Achievement-Striving at Work - Big Five Facet C4

When this runs high at work

The strength of high Achievement-Striving

Intensely ambitious; constantly pushing for the next promotion, milestone, or record-breaking quarter.

Resume keywords - high

AmbitiousGoal-orientedHigh-achieverDrivenTarget-smasherKPI-focused

Roles where high tends to thrive

Enterprise SalesInvestment BankerElite AthleteAgency Director

Tell this in an interview - high

Talk explicitly about numbers, quotas you've beaten, and how quickly you expect to advance.

Watch-out - high

Avoid stepping on peers to get ahead; remember that leadership requires building others up, not just yourself.

When this runs low at work

The strength of low Achievement-Striving

Content with their current level; values stability, consistency, and low-stress over aggressively climbing the ladder.

Resume keywords - low

ReliableSteadyContentConsistent performerBalancedLoyal

Roles where low tends to thrive

Tenured ProfessorCareer AdministratorUtility WorkerData Clerk

Tell this in an interview - low

Highlight your long-term reliability, low flight-risk, and dedication to maintaining steady, quality output.

Watch-out - low

Ensure you are still setting small, incremental professional goals so your skills don't become completely stagnant.

Profiles that emphasise this facet

Aspirational workplace personas where Achievement-Striving is one of the defining traits. Each profile page lists the top 10 careers that fit the pattern.

Profiles built on high Achievement-Striving

Dark-side patterns these traits can slip into

Workplace archetypes from the Corporate Zoo that tend to emerge when this facet runs hot or cold under stress. The trait itself is value-neutral - it's how it interacts with the rest of the wiring that produces the failure mode.

When low Achievement-Striving tips into the dark side

The RHINO
On the org chart, on payroll, mentally elsewhere. The empty chair somebody is sitting in.

Careers where Achievement-Striving is critical

Occupations from the WorkFive career catalogue that treat this facet as a make-or-break requirement, not a nice-to-have. Each page breaks down the full personality fit for the role.

Browse the full career library →

Take these keywords into your resume

Knowing the keywords is only half the work. Translating them into ATS-friendly resume lines and into the behavioural stories an interviewer will respond to is the other half. JobMentis is the sister product built for that translation step.

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