Is your boss a charming but domineering person, who’s sensitive, hot-tempered and also likes to show off? That might be because he or she was born in the year of the Rat: specifically, the Metal Rat.

According to the Chinese zodiac, everyone is born under a combination of two astrological signs, an animal and an element. These signs are said to influence your personality and skills, the careers you are suited for, the people you are compatible with, and even how lucky you are in different years. This year, 2020, is the year of the Metal Rat, beginning on January 25, 2020 and ending on February 11, 2021. The last time this combination of signs came about was in 1960: from January 28, 1960 to February 14, 1961.

So let’s take a look at people who are born in the year of the Rat.

The personality of the Rat

According to one popular folk legend, the Jade Emperor, ruler of heaven, announced that the years of the calendar would be named after the first 12 animals who came to him. The Rat tricked the Ox into carrying him most of the way, then jumped over the Ox’s head at the last minute and was therefore the first animal to arrive. The years of the Rat are 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020.

Unsurprisingly, people born under this zodiac sign are inclined to be calculating and manipulative, but also highly social and very easy to get along with. They are thrifty, but also greedy and can easily fall into the trap of over-ambition: if your boss tends to bite off more than he or she can chew, this might be why!

In business, the Rat is adaptable, level-headed, and always has an exit strategy ready. Keep an eye on what your Rat colleagues and bosses are doing, they can be very good at getting out of trouble quickly.

How do you get along with a Rat?

It’s said that people born in the year of the Rat will get along well with people born under the sign of the Ox, mostly because Ox people tend to easily and loyally follow the Rat’s lead. And most of the time, the Ox will benefit; after all, in the legend they both arrived before the other animals because the Rat showed the Ox the best path to take! An Ox working under a Rat boss may have to be resigned to being used as a stepping stone, though.

If you happen to be born in the year of the Horse (1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014), however, brace yourself for disagreement! The sign of the Horse is said to be highly independent, capricious, and even self-centered, which won’t sit well with a Rat who likes loyalty and is conservative.

People who are cavalier about money, or who have big dreams but don’t think much about the details of implementation, will also annoy the practical Rat. On the other hand, stable and steady personalities will always be a hit, as will showing appreciation for the Rat’s charm and sociability. 

And how will the year of the Rat go?

Traditionally, the year of the Rat is supposed to bring prosperity and good prospects, as it is the first year of the zodiac: it represents a new beginning and a time of plenty. But it is also a time to start making long-term plans, because the prosperity will not be permanent, and those who become overconfident may find their good fortune cut sadly short in subsequent years.

Those born in the year of the Rat should be particularly cautious in 2020, because it’s believed that the zodiac year of one’s birth will not be a good year for that person. If you have a Rat boss or colleague, you might want to be prepared for upheavals, and stand ready to provide extra support; if you happen to be a Rat yourself, consider putting your head down and preparing a contingency plan or two.

Of course, these predictions are best taken with a pinch of salt; while the circumstances of one’s birth certainly influence life and events, they do not 100 percent dictate the future, and at the end of the day each person knows what’s best for themselves.

Happy Lunar New Year!