4 of the Best Careers for ESFP Personality Types

ESFP: Extroverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Prospecting.

The combination of these traits results in an individual who is enigmatic, free-spirited, and highly compassionate toward others. ESFPs, one of the 16 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personalities, are well known for flourishing in social settings and easily building personal relationships, but how do they fit into the workplace?

This post will explore insights to ESFPs at work—from careers they thrive in to the reason they make excellent hires.

What is an ESFP like?

Also known as the Entertainer, ESFPs tend to be optimistic and fun-loving, which can be a surprising asset in the workplace. Their spontaneous predisposition makes them extremely adaptable and flexible. It also makes them resourceful, enhancing their ability to successfully maneuver workplace challenges or emergencies on the spot.

Beyond their excitement for new experiences, ESFPs are extremely supportive. They love to encourage those around them and keep everyone’s energy high, while also being observant and sensitive to others feelings. And because they’re generous with their own time or energy, they’re never too busy to give a pep talk or offer advice on personal challenges.

Optimistic, supportive, and energetic can be used to describe all ESFPs, but there are actually two variants of this personality type: ESFP-Assertive and ESFP-Turbulent. Here’s how to distinguish the two:

ESFP-Assertive (ESFP-A)

ESFP-A is the more spontaneous and action-oriented of the two. As a result, they are less likely to be drawn to a career involving a lot of structure or rules—they prefer jobs that allow them freedom of expression. And because ESFP-As typically have higher workplace confidence, they feel more comfortable in roles that require them to roll with the punches. They’re also less inhibited by stress, allowing them to work well under pressure and make quick decisions.

ESFP-Turbulent (ESFP-T)

ESFP-Ts tend to be a bit more introspective than ESFP-As. While this helps them make thoughtful decisions, it can also be a major inhibitor and cause indecisiveness. However, their introspection also inclines them more toward self-improvement and personal development than ESFP-As.

ESFP-Ts are also a bit more in tune with their feelings and the feelings of those around them, making ESFP-Ts experts at handling sensitive situations.

4 Great Careers for ESFPs

ESFPs will thrive in a career with high levels of personal interaction and creative freedom, where no two days are exactly the same. Here are four of the best careers to meet those criteria:

Landscape Architect

ESFPs often have a strong interest in aesthetics and beautification, meaning they’re perfect candidates for creating appealing landscapes. And their ability to understand others’ needs and wants will help them create designs their clients will love. Plus, continually working with new clients will give them the variety and collaboration they desire.

Emergency Healthcare

This personality type is great at conflict resolution, and they love exciting new challenges. These traits make them perfect for any emergency healthcare profession like EMT, paramedic, or nurse. ESFPs are highly resourceful and wonderful at thinking on their feet, making them someone that any team would want to have around in an emergency.

The healthcare field also provides them with opportunities to collaborate with coworkers, exercise their people skills, and positively impact those around them.

Public Relations Manager

ESFPs will enjoy the creative aspect of this career and will be good at coming up with new ideas to promote their clients.

This personality type is friendly and outgoing, but they can also tune-in to others’ feelings. These traits, in addition to a keen sense of social cues, make them incredible at anticipating public perception, navigating backlash, and ultimately thriving in public relations.

Social Worker

The principal mission of social workers is to help others navigate conflict and support them through challenging times. Because ESFPs believe in encouraging and helping others, they make excellent social workers. The opportunity to build relationships and improve the world around them is also extremely fulfilling for this personality type.

3 Jobs for ESFPs to Avoid

Although the Entertainer knows how to shine in most environments, there are a few careers that may muffle their energy.

You’ve probably noticed that structure, schedules, and repetition are the antithesis of the Entertainer. They prefer variety to rigidity and excitement to long-term projects. Plus, they can feel isolated in roles with limited human interaction. So for the ESFPs of the world, it’s best to avoid the careers on this list:

Accountant

ESFPs may not be well-suited for a career in accounting because this job requires a lot of detail-oriented work, which usually isn’t something that they enjoy. Accountancy typically requires a lot of solo-work as well, which could cause ESFPs to feel unmotivated or disconnected.

Chemical Engineer

Interpersonal skills are a top strength for ESFPs and they love exercising them! So they should avoid any role with limited human interaction, or one that is focused on impartial and data-driven decisions. They’re all about human connection and spontaneity—two things that are not always found in the world of chemical engineering.

Economist

Like the role of chemical engineering, daily tasks for an economist are likely of little interest to ESFPs. Economists rely on mathematical models to analyze data and forecast market trends. The role is also centered around impartial research and decision making, which contradicts an ESFP’s love for feelings-based problem solving.

ESFPs in the Workplace

Because ESFPs need emotional fulfillment to have career motivation, it truly is vital that they’re in a field where they can exercise their strengths.

Levels of connection, creative freedom, and spontaneity can deeply influence their success and engagement. But regardless of their role, there are a few tendencies you can almost always expect from the Entertainer.

Strengths

In the right role, this personality type can make an uplifting and solution-driven hire. Here’s a look at what they bring to the team:

Effective Communication: ESFPs aren’t only great at communicating their own thoughts and perspective, they know how to facilitate communication between members of their team. When someone is struggling to get an idea across, the perceptive ESFP will be able to step in and help translate it in a way that’s understandable for the group.

Energy and Encouragement: If there’s ever been a woo person, it’s an ESFP! They know how to bring levity to most situations and encourage people to see through an optimistic lens. They’re also great at energizing team members toward their own personal goals.

Original Ideas and Solutions: One thing ESFPs aren’t short on is original thought. They see the world differently, and they’re generous with sharing those unique ideas and solutions.

Creative Vision: In need of a new perspective or a fresh take on things? ESFPs can cover that too. They thrive when they have creative freedom and they’re unbelievably talented at thinking on their feet.

Weaknesses

Every personality type has their weaknesses, and for ESFPs they typically revolve around structure or rules. Here’s a breakdown on areas for improvement:

Avoidant and Conflict-Averse: They love to help others navigate conflict, but when it comes to themselves, ESFPs will often avoid problems.

Easily Bored or Unfocused: ESFPs need to be engaged, and they typically derive that engagement from careers where no two days are the same, or involve short-term projects. So when they need to work on something long-term, it’s hard for them to stay committed.

Spontaneous: Although their spontaneity enables them to work well in emergencies, it can also backfire when ESFPs need to plan ahead. Because they gravitate toward spontaneous environments, they don’t have much expertise in planning ahead—nor do they enjoy it.

ESFPs: Expert Problem-Solvers

ESFPs are outgoing, optimistic, and creative problem solvers. It’s often a cliche, but ESFPs truly do thrive under pressure and know how to think on their feet. Their adaptability and positive outlook—even when faced with emergencies—makes them an invaluable team member.

If you’re not an ESFP, check out our posts about these personality types: