How were the twelve archetypes chosen?

They are twelve directions grouped into four concourses — Systems & Structure, People & Care, Ideas & Analysis, and Making & Expression. Each is a way of working, not a job title, and each has example roles drawn from O*NET.

Do I need to take the quiz to use the board?

No. The board is free in full and you can read every archetype without taking the quiz. The quiz just tells you which direction your preferences point toward, and which two sit nearest to it.

The board

Twelve archetypes in four concourses. Each is a way of working, not a job title — and each is free in full. Read them all, or take the quiz to see which direction your preferences point.

Systems & Structure

A1 The Builder Makes physical things that have to work, and can point at what was made A2 The Operator Keeps complex systems running to a standard, day after day A3 The Fixer Finds why something failed and returns it to service

People & Care

B1 The Guide Teaches, coaches and develops other people's capability B2 The Caregiver Provides direct care where presence and attention are the work B3 The Advocate Represents and organises for people who need a case made

Ideas & Analysis

C1 The Investigator Finds out what is actually true and can show the working C2 The Analyst Reads pattern and structure in quantities of information C3 The Strategist Synthesises incomplete evidence into a decision someone can act on

Making & Expression

D1 The Maker Gives things form — designed, crafted, resolved D2 The Storyteller Builds meaning in words, image or sequence D3 The Performer Works live, with an audience present

How adjacency works

Adjacency is which archetypes sit close to yours — what they share and where they diverge. It is real, useful information, because career exploration is navigating a network of nearby options, not picking one sealed box. Cross-concourse adjacency is real too: The Storyteller sits genuinely close to The Investigator, and saying so is better information than keeping families sealed.

Haven't taken the quiz?

The board works on its own. But if you want to know which direction your preferences point toward, the quiz takes about three minutes and shows you the two directions nearest to yours.

Take the quiz

This site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This site is not endorsed by or affiliated with USDOL/ETA.

Common questions

How were the twelve archetypes chosen?: They are twelve directions grouped into four concourses — Systems & Structure, People & Care, Ideas & Analysis, and Making & Expression. Each is a way of working, not a job title, and each has example roles drawn from O*NET.
Do I need to take the quiz to use the board?: No. The board is free in full and you can read every archetype without taking the quiz. The quiz just tells you which direction your preferences point toward, and which two sit nearest to it.
What does adjacency mean?: Adjacency is which archetypes sit close to yours — what they share and where they diverge. It is real, useful information, because career exploration is navigating a network of nearby options, not picking one sealed box.