Every personality type has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some people are extroverted feelers and thinkers whereas others are more introverted. Some people are analytical and have exceptional critical-thinking skills whereas others are more open-minded and creative. Our personality types make up who we are as well as the career paths we choose. In this article, we are going to take a deeper look specifically at the ENFP personality, and the best ENFP careers.
What is the ENFP Personality?
Before we get too far into discussing the best careers for ENFPs, let’s first discuss what the ENFP personality is, and key traits and characteristics. ENFPs are generally great with people and have a natural talent and hunger for entrepreneurship and leadership.
ENFPs typically want a career that he or she can be passionate about. Settling for an unfulfilling career simply won’t do for the ENFP personality type. Unlike the INFP personality type, money is not the prime motivator for ENFPs. ENFPs are typically happy with a simplistic lifestyle, one that doesn’t focus solely on material possessions. The majority of ENFPs would rather focus on a rewarding career that they are truly passionate about rather than to get rich.
Key ENFP Personality Traits
Here is a breakdown of the key personality traits:
- Energizing
- Intelligent
- Creative
- Versatile
- Communicative
- Open
- Strategic
- Future-oriented
- Empathetic
- Cooperative
- Loyal
- Flexible
- Curious
- Informal
What Are the Best ENFP Careers?
Now that you have a better understanding of the ENFP personality type, as well as the key ENFP personality characteristics and traits, what are the best ENFP careers? Because ENFPs are typically extroverted professionals and are generally great with people, many ENFPs naturally find themselves in various health care roles, ministry, counseling, or education. Their extroverted intuition allows them to work with young adult students who are more developed and interested in abstracted learning.
ENFP College Student
ENFP students may struggle to identify a college major that satisfies their broad interests and versatile abilities. As a result, they may struggle with choosing an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or Master’s degree. Similar to the ENTP personality type, the ENFP personality type stems from the dominant extroverted intuition and thinking. These personality types love to explore a variety of options and career paths before making a firm decision. ENFP and ENTP personality types also enjoy the opportunity to explore various fields, find themselves, and discover their deepest passions through their experiences and work.
Healthcare
Most ENFP career paths that land in the healthcare space typically involve psychology and mental health, including counseling or psychiatry. Many ENFP career paths also naturally gravitate towards a non-profit, volunteer, or humanitarian work, such as the Peace Corps, environmental protection agencies, animal shelters and organizations, and so on.
Business
ENFP people who naturally find themselves in business fields, such as entrepreneurship, leadership, and other enterprise-level roles are attracted by the thought and creativity behind products, services, and ideas. The most common enterprise ENFP jobs include sales, marketing, business management, law, politics, journalism, and even day trading (stocks).
ENFPs as Social Creatures
Most ENFPs are also extroverted. ENFP and ENTP personality types are often best suited for journalism. These people love to travel, engage with other people, explore ideas and write about their experiences. This particular career path also allows a certain level of creativity, which goes hand in hand with these extroverted thinkers. Entrepreneurial ENFP types may also try various “technical” fields and roles, such as graphic and web design, freelance writing, photography, blogging, music and art, and so on.
ENFPs with a level of social perceptiveness, as outlined above, that also gravitate towards entrepreneurship may also start their own counseling practice. Many ENFPs also sell their own artistic creations online, such as on Pinterest or Etsy.
All in all, entrepreneurship grants the ENFP personality type the freedom and level of creativity they desire without the rigid, firm hold from an organizational structure. Many ENFPs also enjoy the marketing sector of entrepreneurship and are often more motivated to promote and sell their own product(s) and/ or service(s) or ideas. Some of the most ENFPs include Ellen Degeneres, Mark Twain, and Walt Disney.
ENFP Jobs and Career List
In summary, here are some examples of the best ENFP careers and jobs that are worth exploring:
- Landscape architecture
- Horticulture
- Forestry or park ranger
- Researcher or scholar (academic personality types and roles)
- Social sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, political science, geography)
- Journalist, reporter, editor, or news anchor
- Physician/doctor of medicine, psychiatry
- Actor or comedian
- Comedy writer, play writer, or screenwriter
- Dramatist
- Musician
- Graphic/website design
- Creative media professional
- Photographer
- Humanities/liberal arts
- Worship arts director
- Writer, novelist, or blogger
- Self-publisher
- Teacher/college professor
- Priest, pastor, or ministry
- Life coach
- Personal trainer
- Translator/languages
- Mediator, diplomat, humanitarian, or peace work
- Psychologist, clinical, counseling, psychiatry
- Social worker
- Entrepreneur
- Manager
- Motivational speaker
- Sales and/ or marketing
ENFP Career Paths to Avoid
Now that you have a better understanding of what the ENFP personality type consists of, and some great and rewarding career paths and jobs to consider, not all career paths and jobs are best for ENFPs.
According to data gathered from various surveys, here are some unpopular paths and jobs for ENFPs:
- Bank Teller
- Financial Manager
- Judge
- Engineering (Aerospace engineer, Civil engineer, Mechanical engineer, Computer software engineer, Chemical engineer, etc)
- Systems Analyst
- Factory Supervisor
- Police Officer
- Farmer
- Dentist
- Speech-language pathologist
- Chemist
Although any personality type can certainly be successful in any job or career path, it is true that some career paths are better suited for some personality types more than others. This is because some occupations are more appealing to the natural talents, creativity, and preferred working styles and environments to ENFPs rather than other personality types. For example, careers for INTJs may not be the same careers as ENFPs. Other career paths may require ENFPs to think or operate outside their comfort zones, or maybe too stressful or draining.
Career Paths for Other Personality Types
The personality types referred to in this article are according to the Myers-Briggs test. There are 16 different MBTI types that makeup who we are, and how we choose the best career paths.
Accordingrticle published by CNBC, here is a break down of the best and most common careers for each personality type:
- ESTJ Personality: Chef
- ISTJ Personality: Systems administrator
- ESFJ Personality: Registered nurse
- ISFJ Personality: Kindergarten teacher
- ESTP Personality: Military officer
- ISTP Personality: Police officer
- ESFP Personality: Bartender
- ISFP Personality: Jeweler
- ENTJ Personality: Physician
- INTJ Personality: Microbiologist
- ENFJ Personality: Minister
- INFJ Personality: Veterinarian
- ENTP Personality: Reporter
- INTP Personality: Teacher or college professor
- ENFP Personality: Landscape architect
- INFP Personality: Fine artist
Career Paths for Other Personality Types
Are you trying to learn more about your own personality type? Are you trying to find the job that will be the most rewarding to you? Is your current job the best job for your personality type?
Consider taking a personality test to learn more about who you are, how you operate, and the best career choice for you.
Sources
- https://www.truity.com/personality-type/ENFP/careers
- https://www.16personalities.com/enfp-careers
- https://cms.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/careercenter/explore/assessment/typefocus/whatpersonality/enfp
- https://personalityjunkie.com/enfp-careers-jobs-majors/
