5 of the best jobs for analytical thinkers

Whether you are taking your first steps of independence into the world of employment or considering rerouting down another career path, it can be difficult to decide which would be the right career for you. Do you head for the big bucks and chase the money or do you choose a career that will play to your strengths and give your much-loved hobbies an additional outlet?

One thing is for sure; a career is no longer something you should fall into. These days you should seriously consider your skills, traits and interests when deciding which career routes to pursue. We look at some of the traits of analytical thinkers and five of the top jobs for them.

5 signs and traits of analytical thinkers

Psychologists suggest that we all have a natural tendency to go with an intuitive answer to a problem; in other words, we initially choose the solution that ‘feels right’. Analytical thinkers however take this search for a solution further and apply analytical thinking to find the response that can be proven to be correct.

Before you decide on the right career for you, i.e. one that is structured, involves analytical thinking and plays to your strengths, take a look at our 5 signs and traits of analytical thinkers and decide whether or not they describe you.

1. Your lifestyle appears chaotic to other people because you like to concentrate on important, thinking tasks rather than domestic ones.
2. You can give sound reasons and explanations for your decisions, including your choice of hobbies.
3. You need time alone and like to use it to absorb new information and work out complicated solutions.
4. You are the person people turn to when they have a question, because they know that you will either have the correct answer or make it your business to find it.
5. You enjoy the company of friends who can match your quick thinking ability and inspire your intellect.

5 career advantages to being an analytical thinker

The popular picture of an analytical thinker might be the annoying stickler who appears to slow down decision-making processes and get bogged down in detail, but in reality there are plenty of workplace situations in which structured and analytical thinking are exactly what is required.

If you are an analytical thinker and enjoy structured and logical hobbies, there are careers out there that will play to your strengths. Organisations often place high value on their analytical thinkers; here are some of the reasons why.

1. Analytical thinkers can see how different parts of a process fit together and can predict how small changes will influence the whole organisation.
2. Analytical thinkers are strongly supportive of policies and procedures.
3. Analytical thinkers tend to be exceptionally knowledgeable about their area of work.
4. Analytical thinkers can be relied on to be in the right place, at the right time and with the right information.
5. Decisions made by analytical thinkers are high in validity and can be backed up by solid facts and figures.

5 of the best analytical careers

1. Careers in accounts.
2. Careers in logistics.
3. Careers in project management.
4. Careers in ICT.
5. Careers in workplace health and safety.

It is clear from the list above that all organisations have need of at least some employees with analytical thinking skills. However, if you want to choose a career path that is more specifically suited to your characteristics, traits and maybe even existing hobbies, we have 5 suggestions below.

1. Careers in accounts.

The requirement for accounting ability runs right across all organisations, and accountancy professionals are often highly sought after. Whilst the future growth for entry level accounting jobs is predicted to decline, employment for higher-level accountants and finance managers is showing ‘stable’ to ‘moderate’ future growth (JobOutlook).

2. Careers in logistics.

Logistics keep Australia moving and are an essential element of any business or organisation. The skills required to keep a tight eye on the flow, storage and processing of goods into and out of a business are structured and highly analytical because success in logistics relies on a good eye for detail. Across the board, Australian jobs in logistics are showing future growth ranging from ‘stable’ to ‘very strong’ (JobOutlook).

3. Careers in project management.

Project management might be the right career for you. At its basic level, project management is all about analytical thinking, particularly when it comes to measuring the relative importance of incoming work.

Project managers need to be able to apply their analytical skills quickly and precisely in order to keep work flowing. This means that they need a thorough understanding of the specifics of the project they are managing. Find out more about what it takes to be a project manager here.

Project managers operate through a wide variety of industries, making future job growth difficult to predict but if you look at example project management related careers such as civil engineering professionals and construction managers, the predictions suggest strong future growth (Job Outlook).

Course suggestions

• To dip your toe into the world of the project manager, try our Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920).
• If you are serious about project team leader and manager roles, we thoroughly recommend our Diploma of Project Management (BSB50820).

4. Careers in ICT

ICT careers all have an element of analytical thinking to them but there are some ICT roles that appear to have been created especially to suit the structured thought processes of the analytical thinker; these will play to your strengths.

Data base administrators, ICT business and systems analysts and ICT support and test engineers all work with logical and carefully constructed strategies and systems.

Course suggestions

• If you are interested in networking, cybersecurity and business strategy, our ICT50120 - Diploma of Information Technology (Cloud Engineering) will be of interest to you.
• Upskilled’s ICT40120 - Certificate IV in Information Technology (Systems Administration Support) will give anyone who wants to work as a network administrator or coordinator the skills they need.

5. Careers in workplace health and safety.

Workplace health and safety or WH&S is a crucial and strategic consideration for any organisation. The skills involved, including the identification of workplace hazards, risk assessment and workplace monitoring, all require a highly analytical mind and someone who has a keen eye for the rules.

The predicted future job growth for occupational and environmental health professionals is set as ‘very strong’ according to JobOutlook, making this a great career for those with analytic tendencies.

Course suggestions

• If your next job role includes elements of WH&S procedures our BSB41419 - Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety is a great initial qualification.
• For those looking at roles such as WH&S Manager, Human Resources Officer and Safety Officer, our BSB51319 - Diploma of Work Health and Safety is in high demand across Australia. 

I am an analytical thinker, what are my other options?

If the suggested careers and courses above don’t appeal to you, don’t despair. There are lots of other careers out there that will play to your strengths and give your analytical mind the opportunities it deserves. Be sure to check out our courses in IT and business, and see for yourself what other career opportunities you can explore with your analytical skills.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2018. Content has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

Fi Darby Fi is a professional copywriter based in Devon, England. She specialises in education, careers, travel and outdoor writing and is the co-author of the popular daily outdoor blog 'Two Blondes Walking'. Fi has written three children's books and, when she isn't writing, Fi loves to gather inspiration from long walks, early morning sea swims and winter wild camps.