: Tradespeople who are mentally and physically resilient can push through fatigue, maintain focus during repetitive tasks, and bounce back from mistakes. 

This grit is vital in trades like masonry or carpentry, where physical endurance and mental toughness go hand in hand.

Trade-Specific Fit: Roofers, ironworkers, powerline installers, and wind turbine technicians benefit from high physical and mental resilience due to the grueling nature of their work. 

Mental resilience is particularly helpful in high-stakes roles like electrical work, where errors can be dangerous.

4. Practical Intelligence: Hands-On Thinking

Practical intelligence is what we commonly refer to as ‘street smarts’, or ‘mechanical aptitude’. 

In the world of trades, practical intelligence refers to the ability to quickly understand complex systems, visualize solutions, and manipulate tools effectively to achieve an objective. It’s obvious that this brand of intelligence is critical in the trades, especially in roles that call for quick reactions and effective solutions.  

Why It Matters: Tradespeople must grasp how things work, from electrical circuits to plumbing networks. 

Practical intelligence is what allows them to troubleshoot issues intuitively and adopt new approaches to problem-solving. 

Trade-Specific Fit: Machinists, air compressor technicians, and electricians rely on practical intelligence to master complex tools and processes. 

Another example is carpenters, who use it to visualize how different pieces of wood fit together before cutting.

5. Analytical Thinking and Rationality: The Logical Edge in Trade Work

No matter how vivid popular perceptions about them are, trade jobs are not all about swinging hammers and twisting wrenches. Beyond the physical, hands-on nature of this line of work, trade jobs demand a rational mindset and sharp analytical thinking.  

It is these traits that enable tradespeople to dissect complex issues, evaluate options, and make sound decisions under pressure. Whether it’s troubleshooting a faulty circuit or calculating load-bearing capacities, rationality and analytical thinking are non-negotiable for success in the trades. 

Why It Matters: Trade work is filled with challenging situations that require methodical analysis. 

A rational tradesperson knows how to avoid guesswork and instead break down issues systematically. An electrician fixing a flickering light doesn’t randomly swap wires. He or she traces the circuit and methodically tests components to pinpoint the fault. 

This clarity is much needed to save time, reduce errors, and ensure safety in high-stakes environments.

Trade-Specific Fit: Electricians and HVAC technicians rely heavily on analytical thinking to interpret schematics and diagnose system failures. 

Machinists, likewise, use it to program precise cuts on CNC machines, while carpenters do the same to calculate angles for intricate wood joinery. 

6. Openness: Curiosity and the Desire to Learn New Things

Openness as a personality trait describes an individual’s willingness to embrace new ideas and perspectives. It represents an ingrained curiosity about the world and a tendency to seek out novelty and intellectual stimulation. People high in openness are generally imaginative, creative, and have a preference for variety. 

Why it Matters: This personality type empowers tradespeople to approach challenges with fresh perspectives, adapt to evolving technologies, and infuse creativity into their work. 

Openness encourages tradespeople to think beyond manuals and standard practices, qualities that are especially important in projects that require customization to meet unique client demands. 

Trade-Specific Fit: Carpenters and welders, whose work often blends artistry with function, thrive on openness when crafting one-of-a-kind designs or intricate structures. 

Openness enables plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians to integrate new technologies and creative fixes to quirky problems. 

7. Interpersonal Skills: Trust-Building and Collaboration 

While technical skills and knowledge are fundamental for success in the trades, many of them require advanced interpersonal skills related to teamwork, adaptability, leadership, and conflict resolution. 

This is particularly relevant to trades that involve working with crews or paid apprentices and interacting directly with clients. 

Traits like extraversion and agreeableness are invaluable for fostering empathy, communication, and collaboration.

Why It Matters: Clients want tradespeople they can trust. A friendly, communicative plumber who explains a repair clearly is more likely to win repeat business, for instance. 

On job sites, agreeable team players reduce conflict and boost efficiency.

Trade-Specific Fit: Tradespeople like HVAC technicians, plumbers, and electricians require tact and professionalism because they typically work in clients’ homes. 

Similarly, carpenters and masons who often collaborate on large projects need strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.