32 Best ESTP Careers in 2024 (incl. Which to Avoid)
ESTPs are bold, action-oriented, and impulsive, making them thrive in competitive and fast-paced environments.
These personalities feel alive when pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo with their groundbreaking ideas.
Predictable jobs won’t suit the adventurous hearts of these individuals, which is why the best ESTP careers are as an entrepreneur or sales manager.
Fulfilling ESTP Career Qualities
ESTP personalities are driven by action, adventure, and boundless curiosity. These individuals are most fulfilled when working in exciting environments that give them enough space to roam freely.
The ESTP talents include boldness, creativity, and physical vitality, which is why the best careers for ESTP are in the field of sports, sales, and art.
1. Courageous
ESTP personalities don’t stick to what’s expected from them while patiently waiting for their boss’ instructions. They find purpose in jobs that allow them to take action fast and solve problems immediately.
These individuals run away from the 9-to-5 office, humdrum jobs. They want to fill their existence with fulfilling experiences, which is why they thrive in jobs that require a high level of boldness.
The career that represents this the most is an entrepreneur because it involves taking risks and making difficult decisions on the go.
2. Logical and Pragmatic
Another excellent career quality for the ESTP personality is their problem-solving skills. These individuals are curious, rational, and practical, which is why they thrive in places where they can put their knowledge to good use.
Therefore, good jobs for ESTP are engineer and project manager. Engineers apply math and science principles to design and build practical solutions to problems. Likewise, project managers use practical and logical thinking to design and coordinate projects and teams.
3. Creative
The most suitable ESTP career matches let these individuals express their unique ideas and outlook on life. ESTPs love to experiment with new approaches and challenge tried and true methods, which leads to innovative outcomes.
Therefore, the best jobs for ESTP are painter, writer, or inventor. Artists use their creativity to produce original works of art in various media. At the same time, inventors rely on their originality to design and create new products or processes.
4. Sociable
A perfect job for ESTP personalities lets them use their assertiveness and creative skills in social settings. The ESTP career path is filled with exciting contacts and friendships. It often involves using their social connections and networking opportunities to expand.
For this reason, a good job for ESTP is as a salesperson. This position requires them to be outgoing and likable in order to build relationships with potential clients and persuade them to make a purchase.
Best Careers for ESTPs
ESTP at work is practical, enthusiastic, courageous, and outgoing. These individuals are driven to solve problems in the heat of the moment, as they have a good sense of the inner and outer resources available.
Hence, the perfect career for an ESTP is as an entrepreneur. This job gives them enough room to make bold choices and put their creative ideas to good use.
- Actor
- Airline Pilot
- Athletic Trainer
- Bartender
- Biologist
- Carpenter
- Chef
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Information Officer
- Civil Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Entrepreneur
- Exercise Physiologist
- Firefighter
- Fitness Instructor
- Flight Attendant
- Flight Engineer
- Forester
- General Contractor
- Hotel Manager
- Mechanic
- Mechanical Engineer
- Military Officer
- Photographer
- Police Officer
- Real Estate Broker
- Restaurant Owner
- Sales Manager
- Stockbroker
- Surveyor
- Television Reporter
- Vocational Teacher
Draining ESTP Career Qualities
These personalities’ most draining career qualities are their overly rational approach, making them callous or insensitive. They are also prone to take unnecessary risks when feeling bored.
An ESTP career match focuses on facts rather than subjective feelings. At the same time, it allows them to discover new things when exploring uncharted waters.
For these reasons, ESTP jobs to avoid are social work or nursing. In order to effectively help their clients, social workers and nurses must be empathetic and make careful and calculated decisions.
1. Emotional contact
ESTPs are rational, matter-of-fact, and pragmatic. They don’t feel comfortable navigating the subjective realm of emotions, which is why the best careers for ESTP are related to engineering or design.
Some of the worst ESTP jobs are teaching or counseling, as it requires them to understand and respond to the needs of others. At the same time, they may need to be empathetic and patient in order to effectively support their clients.
2. Highly Structured
ESTPs heed their impulses as soon as they emerge, so the best ESTP jobs
let them seize their opportunities without worrying about the rules or expectations involved.
These personalities get things done in their own unique way and get discouraged in highly structured environments.
The ESTP careers that cannot stand this quality are air traffic control or bank teller. These jobs require them to follow strict procedures and protocols to ensure safe and efficient movements and plans.
3. Slow-moving
ESTPs are always one step ahead of the rest. These personalities feel comfortable in exciting surroundings, so good jobs for ESTP allow them to move in high-stress environments and make decisions quickly.
The careers for ESTP to avoid are law or medicine. The legal system can be slow and complex, often requiring a high level of patience to navigate the legal process and advocate for clients. Likewise, most medical treatments are slow and complex, demanding patience and compassion.
4. Overly safe
ESTP personalities need constant stimulation to feel motivated. They like to take risks and embark on exciting adventures without thinking too much about the consequences.
These individuals can’t stand careers that are too focused on safety or risk management. After all, what’s the fun of working in a limiting or overly restrictive job?
Therefore, an ESTP career to avoid is data entry. This job requires them to work in a controlled environment with little to no opportunity for risk.
Worst Careers for ESTPs
Every type of personality can excel in all occupations if they work hard for it. However, some ESTP professions are better suited for their unique and complex character.
The worst careers for ESTPs are social work and data analysis. These personalities are more rational than sensitive and like to keep things exciting. Hence, they shy away from overly restrictive and emotionally charged environments.
- Air traffic controller
- Bank teller
- Chemical Engineer
- Chemist
- Clergy
- Curator
- Data entry clerk
- Dental Hygienist
- Family Therapist
- Librarian
- Market Researcher
- Medical Assistant
- Organizational Psychologist
- Physician Assistant
- Preschool Teacher
- Public Health Nurse
- Teacher
- Veterinary Technician
ESTP On a Team
ESTP personalities love participating in teams. They are sociable and eager to exchange their out-of-the-box ideas with the rest of the group.
This type of personality is an excellent team player, especially when a crisis arises. They are flexible, pragmatic, and action-oriented, which helps them solve problems quickly. For this reason, other team members value their rational and level-head approach during stressful circumstances.
Even though ESTPs are natural leaders, they don’t force others to follow their ideas. They quickly adapt to their team’s views and strategies, offering their groundbreaking outlook to contribute to the final outcome.
ESTP As a Leader
ESTP personalities don’t actively seek to be group leaders, but other people naturally put them in this position. After all, they are enthusiastic, bold, assertive, and outgoing, making them excellent managers, especially during stressful circumstances.
ESTPs are known for their problem-solving skills and quick decision-making, which is why their employees feel confident leaving the control in their hands.
However, they are democratic leaders who make decisions based on their team’s feedback and opinion. Even though they make the final call, they take into consideration the opinion of every member of the group.
