What Each Sensing Myers-Briggs® Personality Type Needs in a Career

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Have you ever wondered what the “S” or “N” in your Myers-Briggs® type code means? If you have an “S” in your type code; for example, ESTJ, then you have a preference for a mental process called Sensing. If you have an “N” in your type code; for example, ENTJ, then you have a preference for a mental process called Intuition.

What’s the difference between sensing and intuitive personality types?

Sensing personality types are what we like to call “grounded” or “down-to-earth”. They trust facts, observations, and real-world experience. They like to be engaged with the world around them through sensory exploration and interaction. They are usually in tune with the natural world, detail-oriented, and practical. They learn best through experience and are often skilled at being resourceful and realistic.

Intuitive personality types are often called “visionaries” or “dreamers”. These types are more interested in what can’t be seen or explored with the senses. They are drawn to the abstract, theoretical, and what “could be” rather than what “is”. These types are usually aware of behind-the-scenes information, or they enjoy extrapolating future scenarios and hidden meanings. They learn best through theorizing and looking at the big picture.

Last week we talked about which careers are best for the intuitive personality types, so today we’re going to discuss the best careers for the sensing personality types. If you’re not sure what your personality type is you can take our new personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.

So without further ado, let’s talk careers!

What Each Sensing Myers-Briggs® Personality Type Needs in a Career

The ISTJ

ISTJs enjoy careers that are well-structured, secure, and where everyone is doing their part. They are highly responsible and detail-oriented and thrive in positions where they can perfect techniques, and accomplish tasks in thoughtful, logical ways. ISTJs enjoy having space in their careers to work autonomously and without a lot of noise or chit-chat. Being able to have clear objectives, rules, and expectations helps them to feel comfortable and sure of their direction. ISTJs are usually good at managing resources, handling logistics, and optimizing processes to make them more efficient.

ISTJs crave a job that:

• Rewards attention to detail and precision
• Has a clear structure and expectations
• Is secure
• Is comprised of people who each do their part and don’t procrastinate
• Makes use of their attention to detail and facts
• Lets them reach tangible, measurable goals.
• Gives them plenty of time to prepare before making a presentation or completing a project.
• Lets them carefully create logical, effective systems
• Has a quiet, peaceful environment
• Is fair and doesn’t reward flattery or corrupt office politics

Popular jobs for ISTJs:

• Financial manager
• Bank officer
• Accountant
• Auditor
• Efficiency analyst
• Real estate appraiser
• Police officer/detective
• Flight engineer
• School principal
• Engineer
• Judge/magistrate
• Medical researcher
• Surgeon

Read This Next: 10 Things That Excite the ISTJ Personality Type

The ISFJ

ISFJs enjoy careers where their concern for others, attention-to-detail, and resourcefulness is rewarded. Highly loyal and hard-working personality types, ISFJs bring a unique understanding of people to their work life. They are good at tuning into the emotional environment and understanding the inter-personal dynamics and needs of others. They can use this to advance as teachers, counselors, marketer, or ministers/priests. Not surprisingly, ISFJs are the most common type to pursue careers in teaching.

ISFJs crave a job that:

• Makes use of their precision and attention-to-detail
• Rewards hard-work and responsibility
• Is secure
• Has a clearly defined structure
• Has clear, specific expectations
• Doesn’t require a lot of overtime hours
• Lets them focus on one project or person at a time
• Gives them a private work space where they can concentrate without frequent interruptions
• Makes use of their ability to help others one-on-one
• Provides positive, tangible solutions for people
• Coincides with their personal values and beliefs
• Has an organized, friendly environment

Popular jobs for ISFJs:

• Minister/Priest
• Teacher
• Counselor
• Healthcare worker
• Organic farmer
• Interior decorator
• Artist
• Real estate agent
• Historian
• Social worker
• Curator

Read This Next: In-Depth Profile of the ISFJ Personality Type

The ESTJ

ESTJs are highly-responsible, ambitious individuals who crave a career with a clear structure and plenty of opportunities for advancement. These types enjoy working with others to achieve measurable goals and logical solutions. They are good at breaking large projects down into smaller pieces and creating efficient workplaces where everyone knows their part and has clear, specific instructions. Because of their strengths in leadership they are often given high-authority positions where they can manage a lot of different details and projects and ensure timely output and quality work. ESTJs are intensely logical and hard-working and are prized for their responsibility and practical outlook.

