A job search, whether it is in the tech industry or any other, brings many questions and considerations into mind. It is crucial to contemplate your career aspirations, salary expectations, and short/long term goals when considering which jobs and companies to apply for. However, there might be another critical aspect of your life that you should also think about—your personality type. It has been proven that your personality type can directly reflect what positions you will excel at and which jobs you will enjoy the most.
Industries everywhere are taking note of this powerful recruitment tool. According to Workopolis, roughly 80% of Fortune 500 companies use the test to vet potential employees. You can use it to your advantage as well. The power of understanding your personality type will open doors that you never knew existed, and one of those doors might lead to the career of your dreams. If you’re an ESFP, read on to find out the top tech careers that might suit you best.
What Is an ESFP Personality?
The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) test, created by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers, is a personality test that is based upon social, behavioral, and cognitive responses. The test answers the following questions: How do you energize? How do you take in information? How do you make decisions? And how do you present yourself to the outside world? There are sixteen possible outcomes in the Myer-Briggs test, and one of those outcomes is the ESFP personality.
The ESFP personality is known for their high energy, compassion, and strong people skills. This personality, also known as the Performer, stands for Extraversion (E), Sensing (S), Feeling (F), and Perception (P).
A person with the ESFP personality is outgoing and energized by spending time with others (extraversion). They focus on facts and details (sensing). They base their decisions on emotions (feeling). Finally, they don’t like to live off a schedule and are often described as spontaneous (perception).
So, what does it all mean? In layman’s terms, an ESFP is sometimes known as the life of the party and is the most extroverted of the 16 possible outcomes on the test. ESFPs are incredibly charismatic and social. They are particularly tuned in to their senses and enjoy living in the moment. If you are an ESFP, you’re among renowned companies including the likes of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Pablo Picasso, Ronald Reagan, and Paul McCartney.
How Are ESFPs in the Workplace?
ESFPs love working with others and bringing happiness into their company by supporting colleagues. They love to help people, so a position in which they get to make a positive impact is ideal.
Another important detail is that they are action-oriented and thrive off seeing quantifiable results in the workplace. Additionally, they have the keen ability to adapt in any situation and love having new challenges that arise quickly. They also enjoy working with a hands-on approach.
There are endless options for an ESFP in the workplace, but we’ve narrowed down a few of the top choices for this personality in the tech industry.
ESFP Best Careers List
- Tech Sales Engineer
- IT Project Manager
- Computer Research Scientist
- Technical Support Engineer
- Technical Trainer
Tech Sales Engineer
ESFPs are naturally outgoing and love working with people, so a career in sales makes perfect sense. Listed as one of the top 20 tech jobs of 2020, a technical sales engineer is a front-facing role working directly with the customer.
ESFPs are also extremely persuasive, so a career in sales is highly ideal. Starting with a career in tech sales is a great way to enter the tech industry, and there are always roles open for these positions in companies. While you don’t need coding experience for this role, you do need to have advanced product knowledge as you are essentially the face of the company.
The average salary for a tech sales engineer, not including commission, is $70,961 annually. A bachelor’s degree is preferred for this role, but sometimes prior sales experience will suffice.
IT Project Manager
ESFPs are not only incredible leaders, but they are also described as team players. They tend to be supportive and give practical advice. These characteristics would contribute to an ESFP to be a fantastic project manager. According to the U.S Department of Labor, companies across the country will add more than 50,000 jobs for technical project managers between now until 2022. Therefore, there is no better time to apply to be a project manager. Project managers are responsible for IT-related projects from start to finish.
This position oversees and directs the projects as both a tech expert but also an encouraging leader. Project managers usually have a bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Sciences, or a related field. On average, a technical project manager makes $88,397 a year.
Computer Research Scientist
ESFPs are drawn to new ideas, so being at the forefront of innovation as a computer research scientist would be a great fit for the personality. Computer research scientists are said to be one of the most rewarding careers in technology. The day-to-day of a computer research scientist consists of thinking of new ways and uses for technology.
This position alone is one of the main drivers of technology in any given company. ESFPs love seeing tangible results, and this position is a driver of results. A master’s degree is preferred to obtain a job as a computer research scientist, but a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient in some instances. Computer research scientists are currently averaging a $77,173 salary.
Technical Support Engineer
The position combines an ESFP’s love for a challenge with the excitement of constant change and working with people. This role is at the forefront of the company, often being the first person a customer will encounter. They work to help both people and companies with computer support. An ESFP loves to lend a helping hand, especially in practical and tangible ways. They also thrive in working independently and having hands-on experience.
A technical support engineer does just that to solve issues related to computers. The educational background for a technical support engineer can vary depending on the workplace. The education requirement for this role varies as some companies require these positions to have a bachelor’s degree while others do not. The average salary for a technical support engineer is $60,000 annually.
Technical Trainer
ESFPs enjoy helping people often in tangible ways. A technical trainer does just that. This position requires strong interpersonal skills, instructional skills, speaking skills, and creativity to succeed. All of these are strong attributes of an ESFP. Technical training specialists plan, conduct, and administer programs that train employees at tech companies.
ESFPs are powerful leaders and technical trainers lead through education. They are a combination of teachers, trainers, and coaches all in one job. An ESFP will thrive at giving presentations, workshops, and training—all in the day-to-day of being a technical trainer. A bachelor’s degree is required, and a background in IT and computer science is preferred to succeed in this role. Technical trainers bring in around an average of $56,261 per year.
So, Where Does an ESFP Start Their Job Search?
The world is an ESFP’s oyster, and this rings true in the tech industry. At the beginning of a job search, there is an overwhelming number of possibilities. It is a tremendous factor to consider where your personality plays into your job search. The perfect job awaits when you take the time to discover who you are, your strengths and weaknesses, and what you love to do the most.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
