The 16-month pandemic has certainly disrupted the U.S. labor market. Many people lost their jobs. Others found themselves working remotely from home. While others were required to do their jobs on-site with the constant risk of infection. Now, Covid restrictions are easing, the economy is bouncing back, and employers are scrambling to rehire workers as businesses return to their pre-pandemic operations.

But people aren't rushing back to their old jobs. In fact, there's been a spike in the percentage of employees who've left jobs outright. Life during the pandemic has prompted many to re-evaluate their work lives. They're asking essential questions like: Do I want to return to the office or to continue to work from home? Can I get get better pay and benefits somewhere else? Is this the time for me to switch careers?

There are many practical things to weigh when returning to regular employment: where to live, pay, work schedule, commute, etc. But there are also less tangible -- more psychological -- factors to be conscious of when making a change. Consider these questions that explore your work temperament:

As the pandemic winds down, many of us have been given the opportunity (if not the necessity) of changing jobs. A better understanding your own personality -- your work-related needs and desires -- is essential if you are going to find employment that is truly satisfying and fulfilling.