There are a number of ways to use the Enneagram in choosing a job, but the most important thing to

remember is this: the best way to find the right job is to find a vocation, position, and organization
that best aligns with your skills, interests, and values. To use the Enneagram effectively in your
search, here are the key points:

Your Enneagram style has no relationship to your technical skills

The Enneagram is strongly connected to your interests, but has an even stronger connection to your
values
You can determine how aligned your interests and values are with a specific job opportunity
You can improve and grow dramatically using the Enneagram
You can develop your leadership skills using the Enneagram
Emotional Intelligence through self-mastery matters most: develop it through the Enneagram

Your Enneagram style has no relationship to your technical skills

The Enneagram describes the pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that go with each of the 9
styles, but these are not skills. Skills are learned competencies, and people should choose jobs that
match their skills and also stretch them to take these skills to an even higher level. And if you learn
new skills on the job, especially ones that you want to learn, this is even better. To accomplish this,
do a skills self-assessment. Write down all the things you know how to do, even skills you take for
granted or skills you learned in one area that transfer to another. A woman who has raised a family
of three children certainly knows how to organize work, structure tasks, keep budgets, motivate and
discipline people, and more. In addition, ask your friends for the skills they believe you have. Write
these down, too.

The Enneagram is strongly connected to your interests, but has an even stronger connection
to your values
To explain the difference between skills and interests, think of it like this: you may be an excellent
bookkeeper, but maybe you dislike the tasks involved or you are bored doing them. A bookkeeping
or accounting job may fit your skills but not your interests. So you could be very good at something
that you are not interested in doing; similarly, you could have an interest in something in which you
have limited skill. Pursue a job in which you have both skills and interest if you want to be successful
and fulfilled.

Values are neither skills nor interests, but they are extremely important; values are deeply held
principles and beliefs that guide you because they are so important to you. For example, you might
have an interest in people, but a value that you should make the world a better place through your
efforts.

And your interests and values do relate to your Enneagram styles; here is a very brief summary of
this connection:

Enneagram Ones: want a perfect world and constantly try to improve everyone and
everything
Interests: Ones like practical, concrete work that enables them to organize and structure disorderly
tasks; with too much order, Ones get bored because there is little for them to organize. However,
with too little order that cannot be organized, work feels overly chaotic and Ones can become
anxious and highly frustrated
Values: excellence, highest quality, and not making mistakes
Enneagram Twos: want others to perceive them as generous, thoughtful individuals;
anticipate and provide for the needs of others; and like to influence others, often behind the
scenes
Interests: Twos like work that involves helping and influencing others in a positive direction, wanting
to make a difference in peoples’ lives; in jobs where there is limited engagement with others, Twos
can feel starved for contact; with too much contact with people in general and in situations where
they can’t influence situations or when others don’t take them seriously, Twos feel diminished
Values: humane treatment of others in which everyone is highly regarded and motivated
Enneagram Threes: want to succeed and to gain the respect and admiration of others, often
at the expense of being true to themselves
Interests: Threes like to work in jobs and with others who have high social respect in their particular
culture; without this high esteem, the work does not satisfy them. As a note, Threes may not even
know what truly interests them apart from their social context
Values: seeing the results of their efforts
Enneagram Fours: want to experience the deepest connections with themselves and others
Interests: Fours like work that has deep meaning and purpose to them, where they can express
themselves and their abilities in creative ways
Values: originality and self-expression
Enneagram Fives: want to know as much as they can cerebrally, keeping a distance from
others so their resources do not get depleted
Interests: Fives like work that both utilizes and increases their knowledge, particularly in topic areas
that interest them and in which they can control the demands on their time and energy
Values: autonomy, competence, fact-based understanding
Enneagram Sixes: want certainty, meaning and support in their lives
Interests: Sixes like problem solving and enjoy the challenge that comes with managing risk; without
problems to solve and risks to assess, Sixes become under-stimulated and bored; with too much
risk, they become highly anxious and make impulsive choices
Values: loyalty, support, honesty
Enneagram Sevens: want stimulation, excitement, and options, avoiding discomfort and pain
Interests: Sevens like creativity, innovation, possibilities, and situations that challenge them beyond
conventional thinking; in situations where these qualities are present, Sevens are joyous, but when
they feel limited or criticized, they become angry and despairing
Values: freedom from constraints, pleasure, novelty
Enneagram Eights: want to make big things happen, while covering up their vulnerability
Interests: Eights like to be in charge, assert themselves, and get things under control; when they
have free reign and take chaos and make something happen, they are satisfied; when things are
already under control or when they authority is usurped, they become frustrated and angry
Values: justice, truthfulness, influence
Enneagram Nines: want peace and harmony, becoming tense and uncomfortable when there
is unresolved conflict and ill-will
Interests: Nines like to work with others in a harmonic way, often mediating conflicts and facilitating
conversations along the way; when Nines can get others to reach agreements and treat one another
with respect, they are very satisfied, but when there is irresolvable conflict or unaddressed tension,
they become extremely uncomfortable
Values: everyone being heard, harmony, mutual respect
You can determine how aligned your interests and values are with a specific job opportunity
How can you use this information about your interests and values when choosing a job? First,
identify your most important interests and values, using the above information as your guide. Next,
ask potential employers some easy questions:

· What is this organization like?

· What are its values?
· What do employees who like working here say about the company and what are these employees
like? What about employees who have not worked out well here?
· What has been difficult for them and for the organization?
You can improve and grow dramatically using the Enneagram
The Enneagram is fundamentally a growth and development system. Once you identify your
Enneagram style and learn a great deal more about your patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving,
you’ll realize you are not alone. There are many people just like you, just as there are many people
who are very different. But beyond this, you can use the Enneagram for development because it
comes with development activities that are specific for people of your Enneagram style.

Here are some examples: If you are an Enneagram One, a person who pursues perfection, has a
strong sense of right and wrong, complete with an inner critic or judgmental orientation, you can
learn how to relax this. There are specific ways to be more self-accepting and accepting of others,
which doesn’t mean you give up your ability to discern. It’s simply that you have more control over it,
rather than it controlling you. Or if you are an Enneagram Five, a person who is emotionally
detached and wants to know everything, you can learn to be more engaged with others without
feeling so depleted.

You can develop your leadership skills using the Enneagram

Our leadership styles are directly related to our Enneagram style, but we don’t usually know this.
Leaders of each style can be effective or ineffective, but in nine different ways. Once you know your
Enneagram style and understand how it creates what you think a leader should be, you can
objectively assess your strengths, use them in the appropriate circumstances, but also expand your
leadership style in ways you never thought possible. And don’t wait until your leadership style either
causes you to have difficulties at work or limits your organizational success. You can work on
expanding your leadership capabilities on a continuous basis. Although the Enneagram has no
relationship to technical skills, it does relate to many leadership skills.

For example, Enneagram Three leaders believe it is their job to achieve results by setting goals for
employees and providing an effective structure, but they may miss the importance of motivating
people and interpersonal relationships in accomplishing the work. The Enneagram can help them
learn to do this. Or, Enneagram Seven leaders perceive their job as one in which they should help
their organization or team take advantage of new and exciting business opportunities. But what if the
organization or team needs focus and stability rather than creativity and innovation? The
development activities designed for Seven leaders can help them do exactly that.

Emotional Intelligence through self-mastery matters most: develop it through the Enneagram
And once you take a position in a company or even start your own business – and if you want to be
successful – the most important thing is remember is to develop your self-mastery and psychological
maturity In fact, the greatest predictor of success in every occupation and industry around the world
is Emotional Intelligence (EQ). EQ is comprised of two factors: intra-personal intelligence or the
ability to know, accept and manage yourself and your reactions and inter-personal intelligence – the
 ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of other people. Using the Enneagram is a superior
way to accomplish both.

CAREER CHOICES FOR

ENNEAGRAM TYPES OCTOBER 8, 2007CAREERS, PERSONALITY
TYPES57 COMMENT
After I wrote my article Bad Career Choices and the Enneagram, I realized that there weren’t really all
that many websites/books/studies done out there that linked this exciting personality type system to
various compatible careers. And many of the ones that are out there are very general and give very
“obvious” answers that may not always be accurate. So, I have put together a list of careers by type
that really examines where the skills of a particular type can be put to work. Some of these careers
will be new to you, if you’ve read other guides. There are a few surprises in here!
Once again, if you do not know your enneagram personality type, click here to figure it out.
Also, if you are interested the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, check out my series on self-employment
and the MBTI here.
Type 1

Ones often flourish in environments that are consistent, stable and with a good
degree of structure. Where structure doesn’t exist, they will be happy to create it! Your average one
has an incredible ability to remember facts, useful information and have a good degree of seeing
“what is wrong and what needs to be fixed” in a given situation. They will rarely make mistakes when
it comes to details. Ones don’t necessarily want to tear their hair out in the typical office job (which
makes me wonder if life would be easier if I were a one!) While they will thrive “at the office” Ones
can also make good entrepreneurs because they are so organized and consistent.

Suggested Careers for Ones: Anything where there are plenty of clear rules, opportunity of
advancement, a pecking order, and consistent people to work with!

 Secretary, Administrative or Executive Assistant

 Manager (Mid or Upper-level)
 Accountant
 Financial Planner/Advisor
 Law Clerk/Paralegal
 Broker
 Urban Planner
 Attorney (1’s make some of the most effective lawyers of all the types because of a keen attention to
detail)
 Technical Director

 Computer Programmer
Type 2
 

One of the common misconceptions about twos is that they will flourish in “helping”
professions. In reality, twos spend so much of their time thinking about how they can make others
comfortable, that a career in such a field could possibly push them over the top! Twos don’t need a
career where they help people directly. They need to feel that they are helping indirectly, by
working for a group that shares a cause they believe in. If you are a two, save the selfless behavior
for outside the office. You’ll be happy you did, as this enables you to separate your work life from
your home life. 

Suggested Careers for Twos: Work for any non-profit organization, or a career working with
volunteers are good for this type.

 Teacher (especially middle school and below)

 Fashion designer
 Retail and salesperson
 Waiter/waitress/bartender
 Sous-Chef
 Graphic designer
 Firefighter
 Paramedic
 Caterer
 Wedding Planner

 Stay-at-home parent
Type 3

While it is true that threes enjoy professions in which they can rise to the top and run
the show, what they really need is to feel admired and respected by their co-workers and peers. It is
less important than you might think for a three to be “uber-successful.” Threes want to enjoy their
jobs, like anyone else, but they also want to shine and make a contribution in their field. Getting
employee of the month at a fairly menial job might be more important to a three than making a high
salary but being ignored and taken for granted. They do, however, love to be around important and
influential people.

Suggested Careers for Threes: A three will feel the best in a career with potential for promotion,
advancement, a chance to shine, and a high salary ceiling.

 Performer/Entertainer
 Agent (sports, travel, literary or insurance)
 Public Relations Director
 Attorney
 Executive Assistant
 Personal Assistant (but only to someone who is influential!)
 Gossip Columnist
 Salesperson
 Political Activist (or even a straight-up politician)
 Inspirational Speaker or Writer

 Life and Business coach

 

Type 4
 As stated in my earlier article about bad careers for the enneagram types, fours often
have trouble finding meaningful work. There are “good” careers for a four, but since they are so
idealistic, it’s never easy to find the right fit. Such an idealistic type is most suited to work with a
great deal of flexibility and where there is some room for self-expression. They would be miserable
in a stiff environment where every day was the same and there was no room for opinion or
alternative suggestions to problem solving.

Suggested Careers for Fours: It is possible for a four to thrive in a variety of careers as long as
self-expression and some degree of creativity is a possibility.

 Psychotherapist
 Holistic Health Practitioner
 Yoga/Dance Instructor
 Masseuse
 Artist
 Writer
 Relationship/Couples Counselor
 Life Coach
 Crisis-line operator
 Missionary
 Web/Graphic Designer

 Actor/Musician
*side note – check out this great new book on the Enneagram and Careers:

 
Type 5
 Fives are similar to fours in many ways. They are deep, independent, and not
mainstream. However, their range of interests trend more toward the cerebral rather than the
emotional. Fives love science and technology of all kinds, and a career in one of these fields would
definitely be optimal. Fives also have the gift of being able to work independently, which is critical in
research positions, which they would also enjoy. Long hours of study and alone-time with something
gripping and engaging will appeal to this type. More extroverted types would shy away from and/or
become bored with some of these positions. Fives can really make a difference in the world through
pioneering (and sometimes isolating) research!

