Scorpio Astrology Career Profile

Top Careers

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Scorpio

October 23 - November 22

By Jane Hodges

Scorpio, ruled by transformation planet Pluto, seeks emotional development and participation in transformative environments.

Top Career Programs for Scorpios

What Motivates Scorpio

Scorpio natives approach their careers as if entering an illicit affair: They are consumed and passionate, secretive, suspicious and wholly invested in the game of it all. Scorpios may seem serious or preoccupied, but most have a sort of gallows humor that hints at the roiling emotions they tamp down just below the surface and lends them a quiet charisma.

Intense Alliances at Work

At work, Scorpions are coolly intense, occasionally intimidating. They don't feel satisfied with superficial coffee room patter: They'd rather go to lunch one-on-one and really get to know you—everything about you, which make them good substance abuse counselors or forensic scientists. You can trust a Scorpio to keep your secrets, as long as you keep theirs. If you don't, they're not above revenge, and they will never forget a transgression. Fortunately, theirs is a two-way street: They never forget a good deed either, and they reward friends with emotional support, key undercover information and plenty of assistance.

Power through Alliances

Scorpios are effective at making money and wielding power and influence. It's not enough to just have money or a big job title, though. Scorpios see those factors as the foundation, rather than an end game, for creating impact in the world.

Scorpios are generally introverted, and whether they are leading or following, the role they choose to play will stem from their astute understanding of their environment. Scorpios won't feel comfortable in any work situation until they've developed confidantes: In work, as in life, they know that most power is bubbling below the surface and away from public view.

Scorpios never take anything at face value. They are perpetual investigators, and they exact great fulfillment by uncovering secrets in enterprises ranging from a tax audit to a medical autopsy, a court case or an investigative journalism piece. For Scorpio, it's necessary to work with privileged information in some form or other—whether that information pertains to the dignity of an individual's health care or a nation's welfare, the ability of art to express a side of society not commonly discussed, or a company's budget for besting the competition.

The only danger for these folks is battling occasional bouts of the blues and letting go of disappointments. Though they're open to change, Scorpios sometimes hold on to their negative emotions about past experiences.

Scorpios also engage in brinksmanship to get raises and promotions, but they need to make sure they're fighting worthy battles so as not to undo years of hard work with brash demands. Scorpios bring depth and intensity to any work environment as well as a frisky curiosity and plenty of $20 bills for the bar.

How to Spot a Scorpio at Work

Scorpio career manual: Who Moved My Cheese?
Colors: Maroon, black
Scorpio success symbol: Sexy designer outfit
Spare time pursuits: Hospital volunteer, crisis hotline counselor, writing poetry

Scorpio in Action

Bill Gates is a typical Scorpio. The bespectacled Harvard dropout followed his instincts into the software industry, and his penchant for predicting how consumers would use their computers led his company, Microsoft, to global dominance. Gates's Microsoft is known for its culture of privacy and secrecy, and Microsoft is known for demanding much from its workers—but, like any Scorpio-founded enterprise, the company also rewards hard workers handsomely, minting numerous Microsoft millionaires.

Microsoft's competitive approach to the market has had its detractors, and the company has been the subject of multiple investigations into aggressive competitive tactics. While it's hard to know if Gates and Microsoft consistently played fair, it's easy to respect Gates at mid-life. He currently focuses on channeling his wealth through a foundation established to eradicate poverty and health problems in third world countries—transformative, Scorpio concerns.

The Attraction of Power

Scorpio leaders work in many guises, but, like Gates, they work hard and have high expectations. This sign enjoys acquiring and holding power and can succeed in big business (The Body Shop's Anita Roddick, Pepsi's Indra Nooyi, GE's Jack Welch), politics (Condoleeza Rice, Hillary Clinton, General David Petraeus), or even motivating the masses to revolt (Leon Trotsky).

But because Scorpio power involves tapping the hidden emotions and motives of individuals as well as society (George Gallup), these folks can also find fulfillment working in "underworld" industries that touch society's dark side: They enjoy counseling addicts and prisoners, helping folks as health care workers in hospices or dementia facilities, as well as research of any kind such as criminal forensics. They're also comfortable with the business and dialogue surrounding sex (Larry Flynt, Shere Hite).

Revenge Can Be Seductive

Some Scorpios get stuck in their lower depths, developing addictions or resorting to crimes of passion or revenge (Tonya Harding was accused of having her rival Nancy Kerrigan clubbed in the knee before the two were scheduled to compete), but most travel past their darkest behaviors and bring to the world a full understanding of the complexities of human emotion.

These folks need to do work that satisfies their desire to tap humanity's depths, transforming themselves and others in the process. Poets Sylvia Plath and Sharon Olds write of their extreme rage, sadness, love and passion. Writers such as Margaret Atwood and Kurt Vonnegut depict dark futuristic realities where the human body and mind struggle against capitalist or government oversight. Singer-songwriters Neil Young, Natalie Merchant and Joni Mitchell, in their soulful voices, indicate that they've truly felt the feelings they describe in song.

Actors Whoopi Goldberg, Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller employ extremes of emotion to comedic effect, though Wilson's suicide attempt in 2007 is proof that he has paid a price for the dark side that gave him his sense of humor. Still other Scorpios use their raw sex appeal to make an impression (Leonardo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore, Julia Roberts) or choose to use sexiness (Calvin Klein) or sexual images (Georgia O'Keefe) to represent their message—or to convey their own personal power.