"Type A Personality" = Negative Connotation?

Wagwan.

umm, my... friend, let's call him... "Fan Sranciscan," wants to know:
If a candidate were to tell you he had a "Type A personality," what would you you think of him?

Would that phrase make you imagine:
1.) an energetic, outgoing, and driven guy who plays to win and makes a great leader

or

2.) a wound-up, hyper, impatient, competitive asshole who would potentially blow up in a rage induced fit if the wrong situation presented itself

or

3.) the first and second descriptions are the same guy

In general is being "Type A" considered negative or positive? Would describing oneself as such be a weird thing to say in a cover letter or interview?

Fan Sranciscan would appreciate your thoughts!

 

I would delve deeper into what a Type A personailty really consists of. I also wouldnt rec. saying that you have a Type A personality straight out to your interviewer. You could though say that you have some TA traits and name them because when it comes down to it, there are TA personailty traits that are admirable but there are just as many that aren't.

 

There are definitely better ways of getting this point across. I would go with competitive, out going, etc. No reason to put yourself in a difficult position.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Been asked this question before. This has typically gone over well:

"In regards to fiduciary responsibilities and being a professional, I would very much consider myself a "type-A" individual. However there is a time and place for everything, and being balanced is vital in my opinion if you want to get the most out of interpersonal relationships; professionally and personally. That said, if it's pragmatic to do so I try be as laid back as possible."

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Saying "I have a Type-A Personality" sounds pretty corny. Just say you're competitive, driven, etc., and you sound more like a real person and less like someone who rehearsed a catch phrase before the interview. And it gets the exact same point across. Plus, you stress only the positives and none of the negatives associated with that personality type. Win-win.

Not saying you were planning to use the exact phrase "Type-A," just warning you not to... lol

 

This has nothing to do with personality, A, B or whatever other fiction the psychiatric community is pawning off on the public.

This is about people taking care of their health. America has a very serious culture problem: we're penny wise and pound BROKE when it comes to prevention. This is just how our country thinks, mostly because everyone is trying to push off responsibility onto other people....but in the case of health, there is no place to run.

People with self control issues are elevated to the status of demi-gods here, it's truly bizzare.

Get busy living
 
UFOinsider:

@ Prilee - hey, I hope you beat cancer quickly and get back to living life. Cancer sucks dude. I wish you the best.

I feel sorry that I didn't meet you in person, dude. You are amazing.

OP, getting cancer is not the end of the world... Just don't give up the fight, if you are a true type-A!

The Auto Show
 

Best of luck to you @prilee and I hope you make a full recovery and do well for yourself, but I sincerely doubt that your lack of sleep and personality led to you getting cancer...

Some of the most health-conscious people in the world get cancer...

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Hope that you are doing well, how have you been coping with this as of late?Most would be wise to head this advice. As a former athlete, I know all too well the trouble you can get into by ignoring your body. You have to take care of yourself first and foremost and your body will generally give you a good idea when something is wrong.

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. Socrates
 

Your lack of sleep may or may not have contributed to your cancer, it's hard to prove. Anyone that's taken any level of advanced biology or genetics knows that gene expression can be changed with any change of internal environment, including a lack of sleep. A lack of sleep most definitely elevates your stress hormone's and inflammation response. I'm not sure if sleep deprivation is a contributing factor to leukemia but it is associated with certain cancers like colon cancer.

The takeaway from this should be that more people need to put more emphasis on sleep, ignoring your bodies need to sleep is just plain ignorant.

 

i bet everyone on here probably has a type-A personality, to a certain degree...that said its a natural extension for a type A personality individual wanting to be in a leadership position. this may work, for better or worse - depending on where the person lies on the type A 'spectrum'. i beilve the further you are on that spectrum inversely relates to the leadship ability as the person will become too 'in your face' - not a good leadship trait :P

"...the art of good business, is being a good middle man, putting people togeather. It's all about honor and respect."
 

Itaque quisquam reprehenderit velit et et. Voluptate perferendis laborum sunt explicabo. Non non dolorum quia neque eum ut et. Iusto error laudantium eos similique in dolor et. Ipsa enim ab occaecati impedit illum porro. Magni sunt debitis aut voluptatem.

Fugit delectus magnam similique fugiat. Deserunt sit rerum consequatur perspiciatis dolorem beatae eos. Magnam praesentium sequi qui et nesciunt fugit labore. Itaque quae voluptate quo. Eum dolorem vel voluptatibus magni. Reprehenderit dolorum ipsam aliquid modi quod quasi est.

Alias dolores dicta excepturi doloremque unde quibusdam ipsam. Assumenda eos ut sapiente consequatur nam qui magnam. Et odio consequatur aliquid dolor ut. Fugit sed sint eos nesciunt ex ratione dolorem.

Repellendus molestiae quos expedita necessitatibus. Et ex rerum iusto ut sunt. Nulla perspiciatis magni qui perspiciatis nisi.

 

Atque necessitatibus eaque praesentium eos. Consequatur enim qui nulla non atque. Molestiae hic omnis sed nisi voluptatem. Aspernatur illo doloremque quasi unde. Enim eos mollitia quo ut culpa. Delectus pariatur exercitationem excepturi voluptatem ut. Omnis rerum eum culpa aut rerum ipsa.

Odit perspiciatis sed laboriosam quos quia aut dolores non. Quibusdam eum blanditiis aspernatur sed optio iste voluptas. Rem et quia ipsam sapiente quibusdam amet. Consectetur sed voluptatibus et aliquam animi facilis iusto. Necessitatibus quis ipsa suscipit.

Magnam unde eius et praesentium qui. Maxime facilis sunt quia asperiores ipsum omnis. Porro sit sit eligendi est rem et.

Capitalist

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”