The PEAKS factors are based on the Big Five Factor Model, with the original model developed in 1963. Having the Big Five Factor Model as the base, the Career Profile is able to demonstrate personality traits in a person by describing a person’s tendency to react to certain situations or to one-self.

The objective of this article is to explore further into the PEAKS factors in the Career Profile and help you to have a better grasp of what the PEAKS really have to offer. The PEAKS factors are shown in the first five pages of the Mirror report.

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The PEAKS Factors

Purpose
This personality factor describes whether you are an organized and systematic person or someone who is spontaneous and flexible. Not being organized and systematic does not mean that one is messy, undisciplined or without a sense of direction. A low score in the Purpose factor simply means that you are a spontaneous person who prefers a more flexible approach to life and work. You still get things done but through your own ways, at your own time and pace without having strict rules or guidelines to follow. A slight difference in interpretation can change the meaning of a sentence altogether, as shown above, and is a very important point to keep in mind when reading through the Career Profile reports.

Insider tip: Do not interpret messages from a negative point of view

When you read through your personal description on the Purpose factor, you may encounter sentences that thread on the centre line of being organized and spontaneous.

E.g. You appreciate order but you are not bound by it

This means that you are somewhat a neutral (so are most of us!). You often try to set regulations and structure in your work but at times you have the urge to do what your gut feelings tell you. Discipline will be the key aspect that determines your ability to sustain your rigid ways. The more disciplined you are at being organized, the less you will deviate away from it. However, being organized and systematic gives rise to the possibility of turning into routines. That is why most people who are very organized are less enthusiastic and show less flair in the things they do.

Discipline can still thrive even while in a spontaneous state. Try to set a specific goal in mind and work towards it. Therefore while you are constantly swapping your attention between different tasks, your mind would still be focused on the ultimate objective. Being too spontaneous can also lead to unfinished tasks and too much of a laid back attitude. The ideal approach to this is to have a balance of both and knowing when to be organized or laid back.

Energy
This factor is pretty straightforward to understand – it is either you like working with people or you do not. People who have high Energy scores are bubbly, active, and are eager to meet and interact with people, even with those they do not know. They make good salespersons because normally people can tell whether someone is a people-person or not. In contrast, there are people who are reserved and quiet. They prefer to think about the thoughts running in their minds rather than talk to others. These people, with low Energy scores, are people who prefer not to be around large groups of people. One of the most important keys in interpreting the Career Profile is not to think that high scores for a factor means that you are good in it and vice versa.

Insider tip: It is not about being good or bad at something, it is about whether you are type A or type B (just like blood). Different people (companies) will need different types of blood.

Thus, high scores for Energy means you like to interact and communicate with people. But having low scores does not mean you do not like to and you are bad at communicating and interacting. You just prefer not.

It is good to have the best of both worlds, but sometimes, the extreme is needed as well. There are certain occupations that require one to work in solitude without having any or little interaction with others, e.g. security officers and astronauts. If everyone is supposed to enjoy meeting people, then no one will be filling such vacancies. Surely you have wondered how these people can endure the feeling of being alone for long periods. Well, maybe they just like it that way.

On the other hand, some companies do require those who are able to sustain the good feeling of meeting people all the time. When was the last time you really want to meet someone you just saw and had the opportunity to do so? The first conversation that was full with enthusiasm and interest? Can you do it all the time and to everyone you meet? If you can, then there are plenty of companies who would like to hire you right now!

To be continued…

There are three more factors to come in the forms of Affirmation, Knowledge, and Sustainability.

Watch out for Part II of this article!

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