The Best Careers According to Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.

If you’re overwhelmed trying to hunt down the best flexible career, it’s no wonder. It wasn’t too long ago that the options were few and in very targeted industries. But now, many employers have discovered the value of offering more flexibility to attract top talent.

You can build a career you genuinely love with flexible options in almost every industry! But how do you choose which career path to take? One of the best ways is to take a step back and analyze what flexible careers fit your personality type.

What Is the Myers-Briggs Test?

The Myers-Briggs Test Indicator (MBTI) is a self-disclosed personality test that works to classify people’s most common personality traits. A total of 16 combinations will give test-takers some insights into how they are most likely to organize and process information, gain energy, and make decisions.

Most often, employers offer the MBTI to discover how to support their employees. If you’ve never had the opportunity to take the test, you can take a scaled-down free version here. You can also take a lighthearted look at how personality traits manifest in some of your favorite literary characters, as well as explore famous people you share a type with.

It’s worth noting that your values change over time as your circumstances and experiences change. If it’s been a while, or you don’t feel like your results are accurate any longer, take a few minutes to get an updated result.

When you take your test, you’ll be given a letter in each of the following categories representing your preference for one of the characteristics on that specific spectrum, creating a four-letter personality type. Here’s what those letters mean.

Your Energy Style: Extraversion or Introversion

We tend to throw around the terms extrovert and introvert like buzzwords. If you feel awkward at a party or burned out after a sales meeting, you might assume those are clear signals of your natural tendencies toward introversion.

In reality, however, we all exist on a spectrum of introversion and extroversion, and multiple factors might be at play. If you didn’t know anyone at a party and didn’t share similar interests with them, even the most extroverted among us is unlikely to feel recharged when they leave.

Instead of looking at just one scenario, the MBTI test seeks to categorize where you restock your energy from on a higher level.

When you’ve been worn down by a long day with a lot of demands on your energy, what do you need to recharge? Does the idea of quiet solitude call to you? Perhaps you feel like you need to immerse yourself in a bustling environment full of people to absorb some of their energy. These are indicators of your energy style.

Why this matters

If you’re going to struggle because a job is a constant drain on your energy, you’ll likely seek a career change again soon. For example, suppose you pursue a remote writing role with a minimal level of interaction with others. If you’re naturally an extrovert, you’re unlikely to thrive. Instead, you might use your awareness to pursue a hybrid remote writing role with a higher level of team interaction.

Your Thinking Style: Sensing or Intuition

We talk a lot about schoolchildren and their different learning styles, but we can bring that same awareness into our professional lives to help us flourish. How you process information is the second set of letters in your personality type.

In the Myers-Briggs world, professionals with an “S” in their personality type tend toward more factual and tangible data. On the other hand, those with an “I” in their personality tend to be big-picture thinkers and work well with theories and abstract concepts.

Why This Matters

When your thinking style is sensing, you’ll do better with routine, actionable roles that follow logical paths. Intuitives are more likely to prosper in roles that change and evolve. They’ll do well in positions that aspire to make lasting changes and have visions of the greater good and long-term impact.

Your Value Style: Thinking or Feeling

The third set of letters in the MBTI describes how you make decisions. The titles of these values can be misleading, as they aren’t about intelligence or emotions. Instead, they revolve around how you decide what direction to take when you’re presented with a problem.

You will be a thinker if you rely heavily on logic and love to make data-driven decisions. On the other hand, if you feel that boundaries are meant to be tempered with nuances and enjoy creative solutions, you’re more likely to be a feeler.

Why This Matters

If you’re a thinker, you should lean toward clearly structured roles that don’t involve much ambiguity. On the other hand, as a feeler, you might discover that you could be a well-loved leader and should consider working in a career that allows you to utilize your natural empathy.

Your Organization Style: Judging or Perceiving

Do you love lists? Tend toward neat and orderly with a clear plan? You’ll likely discover a “J” for “judging” at the end of your personality type. This characteristic defines how you interact with the outside world.

On the other end of the spectrum, perceivers are generally more spontaneous, finishing projects just under the deadline and trying to keep their options open.

Why This Matters

As a judger, you’ll thrive in recurring roles, such as data entry and analytics. And if you have strong tendencies toward one end of this characteristic, you’ll be challenged if you have to rely on someone who is a strong “P.” Developing your awareness can help ensure that you grow to appreciate how opposites complement each other.

