The Best Career Path For You, According To Your Personality Type

Do you find yourself slogging through your nine-to-five only to have sudden bursts of inspiration at 11pm? Or maybe you quit your day job for your side hustle (that’s the goal, right?) only to learn that you flounder without a stable schedule and a confident leader to guide you. If the qualities of your career aren’t a fit for your particular personality, even a dream job can feel nightmarish.

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 out yours yet? Read this then loop back here.) If you’re still searching for the right career or are craving a change, here are some interesting connections to think about before you schedule your next interview.

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ISFJ

You value: routine, caretaking, structure, familiarity

Kind, thoughtful and patient, ISFJs often excel in caretaking roles like nurse or teacher. 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 plan, 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 school 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 performers, 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 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 nine-to-five 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, nonprofit 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 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.

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