Discovering your personality type can help you make one of the most consequential decisions of your life—choosing your career—as there are some particularly suitable career paths for every personality type.
If you’ve ever taken the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) personality test, you were likely given a four-letter acronym, with each letter representing a specific personality trait, which can help you understand yourself better and what job is right for you.
If you want to learn more about what career path you should take based on your personality type, we’ve created a list of the top five career paths for each of the 16 personality types.
Let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways
- Personality tests have been around as early as the 18th century and have helped determine a person’s personality based on their physiognomy and phrenology.
- The most popular personality test nowadays is the MBTI. It’s a test with around 130 questions; it is usually free, and the results can help with choosing career paths for every personality type.
- Based on the answers you give on the test, you can be categorized into eight personality dimensions out of 16. These include extraversion or introversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving.
- You can choose between multiple jobs based on personality tests, as there are many suitable career paths for every personality type.
What is the Myers-Briggs 16 Personalities Test?
The Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) is a personality test that was curated by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs. What the test essentially does is give you around 130 personality-related questions to determine your personality dimension and type.
Personality tests have been around since the 18th century. People used to determine a patient’s personality based on the bumps on their skull as well as their phrenology and physiognomy.
The main objective of a personality test is to determine one’s values, interests, preferences, and motivations. It also serves as a way to analyze someone’s behaviors and how they relate to their personality.
If this has piqued your interest and you want to know what personality type you are, you can take the MyPersonality test for free! It will only take 10–15 minutes, and since there are some particular career paths for every personality type, this is the first step towards figuring that out.
16 Personalities: Dimensions
The questions you get to see during a personality test are there to determine your dimensions (or designations). There are four personality dimensions that your personality can fit into.
Those are:
#1. Extraverted or Introverted
When you ask people what their personality type is, they’ll usually answer either extrovert or introvert. These two personality factors are the most popular among the general public, but in a personality test, they are more nuanced and layered.
Where one falls on this dimension will greatly influence the ideal choice of career paths for every personality type.
A quick overview:
- Extraversion: Extroverts are classified as people who enjoy energetic social interactions. They are also considered action-oriented people. Quite collaborative and focused on the outside world, extroverts are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever get to meet.
- Introversion: Introverts enjoy alone time and prefer staying inside their inner world. They are very thoughtful and like to focus more on decision-making attributes. Considered quite emotional, introverts enjoy deep and meaningful conversations instead of crowded social gatherings.
#2. Sensing or Intuition
The second scale deals with whether you trust your senses or your intuition more when it comes to new information from your surroundings.
It can be divided into:
- Sensing: Sensing people pay close attention to the sensory information they gather. They are very detail-oriented and prefer to experience things by being directly involved.
- Intuition: These people prioritize first impressions and evaluate through repetitive patterns. They enjoy speculating about the future and possible outcomes.
#3. Thinking or Feeling
This scale deals with your decision-making skills, and it’s one of the most important dimensions when choosing career paths for every personality type.
This reveals whether you prioritize:
- Thinking: People who make decisions based on their thinking abilities focus on collecting facts and data. Every decision they make has to be logical.
- Feeling: In contrast, these people focus on making decisions based on their emotions.
#4. Judging or Perceiving
Lastly, this scale deals with how you like to live your outer life.
Based on that, you can either be:
- Judging: Judging people prefer a structured life and make decisions based on it.
- Perceiving: These people are considered more open to new suggestions and are therefore more flexible and adaptable—a trait highly desirable for certain career paths for every personality type that has a P in the acronym.
Best Career Paths for Every Personality
Now that you have a general understanding of each personality dimension, here are some of the best career paths for every personality:
#1. INTJ: The Mastermind
The INTJ acronym stands for introversion, intuition, thinking, and judging. People of this personality type are known as creative yet very detail-oriented.
They are extremely determined and will persevere until they accomplish their goals. INTJs are very analytical and are known for their problem-solving skills.
That’s why the best jobs for this personality type are:
- Finance
- Software engineering
- System analysis and/or engineering
- Marketing strategist
- Project manager
Some popular INTJs are:
- Stephen Hawking
- Isaac Newton
- Hillary Clinton
- Al Gore
- Jane Austen
#2. ENTJ: The Commander
ENTJ means extraversion, intuition, thinking, and judging. In contrast to the previous personality type, ENTJs prefer to make decisions quickly and are considered pretty confident. ENTJs are super optimistic and can easily motivate other people.
They also enjoy taking on leadership roles, and that’s why these jobs would fit perfectly with this personality type:
- Politics
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Corporate jobs
- Executive
A few well-known ENTJs are:
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- Harrison Ford
- Quentin Tarrantino
- Kamala Harris
- Steve Jobs
#3. INTP: The Architect
The letters in INTP stand for introversion, intuition, thinking, and perceiving. The most popular assumption about an INTP personality type is that they are very experimental. They like coming up with new ideas but prefer to work independently.
Although they are sometimes closed off, INTPs will become very intrigued and talkative once a topic of their interest is brought up.
That’s why these jobs are a great fit for INTPs:
- Software developer
- Researcher
- Programmer
- Technical writer
- Analytics
Some of the most known INTPs are:
- Albert Einstein
- Charles Darwin
- Socrates
- Abraham Lincoln
- Thomas Jefferson
#4. ENTP: The Visionary
The four letters on the ENTP acronym stand for extraversion, intuition, thinking, and perceiving. ENTPs are characterized by traits such as creativity, charisma, and innovation. They enjoy debating and showing off their intelligence.
They prefer thinking outside the box and are not afraid to show it. ENTPs are great debaters, and that’s what makes it easy for them to communicate. They’re quite flexible and adapt really quickly.
That’s why ENTPs fit well with these career paths:
- Sales
- Movie production
- Legal jobs
- Engineering
- Stock trade market
Here’s who else is an ENTP:
- Leonardo DaVinci
- Mark Twain
- Tom Hanks
- Nikola Tesla
- Walt Disney
#5. INFJ: The Counselor
The INFJ acronym is short for introversion, intuition, feeling, and judging. People with this personality type are considered compassionate and highly emotional. They are sensitive and use their emotions when making decisions.
They have a rich imagination and are considered perfectionists. However, they’re also aware of their surroundings and know that they are part of a collective. They often feel happy when another person reaches a goal.
That’s why INFJs should opt for jobs like:
- Education
- Writing
- Editing
- Psychologist
- Counseling
Some famous INFJs are:
- Gandhi
- Taylor Swift
- Edward Snowden
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
#6. ENFJ: The Teacher
ENFJ stands for extraversion, intuition, feelings, and judging. People with this personality trait spend their whole lives seeking new knowledge. They are extremely intelligent but only express it when there’s a time to be innovative.
However, outside of their job, ENTPs can be quite patronizing. They believe they’re always in the right, which can make them seem a little controlling.
On the other hand, as ENFJs are very organized and expressive, the best career paths for them would be:
- Teacher
- Politician
- Counselor
- Administrator
- Reporter
The most known ENFJs are:
- Barack Obama
- Maya Angelou
- Tom Hanks
- Alfred Hitchkock
- Oprah Winfrey
#7. INFP: The Mediator
INFP is short for introversion, intuition, feeling, and perceiving. INFPs are known for being very observant—they notice every little thing around them and are quite sensitive about it.
However, this is what makes them compassionate. They feel empathy for other people and try to help them. They’re also great listeners. However, they’re also really critical of themselves and are on the constant lookout for perfection.
That’s why the best career paths for this personality type are:
- Music related
- Arts and crafts
- Graphic design
- Fashion design
Some famous INFPs are:
- Shakespeare
- Audrey Hepburn
- George Orwell
- Princess Diana
#8. ENFP: The Champion
The letters in ENFP mean extraversion, intuition, feeling, and perceiving. People with this personality type are really creative and are constantly looking for opportunities to show off new ideas.
If they could, they would explore the whole world in one trip. They are very enthusiastic and find it easy to solve problems. This makes it easy for them to adapt to new work environments and difficult situations.
That’s why ENFPs should go for jobs such as:
- Real estate
- Marketing manager
- Sales manager
- Finance manager
- Customer service
The most famous ENFPs are:
- Tupac Shakur
- Drake
- Robin Williams
- Will Smith
#9. ISTJ: The Logistician
ISTJ stands for introversion, sensing, thinking, and judging. This personality type is mostly known for never giving up. Once ISTJs set a goal for themselves, they will persevere until it’s achieved.
They love to plan ahead and will focus on accomplishing every detail. On the other hand, they refuse to become emotional and prefer to solve problems rationally. They are also quite stubborn, which makes them dislike change.
That’s why the top careers for this personality type are:
- Military
- Law-related positions
- Medical
- Police
- Inspection
- Management
Some famous ISTJs are:
- Queen Elizabeth II
- George Washington
- George Bush
- Warren Buffett
#10. ESTJ: The Executive
ESTJ is an acronym that stands for extraversion, sensing, thinking, and judging. ESTJs are known as the most hard-working personality type.
