The Best Career Path for You, According to Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type
Which is precisely why your Myers-Briggs personality type can lend a substantial clue as to what sort of job may make you the happiest. (Haven't figured yours out yet? Read this then loop back here.) If you’re still figuring out what career might be the best fit for you or are craving a change, here are some interesting connections to think about before you schedule your next interview.
Keep reading to learn the best career path, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type.
ISFJ
You value: routine, caretaking, structure, familiarity
Kind, thoughtful, and patient, ISFJs often excel in caretaking roles like nurses or teachers. You like knowing your place in a system or creating a set structure you can follow. You also have the quiet tenacity and detailed nature necessary to carry out your own business plans, whether it’s catering or consulting in a field you enjoy.
ESFJ
You value: social welfare, caretaking, structure, leadership
ESFJs really like to be in positions where they’re leading the charge—but also promoting the welfare of others. This plus your attention to detail and ability to step up and organize (whether it's brunch for a group of friends or a volunteer outing for your company) lends to careers like principal, counselor, nonprofit director, or HR coordinator. You also like determining your role and those of others, and often excel at promotion, participation, and conflict resolution in an office setting.
ISTJ
You value: routine, structure, organization, independence
ISTJs are dependable, capable, and enjoy knowing their place within a system. You work well independently, but are totally able to be a team player or leader if necessary. You just want to do good, efficient work! Viable career paths include accounting, administration, IT, and finance. Some ISTJs might also be drawn to careers that involve research and history, such as professor or scientist.
ESTJ
You value: structure, leadership, efficiency, logic
In any office or team, the ESTJ is typically running the show. (Get it, boss babe!) You might not dream up a company’s vision, but you are certainly the one implementing it. ESTJs excel anywhere they can step in as team leader, in careers like finance, consulting, business, and detective or police work.
ESFP
You value: flexibility, socializing, aesthetics, excitement
ESFPs are typically referred to as “the performer,” and with good reason—they're constantly drawn to exciting environments where they can express themselves. You don’t like to sit still and stay mum; you have an eye for aesthetics and are a natural at engaging others. You may be drawn to work as a hairstylist, designer, performer, teacher, or comedian, especially if you can work in non-traditional environments or set your own hours.
ISTP
You value: technical complexity, logic, analysis, independence
ISTPs love to fly solo, but they also excel when they know their role and are given space to execute it effectively. You do well with data and analytics, configuring stats into how things work, and would excel as an engineer. You are also highly practical and grounded, and may do well in occupations like surgery, carpentry, and mechanics.
ESTP
You value: novelty, spontaneity, excitement, evolving problems
ESTPs are sharp, courageous, and quick on their feet. You like evolving environments where there's never a dull moment—adapting on the fly is kind of your MO. Although you like being part of an organization or being involved with customers, you are also prefer to be independent in thought and action. You would excel at careers like sales, firefighter, paramedic, surgeon, engineer, entrepreneur; anything as long as the challenges are dynamic and new each day.
ISFP
You value: flexibility, creativity, independence, heartfelt
Of all the types, ISFPs need the most space to be creative and live life on their terms. You don’t like environments where you have to rein yourself in, follow a 9 to 5 schedule, or abide by rules or company policies. You like unconventional work situations or being your own boss. You have fine aesthetic taste and vision, often excelling in jobs like artist, designer, photographer, creative director, or stylist. As long as you’re able to think abstractly and apply your unique skill set, you’ll be happy.
ENFP
You value: flexibility, leadership, visionary ideas, novelty
ENFPs are born leaders and typically do well when they’re put in visionary roles. You have both empathy and the ability to take effective action, which makes you a force to be reckoned with in a non-profit, public relations, or entrepreneurial endeavor. You want to turn dreams into action, which is why you excel in leadership positions with a lot of flexibility to make moves.
INFP
You value: independence, welfare, creativity, varied tasks
INFPs want to do something meaningful, whether they're part of an organization doing work they believe in or they’re creating something personally fulfilling. You're typically creative and have strong writing and research skills, which is why you'd do well as a writer, professor, scientist, or artist. Despite your reputation for moving slowly and methodically, you can also be quite practical and work well in a system, like in HR, non-profit work, or social work.
ENFJ
You value: harmony, creativity, innovation, leadership
Natural-born actors who light up a room or capture an audience, ENFJs make a dynamic leaders; you know exactly how to rally a group but you’re also able to work independently toward a humanitarian or interpersonal goal. Lots of ENFJs are drawn to fields like therapy, coaching, acting, directing, consulting, and politics. Any profession that allows you to use your charisma, empathy, and powers of persuasion to achieve results would be a good fit.
INFJ
You value: social connectedness, welfare, insight, complex problems
INFJs are brilliant and socially intelligent, yet reserved. You love to connect with others and humanity at large, but remain distant enough to preserve your energy. You love challenging problems, although you’d rather work out those solutions independently than as a group. As such, INFJs do well as individual and occupational therapists, counselors, researchers, doctors, and teachers.
INTJ
You value: problem-solving, independence, insight, forward-thinking
INTJs are obsessed with finding the best solutions to complex problems; they are the masterminds of understanding and navigating systems. As such, you’ll likely be happiest in a job where you can independently theorize and discover new ways to make organizations—or the world—better. Careers as a scientist, engineer, architect, writer, or researcher all hold big potential for fulfillment.
INTP
You value: logic, analysis, novelty, innovation
INTPs love to work alone on interesting new challenges, often ones of their own creation. You would rather innovate and work on something entirely new, or seek deeper insight than anyone’s ever had in a subject matter, than be part of a system that already exists or is well-understood. Fields that rely on theory, like physics or psychology, could intrigue you, as could logic-driven careers like engineering, medicine, chemistry, and economics.
ENTP
You value: flexibility, ingenuity, connectedness, evolving problems
Of all the types, ENTPs probably struggle the most to find a career path that really suits them. If you’re frustrated, it’s probably because your job isn’t varied or evolving enough; you value taking on new challenges and problems almost every day. You would do well in a career that’s both social and flexible because you like a balance between alone time to think and social energy to feed off of. You would do well as an entrepreneur, journalist, researcher, doctor, or engineer.
ENTJ
You value: leadership, vision, insight, complex problems
ENTJs have to be executing their own vision (or a vision they really believe in) to be truly happy. You thrive in management roles, operating as the point person on a team, the visionary on a case, or running your own business. You’re great at persuasion and skilled at logical reasoning and analysis. ENTJs thrive in business and startups, as well as fields like finance, sales, and law.
Originally published January 15, 2018; updated July 17, 2018.
Does your new job come with some new sources of stress? Learn the best way to quell your anxiety, also according to your Myers-Briggs type. Next, make over your home with customized choices for your personality, too.
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