The ENFP

Using your Psychological Type Indicator results

to think about career options
hen considering your PTI report (or any other valid Type report), it is
important to understand that there are no right or wrong answers, or right
or wrong personality types. All types all are valuable and only the individual
concerned can decide his or her own Type. Personality Type has been used
extensively to improve the way people work together in organizations, and, on a
personal level, Type can be used for personal and career development, improving
relationships, navigating mid-life crises, and understanding stress.

The PTI reports preferred ways of behaving on four scales, each consisting of two
opposite poles. Personal preferences govern much of our own behaviour in our
lives and in our work. The easiest way to explain what is meant by preference is to
sign your name with your usual hand and then do the same thing with the other
hand. Writing with your usual hand feels easy and natural, while the other feels
awkward and difficult. The same applies to behaviour preferences you can do it the
other way, but it feels less natural and you would probably need to practice for a
while before you could get the same result. You can imagine how difficult and tiring
it would be if you had to use your non-preferred hand all day. Carl Jung believed that
preferences are inborn, but that the extent to which we develop them is affected by
our environment and experience of life.

THE ENFP CAREER BOOKLET

How does type affect career choice?

People choose occupations for many reasons, such as challenge, money, location,
family expectations, desire to serve others, learned skills, and others. The
assumption when using the PTI in career coaching is that one of the most
important motivations for choosing a career is a desire for work that is interesting
and satisfying and that will permit use of your preferred functions and will entail
relatively little use of the less-preferred functions. No occupation provides a perfect
match, but knowledge of your inner temperamental preferences can help you to
avoid major mismatches, understand sources of stress, and help you to find
appropriate niches for yourself if you find yourself in the wrong job.
When in a job that requires the use of less preferred functions people tend to
report feelings of greater fatigue and inadequacy. Using their best functions
requires less effort for better performance and gives more satisfaction. If you are in
the wrong job (or at least one that has large sections of it that dont interest or
motivate you) the PTI can help you understand why its wrong for you, and you can
use your knowledge of Type to assess future options or adapt your job to enable
you to use your preferred functions more.
By now, things may be starting to fall into place for you in terms of your own
career. Perhaps you are an intuitive thinker in a specialty that requires a lot of
attention to detail and gives little opportunity for finding creative solutions. Maybe
you are a feeling type but never get the opportunity to help people directly. Perhaps
you are an introvert and never get the chance to think alone, or an extravert in a
job with little human contact. You may be idyllically happy in your job, in which
case your Type and your work are likely to be well suited. Or you may have found
yourself in a largely unsuitable specialty but have found a niche that allows you to
use your preferred functions. If you are at the stage of deciding which career path
to follow, some idea of your type will be invaluable not only for matching your
personality to jobs but also for understanding your strengths and weaknesses in
the career hunting process.
It cannot be said too often that generating ideas, gathering information,
networking, and careful decision making are essential ingredients of effective
career development, but different personality types are better at different stages of
this process. Introverts may find networking very hard, while extraverts may rush
into things without giving themselves time to think. Sensing types may make
decisions based on the here and now, forgetting to look ahead, while intuitives may
be so concerned with future possibilities that they forget to consider practical
things like travelling and living arrangements. Judging types may make decisions
too quickly, while perceivers are in danger of not making a decision at all. And so it
goes on. The beauty of Type is that there is something for everyone. Whether
youre an INTP and dream of sitting in intellectual solitude, thinking up wonderful
complex ideas at a safe distance from the masses, or youre an ESFP and like
nothing better than the action, spontaneity, and endless human contact of an
accident and emergency department, or if you fall into any of the variations in
between, the chances are that there is a career and job that is right for you.
The information that we provide about each Psychological Type is intended to be a
guide only, and does not constitute a complete analysis of your ideal career. Nor
does it guarantee success or failure within any particular occupation, as individuals
vary greatly in many other ways. However, we certainly encourage personal selfknowledge and research in your quest to live up to your fullest potential, and for
this reason we provide you with this information.
2

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.

Summary descriptors
ISTJ Business executives, administrators and managers, accountants, police,
detectives, judges, lawyers, medical doctors, dentists, computer programmers,
systems analysts, computer specialists, auditors, electricians, math teachers,
mechanical engineers, steelworkers, technicians, militia members. Similar to the
ESTJ, ISTJs have a talent for detail and memorization, but work more behind the
scenes instead of up front as a leader.
ESTJ Military, business administrators, managers, police/detective work, judges,
financial officers, teachers, sales representatives, government workers, insurance
agents, underwriters, nursing administrators, trade and technical teachers. Natural
leaders, ESTJs often work best when they are in charge and enforcing the rules.

