Birth order and careers

Where you rank among your siblings – whether you’re the oldest, the youngest or in the middle – might actually affect the kind of work you do as an adult, according to a recent survey conducted by CareerBuilder.com .

“Clearly, birth order affects personality, but what about career advancement and success? Several studies show that firstborns and only children usually reach higher educational goals, obtain greater prestige and acquire more net worth, while the middle child is likely to struggle a bit more,” Rachel Zupek, a writer and blogger, wrote in a recent article .

To summarize:
* Firstborns are more likely to earn $100,000 or more annually compared to their siblings. They are ambitious, assertive, dominant and disciplined. They end up working in government, engineering, pharmacy and science. They’re also in senior management.
* Middle children are easy-going and diplomatic. They find jobs in nursing, law enforcement, firefighting and machine operation.
* The youngest tend to be creative, charming, funny and sometimes manipulative. They’re the least likely to report earning six figures, according to the survey. These last-borns end up in athletics, advertising, sales and journalism.

Do these findings reflect the reality of your family?