In a world where career success seems increasingly elusive, Dr. Jordan Peterson, renowned psychologist and bestselling author, drops a bombshell: Your IQ might be the key factor determining your professional fate. But before you panic, let’s dive into Peterson’s revealing insights on the intricate dance between intelligence, personality, and career success.

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist, author, and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. Born in 1962, he gained international prominence in the late 2010s for his views on cultural and political issues.

But here’s where it gets interesting: Peterson isn’t suggesting that a high IQ guarantees success, nor that a lower IQ dooms you to failure. Instead, he proposes a more nuanced approach to career planning.

 

Finding Your Sweet Spot: The Upper Quartile Strategy

Peterson advocates for a strategic approach to career choice. “What you really want to do,” he explains, “is find a strata of occupation in which you would have an intelligence that would put you in the upper quartile.” This means aiming for a field where your IQ places you in the top 25% of practitioners.

 Why? Because being a big fish in a small pond has its advantages. You’re competent enough to excel, but not so overqualified that you’re bored or unstimulated. It’s about finding that Goldilocks zone where your cognitive abilities are challenged but not overwhelmed.

The IQ Career Ladder: Where Do You Fit?

To illustrate his point, Peterson breaks down various career paths based on IQ ranges. Here’s a simplified version:

1. IQ 116-130 (85th percentile and above):

   – Potential careers: Attorney, research analyst, editor, advertising manager, chemist, engineer, executive manager

2. IQ 110-115 (73rd to 85th percentile):

   – Potential careers: Copywriter, accountant, sales manager, general manager, purchasing agent, registered nurse

3. IQ 103-108 (60th to 70th percentile):

   – Potential careers: Store manager, bookkeeper, lab tester, general sales, computer operator, customer service rep

4. IQ 100 (50th percentile – average):

   – Potential careers: Dispatcher, police patrol officer, receptionist, cashier, general clerical, inside sales clerk

 

5. IQ 95-98 (37th to 45th percentile):

   – Potential careers: Machinist, food department manager, quality control checker, security guard, maintenance worker

 

6. IQ 87-93 (19th to 32nd percentile):

   – Potential careers: Factory production worker, assembler, food service worker, nurses aid, warehouseman, custodian

Take a Free Test based on Jordan Peterson’s IQ Career Ladder

But What About the Bottom 15%?

Here’s where Peterson’s analysis takes a sobering turn. For individuals with IQs below 85 (roughly the bottom 15% of the population), finding suitable employment becomes increasingly challenging. “Jobs for people with IQs of less than 85 are very, very rare,” Peterson notes. “What the hell are those people supposed to do?”

This isn’t just a theoretical problem. Peterson points out that the U.S. military, which has been conducting IQ tests since their inception, won’t accept recruits with IQs below 83. If there’s nothing for someone with an IQ below 83 to do in the military, what options exist in the general workforce?

The Automation Challenge: A Looming Threat

Adding to this concern is the rapid pace of technological advancement. As Peterson explains, “As the high IQ Tech Geeks get a hold of the world, the demand for cognitive power is increasing, not decreasing.” Jobs that were once considered simple are becoming more complex, requiring higher levels of cognitive ability.

This trend poses a significant challenge for society. As jobs become more cognitively demanding, what happens to those who can’t keep up? It’s a question that Peterson argues neither conservatives nor liberals have adequately addressed.

Beyond IQ: The Role of Personality

While IQ plays a crucial role in career success, Peterson is quick to point out that it’s not the only factor. Personality traits also play a significant role in determining your ideal career path. He highlights several key traits:

1. Conscientiousness: If you’re highly conscientious, you might thrive in roles that require long hours and meticulous attention to detail.

2. Stress Tolerance: Jobs at the top of complex hierarchies often require high stress tolerance. If you’re prone to anxiety, you might want to seek out less stressful environments.

3. Agreeableness: If you’re highly agreeable, you might prefer cooperative environments over competitive ones.

4. Creativity: Some roles require high levels of creative thinking, which isn’t necessarily correlated with IQ.

The Future of Work: Adapting to a Changing Landscape

As we look to the future, Peterson’s insights become even more relevant. The job market is evolving rapidly, with automation and artificial intelligence reshaping entire industries. “The working-class people have been wiped out pretty nicely over the last 30 years by automation and various other things,” Peterson observes. “It’s the low end of the white-collar class that’s coming up next.”

This shift is already visible in fields like law, where technology is making many routine tasks obsolete. As Peterson puts it, “Lawyers are disappearing like mad and the reason for that is you can look it up online increasingly you can do things yourself if you’re smart.”

So, Are You Doomed to Fail?

The short answer is no, you’re not doomed to fail. But Peterson’s analysis does suggest that understanding your cognitive abilities and personality traits is crucial for making informed career decisions. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Know your strengths:
 Assess your cognitive abilities honestly. Standardized IQ tests can provide a rough estimate, but don’t fixate on the number. Instead, focus on understanding your relative strengths and weaknesses.

2. Find your niche:
 Look for career paths where your cognitive abilities put you in the upper quartile. This increases your chances of success and job satisfaction.

3. Consider personality fit:
Don’t ignore the role of personality in career success. A job that matches your cognitive abilities but clashes with your personality traits is unlikely to lead to long-term satisfaction.

4. Stay adaptable:
 As the job market evolves, be prepared to adapt and learn new skills. Regardless of your IQ, continuous learning will be crucial for career longevity.

5. Look beyond traditional paths:
 If you fall on the lower end of the IQ spectrum, don’t despair. While traditional employment may be challenging, entrepreneurship and niche skills can offer alternative paths to success.

6. Advocate for inclusive policies:
 On a societal level, we need to address the challenges faced by individuals with lower cognitive abilities. This might involve rethinking education, job training, and social support systems.

Conclusion: Knowledge is Power

Jordan Peterson’s analysis of IQ and career success might seem daunting at first glance. But knowledge, as they say, is power. By understanding the relationship between cognitive abilities, personality traits, and career success, we can make more informed decisions about our professional lives.

Whether you’re a high-IQ individual aiming for the top of your field, or someone with more modest cognitive abilities seeking a fulfilling career, Peterson’s insights offer valuable guidance. The key is to be honest with yourself, play to your strengths, and never stop learning.

In the end, while IQ may play a significant role in shaping our career trajectories, it doesn’t define us. With self-awareness, strategic planning, and adaptability, we can all strive for professional success and personal fulfillment, regardless of where we fall on the IQ spectrum.

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