ENFP
Extraverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Perceiving
As an ENFP, career satisfaction means doing work that:
Popular Occupations for ENFPs
Because of their combination of preferences, ENFPs are naturally drawn to a wide variety of occupations. In listing occupations that are popular among ENFPs, it is important to note that there are successful people of all types in all occupations. However, the following are careers ENFPs may find particularly satisfying and some of the reasons why. This is by no means a comprehensive listing but is included to suggest possibilities you may not have previously considered. Although all of these occupations offer the potential for career satisfaction, the future demand for some careers is anticipated to be greater than for others. Based upon our research, the occupations that are italicized in the lists below are forecast to enjoy the fastest rate of growth over the next several years.
CREATIVE
The obvious appeal of these creative careers is the opportunity to continually develop new and original approaches. ENFPs enjoy the creative process, especially if it offers opportunity for collaboration and to be inspired by working with others. The more unconstrained and flexible the working environment, the better ENFPs like it. They work well independently but need frequent, spontaneous interaction with others to keep their creative juices flowing and to keep their work fun.
MARKETING/ PLANNING
ENFPs usually are excellent long-range thinkers and can easily see the possible effects of an idea, program, or service on others. They take the needs and concerns of other people into consideration in their planning and often devise innovative and humane solutions to problems. They enjoy creative problem solving, especially as part of a lively and energetic team. Often clever and funny, many ENFPs find satisfaction in writing advertising copy for print or broadcast media. The fast pace and constantly changing face of advertising is also appealing. And they can be great spokespeople for organizations in the role of a public relations manager.
EDUCATION/ COUNSELING
Many ENFPs find work that has a positive impact on others to be intrinsically satisfying. They can be compassionate and supportive psychologists and creative and enthusiastic career counselors, helping their clients find new and original solutions to problems. Their focus is on possibilities, especially for others, and they have an infectious and energizing style that motivates their clients to try to make positive changes in their lives. They enjoy helping others develop their own spirituality and often are attracted to careers in some form of ministry. As ombudspersons, they are effective and innovative catalysts for change within organizations, helping individuals by serving as a guide to available resources.
HEALTH CARE/ SOCIAL SERVICE
These fields in health care and social service are generally appealing to ENFPs, in part because of their helping nature and opportunity to use creative approaches but also because these tend to be careers one can self-manage while remaining independent and flexible. ENFPs in these careers are most satisfied when they are able to work outside of a rigid traditional structure, perhaps as consultants serving a variety of clients.
ENTREPRENEURIAL/ BUSINESS
ENFPs are born entrepreneurs!They enjoy working for themselves because it gives them the freedom and flexibility, and the opportunity to choose the projects they wish to work on and the people they want to work with. They usually have an abundance of ideas they want to see turned into reality, particularly those that will affect other people. Many ENFPs enjoy consulting in the areas of team building, conflict resolution, or increasing effectiveness in the workplace. They also enjoy being independent salespeople, especially selling intangibles — ideas, rather than products. The conventional business world is usually not appealing to ENFPs because they dislike excessive rules, regulations, or standard operating procedures. However, within traditional organizations, ENFPs flock to the human resources departments in the role of trainers and counselors. They find that a career as an employment development adviser uses their abilities to plan ahead and devise creative ways for people to do their work while keeping the organization’s goals in mind. Remember, these are only some areas that provide satisfying expression for the unique natural talents of the ENFP.
TECHNOLOGY
With the proliferation of technology, there is a rapidly growing need for people who understand technology but also have good people and communication skills. Being the liaison between the technology people and the end users appeals to many ENFPs, who find these jobs satisfy their need to help and be connected with their co-workers.
Your work-related strengths may include:
Your work-related weaknesses may include:
Using your strengths is easy. The secret to success for an ENFP is learning to: Prioritize, focus, and follow through.
- Lets me work with a diverse group of people on a variety of projects, motivated by creative inspiration
- Lets me create new ideas, products, services, or solutions to problems that will help other people, and then see my projects become reality
- Is fun, challenging, and always varied
- Rarely requires me to handle the follow-through, routine details, or maintenance of a system or project
- Lets me work at my own pace and schedule, with a minimum of rules or structure and the freedom to act spontaneously
- Lets me meet new people, learn new skills, and continually satisfy my curiosity
- Is consistent with my personal beliefs and values and lets me create opportunities that benefit others
- Is done in a friendly and relaxed environment with humor, goodwill, and a minimum of interpersonal conflict
- Allows me the freedom to follow my inspirations and participate in exciting and intriguing adventures
- Is done in an environment that appreciates and rewards enthusiasm, ingenuity, and imagination
Popular Occupations for ENFPs
Because of their combination of preferences, ENFPs are naturally drawn to a wide variety of occupations. In listing occupations that are popular among ENFPs, it is important to note that there are successful people of all types in all occupations. However, the following are careers ENFPs may find particularly satisfying and some of the reasons why. This is by no means a comprehensive listing but is included to suggest possibilities you may not have previously considered. Although all of these occupations offer the potential for career satisfaction, the future demand for some careers is anticipated to be greater than for others. Based upon our research, the occupations that are italicized in the lists below are forecast to enjoy the fastest rate of growth over the next several years.
CREATIVE
- Journalist Screenwriter/ playwright
- Columnist
- Character actor
- Musician/ composer
- Newscaster
- Interior decorator
- Artist
- Reporter/ editor (magazine)
- Informational-graphics designer
- Desktop publisher
- Editor/ art director (Web sites)
- Creative director on a multimedia team
- Developer of educational software
- Multimedia producer
- Director of regional/ community theater
- Documentary filmmaker
- Costume and wardrobe designer
- Television producer
- Broadcast news analyst
- Cartoonist and animator
- Exhibit designer
The obvious appeal of these creative careers is the opportunity to continually develop new and original approaches. ENFPs enjoy the creative process, especially if it offers opportunity for collaboration and to be inspired by working with others. The more unconstrained and flexible the working environment, the better ENFPs like it. They work well independently but need frequent, spontaneous interaction with others to keep their creative juices flowing and to keep their work fun.