Suggested Careers for Fives: Science and technology are areas where Fives will thrive.

 Risk-Management Advisor (financial)

 Chemical or Electrical Engineer
 Architectural Drafter/Engineer
 Astronomer
 Physicist
 Environmental Planner
 Game Designer
 Medical Researcher
 College Professor
 Software Designer
 Technical Support

 Web Developer/Designer/Database Administrator

Type 6
 

I have read a lot about phobic/counterphobic sixes in various enneagram books and
I must say that it’s hard to buy into the hype. A “counterphobic six” is really just a mood they might
go through on a bad day. And certainly when considering a career, a six should think about who they
 really are, which is friendly, adaptable, cautious, meticulous, loyal and a great team player. By
nature, they are not daredevil lawbreakers and, in the long run, would not be happy in occupations
with high risk, no matter how “counterphobic” they may be feeling!

Suggested Careers for Sixes: There are plenty of great careers for sixes, providing there are plenty of
jobs available.
 Paralegal
 Elementary School Teacher
 Child-Care Worker
 Administrative Assistant/Secretary
 Credit/Loans Officer or Counselor
 Escort/Security Guard
 Financial Aid Counselor
 Public Notary
 Actuarial Scientist
 Health and Safety Inspector
 Banker
 Technical Support

 Insurance Underwriter
Type 7

One place you will not find a happy seven is in an office on a beautiful summer day.
In fact, you might not find a happy seven in an office on a nasty, stormy day either. They are more
likely to be out there chasing the storm, taking pictures of it. But only for a week or two when they
will happily go by the title “storm-chaser.” Sevens change direction, focus, and career so often that
it’s difficult to even write this section for them. Unlike the other types, a “career” for a seven is often
just a passing fancy that will change from one moment to the next, like the weather.

Suggested careers for Sevens: A seven will do well in self-employment or a “fun” job of some kind

 Small Business Owner (multiple businesses are often good)

 Tour/Travel/Adventure guide
 Travel-Writer
 Artist/Musician
 Food Critic
 Comedian
 Park Ranger
 Professional Athlete
 Dancer
 Photographer
 Professional Gambler
 DJ
 Nightclub Owner

 Cruise Ship Entertainer

Type 8

Eights love to be successful, but what they need even more is autonomy. Like
sevens, eights hate being told what to do, and love coming up with their own answers to problems.
Eights are natural leaders because they are willing to shoulder the responsibility and make the
decisions that others are reluctant to make. They are also dead honest because they are unafraid of
criticism. This gives them a lot of integrity, and they can be trusted on the job. This trait makes them
awesome candidates for managerial positions.

Suggested Careers for Eights: A good career for an eight allows for plenty of scope to make
decisions and make a difference in the world.

 Event Coordinator
 Financial Advisor
 Career Counselor
 Organizational Psychologist
 CEO/CFO/CAO (any size company)
 Marketing Manager
 Director of Sales
 Restaurant Owner/Manager
 Politician
 Healthcare Administrator
 Market Strategist
 Advertising Executive

 President of the World

Type 9

When you ask a young nine what they want to be when they grow up, he may give
you an answer like, “myself” or “I don’t care.” Don’t be surprised. Nines often aren’t “career” oriented,
especially at younger ages. Sometimes they are so laid-back about life that they can be content
anywhere. That doesn’t mean that they will be happy with or succeed at any old job, but it does
mean that this type has some career flexibility. It’s important that a nine do something productive so
they don’t end up sitting around all day and letting life pass them by.

Suggested Careers for Nines: The more stress-free the career, the better.