Using Your Personality Type To Find the Perfect Flexible Career

Knowing your personality type can allow you find meaningful work that will keep you happy. Once you’ve taken the test, consider exploring flexible roles that align with your personality type to discover if they intrigue you.

Here are a few ideas that align which each of the 16 personality types.

1. ENFJ — The Giver

Intrinsically optimistic and caring, ENFJs are often empathetic and use their knowledge to build solutions that help and support the needs of others.

Great ENFJ career options:

• Grant Writing Jobs
• Tutoring Jobs

2. INFJ — The Counselor

Advocating for justice, whether in the office or the world at large, an INFJ’s supportive nature means that people often come to them seeking help.

Great INFJ career options:

• Writing Jobs
• Medical & Health Jobs

3. ENFP — The Inspirer

Energetic and people-focused, the ENFP personality is often found in creative roles and enjoys helping others reach their full potential.

Great ENFP career options:

• HR & Recruiting Jobs
• Communications Jobs

4. INFP — The Idealist

Often empathetic, idealists are generally compassionate people who seek to improve people’s lives and the world.

Great INFP career options:

• Youth & Children Jobs
• Translation Jobs

5. ENTJ — The Executive

ENTJs embrace clever routines and enjoy supporting others through process improvements. With a strong focus on data and analytics, ENTJs often end up in leadership and analytical roles.

Great ENTJ career options:

• Legal Jobs
• Business Consultant Jobs

6. INTJ — The Scientist

Always looking for ways to improve a process, INTJs enjoy tests, data, and analytics. While INTJs can win people over when necessary, they’re more suited for a solitary role.

Great INTJ career options:

• Editing Jobs
• Software Development Jobs

7. ENTP — The Visionary

ENTPs are often subject matter experts. They get bored quickly if their job is routine without any challenges. Roles that allow creativity and delegating everyday tasks will help ENTPs flourish.

Great ENTP career options:

• Advertising & PR Jobs
• Web Design Jobs

8. INTP — The Thinker

The INTP personalities among us generally have excellent analytical skills. They’re comfortable working alone and can easily see the big-picture issues and how to resolve them.

Great INTP career options:

• Project Management Jobs
• Engineering Jobs

9. ESFJ — The Caregiver

With excellent interpersonal skills, ESFJs embrace structure and can help others in tangible ways. Fantastic teammates, they’ll thrive in environments free of conflict.

Great ESFJ career options:

• Virtual Admin Jobs
• Teaching Jobs

10. ISFJ — The Nurturer

Detail-oriented and quiet, ISFJs are often caring and nurturing and will do well in a role that offers them the chance to support the greater good or the wellness of others.

Great ISFJ career options:

• Environmental & Green Jobs
• Research Jobs

11. ESFP — The Performer

ESFPs are generally everyone’s favorite teammates. With upbeat energy, they enjoy tackling tasks instead of exploring abstract ideas or theorizing big-picture solutions.

Great ESFP career options:

• Event Planning Jobs
• Sales Representative Jobs

12. ISFP — The Artist

Tapping into their creative side, the ISFP personality is frequently introspective and does well when surrounded by a cooperative team and work environment.

Great ISFP career options:

• Photography Jobs
• Visual Design Jobs

13. ESTJ — The Guardian

ESTJs are usually highly structured, leading them to land in management and leadership roles. With reputations for being timely and reliable, ESTJs rarely miss a deadline.

Great ESTJ career options:

• Operations Jobs
• Insurance Claims Jobs

14. ISTJ — The Logistician

While tending to be quiet and introspective, ISTJs are incredibly loyal and supportive, and those with an ISTJ personality generally enjoy order and routine.

Great ISTJ career options:

• Accounting & Finance Jobs
• Bookkeeping Jobs

15. ESTP — The Doer

ESTPs are easily distracted by recurring roles and will prosper in an environment that creates new challenges and the ability to grow their skill set continually.

Great ESTP career options:

• Client Services Jobs
• Online Advertising Jobs

16. ISTP — The Mechanic

Those with an ISTP personality type are often self-motivated and don’t require much oversight. ISTPs can collaborate with others but often do their best work in a nontraditional setting.

Great ISTP career options:

• Digital Design Jobs
• Animals & Wildlife Jobs

Building Your Career With Intention

While it’s not a guarantee that you’ll love your job, exploring what makes you tick can help you create a work environment and career suited to your unique personality. So, take some time to discover career options matching the qualities that make you unique.