Do you know someone who is enthusiastic, is affirming, is upbeat, gets along with everyone, has natural leadership skills, and communicates eloquently? Most likely, this person has an ENFJ (Extroverted, iNtuition, Feeling, Judging) personality type. ENFJs are known to be warm and caring, and they thrive to provide guidance to others. They are focused on people, rather than things, ideas, or machines, so they are not too objective or logical and prefer to base their decisions on how they feel about a certain person or situation. They are charismatic, are excellent communicators, and can easily influence or manipulate others, making them suitable for leadership positions and even sales jobs. They are highly motivated to bring out and develop the potential of others and are creative and imaginative in finding methods to help people or communities grow. However, if their ideas are met with resistance, they can become depressed, bitter, or wounded. They also try to avoid conflict and criticism, and tend to hold a grudge when met with negativity by another person.
When searching for the perfect career for ENFJ personality types, you should also know what types of work to avoid. ENFJs can thrive in multiple professions, but if they stick too long to a job that doesn’t suit their personality well, they can end up stressed, drained, and frustrated.
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What are the Work Stressors of ENFJ Personality Types
What Careers to Avoid for ENFJ Personality Types
Now that you know what types of stressors can affect ENFJs at work, it is time to look into certain careers where they will most likely encounter those stressors or where they will most probably not fully thrive and gain happiness and fulfillment.
1. Military Service
The armed forces are trained to follow orders and obey strict protocols and the chain of command. Those with ENFJ personalities will find it hard to just follow an order, especially if it is something they don’t agree with. Also, ENFJs lean more towards developing people and communities, not destroying and waging war against them.
2. Law Enforcement
Similar to a career in military service, law enforcement needs tactical, analytical, and objective planning and implementation. Investigating crime scenes and making arrests will most probably be highly stressful for ENFJ men and women who are naturally empathetic.
3. Accounting or Auditing
Working with numbers and making budgets are okay with most ENFJs, but they most likely won’t enjoy doing the paperwork and sitting at a desk punching in and computing digits the whole day. They won’t be able to interact that much with people, the tasks can be monotonous and repetitive, and they won’t be able to demonstrate their leadership skills or use much of their creativity.
4. System Technology
This profession requires someone who is technologically savvy, sensible, practical, and analytical in order to efficiently troubleshoot any problems in the system. ENFJs, on the other hand, are emotional thinkers. Plus, facing computers the whole day could be torture for them.
5. Mechanical Engineering
Same as the reasons mentioned in the aforementioned career, a mechanical engineer needs rational thinking and enjoys working with machines. ENFJ personality types live to be connected with people, so any job that involves working with machines, electronic devices, and systems day in and day out could be draining.
6. Core Business
You would think that since ENFJs are natural born leaders they would be perfect to manage a business and people. In some ways, this is true. However, CEOs and managers sometimes have to make difficult decisions that involve sacrificing the workforce for the benefit of the company and this may not sit well with ENFJs. Imagine how difficult it will be for them to decide who to let go of in times of retrenchment when deep inside they want to protect the livelihood and welfare of employees.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules. Some ENFJs might actually do well in these types of careers if they know how to manage the stress and challenges they could face in such lines of work.
What ENFJ Personality Types Should Look for in a Career
After identifying what to avoid, ENFJ women and men should now know what to look for when searching for the best career options.
Take note that these aren’t the only aspects to consider. Career goals and personal priorities must also be weighed in.