 Product Tester
 Electronics/Automotive Salesperson
 Retail Clerk
 Delivery Driver
 School Counselor
 Teacher/Professor
 Animal Trainer/Veterinarian
 Film Editor
 Musician/Musical Instructor(9’s almost universally love music)
 Writer
 Clothing Designer

 Artist
When we choose our jobs, we usually take a lot of factors into consideration —
pay, skills required, talents utilized, overall potential to help save the world (or at
least convince our parents that we are slightly competent). But even if we've
spent hours fantasizing about our dream career, or taking those goofy high
school career assessment tests ("If you enjoy hiking and the scent of freshly cut
grass...you may want to become a park ranger!"), most of us haven't given
enough thought to the ways that our jobs work with or against our personalities.
Which is why a lot of people find personality tests — like the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator, a questionnaire based on the works of psychiatrist Carl Jung, or the
Enneagram, a personality inventory system that's popular with both business
management execs and aura-reading types — helpful in sketching out a broad
version of their personality, which can help make the search for fulfilling work
simpler.

I mean, just think: what if all that job-related angst you're feeling isn't because
you're a slacker or because everyone who works there is a jerk, but just
because your personality and your job are a bad match?

So, in the spirit of reassessing all our lives in the new year, we've broken down
the nine personality types covered by the enneagram (you can take a test to find
out what enneagram personality type you have here), and then provided some
ideas about the best and worst jobs for each type below.

1. The Reformer

Who She Is: Much like the Pilates device that shares her name, the Reformer is
all about self-control and discipline. She's into rationality and clear sets of rules
— but not in a creepy Spock kind of way; she just likes to work in situations that
allow her to utilize her fine attention to detail and problem-solving abilities. She
also loves jobs that give her a clear idea of whether or not she's actually doing a
good job.

Possible Dream Jobs: Attorney, financial planner, manager, home design

blogger, some kind of executive something-or-other.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Improv comedy class instructor, kindergarten

teacher, busker, bartender, any job that requires flexible hours and a loosey-
goosey kinda attitude towards life.

2. The Helper

Who She Is: Warm, engaging, empathetic — The Helper is the person you want
to be seated next to at a really awkward dinner party. Her heart is huge and her
fascination with the lives of other human beings is genuine — which makes it
important that she doesn't end up in a job that exploits her warmth or runs her
sense of empathy ragged. Making other people happy makes her happy — which
is why any job that involves constantly rejecting others will make mincemeat of
her heart.

Possible Dream Jobs: Teacher, therapist, doctor, sales rep, publicist, bartender,
blogger/vlogger, advice columnist.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Tax auditor, college admissions officer, agent

(literary, casting, sports, or otherwise), editor.

3. The Achiever

Who She Is: Your friend who somehow managed to turn knitting into a
competitive sport? That's the Achiever. The Achiever isn't a jerk — she just has a
sense of innate competitiveness, and feels her best when she knows she's
striving to be at the top of her game. A job that allows her to advance up a clearly
delineated ladder via hard work will keep her happier than a lot of the flashy stuff
that passes for "dream jobs" — and if her competitive needs are kept healthy and
fed at work, she may be less prone to somehow turning your
afternoonBuffy binge into a competition ("Who do you think was the best Buffy
boyfriend? The answer is Spike, and here's why...").

Possible Dream Jobs: Attorney, agent (sports, literary, entertainment, or

otherwise), news journalist, producer.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Freelance writing, running an Etsy shop, any self-
employment situations that are more about free-form career growth than clear
advancement.

4. The Individualist

Who She Is: The enneagram type most likely to be publicly moved to tears by
Muzak or wear a vial of Billy Bob Thorton's blood around its neck, the
Individualist is sensitive, artistic, and maybe just a touch temperamental. She
thrives doing work that engages her capacity for self-expression, and for her, the
hard work of a getting a creative career off the ground might be worth it — the
struggle of getting by with a less-than-secure job might feel easy and breezy to
her, whereas a secure gig with benefits at the world's third largest pen
manufacturer might literally make her feel like she is dying (the Individualist
should keep this in mind the next time her parents try to tell her that "going to law
school is practically the same thing as becoming a professional writer!")

Possible Dream Jobs: Therapist, designer, artist, yoga instructor, hair stylist,
tattoo artist, masseuse, creative writing teacher.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Stockbroker, police officer, lawyer, anything

administrative or focused on enforcing someone else's standards or rules.

