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9 Best Careers for an Enneagram Type 1

Are you trying to determine what the best career is for yourself? Have you gone from one job to the next, never really fulfilled or feeling like you’d be better at something else? Many people have trouble choosing a career. Thankfully, tools exist to help you find the next best profession, such as the Enneagram Personality Test.

Continue reading to learn about Enneagram Type 1 and what careers may be best for them!


RELATED: The Best Careers by MBTI Personality Type


 What Is the Enneagram Personality Test?

The Enneagram describes nine personalities that help people understand themselves and their worldviews. From learning your strengths and weaknesses to finding out which careers are most suited to you, the Enneagram helps individuals looking to improve themselves on the road to self-knowledge.

Our experiences affect how we perceive the world. The nine Enneagram personalities describe a core belief about that worldview. These beliefs influence our motivations, fears, strengths, weaknesses, and character attributes.

Different Enneagram Types

The Enneagram test may showcase characteristics of more than one of the nine personalities, but one typically stands out. That is your basic personality type. The nine Enneagram types include:

  • The Reformer, which we’ll discuss more in this blog
  • The Helper
  • The Achiever
  • The Individualist
  • The Investigator
  • The Loyalist
  • The Enthusiast
  • The Challenger
  • The Peacemaker

You may not identify with every characteristic, strength, weakness, or attribute of your primary Enneagram type. But it’s insightful to see which type is most prominent within your personality.

Characteristics of an Enneagram Type 1

Our focus today is on Enneagram Type 1—the Reformer. The Reformer is idealistic, often described as purposeful and self-controlled. But they can also be perfectionists. They hold themselves—and the world—to high standards. Sometimes, these standards are hard to live up to.

This personality type is motivated to be correct and improve things. However, they can also become consumed by their desire to be perfect and avoid criticism. They emphasize living purposefully, being honorable, and doing everything correctly.

If you’re a Type 1, you may be fearful of being a flawed person, and to cope, you sometimes act overly rigid or disciplined throughout your day-to-day life at work or within your interpersonal relationships. Like every type, the Reformers have areas where they can improve themselves, like learning to be less rigid or judgmental of others and themselves.

Some attributes you may expect from a type one include:

  • Loyalty and honesty
  • Diligent workers
  • Self-disciplined
  • Conscientious
  • Meticulous planners
  • Trustworthy
  • Detail-oriented
  • Balanced
  • Dependable

Consider These Enneagram Type 1 Careers Today

Because of their determination, idealism, and a strong sense of right and wrong, the Reformers can be successful across several industries. Here are nine Enneagram Type 1 jobs that may be best suited for you.


Enneagram Type 1 Careers. Lawyer, business executive, judge, politician, social worker, software developer, teacher, financial planner, journalist, healthcare professional


Lawyer or Judge

Enneagram Ones have the potential to make excellent lawyers or judges. Their sense of right and wrong and desire for justice make a career in the legal field naturally attractive and fulfilling.

Politician

A career in politics offers Enneagram Type 1 individuals a purpose. They care about enacting positive change within their communities and nationally, which they can do as politicians.

Healthcare Professional

Attention to detail and excellent decision-making make the healthcare industry a perfect match for the Reformer. They’ll also love the consistent opportunities to help others.

Business Executive

Type Ones make competent business executives because of their dependability and natural desire to work hard. In addition to being excellent leaders, they will enjoy the chance to inspire others and improve the efficiency of a company across any industry.

Financial Planner

A career in the financial space allows type one to utilize their planning skills day in and day out. As a financial planner, you’ll have the chance to improve your client’s finances and enact a positive change in their overall life.

Software Developer

Type ones are logical and practical, which makes them great problem solvers. Add some science and math skills, and you’d quickly excel as a software developer. A Reformer will enjoy the challenges and complexities of the tech industry and relish the chance to create software that enacts change.

Journalist

The Reformer can make excellent journalists because of their thirst for truth. Characteristics like attention-detail, dependability, and strong moral ethics make journalism a strong career choice for an Enneagram Type 1.

Social Worker

Since type one personality types are constantly looking to improve the lives of others, a career in social work is a perfect fit. Not only do they naturally have the skills for it, but working as a social worker offers the purpose and fulfillment that type one actively seeks day-to-day.


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 Teacher

Enneagram Type 1 personalities love inspiring others and are well-suited to work as professors, teachers, and coaches in many capacities. Reformers can instruct and guide young people toward becoming productive members of society. Their natural inclination for academics makes education a solid choice for the Reformer.

Make Your Next Career Move with Insight Global

Enneagram Type Ones are dedicated and dependable, and ideally, their choice of career should allow them to express these attributes in a meaningful way. If you’re a Type One ready to make your next big move, head over to Insight Global’s job board, where you’ll find thousands of listings.

More Enneagram careers: