ENFJs are warm, sociable types who are welcome in any career environment. This type has the people skills to succeed in almost any field and usually become the peacemakers of their workplace. This makes them a great addition to any working environment.
General Overview
ENFJs are a fairly rare personality type that can be found in almost every career field, though they do naturally gravitate to those that involve helping others in some way. This is an extremely important value for the ENFJ, and if they don’t respect it they’ll often find themselves becoming burned out and cynical, and their work performance will suffer as a result. ENFJs are also more suited to jobs in which they can interact with others constantly and usually won’t choose a career path that leaves them isolated for long periods. This type are driven by their dominant function extraverted feeling, and as long as they’re given plenty of chances to use and develop this function they’ll be happy in their workplace.
“ENFJs are a fairly rare personality type that can be found in almost every career field, though they do naturally gravitate to those that involve helping others in some way. This is an extremely important value for the ENFJ, and if they don’t respect it they’ll often find themselves becoming burned out and cynical, and their work performance will suffer as a result.”
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Tips for Job Interviews
ENFJs generally don’t need too many tips when preparing for job interviews. Because they’re so social, they usually look forward to the prospect of meeting new people and talking to them about their strengths and career goals. This enthusiasm comes across very favorably in job interviews, and they’ll often leave their interviewee with a very good impression of their character, if not their job skills. This last part is an area that ENFJs need to be aware of during interviews. Because they like to interact with others so much, they can create the impression that they’re less focused on their career than they are on the particulars of the job. ENFJs need to remember why they’re in the interview and focus on the important parts without completely stifling their natural ability to bond with others. Because this ability is incredibly important and valued in almost every workplace.
Best Careers for the ENFJ
The desire and the innate ability to make other people happy is this type’s greatest career strength and it’s reflected in the career paths they choose. ENFJs use extraverted feeling as their dominant function, which senses the needs and emotions of others and drives them to help. Because of this function, they do best in jobs where they can interact with others or help them in some way, which is why they’re a natural fit for jobs in the healthcare industry. Many ENFJ find very happy and worthwhile jobs as nurses, doctors or psychiatrists, using their innate understanding of others to improve their lives. However, they also do well in the self-development industry. ENFJs love to help others reach their full potential, and because they’re naturally charismatic and encourage trust, you’ll often find them working as motivational speakers or life coaches.
Another, slightly unexpected potential career path for the ENFJ is in the creative field. This might seem like an odd match, because ENFJs need a lot of social contact and creative pursuits often require long periods of time alone. However, this type uses introverted intuition as their auxiliary function and this function loves to spend time alone pondering and connecting new ideas. This can lend itself very well to a career in the creative field and ENFJs who have learned to develop this auxiliary function usually thrive and produce innovative and exciting creative work.
Unsuitable Careers for the ENFJ
ENFJs usually avoid jobs that demand a lot of solitary work because they’re naturally very social. Of all the extraverts, they’re probably the type that needs the most social contact to feel healthy. So spending eight hours a day working on their own can leave them feeling exhausted, isolated and depressed. This applies to most jobs that require quiet and isolation, and ENFJs usually find it very difficult to work in cubicles on computers for long hours.
Another weakness that can make some jobs too difficult or exhausting for the ENFJ is their innate need to make other people happy. This can make working in giant corporations and making decisions that can change people’s lives very difficult. An ENFJ is likely to feel very guilty if they have to make decisions to fire people or decisions that make their lives more difficult, and doing this over the long term will quickly burn them out and leave them cynical and depressed. This doesn’t mean that they can’t be the boss of course, it just means that they have to be aware of this potential danger and take steps to avoid it.
Workplace Roles
ENFJs are natural leaders. They have a unique combination of skills including great communication skills, the natural ability to motivate and inspire, and the ability to make others feel safe and heard that makes them naturally gravitate towards leadership positions. As leaders they’re usually approachable, innovative, and just fun to be around, and their staff will look to them for both guidance and support. Although they are natural leaders, they often have trouble with the less pleasant side of the role. ENFJs aren’t good at criticizing others, they’re sensitive to criticism themselves and so will often shy away from giving it, and they like to make others happy. So if they find themselves in a position in which they have to fire others they’ll take it hard, and will often partner up with someone who doesn’t mind this side of the business to overcome this weakness.
“ENFJs aren’t good at criticizing others, they’re sensitive to criticism themselves and so will often shy away from giving it, and they like to make others happy. So if they find themselves in a position in which they have to fire others they’ll take it hard, and will often partner up with someone who doesn’t mind this side of the business to overcome this weakness.”
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As an employee the ENFJ will be enthusiastic, organized, and will naturally make the workplace a better place to be. This type will look after the people they work with, help them to be happier and healthier in their jobs and out of them. ENFJs are also fairly organized and systematic about the way they go about their work so will find it easy to keep up with the bureaucratic aspects of their job even if they don’t particularly enjoy them.
Final Thoughts
ENFJs usually find themselves in careers that are based on meeting others’ needs, though this isn’t a hard and fast rule. But their natural empathy and desire to makes others happy usually comes through in this area of their life as well and influences both their choices and the way others see them and their career.
References
- Storm Susan. “Understanding ENFJ Feeling“. Mar 17, 2017. (Retrieved Mar 2018).
- “ENFJ Development – The Unique Growth Path of the ENFJ“. (Retrieved Mar 2018).
- “ENFJ – The Mentor“.
- “The ENFJ in the Workplace“
- “The ENFJ as an Entrepreneur“.
- “Best Jobs For Your Personality“.