ESTJs crave a job that:

• Has clearly defined expectations
• Is stable and secure
• Rewards hard-work and competence
• Has opportunities for achievement
• Lets them find logical, effective solutions
• Challenges their intellectual nature
• Lets them work with teams
• Allows them to make decisions and have a great deal of control
• Has clear, measurable, objective standards
• Lets them work systematically in an organized way
• Makes use of their strong reasoning abilities
• Has a practical application and real-world benefits

Popular jobs for ESTJs:

• Captain/Military Officer
• Manager
• Administrator
• Supervisor
• Engineer
• Lawyer
• Office manager
• Chief information officer
• Executive
• Construction manager
• Physician
• Judge
• School principal
• Budget analyst

Read This Next: Understanding ESTJ Thinking

The ESFJ

ESFJs crave a job that will allow them to make a real-world difference in the lives of people. Highly compassionate personality types, ESFJs are very committed to their work. They are not afraid of longer hours as long as they feel a personal connection with what they are doing. Teamwork, friendship, and financial security are all strong motivators for this type. They want to be able to see a tangible difference in their community from the hard-work they put in every single day. ESFJs are appreciated for their practical nature, their empathy, and their strong ability to organize people and tasks effectively.

ESFJs crave a job that:

• Has a clear structure and expectations
• Rewards loyalty, competence, and hard work
• Has a community of people who are each committed to doing their part
• Has a friendly, cooperative environment
• Rewards their precise, detail-oriented nature
• Coincides with their values and beliefs
• Lets them make a real-world positive impact in the lives of people
• Lets them exercise control, arrange tasks, and organize to achieve goals
• Is free from tension and political conflict
• Gives them plenty of opportunities to interact with others
• Lets them manage their own work or the work of others so that everything is smooth and streamlined
• Has a clear chain of command and set of rules

Popular jobs for ESFJs:

• Healthcare worker
• Teacher
• Minister/Priest
• Veterinarian
• Coach
• Social worker
• Paralegal
• Sales representative
• Customer service manager
• Child care center director
• Hairdresser/Cosmetologist
• Real estate agent
• Marketing executive
• Administrator
• Counselor
• Manager

Read this next: 10 Things You Should Never Say to an ESFJ

The ISTP

More than anything, ISTPs crave a career that allows them autonomy and the ability to create real-world, logical solutions. These personality types are extremely independent and work well when they’re given space and challenging technical or hands-on problems to solve. They are usually good at finding resources, tactics, and fixes to even the most complex problems and dilemmas. This tends to be why they do well in emergency-related careers where they can use their on-the-spot problem-solving capabilities regularly.

ISTPs crave a job that:

• Is stable and secure
• Gives them autonomy
• Has opportunities for achievement
• Has a clear structure
• Allows them to do a variety of tasks
• Lets them use available resources in the most effective way possible
• Lets them apply their technical knowledge to the world around them
• Has clear, specific directions
• Gives them plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and move
• Has a minimum of supervision
• Is fun and exciting
• Lacks a lot of unnecessary rules or beauracratic measures
• Makes use of their problem-solving capabilities
• Is challenging

Popular jobs for ISTPs:

• Police man/Detective
• Pilot
• Firefighter
• Investigator
• Criminalist
• Software developer
• Home network installer
• Geologist
• Emergency medical technician (EMT)
• Surgeon
• Mechanic
• Carpenter
• Landscape architect
• Park naturalist/ranger
• Artist

Read This Next: 10 Things You Should Never Say to an ISTP

The ISFP

ISFPs are realistic dreamers who want to make a practical difference in the lives of people. Whether they are performers or surgeons, everything an ISFP does has to line up with their deeply-held values and sense of purpose. ISFPs are often drawn to careers that will help people in real ways; they are over-represented among healthcare workers and law enforcement personnel. Many ISFPs are also drawn to artistic fields where they can put expression to their complex inner worlds and values. Highly empathetic individuals, ISFPs bring an insight into human nature into everything they do.

ISFPs crave a job that:

• Is aligned with their values and personal beliefs
• Has an affirming and supportive environment
• Gives the personal freedom to work independently yet nearby other kind people
• Encourages them to experience personal growth
• Allows them to make a real-world difference in the lives of people
• Takes advantage of their natural creativity
• Lets them get outside and experience a variety of environments
• Lets them personalize their work space with their own aesthetics and creations
• Rewards their insight into the needs and authenticity-levels of others
• Doesn’t force them to work a lot of overtime hours
• Makes use of their practicality and attention to detail

Popular jobs for ISFPs:

• Health care worker
• Fashion designer
• Musician
• Designer
• Chef
• Artist
• Tailor
• Therapist
• Veterinarian
• Botanist
• Biologist
• Animal groomer/trainer
• Performer
• Landscape architect
• Art therapist
• Florist

Read this next: An In-Depth Look at the ISFP Personality Type

The ESTP

ESTPs are natural tacticians and troubleshooters who enjoy a job that offers excitement and variety. They are extremely independent personality types and don’t like to be held down by a lot of beauracratic rules and rigid routines. They are skilled at adapting to their environment and working with a wide variety of people. They have a natural charisma and charm that helps them to make deals, persuade, and market a product or service. They are also good at handling crisis scenarios where quick, effective solutions are needed in make-or-break situations.

ESTPs crave a job that:

• Offers variety and novelty
• Allows them to be spontaneous and flexible
• Rewards their keen powers of observation
• Involves them with a variety of people
• Challenges them with real-world problems
• Lets them respond to crisis’ and use unconventional solutions to fix things for people.
• Is done in an open, active environment
• Prizes logic and practicality
• Involves real people and objects, not just theories or ideas
• Has an immediate impact on the world around them

Popular jobs for ESTPs:

• Police officer
• Firefighter
• Emergency medical technician (EMT)
• Pilot
• Investigator
• Stockbroker
• Entrepreneur
• Sportscaster
• Bartender
• Musician
• Performer
• Craftsperson
• Robotics and manufacturing engineer
• Surgeon
• Landscape architect
• Forester
• Salesperson

Read this next: 10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an ESTP

The ESFP

ESFPs crave a job that makes use of their natural spontaneity and flexibility. They are playful and empathetic, always scanning their environment for opportunities and needs. They have a gift for offering real-world solutions to people and developing personal relationships and bonds. They can handle a lot of input and variety without getting overwhelmed. As dominant extraverted sensors they think quickly on their feet and are gifted with a remarkable awareness of what’s going on in the world around them.

ESFPs crave a job that:

• Engages them with the world around them in a hands-on way
• Lets them learn through direct personal experience
• Engages them with a variety of people
• Is fun, fast-paced, and exciting
• Allows them to be spontaneous and flexible
• Rewards their natural insight and careful handling of people
• Rewards their skill in multi-tasking
• Has a friendly, easy-going, sociable environment
• Lets them work on projects that have an immediate, tangible result
• Rewards hard work
• Is stable and secure
• Doesn’t require a lot of overtime hours
• There is a minimum of bureaucracy, restrictions, and rules

Popular jobs for ESFPs:

• Emergency room doctor or nurse
• Social worker
• Veterinarian
• Primary care physician
• Performer
• Actor
• Comedian
• Teacher
• Athletic coach
• Special education teacher
• Chiropractor
• Promoter
• Cartoonist/Animator
• Film producer
• Director
• Human resources/Diversity manager
• Interior designer

Read this Next: 10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an ESFP

Want to find the ideal careers for intuitives? Click Here to go to that article.

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Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!