Whether you fully believe in them or not, astrological signs do often seem to align in an uncanny way with our personalities—and of course, our personalities factor greatly into our professional selves. Some signs are inherently professional (looking at you, Libra) whereas others are not so much (no comment).

To celebrate my own birthday—and Leo-Virgo season in general—I have compiled the astrological traits, as published by the University of California, Davis. Each sign comes with my take on pros and cons that we can learn to take advantage of or keep in check in our own professional worlds.

Virgo (August 22 – September 23)

Pros: Modest and shy, meticulous and reliable, practical and diligent, intelligent and analytical.

Cons: Fussy and worrier, overcritical and harsh, perfectionist and conservative.

In the workplace: Diligent, silent soldiers. Typically the smartest that brag the least. Virgos run the risk of over-thinking, over-worrying, and over-working. A happy, successful Virgo has confidence in their abilities and lets their work talk.

Libra (September 24 – October 23)

Pros: Diplomatic and urbane, romantic and charming, easygoing and sociable, idealistic and peaceable.

Cons: Indecisive and changeable, gullible and easily influenced, flirtatious and self-indulgent.

In the workplace: The unifying force of justice, unfazed by anyone’s crap and can be counted on to be unbiased. That is to say, until they aren’t. Libra’s confidence in their judgment can cloud their judgment, but no one can fool a Libra for long.

Scorpio (October 24- November 22)

Pros: Determined and forceful, emotional and intuitive, powerful and passionate, exciting and magnetic.

Cons: Jealous and resentful, compulsive and obsessive, secretive and obstinate.

In the workplace: Not to be trusted, the most driven and ambitious, combined with several drops of “don’t mess with.” Scorpios can accomplish anything, and workplace Scorpios should make sure they don’t trample anyone worth keeping around in the process.

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)

Pros: Optimistic and freedom-loving, jovial and good-humored, honest and straightforward, intellectual and philosophical.

Cons: Blindly optimistic and careless, irresponsible and superficial, tactless and restless.

In the workplace: A ray of sunshine in a windowless office. Liable to take things too far in pursuit of a good time, typically need to tone it down only a baby step while retaining all of the joy they provide everyone around.

Capricorn (December 23 – January 20)

Pros: Practical and prudent, ambitious and disciplined, patient and careful, humorous and reserved.

Cons: Pessimistic and fatalistic, miserly and grudging.

In the workplace: Stroll the line between brilliant and bummer. A happy, driven Capricorn is unstoppably efficient and helpful, Capricorns work best when they give others the benefit of the doubt and stay focused.

Aquarius (January 21 – February 19)

Pros: Friendly and humanitarian, honest and loyal, original and inventive, independent and intellectual.

Cons: Intractable and contrary, perverse and unpredictable, unemotional and detached.

In the workplace: Perhaps the most good-natured of the bunch, they are also all geniuses. It’s a fact. They can fall into reclusiveness, are not the most mindful of double standards, but typically, are able to sort that out through their genius, and good nature doesn’t hurt.

Pisces (February 20 – March 20)

Pros: Imaginative and sensitive, compassionate and kind, selfless and unworldly, intuitive and sympathetic.

Cons: Escapist and idealistic, secretive and vague, weak-willed and easily led.

In the workplace: Walking enigmas, Pisces can be a fountain of inspiration and creativity, and stuck in their own bubble, all at once. You’ll never know if a Pisces is upset, but a professional Pisces knows to find outlets so they stay sharp when their number is called.

Aries (March 21 – April 20)

Pros: Adventurous and energetic, pioneering and courageous, enthusiastic and confident, dynamic and quick-witted.

Cons: Selfish and quick-tempered, impulsive and impatient, foolhardy and daredevil.

In the workplace: The envelope pushers, liable to overstep boundaries but will change the game for the best. The life of an Aries can be risky so an extra focus on professionalism can be key to this ambitious sign.

Taurus (April 21 – May 21)

Pros: Patient and reliable, warmhearted and loving, persistent and determined, placid and security loving.

Cons: Jealous and possessive, resentful and inflexible, self-indulgent and greedy.

In the workplace: The rock of the workplace, dependable and typically unfazed by the emotional turmoil that clouds the vision of others. This can result in a stubborn sense of assuredness. Keep that in check and you will be everyone’s go-to.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

Pros: Adaptable and versatile, communicative and witty, intellectual and eloquent, youthful and lively.

Cons: Nervous and tense, superficial and inconsistent, cunning and inquisitive.

In the workplace: The most delightful to work with. Their wit and receptiveness make them helpful and fun. They can indeed jump to nervous conclusions at the first sign of trouble, so Gemini do well to keep calm and avoid stressful distraction.

Cancer (June 22 – July 22)

Pros: Emotional and loving, intuitive and imaginative, shrewd and cautious, protective and sympathetic.

Cons: Changeable and moody, overemotional and touchy, clinging and unable to let go.

In the workplace: Highly in tune emotionally, some of the most caring co-workers. Also prone to their shell, so young professional Cancers do well to let their guard down, if only a little, and let their caring personality shine.

Leo (July 23 – August 21)

Pros: Generous and warmhearted, creative and enthusiastic, broad-minded and expansive, faithful and loving.

Cons: Pompous and patronizing, bossy and interfering, dogmatic and intolerant.

In the workplace: King of the office jungle, thriving on the energy of others and bringing their own enthusiasm. Happiest when creatively involved, but with easily bruised egos. Take it from one: better for Leos to check themselves than be checked, it’s not always about us.

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Toni Frana Career Advice Expert

Toni Frana is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches, and career expert who empowers job seekers to take control of their career paths using Monster’s comprehensive job search and resume tools.

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