31 Best ESFP Careers in 2024 (incl. Which to Avoid)
ESFP personalities are outgoing and live their lives to the fullest, boldly embarking on uncharted waters and encouraging others into their social activities.
These individuals are generous and have a contagious zest for life. They feel comfortable hugging the limelight and having fun with everyone around them.
Any career that involves working with others is a perfect fit for ESFPs. Therefore, the best ESFP careers are as a sales representative, tour guide, or inspiring counselor.
Fulfilling ESFP Career Qualities
ESFPs are driven by their social connections and environments. They are most fulfilled when the people around them are happy, which is why they are generous with their time and energy.
These individuals like to feel productive and put their communication skills to good use. Therefore, some ESFP career matches are in the communication and entertainment fields. ESFPs are highly sociable and empathetic, mirroring their friend’s moods and aspirations.
1. Practical
ESFPs are guided by their senses and prefer to experience reality rather than think about it. Thus, they have excellent problem-solving skills they display in their professional lives.
These individuals encourage others to stop wondering and weighing their options and approach life from a practical standpoint.
After all, that’s the only way we can learn new things and overcome our biases and insecurities. Therefore, some of the most suitable ESFP careers are as trip planners or sales representatives.
2. Daring
ESFPs are not known for dwelling in their comfort zone. They want to live their lives to the fullest, embracing new opportunities and exciting experiences as they appear their way. These people don’t let their insecurities hold them back, so they find fulfilling any job that represents a challenge.
Some of the best careers for ESFP are as event planners or coaches. These are high-stress jobs that require a bold and energetic personality to cope with them. Fortunately, ESFPs are up to the task.
3. Sociable
ESFP personalities are one of the most friendly and gregarious. These individuals have excellent people skills and basically feel empty when they are not around their peers or clients.
These individuals love to hug the limelight as much as to pay attention to the people around them. Some of the ESFP talents are their natural empathy and ability to predict other people’s needs immediately.
Moreover, ESFPs are eloquent, charming, and quick-witted. They never run out of things to discuss, which is why journalism or public relations are good jobs for ESFP.
4. Creative
ESFPs don’t care about maintaining the status quo. These personalities are innovative, original, and creative. Thus, the perfect job for ESFP personality is not fixed or structured. They like to experiment with different approaches and embrace new ideas and inputs.
Some of the best jobs for ESFP are as fashion or graphic designer. They like to stand out from the crowd by leaving a unique mark in everything they do. Besides, ESFPs like a touch of chaos to make their routines more interesting.
Best Careers for ESFPs
ESFPs are empathetic, outgoing, and highly encouraging. Their purpose is to live their life to the fullest and inspire others to join them in this experience.
The perfect career for an ESFP is as an event planner. They thrive at tackling practical tasks and challenging assignments while fostering a fun and friendly environment.
- Actor
- Air Traffic Controller
- Airline Pilot
- Athletic Trainer
- Auditor
- Bartender
- Chiropractor
- Coach
- Counselor
- Exercise Physiologist
- Factory Supervisor
- Farmer or Rancher
- Financial Planner
- Firefighter
- Fitness Instructor
- Flight Attendant
- Flight Engineer
- Forester
- General Contractor
- Journalist
- Hotel Manager
- Military Officer
- Public Relationist
- Restaurant Owner
- Sales Manager
- Stockbroker
- Surveyor
- Television Reporter
- Tour Guide
- Vocational Teacher
Draining ESFP Career Qualities
ESFP at work are chatty, lighthearted, yet highly efficient. They don’t need a structured environment to perform at their best. In fact, they feel discouraged and bored when performing monotonous types of jobs.
Thus, an ESFP career to avoid is an accountant. They are too creative, innovative, and vital to commit to a 9-to-5 job.
1. Monotony
ESFPs thrive in changing work environments that expand their range of possibilities and invite them to use their full potential. They need constant excitement to stay motivated, which is why they can’t commit to long-term projects.
The best ESFP jobs involve different activities, challenges, and possibilities. These personalities feel drained when dealing with manual work that doesn’t entice their risky nature.
Some ESFP jobs to avoid are engineer and finance. Spending eight hours at a desk doing math is as bad as a nightmare for these personalities.
2. Solitary Work
ESFPs are social butterflies who need human contact to thrive. The best ESFP professions always involve many people by their side, whether it’s their peers or clients.
These personalities feel drained and anxious when spending too many hours alone. Consequently, some careers for ESFP to avoid are writer or software developer.
These jobs require them to withdraw from their social lives and retreat to a quiet place to focus, which could drive these individuals crazy.
3. Confrontational
ESFPs like to encourage others to pursue their dreams and enjoy life. They get along with everyone thanks to their charming and upbeat personality. Moreover, ESFP personalities can lift the spirits of even the most discouraged person.
The best careers for ESFP should be uplifting and inspiring. These individuals are conflict-averse and do what’s needed to avoid such situations. Therefore, some uncomfortable jobs for ESFP are as police officers or judges.
4. Long-term focus
The ESFP career path is filled with exciting opportunities, innovative changes, and constant stimulation.
These personalities are too busy basking in the present moment to worry about the future. If their job doesn’t offer them instant gratification, they will likely get bored and move on with something different.
A good job for ESFP needs their attention focused on the here and now instead of wasting their time laying out measures and consequences. Hence, they should avoid the science or research domain.
Worst Careers for ESFPs
Every personality type can excel in every occupation they choose to pursue. However, some occupations are better suited to their unique character than others.
The best job for ESFP involves new challenges, a touch of chaos, and lots of fun. In addition, these individuals are sensitive and crave human connection to feel motivated.
The worst careers for ESFPs are accounting or engineering. These jobs are too structured and monotonous for these creative personalities.
- Accountant
- Chemical Engineer
- Chemist
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Technician
- Judge
- Librarian
- Market Researcher
- Medical Assistant
- Musician
- Organizational Psychologist
- Physician Assistant
- Police office
- Research
- Software Developer
- Writer
ESFP On a Team
The ESFP personality was born to be a team player. They get along with everyone and convey a desire to make the work environment as friendly and entertaining as possible. They also take a relaxed and social approach to their assignments, always keeping tension at bay.
ESFP love participating in teams as they naturally bring other people together. They have a knack for uplifting everyone’s moods and inspiring others to bring out their best. ESFP spontaneous streak and communication skills make their team members feel like they are at a fun gathering rather than at work.
ESFP As a Leader
The best ESFP jobs require human contact but they rarely involve managing a group. However, these personalities enjoy being the center of attention and can take leadership roles naturally, even more so if they feel needed and appreciated by their employees.
They do everything to keep their workers motivated and stimulated, focusing on their strengths and inspiring them to unleash their potential. However, let’s not forget ESFPs avoid confrontation, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings.
Still, they are empathetic leaders who easily notice other people’s moods, a skill that helps them prevent conflicts and foster a relaxed environment.
