Which career paths fit my Myers-Briggs personality type?

Are you just out of school and unsure which career path to pursue? Or do you feel that you haven't realized your full potential in your current job?

You can use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a tool that can help you reflect on your strengths and find a career that better fits you.

What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or MBTI for short) is the most popular personality test in the world. It's used by many of the world's largest organizations and many government agencies in North America as a test to screen candidates.

This video explains how the MBTI works:

Here is a quick summary of the video:

• MBTI assesses personality based on Carl Jung’s theories for self-understanding.

• It measures preferences, not abilities, intelligence, or skill levels.

There are many options to complete the MBTI quiz online.

The 16 Personalities assessment is an MBTI-inspired assessment, and possibly the most popular one out there. The basic report is free with no signup required, and you can get a more detailed version of the report if you create an account with them.

Tips for getting an accurate result:

• Avoid distractions. Find a quiet place to complete your quiz and try to complete it earlier in the day.

• Rest and eat. Make sure you get a good night's sleep and something to eat before you take the quiz.

• Be honest with yourself. Self-reflection is key — no one is watching or judging you.

• Go with your initial response. Don't overthink your response. It's best to go with the answer that stood out to you. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer!

When you first review your report, you might find it difficult to understand.

This is perfectly normal! Let's break down the report and what it says.

MBTI Type

Your MBTI type is the first and most important information to locate. This is the four capitalized letters that tell you which personality category or type you fit into (for example, INTJ).

Alright! You found your personality profile (let's assume it was INTJ). What does that mean?

This video explains what the four letters mean:

Once you have located your MBTI type, you can review the other information that comes along with your report.

Now we get to the fun part: using your MBTI profile to identify what you might be best at and thereby a career path that could work best for you.

As you go into the sections below, remember that these are not career recommendations. The designations you see are not jobs that you should ideally pursue, but are representative of the type of work a person who has that personality profile may do for work.

It's highly recommended that you complete additional research using information from your personality profile before committing to a study or career path. If you're not sure how to proceed, speak to an independent career counsellor who can help you make a decision.

The following interpretations of each MBTI profile are based on a guide from Ball State University.

ENFJ: "The Teacher" 🎓

You enjoy helping and supporting other people as they grow and develop. You communicate clearly and often like guiding others toward their goals. You usually prefer work that involves interacting with people, solving problems, and planning for the future.

Possible careers: teaching, counseling, advertising account executive, health care administrator, psychologist, social worker, and speech-language pathologist.

ENFP: "The Champion" 🏆

You tend to be energetic, imaginative, and excited by new ideas. You enjoy exploring possibilities and motivating others. You usually prefer flexible environments where you can be creative rather than following strict routines or repetitive tasks.

Possible careers: public relations specialist, career counselor, human resources manager, social worker, urban/regional planner, and journalist.

INFJ: "The Counselor"🧏

You like understanding people and thinking deeply about situations and ideas. Your personal values are important to you, and you often want your work to have meaning. You prefer roles where you can help others, build positive relationships, and communicate ideas clearly.

Possible careers: psychologist, special education teacher, architect, career counselor, medical doctor, social worker, and substance abuse counselor.

INFP: "The Healer" 👩‍⚕️

You care strongly about your personal values and often want to make a positive difference in the world. You also tend to be empathetic and creative, and enjoy expressing ideas or helping others in meaningful ways.

Possible careers: clinical psychologist, editor, journalist, social worker, special education teacher, occupational therapist, and musician.

ISTP: "The Crafter" 👨‍✈️

You're practical and focused on understanding how things work. You enjoy solving problems, fixing issues, and using tools or technology. You often feel most comfortable in hands-on roles where you can think logically and respond quickly to challenges.

Possible careers: air traffic controller, computer engineer, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency room physician, firefighter, mechanic, pilot, and software engineer.

ISFP: "The Composer" 🎶

You are often quiet, observant, and thoughtful. You appreciate creativity and enjoy activities that involve the senses, such as art, music, or design. You usually prefer careers that give you independence and allow you to work in ways that match your personal values.

Possible careers: artist, chef, fashion designer, landscape architect, musician, pediatrician, physical therapist, and veterinarian.

ESTP: "The Promoter" 📹

You are energetic and action-oriented, and you enjoy being involved in exciting or fast-moving situations. You tend to think quickly and react well in urgent moments. You usually prefer working with people and solving problems rather than doing repetitive tasks.

