5 Great Careers for the ESTP Personality Type

ESTP: Extroverted, Sensing, Intuitive, and Perceiving.

Also known as “The Entrepreneur” ESTPs are charming, witty, and know how to make stuff happen. This personality type loves to interact with people and are naturals when it comes to selling products or services.

Keep reading to learn more about this fearless personality type and find out which careers allow them to reach their full potential.

What is an ESTP Like?

ESTPs, one of the 16 personality types defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, are natural-born leaders who thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy working with people, and have an entrepreneurial personality. Their communication style tends to be direct and engaging.

But as with every personality type, there are two versions of the ESTP: Assertive (ESTP-A) and Turbulent (ESTP-T).

ESTP-A

The ESTP-A is more dominant, assertive, and typically feels comfortable taking more risks. They are action-oriented and thrive on new challenges. ESTP-A‘s are more drawn to the outdoors and love being active. They also have a strong sense of justice and like to help people in need.

ESTP-T

The ESTP-T is a more laid back personality type and they like to think before taking action. They’re also usually a bit more introspective and interested in personal growth than the ESTP-A. This means that they prefer theoretical concepts and are curious about how things work. Like their Assertive counterpart, ESTP-Ts also enjoy taking on new challenges. However, they tend to be less impulsive or risk-seeking than ESTP-As.

5 Top ESTP Careers

As “The Entrepreneur,” these individuals are often natural leaders and enjoy taking charge. And because they also love taking risks and encountering new challenges, they benefit from careers where they can dive head first into projects and exercise their problem-solving skills.

Here are the top ESTP careers:

Entrepreneur

The ESTP personality type received its nickname—”The Entrepreneur”—honestly. They love to take new risks, face challenges head on, and design their own path in life. Plus, they have top notch leadership skills. So when an ESTP is at the helm of a new or small business, it’s sure to succeed.

Freelance Creative

Life as a freelancer is everchanging. While the inconsistency of contract work may intimidate others, it invigorates ESTPs. The freedom to take on new clients and projects, and maybe even taking risks, makes the role of freelance creative a great career for ESTPs. Not to mention, being a freelancer is a lot like being an entrepreneur—you’re just selling your skills and creative vision as opposed to a good or service.

Emergency Response

If you haven’t noticed yet, the career trend for the ESTP personality type is a field full of excitement and new challenges. Working in emergency response is a great way for ESTPs to exercise their energetic work ethic and their ability to solve problems on the spot.

Marketing Executive

Marketing is a great way for the ESTP personality type to harness their natural boldness, improvisational skills, and social intelligence. Learn more about what a marketing director does.

Sales Manager

ESTPs are great at sales because they have the gift of gab and are good persuaders. They also enjoy working with people, making selling a desirable option for them.

Sales managers need to work well under pressure because things can go wrong during the sales process, especially if they’re not prepared. ESTPs are good at taking on new challenges and usually think on their feet when something goes wrong.

3 Jobs for the ESTP Personality Type to Avoid

ESTPs often struggle with the idea of following rules and structure. Because of this, they can sometimes come off as thrill-seeking. In general, they should avoid roles where the work is repretitive or roles where there is little room for creativity.

Here are three careers that don’t fit well with their personality type:

Researcher

Research is a vital role for a number of industries, and while that means there could be areas better suited to ESTPs, the role of researcher in general is probbaly one to avoid. Research takes diligence, long hours, and a lot of repetition. It’s also a space that’s limited on personal interaction and risks, meaning ESTPs wouldn’t be able to exercise two things they do best.

Electrical Engineer

Because this personality type struggles with patience and long hours of work, a career as an electrical engineer would not be the best fit for them. Plus, electrical engineers have to be highly detail-oriented—something the energetic and fun-loving ESTP may not enjoy on a daily basis.

Accountant

ESTPs are not known for their love of structure, rules, or strict processes. They prefer environments where they can think on their feet and have the freedom to take a creative, unique approach. But accounting takes consistency, long periods of focus, and compliance, making it a less favorable option for ESTPs.

ESTP Strengths

There are many strengths that this personality type brings to the workplace. They are results driven and naturally motivated to take action. And they bring keen people skills and high social intelligence to every environment.

Of the many ESTP strengths, here’s a quick list of some that make them exceptional workers:

Teamwork
Leadership
Problem-solving
Group motivation

ESTP Weaknesses

Despite their many strengths, there are a few challenges for the ESTP personality type in the workplace. Mainly, it comes down to a resistance to authority or structure, making them seem rebellious. Their need for excitement and creativity can also come across as disruptive.

But as long as they’re in the right environment—where they have creative freedom and new experiences—ESTPs are innovative and energetic hires.