The list shown on the right is

a quick summary of the most
popular career choices that are
made by each of the 16 Types
identified within the PTI (based
on Jungian theory). In the last
2 pages of this booklet, we will
look specifically at your own
Type as far as career options
are concerned.

ISFJ Interior decorators, designers, nurses, administrators, managers,

secretaries, child care/early childhood development, social work, counsellors,
paralegals, clergy, office managers, shopkeepers, bookkeepers, homemakers,
gardeners, clerical supervisors, curators, family practice physicians, health service
workers, librarians, medical technologists, typists. Tradition-oriented and down-toearth, ISFJs do best in jobs in which they can help people achieve their goals, or
where structure is needed.
ESFJ Home economics, nursing, teaching, administrators, child care, family
practice physician, clergy, office managers, counsellors, social workers,
bookkeeping, accounting, secretaries, organization leaders, dental assistants,
homemakers, radiological technologists, receptionists, religious educators, speech
pathologists. ESFJs often do best in jobs where they can apply their natural
warmth at building relationships with other people.
ISTP Police, detectives, forensic pathologists, computer programmers, system
analysts, computer specialists, engineers, carpenters, mechanics, pilots, drivers,
athletes, entrepreneurs, fire-fighters, paramedics, construction workers, dental
hygienists, electrical engineers, farmers, military, probation officers, steelworkers,
transportation operatives. With the ability to stay calm under pressure, ISTPs often
excel in any job which requires immediate action.
ESTP Sales representatives, marketers, police, detectives, paramedics, medical
technicians, computer technicians, computer technical support, entrepreneurs,
comedians, agents, race car drivers, fire-fighters, military, loan sharks, con men,
auditors, carpenters, craft workers, farmers, labourers, service workers,
transportation operatives. ESTPs often have a gift for reacting to and solving
immediate problems, and persuading other people.
ISFP Artists, musicians, composers, designers, child care workers, social
workers, counsellors, teachers, veterinarians, forest rangers, naturalists,
bookkeepers, carpenters, personal service workers, clerical supervisors,
secretaries, dental and medical staffers, waiters and waitresses, chefs, nurses,
mechanics, physical therapists, x-ray technicians. ISFPs often do well in the arts,
as well as helping others and working with people.
ESFP Actors, painters, comedians, adult entertainers, sales representatives,
teachers, counsellors, social workers, child care, fashion designers, interior
decorators, consultants, photographers, musicians, human resources managers,
clerical supervisors, coaches, factory supervisors, food service workers,
receptionists, recreation workers, religious educators, respiratory therapists.
Optimistic and fun-loving, ESFPs enthusiasm is often great for motivating others.

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.

INFJ Counsellors, clergy, missionaries, teachers, medical doctors, dentists,

chiropractors, psychologists, psychiatrists, writers, musicians, artists, psychics,
photographers, child care workers, education consultants, librarians, marketeers,
scientists, social workers. Blessed with an idealistic vision, INFJs do best when
they seek to make that vision a reality.
ENFJ Teachers, consultants, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, clergy,
sales representative, human resources, managers, events coordinators, politicians,
diplomats, writers, actors, designers, homemakers, musicians, religious workers,
writers. ENFJs often have a talent for encouraging others to actualise themselves,
and provide excellent leadership.
INFP Writers, artists, counsellors, social workers, English teachers, fine arts
teachers, child care workers, clergy, missionaries, psychologists, psychiatrists,
scientists, political activists, editors, education consultants, journalists, religious
educators, social scientists. Driven by a strong sense of personal values, INFPs are
often also highly creative and can offer support from behind the scenes.
ENFP Actors, journalists, writers, musicians, painters, consultants, psychologists,
psychiatrists, entrepreneurs, teachers, counsellors, politicians, diplomats, television
reporters, marketers, scientists, sales representatives, artists, clergy, public
relations, social scientists, social workers. Very creative and fun-loving, ENFPs
often excel at careers which allow them to express their ideas and spontaneity.
INTJ Scientists, engineers, professors, teachers, medical doctors, dentists,
corporate strategists, organization founders, business administrators, managers,
military, lawyers, judges, computer programmers, system analysts, computer
specialists, psychologists, photographers, research department managers,
researchers, university instructors, chess players. INTJs often They have a
particular talent for grasping difficult, complex concepts and building strategies.
ENTJ Business executives, CEOs, organization founders, business administrators,
managers, entrepreneurs, judges, lawyers, computer consultants, university
professors, politicians, credit investigators, labour relations worker, marketing
department manager, mortgage banker, systems analysts, scientists. ENTJs are
often born to lead and can steer the organization towards their vision, using their
excellent organising ability and understanding of what needs to get done.
INTP Physicists, chemists, biologists, photographers, strategic planners,
mathematicians, university professors, computer programmers, computer
animators, technical writers, engineers, lawyers, forensic researchers, writers,
artists, psychologists, social scientists, systems analysts, researchers, surveyors.
Highly analytical, INTPs can often discover connections between two seemingly
unrelated issues, concepts or factors, and work best when allowed to use their
imagination and critical thinking skills.
ENTP Entrepreneurs, lawyers, psychologists, photographers, consultants, sales
representatives, actors, engineers, scientists, inventors, marketers, computer
programmers, comedians, computer analysts, credit investigators, journalists,
psychiatrists, public relations, designers, writers, artists, musicians, politicians.
Very freedom-oriented, ENTPs often need a career which allows them to act
independently and express their creativity and insight.

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.

Detailed career description information for ENFPs

Whether youre a new entrant to the world of work or a mature adult looking for
the best possible onward career path, there are two foundational factors that have
a major role to play in your choices (and the enjoyment that you are likely to gain
from the job that you do). These are your personality temperament or Type (or
what is often described to be your inner nature) and your skills or competencies,
or what you have learned to do relatively well (or what is often described as the
nurture side of the equation). The more that we can better understand both of
these factors, the more informed our career choices can be. While we usually have
a reasonably good appreciation of what we have learned to do well (or not so well),
our inner temperament or Type is not as easy to determine.
The following information therefore relates to the inner temperamental preferences
and traits associated with your particular Type out of the 16 that are available (as
these have been derived from completing the questionnaire).
ENFPs generally have the following preferences or traits:

ENFPs are
estimated to
be around 8%
of the overall
population

Project-oriented

Bright and capable

Warmly, genuinely interested in people; great people skills

Extremely intuitive and perceptive about people

Able to relate to people on their own level

Service-oriented; likely to put the needs of others above their own

Future-oriented

Dislike performing routine tasks

Need approval and appreciation from others

Cooperative and friendly

Creative and energetic

Well-developed verbal and written communication skills

Natural leaders, but do not like to control people

Resist being controlled by others

Can work logically and rationally use their intuition to understand the goal
and work backwards towards it

Usually able to grasp difficult concepts and theories

ENFPs are lucky in that theyre good a quite a lot of different things. An ENFP can
generally achieve a good degree of success at anything which has interested them.
However, ENFPs get bored rather easily and are not naturally good at following
things through to completion. Accordingly, they should avoid jobs which require
performing a lot of detailed, routine-oriented tasks. They will do best in professions
which allow them to creatively generate new ideas and deal closely with people.
They will not be happy in positions which are confining and regimented.

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.

Possible career paths for ENFPs

It is important to recognise that any of the 16 Types can successfully perform any
job that exists in the world of work. However, each of the Types will go about doing
a particular job quite differently. In fact, international occupational choice evidence
suggests that each Type is likely to undertake a specific range of careers that tend
to be more suited to their temperament (left to their own devices to choose of
course).

The following list of

professions that are often
occupied by people with ENFP
preferences. It is meant to be a
starting place, rather than an
exhaustive list. There are no
guarantees that any or all of
the careers or industries listed
here would be appropriate for
you, or that your best career
match is among those listed.

The following list should therefore be used as a general guide to what other ENFPs
have elected to do most often by way of jobs in the general world of work. You can
then use this list to explore one or more of these options to determine degree of fit
to your own interests or elect to look elsewhere if you think that none of these
options seem to be a good fit for you. The first list is a general list of job types
which are often occupied by people with an ENFP preference. Underneath these
jobs are the industries which are often attractive in practice and the functions which
are often most attractive in a commercial enterprise (both tables being in priority
order).

Counsellors and social workers

Psychologist

Teacher

Consultant

Clergy/religious worker

Entrepreneur

Writer/journalist

Actor/performance/artist

Social scientist

Musician

Industries most attractive tend

to be:

Commercial functions most

attractive are:

Social services

Human resources/training

Education/schools/college

Customer service

Church/religion

Public relations/communication

Healthcare/medical

Project management

Hospitality/accommodation/
entertainment

Sales

Airlines/aerospace/travel

Operations
Purchasing/contracts

Voluntary/non-profit
Retail
Art/theatre/drama

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.

Possible areas for development for the ENFP

Enthusiasm and insight gives ENFPs the ability to meet people on their own
terms and start interesting new projects. ENFPs may need to beware that in their
quest for the ideal and harmony at all costs, they do not exhaust themselves and
others.
Works best

when feels warm liking and approval from others; allowed

to be creative

Works least well

when involved in power struggles, being bullied or asked

to carry out plans which, in the ENFPs view, may harm
people

As team member

contributes strong feeling of identity with team; builds

bridges

Leads by

creating trust, openness; walking the talk; inspiring belief

that the impossible is possible; believes in the value of
what each individual can contribute; sees self as a leader
of leaders; shares tasks on informal collegiate basis rather
than through command and control; may promise more
than can be delivered

Ideal organization

makes a difference on important global concerns;

emphasises values; is democratic, encourages discussion
on all important concerns

Ideal boss

is sensitive, flexible and shares the same sense of humour;

gives large measure of trust and never micro-manages

Relating to others

is unpretentious and genuine, establishing rapport quickly,

showing that he or she accepts the other person
unconditionally; is constantly searching for the flawless
relationship and may think the grass is greener elsewhere;
tolerant with lapses from good behaviour in others but if
really pushed may become surprisingly acerbic

Makes mistakes

with work that demands attention to routine detail

Decides

by involving others; can tolerate high degree of ambiguity

as long as core values are not under attack; looks at the
facts last

Regards change

as a way to bring about the dreams and ideals of the future;

insists on the people implications being discussed; if this
is not possible, may see change as unmitigated disaster

Thinks

at the macro level about how ideas will affect people; may
look for the Big Idea that will unlock human behaviour;
may be attracted to gurus

Communicates

fluently and impressively; explains through story-telling;

able to improvise using humour and creativity; likes to see
and be seen; loves networking

ENFPs may become more

effective through:

learning to discipline the

tendency to go off at tangents

accepting that the grass is not

necessarily greener elsewhere

accepting that some of their

inspirations may need detailed
work before they can be realised

realising that criticisms are not

necessarily personal slights

working on their ability to listen

remembering to consider the

facts before coming to a
conclusion

regarding people who counsel

caution as being helpful rather
than irritating

following through on one

project before starting another

allowing enough time for rest

and exercise

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.

Industries and functions

In this booklet we have described a number of Industries and functions. Although
this is not an exhaustive list, the 36 most common Industry and 20 most
common Commercial classifications are shown as a whole below:

For 15 years the Worldwide Centre

for Organizational Development has
been offering its clients best-practice
people-based research, consulting
services and on-line tools to help
maximise human potential.
WCOD and www.od-center.org (the
main web site for the business) are
located at 8938 S. Sepulveda Blvd,
Suite 110-705, in Los Angeles,
California.
Telephone: 1 310 306 0980
Fax: 1 310 349 3391
The Psychological Type Indicator
(PTI) can be found at the web site
www.profiles-r-us.com/pti

Industries:
1. Advertising/media/print/publishing
2. Agriculture/farming
3. Airlines/aerospace/travel
4. Armed services
5. Arts/theatre/drama
6. Automotive/mechanical
7. Call centre/telemarketing/telesales
8. Church/religion
9. Computing/electronics
10. Construction/building
11. Craft/trades
12. Education/schools/college
13. Energy (oil, gas, chemicals, water)
14. Engineering/technical
15. Entrepreneurial business
16. Financial services (banking,
insurance etc)
17. Healthcare/medical
18. Hospitality/accommodation/
entertainment
19. IT/technology
20. Logistics/transport/warehousing
21. Manufacturing
22. Mining/extraction
23. Police/fire/security services
24. Professional services (accounting,
legal etc)
25. Public sector/government-local
26. Public sector/government-national
27. Retail
28. Restaurant/food distribution
29. Schools and education
30. Science/research
31. Small business/entrepreneurial
32. Social services
33. Telecommunications
34. Transport/logistics/distribution
35. Voluntary/non-profit
36. Other

Commercial functions:
1. Administration
2. Audit/risk/regulatory
3. Customer service
4. Finance/accounting
5. Human resources/training
6. Engineering/maintenance
7. Executive/board
8. Information technology
9. Legal services
10. Logistics/distribution/transport
11. Marketing
12. Operations
13. Project management
14. Public relations/communication
15. Purchasing/contracts
16. Project management
17. Quality assurance services
18. Research/development/design
19. Sales
20. Other

WCOD & Career Spotters, 2009. All rights reserved.