English (US) United States Flag
English (UK) English Flag

Blog

5 of the Best Careers for ISFP Personality Types

ISFPs are the “Adventurers” of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Peaceful, loyal, and practical, these personality types are attracted to creative careers that allow them to interact with others in a meaningful way. But what are those careers?

Keep reading to learn more about the best careers for ISFPs, how they thrive at work, and more!

What is an ISFP Like?

ISFPs are typically reserved, introverted, and introspective, but they’re also exploratory individuals with a passion for life and all its possibilities. They have a good sense of style and an eye for aesthetics, which makes them great at artistic creation and expression. These personality types are also:

  • Empathetic and compassionate
  • Curious and contemplative
  • Excellent (and excited) at solving problems
  • Flexible and adaptable

Not all ISFPs are the same, however. Generally, an ISFP can be either assertive (an ISFP-A) or turbulent (an ISFP-T):

ISFP-A

An ISFP-A possess a confident and action-oriented nature. As such, they’re more likely to be found in managerial roles, where they can work with people and make their own decisions. They are skilled at delegating tasks and ensuring that everything gets done on time.

ISFP-T

The ISFP-T, on the other hand, is more likely to pursue creative careers that allow them to direct their creative energy inwards. This includes fields like graphic design, web development, or writing.

A turbulent ISFP is generally very detail-oriented and likes tackling the little things that make a project successful. They like working independently and have a strong sense of intuition. This type of ISFP may struggle with confidence, however.

Top ISFP Careers

ISFP personality types are usually drawn to careers that allow them to use their artistic talents and express their creativity. More than that though, ISFPs want to engage in meaningful work. Their perfect job is usually one that aligns with their empathetic and imaginative nature, making a few select careers an obvious choice that every ISFP should consider.

Here are the top five careers for the ISFP personality type:

Graphic Designer

Graphic design is an excellent choice for ISFPs who love creating visually appealing designs, since they’re naturally artistic and possess a strong sense of creative intuition.

But graphic design is about more than just making a logo, graphic, or poster look nice; it requires a deep understanding of their audience’s needs, motivations, and thought patterns. An ISFP’s empathy is a superpower in this field, allowing them to create targeted designs that resonate with their audience.

Interior Designer

ISFPs have an appreciation for aesthetics and often see beauty in the mundane. They make successful interior designers for this reason, as they can easily create functional and visually appealing living spaces for their clients. And as interior designers, ISFPs can use almost their full skill set:

  • Attention to detail
  • Practicality
  • Creative freedom
  • Artistic expression

Nurse

Our ISFP career matches also include nursing, since this personality type is observant, caring, and compassionate towards everyone they meet (especially those in need of care or assistance).

Not only are they good at caring for others and understanding their needs, but ISFPs are flexible and can easily adapt to whatever environment they’re in. Since they can quickly adjust to the changing needs of a hectic atmosphere, they often make excellent additions to healthcare teams.

Physical Therapist

An ISFP’s strong observation skills are helpful with understanding people’s injuries and how to heal them. Their empathy and ability to make people feel comfortable will also help them thrive in this career and positively impact their patients’ lives.

Social Worker

ISFPs can usually read other people’s emotions very well and have a strong desire to help others using their inner values to guide them. They also need to work with people and feel relaxed and comfortable.

This type of work would be ideal for the ISFP personality type as this career allows them to use their natural talents to help those in need.

Jobs for ISFPs to Avoid

ISFPs like to work in relaxed environments and should avoid working jobs that are too competitive or stressful. They also may not be suited for careers that require them to work with numbers since they can struggle with hard data and long-term strategic planning.

Here are some ISFP careers to avoid:

  • Attorney or other legal professions
  • Analytical or data-heavy jobs

Attorney or Other Legal Professions

ISFPs should avoid careers as attorneys because they like to work with people and use their empathy to understand their needs, which can be difficult in a legal setting. They also need to work under pressure and meet deadlines, which isn’t an ideal fit for an ISFP. Some examples of legal careers that an ISFP may not enjoy include:

  • Paralegal
  • Contracts administrator
  • Legal assistant

Analytical or Data-Heavy Jobs

ISFPs value aesthetics and sensory experiences in their professional and personal lives, which means they may be ill-suited for careers involving intense number-crunching or analysis. This includes jobs like:

  • Financial advisor
  • Engineer
  • Chemist

ISFP Strengths in the Workplace

As the “Adventurer” of the Myer-Briggs type indicator, ISFPs love to think outside of the box and bring new ideas, methods, and creations to the table. Yes, they’re innovative—but they’re also practical. Managers and colleagues of ISFP employees can trust that their new ideas (no matter how ambitious) are achievable.

ISFPs are also excellent mediators, and they bring a calm, relaxed energy to every room they’re in. This makes them friendly, tolerant, and well-liked team members, subordinates, and managers

ISFP Weaknesses in the Workplace

ISFPs tend to struggle with a perfectionistic mindset, leading them to be overly critical of themselves. They also usually prefer careers where they interact with the people around them and may not do well in occupations that require long periods spent working on an experiment or project alone without any social interaction.

Careers that require ISFPs to be in a highly structured environment with very little room for creativity or that involve a lot of criticism are also typically not a good fit for this personality type.

Discover Your Perfect Job

Are you an ISFP seeking your perfect career? If so, make sure you’re pursing opportunities that allow you to express yourself creatively, express empathy for others, and use your natural intuition to innovate new products, processes, or methods. Fully optimize your inherent skills, and you’ll be surprised at how you’ll thrive.

When you’re finally ready to start applying to jobs, head over to the Insight Global job board, where you’ll find thousands of listings!

Not an ISFP? Here are potential careers for other personality types:

More Content