Possible careers: detective, financial advisor, insurance fraud investigator, news reporter, paramedic, real estate agent, and TV camera operator.

ESFP: "The Performer" 🗣️

You enjoy new experiences and spending time with others. You often have strong social skills and like to be where you can interact with people and stay active. You usually prefer hands-on roles where you can see the results of your efforts fairly quickly.

Sample careers: athletic coach, dietitian, interior designer, occupational therapist, public relations specialist, social worker, and travel agent.

INTJ: "The Mastermind" 🧠

You tend to be independent and enjoy thinking about complex ideas. You like creating systems, planning long-term strategies, and finding better ways to solve problems. You often value efficiency, logical thinking, and new perspectives.

Possible careers: aerospace engineer, architect, attorney, computer programmer, economist, financial analyst, physicist, surgeon, and web developer.

INTP: "The Architect" 🏢

You enjoy exploring ideas and understanding how complex systems work. You often focus on theories, concepts, and creative problem-solving. Knowledge, curiosity, and logical thinking are usually very important to you.

Possible careers: biomedical engineer, computer software designer, economist, geneticist, mathematician, neurologist, physicist, psychiatrist, and web developer.

ENTJ: "The Commander" 🧑‍⚖️

You often feel comfortable taking charge and organizing people or projects. You like setting goals, making decisions, and creating structure within teams or organizations. Leadership and efficiency are usually important to you.

Possible careers: accountant, architect, chemical/environmental engineer, database manager, economist, judge, lawyer, physician, and sales manager.

ENTP: "The Visionary" 🔭

You're often full of ideas and enjoy exploring new possibilities. You like discussing concepts, solving problems creatively, and challenging existing ways of thinking. You may also enjoy motivating others to support new ideas or projects.

Possible careers: aeronautical engineer, attorney, computer programmer, detective, environmental scientist, photographer, public relations specialist, real estate agent, and urban/regional planner.

ISTJ: "The Inspector"💊

You're dependable, organized, and focused on getting tasks done correctly. You value responsibility, clear rules, and proven methods that work well over time. You often prefer working independently and enjoy creating order through careful planning and attention to detail.

Possible careers: accountant, actuary, auditor, computer programmer, dentist, judge, pharmacist, physician, police officer, school principal, and surgeon.

ISFJ: "The Protector"🦷

You care about helping and supporting others. You're often thoughtful, dependable, and attentive to people’s needs. You tend to notice small details and enjoy creating organized plans that help people feel supported and cared for.

Possible careers: computer support specialist, dental hygienist, historian, librarian, nurse, occupational therapist, paralegal, social worker, and teacher (K-12, preschool, or special education).

ESTJ: "The Supervisor"👩‍⚖️

You are practical and focused on results. You value organization, structure, and efficiency, and you often feel comfortable working within clear rules and expectations. You may enjoy managing tasks or leading groups to ensure work is completed effectively.

Possible careers: Auditor, bank manager, civil engineer, industrial engineer, judge, lawyer, network administrator, paralegal, pharmacist, physician, and school principal.

ESFJ: "The Provider" 👩‍⚕️

You enjoy working with people and helping create a positive, cooperative environment. You're often supportive, organized, and attentive to the needs of others. You may enjoy roles where you can help people while coordinating plans and activities.

Possible careers: childcare center director, dental hygienist, dietitian, family physician, health care administrator, nurse, paralegal, public relations specialist, social worker, and teacher.

Quiz: Sarah's Career Path

Photo by Frolicsome Fairy on Unsplash

Sarah, who recently graduated from high school, isn't sure what career option might be suitable for her.

She's currently working at a retail store to get some work experience. On the advice of her friend, she takes the 16 Personalities test to help her organize her thoughts and reflect on what career options might suit her.

The results say that Sarah is an ENFP, a "driving force" that makes things happen. It also recommends a career as a public relations specialist, accountant, bank manager, or physicist.

Accounting seems interesting to her but she's not sure what to do with this information.

What should Sarah do next?

A. Quit her job and enroll in a college accounting program. After all, she got good grades in high school for math, and it's the easiest next step. 

B. Retake the personality test multiple times until she gets a result that suggests a career she's sure about.

C. Immediately choose one of the careers listed in the quiz results because it matches her personality type.

D. Speak with an accountant, career advisor, or enrollment counsellor to decide if an accounting program is right for her.

Ready to find out what career might suit your personality?