Find the Best Job for Your Personality Type

Use your personality type to help you find the right career.

“What are the best jobs for my personality type?”

Over the past few decades, while presenting personality type workshops based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, this is one of the most common questions I’m asked.

Though you never want to ‘push’ someone toward a career based solely on their personality assessment, there is a great deal of research showing that certain career fields do attract a large number of people with specific personality types.

Brief Summary of the Four Dimensions

If you haven’t completed a personality assessment (MBTI, Keirsey) I suggest you try to do so before exploring possible career choices based on your personality type.

Some places that may offer this for free are your company’s HR office or your school’s counseling services. Your local community college may also offer workshops in this area.

Additionally, a quick web search of ‘personality types’, ‘MBTI’, or ‘Keirsey’, will provide you with a great deal of information. Of course, be sure you are getting the information from a reputable source on-line.

I vs E – How you are energized

Introverts draw energy from their own internal world of ideas, emotions, and impressions.
Extraverts draw energy from the outside world of people, activities, and things.

S vs N – What you pay attention to

Sensors take information through the five senses, and noticing what is actual.
Intuitives take in information through a “sixth sense” and noting what might be.

T vs F – How you make a decision

Thinkers organize and structure information to decide in a logical objective way.
Feelers organize and structure information to decide in a personal, value-oriented way.

J vs P – The lifestyle you adopt

Judgers prefer to live a planned and organized life.
Perceivers prefer to live a spontaneous and flexible life.

Disclaimer

Keep in mind that I’m not saying that specific personality types will only thrive in specific types of careers. However, many studies have shown that certain personality types tend to gravitate to the same type of career.

The careers listed are just a sampling of what various studies have seen of the careers that see a large grouping of the specific personality type.

Brief Description of Each Type and Possible Career Paths

ESTP types are attracted to adventure and risk. They are also very energetic, and live for the present moment. Those with this type of personality are often:

Sales Reps
Negotiators
Entrepreneurs

ISTP types don’t like structured environments. They are doers who prefer jobs with a lot of variety. Those with this type of personality are often:

Skilled Tradespeople (Carpenters, Mechanics, etc.)
Pilots or Drivers
Surgeons

ESFP types know how to have a good time. They are spontaneous and like new experiences. Those with this type of personality are often:

Performing Artists
Fashion Designers
Sales Reps

ISFP types live in the moment. They also tend to be sensitive, and somewhat unconventional. Those with this type of personality are often:

Artists
Musicians
Purchasers (clothing, gifts, etc.)

ESTJ types are natural leaders. They are loyal and hardworking, and prefer structured environment. Those with this type of personality are often:

Military Leaders
Managers
Policemen / Detectives

ISTJ types have a high degree of attention to detail. They are very practical, and focus on facts. Those with this type of personality are often:

Accountants
Auditors
Bank Examiners

ESFJ types are very organized. They are also warm hearted and enjoy other people’s company. Those with this type of personality are often:

Nurses
Teachers
Clergy

ISFJ types are highly aware of others’ feelings. They are stable, and service oriented, putting others’ needs above their own. Those with this type of personality are often:

Curators & Librarians
General Medical Doctors
Social Workers

ENFJ types both value, and are good at creating, harmony. They tend to be creative, and like helping others. Those with this type of personality are often:

Therapists
Clergy
Politicians

INFJ types are deep thinkers, looking for meaning and purpose in everything. They also tend to be idealists. Those with this type of personality are often:

Teachers
Counselors
Medical Doctors

ENFP types dislike routine. They are also energetic, and possess great people skills. Those with this type of personality are often:

Journalists
Screen Writers
Reporters

INFP types are very loyal with strong values. They are also very interested in people and causes. Those with this type of personality are often:

Counselors
Missionaries
Professors

ENTJ types are natural leaders, and future oriented. They are very efficient and decisive. Those with this type of personality are often:

Corporate executives
Entrepreneurs
Managers

INTJ types are easily bored with routine, and like to see the big picture. They are also at home dealing with complex theory. Those with this type of personality are often:

Scientists
Engineers
Administrators

ENTP types enjoy solving problems. They are flexible, like to debate, and easily grasp difficult concepts. Those with this type of personality are often:

Teachers
Entrepreneurs
Consultants

INTP types love abstract ideas and are often creative. They have high standards and work best alone. Those with this type of personality are often:

Logisticians
Mathematicians
Programmers

Summary

Hopefully the information provided above will get you started on researching the right career path for your personality type.

Please just use this as a starting point, and take advantage of the abundance of information available to you on the web, at your local library, or counseling services.

Feel free to leave a comment if you’d like more information on this subject.