The 9 Intelligences of Multiple Intelligence Theory Skills & Career Possibilities Summary
Intelligence
Skills and Career Possibilities
Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence
Well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the
sounds, meanings and rhythms of words.
Skills – Listening, speaking, writing, teaching.
Careers – Poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, legal assistant,
politician, translator, speech pathologist.
Mathematical-Logical Intelligence
Ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and
capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns.
Skills – Problem solving (logical & math), performing
experiments.
Careers – Purchasing agent, statistician, data mining analyst,
scientists, engineers, accountants, mathematicians.
Musical Intelligence
Ability to produce and appreciate rhythms, pitch
and timber.
Skills – Singing, playing instruments, composing music.
Careers – Musician, disc jockey, singer, composer, music teacher,
musical therapist, musical journalist.
Visual-Spatial Intelligence
Capacity to think in images and pictures, to
visualize accurately and abstractly.
Skills – puzzle building, painting, constructing, fixing, designing
objects.
Careers – Graphic designer, landscape architect, photographer,
mechanic, engineer, inventor, artist.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Ability to control one’s body movements and
handle objects skillfully.
Skills – Dancing, sports, hands on experiments, acting.
Careers – Physical therapist, farmer, mechanic, carpenter,
craftsperson, firefighter, actor, dancer, PE teacher.
Interpersonal Intelligence
Capacity to detect and respond appropriately to
the moods, motivations and desires of others.
Skills – Seeing from other perspectives, empathy, counseling,
cooperating.
Careers – Nurse, counselor, customer service representative,
salesperson/businessperson, politic
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner
feelings, values, beliefs and thinking processes.
Skills – Recognize one’s self-worth, reflective, aware of inner
feelings.
Careers – Clergy member, theologian, program planner,
counselor, researcher, entrepreneur, farmer.
Naturalist Intelligence
Ability to recognize and categorize plants,
animals and other objects in nature.
Skills – Recognize one’s connection to nature, apply science
theory to life.
Careers – Horticulturalist, gardener, landscape architect, farmer,
park ranger, animal trainer, naturalist, conservationist, scientist.
Existential Intelligence
Sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions
about human existence, such as the meaning of
life, why do we die, and how do we get there.
Skills – Reflective and deep thinking, design abstract theories.
Careers – Pastor, mediation instructor, yoga instructor, pastoral
counselor, motivational speaker, psychologist, teacher, scientist,
philosopher, theologian.