People with this personality trait are extremely devoted to their job, and they are committed to finishing any project (no matter how difficult it may seem). They are very confident and love taking care of other people as leaders. They enjoy using their leadership style to motivate others.
That’s why the best jobs for an ESTJ are:
- Insurance
- Real estate
- Corporate jobs
- Management
- Administration
- Executive
Some famous ESTJs are:
- Frank Sinatra
- Ivanka Trump
- Billy Graham
- Celine Dion
#11. ISFJ: The Defender
ISFJ is an acronym that stands for introversion, sensing, feeling, and judging. Although they are introverted, ISFJs are known for having great interpersonal and social skills once they’re comfortable with someone.
They prefer to make other people happy rather than themselves. ISFJs are also very loyal, both at home and at work. They’re dedicated to every aspect of their lives.
This is what makes ISFJs great for jobs such as:
- Teaching
- Customer service
- Social-related jobs
- Nursing
Some well-known ISFJs are:
- Beyonce
- Michael Kaine
- Mary I of England
- Barbara Bush
#12. ESFJ: The Consul
ESFJ is short for extraverted, sensing, feeling, and judging. Just as the name suggests, ESFJs are great at helping and supporting other people, which makes them good friends.
When it comes to work, ESFJs are very practical and task-oriented. They are likely to give 100% in every aspect of their lives.
Based on that, the top jobs for ESFJs are:
- Caterer
- Event planner (birthdays, weddings, etc.)
- Nursing
- Receptionist
The most famous ESFJs include:
- Hugh Jackman
- Jessica Biel
- Rachel McAdams
- Eva Longoria
#13. ISFP: The Adventurer
ISFP is an acronym that means introverted, sensing, feeling, and perceiving. ISFPs are definitely known for their spontaneous nature. They enjoy experiencing new things and thrive when they get to do different activities.
Although this sometimes means that they can show up unprepared, ISFPs are still fun to be around and will do their best to understand everyone’s situation.
Since ISFPs love to work by themselves, these are the best jobs for them:
- Music
- Graphic design
- Fashion design
- Photography
- Cosmetology (hairdresser, makeup artist, etc.)
Well-known ISFPs include:
- Lana del Rey
- Mozzart
- Michael Jackson
- Steven Spielberg
- Brooke Shields
- Barbra Streisand
#14. ESFP: The Entertainer
ESFP is an acronym that stands for extraversion, sensing, feeling, and perceiving. Just as the name suggests, ESFPs live to entertain. They are known to live their lives to the fullest, and their main goal is to help others do the same.
ESFPs are extremely generous and want to include people in their experiences and accomplishments. They are most energetic when they are assigned creative tasks and projects. They’re also very fun to be around.
Therefore, the best jobs for ESFPs are:
- Comedian
- Sales representative
- Theatre
- Event planner
The most known ESFPs are:
- Marilyn Monroe
- Elvis Presley
- Pablo Picasso
- Bill Clinton
- Miley Cyrus
#15. ISTP: The Virtuoso
You’re considered an ISTP if you are introverted, sensing, thinking, and perceiving. ISTPs are great at problem-solving. They are great at remembering information, which they always use to their advantage.
They strive to find solutions by using common sense, which also makes them good at recognizing when someone is lying. Since they’re introverted, ISTPs are quite isolated, which makes them insensitive at times.
It’s important for them to find a healthy balance between their good and bad attributes, and these jobs can definitely help:
- Pilot
- Engineer
- Athlete
- Detective
Some well-known ISTP celebrities are:
- Clint Eastwood
- Kobe Bryant
- Bruce Lee
- Michael Jordan
- Tom Cruise
#16. ESTP: The Entrepreneur
ESTPs are extraverted, sensing, thinking, and perceiving. People with this personality type are born leaders. They have great communication skills, which they can use to motivate and support others.
They are very aware of their surroundings and have a realistic view of the meaning of life. ESTPs love taking risks and constantly going out of their comfort zone.
Based on this, the top jobs for ESTPs are:
- Entrepreneur
- Politician
- Actor
- Manager
- Real estate agent
Some celebrities that are ESTPs include:
- Madonna
- Donald Trump
- Bruce Willis
- Ernest Hemingway
- Eddie Murphy
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right career for you is crucial if you want to be happy with what you do. So, knowing there are some clear career paths for every personality type and making a small effort to discover yours can significantly help you out in that quest.
Once you finish the test, you’ll get an acronym that represents your personality type. Upon getting your results, come back to our list of career paths for every personality type.
We hope this article has helped you get the answer you were looking for, and we wish you good luck with picking a career path!