5. The Investigator

Who She Is: You know your friend who wants to know everything about your
new phone, your new romantic partner, the new condos they're building across
the street from your house, and also the War of 1812? That'd be the Investigator.
This cerebral type loves to guzzle information like a fine wine — and I am sure
the Investigator has a specific preferred vintage of wine she'd like her passion for
knowledge to be compared to. She may not know everything she wants out of
life, but she learns everything she possibly can about the world around her.

Possible Dream Jobs: Anything tech, from app and game design to actual
engineering, researcher, analyst, scientist, teacher, manager.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Publicist, waiter, bartender, retail worker, any kind of
job where people regularly ream you out over stuff that is not actually your fault.

6. The Loyalist

Who She Is: The Loyalist likes things the way they are, even if she doesn't like
the actual things that are the way they are. The Loyalist is a worrier, which is why
she's never been catfished or lost a ton of money gambling; it's also why she
may have trouble leaving a job that makes her unhappy but provides very clear
support and structure. The Loyalist has been your ride or die friend since a week
after you met her, and conveys her love for you through worrying. She also
conveys happiness, sadness, boredom, and occasionally gassiness through
worrying. She always has an Ativan you can borrow for your plane ride tomorrow.

Possible Dream Jobs: Writer, teacher, analyst, college professor, stand-up

comedian, comics artist, activist, or anything where she can create something
positive out of compulsive worry.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Investment banker or any other kind of job that
requires being comfortable regularly taking huge risks (especially the kind of risks
that might make other people angry at her).

7. The Enthusiast
Who She Is: You want to be seated next to a Helper at a bad dinner party, but
who do you want to be standing next to at a combination rave/burlesque show/16
course gourmet tasting menu dinner held in an abandoned subway station? The
Enthusiast (who, let's be real, brought you along to this as her plus-one). This is
your friend who makes other friends everywhere she goes, is fueled by new
experiences, and once, through a series of hilarious coincidences, spent
Thanksgiving at Pitbull's house in Miami. The Enthusiast needs a job that can
feed her lust for new experiences, cash in on her zest for living, and not crush
her with its dullness.

Possible Dream Jobs: Travel writer, bartender, actor, photographer, DJ, music
publicist, life coach, small business owner, fashion blogger, fitness instructor, bar
owner.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Customer service rep, accountant, lawyer, doctor, or

anything else that's about maintaining a very consistent daily routine (and
involves tons of paperwork).

8. The Challenger

Who She Is: If you're a Challenger, you kind of knew it before you even took the
quiz, right? The Challenger loves to be the boss, but not because she's hung up
on petty power trips — she just wants the autonomy and freedom of not having a
bunch of other bosses breathing down her neck. And honestly, no one should be
breathing down her neck — jobs that involve a boss constantly micro-managing
are bad news for people who are as assertive, self-confident, and decisive as the
Challenger.

Possible Dream Jobs: Manager/director of sales, head of publicity, freelance

strategist, financial advisor, politician, real estate agent or developer, advertising
exec, marketing exec, head of pretty much anything.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Retail job with no growth potential, anything that
involves being closely watched and filling out a lot of pointless busywork (i.e.
most entry-level business jobs — don't worry, you'll get promoted soon,
Challenger!).
9. The Peacemaker

Who She Is: The friend who was able to talk you out of fighting that guy at pub
trivia who won by secretly looking at his phone? That's the Peacemaker.
Optimistic and enthusiastic, the Peacemaker believes that we don't all have to
act like assholes just to survive. She also believes that human beings have an
innate capacity for goodness, and she doesn't care how alienating cynical folks
might find that. She knows who she truly is, which is why she can be so chill
about everyone else. She may also be your only friend who never had a
screenname like "xDARKNESSREIGNSx" in high school.

Possible Dream Jobs: Therapist, human resources manager,

mediator/counselor, editor, activist, non-profit director, social worker, creativity
coach, writer, teacher, youth group leader.

Probable Nightmare Jobs: Attorney, investment banker, anything that requires

being aggressive to the point of antagonizing others.