MARKETING/ PLANNING
- Public relations specialist
- Marketing consultant
- Advertising account executive
- Copy writer/ publicity writer
- Advertising creative director
- Strategic planner
- Publicist
- Research assistant
- Editor/ art director (magazine)
ENFPs usually are excellent long-range thinkers and can easily see the possible effects of an idea, program, or service on others. They take the needs and concerns of other people into consideration in their planning and often devise innovative and humane solutions to problems. They enjoy creative problem solving, especially as part of a lively and energetic team. Often clever and funny, many ENFPs find satisfaction in writing advertising copy for print or broadcast media. The fast pace and constantly changing face of advertising is also appealing. And they can be great spokespeople for organizations in the role of a public relations manager.
EDUCATION/ COUNSELING
- Special education teacher
- Bilingual education teacher
- Early childhood education teacher
- Teacher: art/ drama/ music/ English
- Child welfare counselor
- Substance abuse counselor
- Social worker (elderly and child day care issues)
- Development director
- Career counselor
- Residential housing director
- Pastoral counselor
- Rehabilitation worker
- Social scientist
- Educational psychologist
- Planned-giving officer
- Philanthropic consultant
- Social psychologist
- Counseling psychologist
- Anthropologist
- Parent instructor, child development course
- High school guidance counselor
Many ENFPs find work that has a positive impact on others to be intrinsically satisfying. They can be compassionate and supportive psychologists and creative and enthusiastic career counselors, helping their clients find new and original solutions to problems. Their focus is on possibilities, especially for others, and they have an infectious and energizing style that motivates their clients to try to make positive changes in their lives. They enjoy helping others develop their own spirituality and often are attracted to careers in some form of ministry. As ombudspersons, they are effective and innovative catalysts for change within organizations, helping individuals by serving as a guide to available resources.
HEALTH CARE/ SOCIAL SERVICE
- Dietitian/ nutritionist
- Speech-language pathologist/ audiologist
- Holistic health practitioner (alternative medicine)
- Massage therapist
- Employee assistance program counselor
- Physical therapist
- Legal mediator
- Chiropractor
- Urban regional planner
- Public health educator
- Occupational therapist
These fields in health care and social service are generally appealing to ENFPs, in part because of their helping nature and opportunity to use creative approaches but also because these tend to be careers one can self-manage while remaining independent and flexible. ENFPs in these careers are most satisfied when they are able to work outside of a rigid traditional structure, perhaps as consultants serving a variety of clients.
ENTREPRENEURIAL/ BUSINESS
- Consultant
- Inventor
- Sales: intangibles/ ideas
- Human resources manager
- Human resources development trainer
- Conference planner
- Employment development specialist
- Restaurateur
- Management consultant: change management/ team building/ diversity
- Merchandise planner
- Diversity manager– human resource
- Corporate/ team trainer
- Advertising account manager or account executive
- Public relations specialist
- Marketing executive: radio/ TV/ cable broadcast industry
- Outplacement consultant
- Environmental attorney
- Personnel recruiter
- Labor relations specialist
ENFPs are born entrepreneurs!They enjoy working for themselves because it gives them the freedom and flexibility, and the opportunity to choose the projects they wish to work on and the people they want to work with. They usually have an abundance of ideas they want to see turned into reality, particularly those that will affect other people. Many ENFPs enjoy consulting in the areas of team building, conflict resolution, or increasing effectiveness in the workplace. They also enjoy being independent salespeople, especially selling intangibles — ideas, rather than products. The conventional business world is usually not appealing to ENFPs because they dislike excessive rules, regulations, or standard operating procedures. However, within traditional organizations, ENFPs flock to the human resources departments in the role of trainers and counselors. They find that a career as an employment development adviser uses their abilities to plan ahead and devise creative ways for people to do their work while keeping the organization’s goals in mind. Remember, these are only some areas that provide satisfying expression for the unique natural talents of the ENFP.
TECHNOLOGY
- Customer relations manager
- Staff advocate (technology consultant)
- Coach
- Project manager
- Engagement manager
- Human resources recruiter
With the proliferation of technology, there is a rapidly growing need for people who understand technology but also have good people and communication skills. Being the liaison between the technology people and the end users appeals to many ENFPs, who find these jobs satisfy their need to help and be connected with their co-workers.
Your work-related strengths may include:
- Eagerness to “think outside the box” and consider new possibilities
- Courage to take some risks, try new things, and overcome obstacles
- A broad range of interests and ability to quickly learn things that interest you
- Natural curiosity and skill for getting the information you need
- Ability to see the big picture and the implications of actions and ideas
- Excellent communication skills and ability to rouse others’ enthusiasm
- Adaptability; you can shift gears and change directions quickly
- Perceptiveness about people; you understand their needs and motivations
Your work-related weaknesses may include:
- Difficulty setting priorities and making decisions
- Impatience with uncreative people
- Reluctance to do things in traditional or routine ways of discipline when attending to and following through on important details
- Tendency to become bored or sidetracked, especially after the creative process is done
- Dislike for doing repetitive tasks
- Impatience working with systems or people who are too rigid
- Propensity to always focus on what’s possible rather than what’s doable or probable
- Tendency to be disorganized
Using your strengths is easy. The secret to success for an ENFP is learning to: Prioritize, focus, and follow through.