Cancer Career, Money & Success Traits

Cancer's Career Mantra: "I'm successful because I care."

Cancer's greatest career strength: Intuition. Affiliated with Artemis, goddess of the hunt, Cancer knows which way the wind will blow, work-wise, before there's a memo or email. Cancer is adept at reading people, and, as the Zodiac sign most closely associated with mothers and wombs, the Crab is intuitively respected as the manager who will fix things, guide colleagues, and nurture their careers. Cancer's amazing people skills lets him or her choose people who will flourish in their careers.

Cancer's greatest career challenge: Taking emotion out of the equation. In some ways, Cancers' emotional connection to their work is an asset. When they feel passion, they will pull countless all-nighters to finish a project. But there's a flip side: When Cancers don't care about something or disagree with their higher-ups about how a project should be handled, they may lash out passive-aggressively by delivering sloppy work. Learning how to divest their emotions from assignments (particularly the less-than-inspiring ones) can help Cancer get ahead.

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Cancer's Work Style

Did someone say "burning the midnight oil?" Independent Cancer doesn't necessarily love the structure of office life, and this sign may produce their best work on their own time—especially in the wee hours. Crabs love working hard and knowing that a job is well done, but they may bristle at becoming part of a team with all its time-consuming interpersonal issues. Cancers hate the feeling of a manager breathing down their neck, and in order to succeed, they need to feel like their schedule and work product are their own.

While definitely good management material, Cancer can also become exasperated by colleagues who don't share his or her vision—and may also hold career-long grudges. This sign isn't especially driven by fortune and fame, but they do want a great life, and they may compromise a career track in favor of a satisfying work-life balance.

Blessed with a strong sense of self, this water sign cannot stand interoffice jockeying, and often feels that work drama distracts from work. This is despite the fact sometimes Cancer unwittingly takes part in work drama—when Crabs experience hurt feelings or think they've been overlooked, their inability to let go manifests in an attitude than can earn them the label "difficult." The only way to fix this is confronting the issue head on.

Cancer's Dream Careers

Intellectual, creative, and incredibly good at reading people and knowing what they need, Cancer excels at careers that combine those three talents. Crabs prefer to make their own hours (or be the boss!) and excel in environments where they can help drive their own schedule and agenda. Here are a few career suggestions for Cancer:

Startup entrepreneur: With their awareness of where and how an industry needs to be "disrupted"—without relying on data and analysis—and their willingness to put in the elbow grease, Cancers are the ideal visionaries and motivators to start a business. They can excel in the tech sphere with their blend of rationality and intuition.

HR executive: Cancer can tell within the first conversation whether someone is "good people." This sign can save companies thousands of dollars by guiding them to the best person for the job, not the person with the most impressive resume.

Social Worker, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist: Willing to listen without judgment, gifted with a deep capacity for understanding and appreciating emotions, Cancer excels at helping others untangle their emotional difficulties and questions.

Marketing analyst: Adept at science and math, Cancer loves marketing because it combines intuition with hard facts. Crabs can be virtually unstoppable in this industry.

Architect: Cancers truly believe that home is where the heart is, and they're adept at imagining, designing, and creating homey spaces for a variety of clients. Crabs use their intuition to help guide a client to what they need, and their meticulous sense of detail to make that home a reality.

Cancer and Money

Cancer places a great deal of importance on comfort, especially in the home. To that end, this sign feels it's imperative to have a job that covers the bills, with enough of a financial cushion in case the worst happens. Crabs love well-made products, which are usually more expensive. They see consumerism as a way to enact change in their world, so they often buy with their heart. But Cancer doesn't care about becoming the richest or wealthiest. Once their needs are provided for, they're happy to dial back work if it means spending more time with the people they love.

If You Work for a Cancer Boss

Intelligent and emotional, a Cancer boss can seem like an enigma. What do they want? How do you get them to like you? Instead of seeking those answers, focus on your work. Your Cancer boss isn't in the office to make friends or connections. They're here to get the job done by the people who'll do it best. Here's how to excel in your career by making the most of working with a Cancer boss:

Be honest. Cancer hates lies, and will hold a grudge for years against the employee who tells even a white lie. Want to shield your Cancer boss from bad news? Don't. Keep any info as fact-based as possible.

Be creative. Cancer is always up for doing things in new and different ways. The old ways and routines are fine, but a Cancer boss appreciates a fresh approach. Boldly offering to helm a new project or try a different strategy will impress the Crab.

Go deep. Cancer always wants to know why, particularly when it comes to human behavior and opinion. Think something is worth doing? Explain why—a passionate explanation will be rewarded.

Get to know their moods. Emotional Cancer may sometimes be, well, crabby at the office. Don't take it personally. Knowing when to stay out of their way is key. Cancers don't want subordinates asking them, "What's wrong?" So if their office door is closed or they seem curt, steer clear!

Keep boundaries. When your Cancer boss asks how you are, don't get into your dog's illness or that fight with your friend—especially if you haven't worked together very long. To Cancer, boundaries are essential for optimal work relationships.

What Success Means to a Cancer

To a Cancer, nothing feels better than the internal satisfaction of doing a good job. Cancer truly doesn't care about career accolades, and feels that work should support a well-lived life. To this end, Cancers guard their free time obsessively. A job that they love and a life that they love go hand in hand. Of course, they'll burn the midnight oil if essential, but not for years on end. They need to see a clear reward for their hard work.

Awakening the Inner Cancer Woodpecker

While the Crab represents Cancer in western astrology, Native American astrology associates early summer birth dates with the woodpecker. Smart, caring, hardworking and always willing to provide for loved ones, the woodpecker is a strong spirit animal and guide for Cancer—especially those Crabs who may want to ditch their metaphorical shells and find connection with the larger world. Here's how to connect with this animal totem:

DIY things. Resourceful Cancers love working with their hands, even if they don't often get a chance. Gardening or making something with tools can be restorative to Cancer.

Talk to a stranger. Speaking to an elderly neighbor, even if this pushes Cancer past his or her comfort zone, is key for a sign that thrives on connection to others but tends to focus inward.

Try feng shui. For Cancer, a happy home is essential. If they're living somewhere temporary, it's key to make the place "theirs" with a few candles or a crystal altar.

Create something. Even a journal entry can help Cancer synthesize those deep or confusing emotions and move forward.

Honor the past. Hanging photographs of cherished loved ones or favorite memories can help Cancer savor the past while driving forward to manifest their present.