Let’s recap a few things about the ISFP type before diving into ISFP jobs and careers. The ISFP personality, which stands for Introversion, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving, is one of the 16 distinctive personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI). The MBTI test identifies one’s personality type according to his or her preferences in four categories.
People with the ISFP personality type, otherwise known as “the Artist” or “the Adventurer,” are quiet and easygoing people who love to explore and experiment.
Known for their creativity, drive, and spontaneity, these trendsetters have a “seize the moment” type of attitude and are drawn towards aesthetics and artistic pursuits.
In addition, ISFPs are further classified into assertive and turbulent types, according to their confidence in their skills and abilities.
While ISFPs are generally easygoing, competitive, and spontaneous, an ISFP-A and ISFP-T compared side by side would show that assertive types are more relaxed and self-assured while the turbulent types are more self-critical and perfectionistic.
Are you an ISFP?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
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Jobs and Career Matches for ISFP
Money, fame, and prestige do not attract ISFPs. Instead, the perfect job for the ISFP meets his or her core values and principles.
This personality is naturally service-oriented, and thus, ISFP career options usually include those that allow them to have a positive impact on others.
The best jobs for ISFPs give them enough space for freedom and autonomy to meet their need for solitude and independence.
If given enough space and creative freedom, these artistic individuals will bring new ideas to the table due to their knack for thinking outside the box and seeking new ways to solve problems.
These naturally spontaneous individuals need flexible work environments and don’t work well with rigid schedules and routines.
ISFPs seek novelty and excitement in their activities and prefer fast-paced activities. On the other hand, they get bored with routine and repetitive tasks.
ISFPs are dubbed as “the creator” due to their sensing preference, which allows them to be highly attuned to their senses. Thus, they are action-oriented and prefer hands-on tasks and work where they can see tangible results.
Below are some ISFP jobs and career options that meet their personality preferences.
Flight Attendant
Born with an innate desire to wander the great expanse, being a flight attendant offers ISFPs an opportunity to travel.
Being a flight attendant also allows the nurturing ISFP to care for and serve passengers and solve problems on board.
Chef
The fast-paced nature, the limitless opportunities to showcase one’s creativity, and the idea of impressing and serving people with the best and aesthetically pleasing food make this career option an alluring one for ISFPs.
Being a chef also provides the flexibility to work alone or as part of a team and offers spontaneous ISFPs with enough variety, ensuring that they will not get bored.
Social Worker
ISFPs are naturally empathetic people who love to get out of their way to care for and serve others.
While this is already rewarding, the flexible work hours, hands-on type of work and constant flow of different kinds of cases meet an ISFP’s preferences.
Occupation Therapist
Occupational therapists design comprehensive and individualized plans to help clients regain independence and provide concrete, practical solutions to their day-to-day problems.
This career requires creativity, adaptability, a great deal of passion and empathy, and good problem-solving skills, all of which are areas where ISFPs are naturally good.
Teacher
Being in the academe gives ISFPs a platform to share what they are passionate about. Teaching professions, especially those focusing on practical, hands-on experiences and inquiry-based learning, such as art, physical education, and technical subjects, are thrilling for ISFPs.
All these, along with the freedom to create curriculum and plan lessons, may balance the hectic rigid schedules of being a teacher.
Designer
Design careers such as interior design, graphic design, and fashion design allow an ISFP creative freedom and authority.
It also allows them to translate their and their clients’ ideas into tangible realities – from decorative spaces and lighting, furniture choices, and clothing lines, to even logos, products, and personal and business branding.
Police Officer
Being a police officer requires dealing with new challenges and problems every day, something that on-the-go ISFPs prefer.
Not only this, but the thrill and action and the endless opportunities to help other people make being a police officer a good career option for these adventurers.
Artists
Are you an ISFP?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
TAKE THE FREE PERSONALITY TEST
Jobs and Careers ISFP Should Definitely Avoid
As much as ISFPs have specific strengths that make some careers the best fit for them, some jobs do not fit well for an ISFP due to their particular traits and work styles.
Rigid, monotonous work with strict schedules does not work well for ISFPs. Also, work requiring long-term planning, intense socialization, and team coordination and supervision are unappealing for people with the ISFP personality.
Some of the ISFP careers to avoid are the following:
- Executive
- Sales and Finance
- Manager
- Accountant
- Attorney
- Psychologist
- Surgeon
- Engineer
ISFP’s Strengths and Weaknesses in a Working Environment
Like all other personality types, ISFPs have a set of strengths and weaknesses that may benefit or cause them problems personally and professionally.
A piece of good career advice is to be aware of these and consider them when choosing careers that would be the best fit for one’s personality and work style. Here are some of the ISFP strengths and weaknesses that they bring to the workplace.
Are you an ISFP?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
TAKE THE FREE PERSONALITY TEST
ISFP Strengths & Advantages
- Passionate
Goal-driven and competitive, these energetic individuals will work hard to achieve their desired outcomes. This is especially true when the workplace has goals or causes that speak to their principles.
- Cooperative
Although highly independent and quiet people, their fun-loving and relaxed nature attracts people to them.
Their ability to take in information about people and their helpful empathetic nature also makes ISFPs good team players who are always ready to serve and help those in the team.
- Creativity
ISFPs are known for their ability to think outside the box and explore new connections. If given the opportunity and freedom in the workplace, they will find new innovative ways to solve problems and reach goals. ISFPs thrive in workplaces that allow for creative freedom.
- Problem-solvers
ISFPs are highly attuned to their environment, which makes them good observers. Their ability to see details that others might miss enables them to see blind spots and offer practical solutions to problems.
Their good problem-solving skills, along with their creativity, allow them to come up with unconventional means to express ideas and produce outcomes, whether through presentations, brainstorming sessions, or design.
- Spontaneous
ISFPs are easygoing, flexible individuals who prefer open work schedules to accommodate changes in situations or opportunities that might come up.
They are tolerant and respectful of other peoples’ views, and perspectives and are more than willing to adjust to people, as long as they do not go against their principles.
ISFP Weaknesses
- Highly competitive
Their strong commitment and dedication to their work and goals may tip toward extreme competitiveness. Sometimes, their competitive nature might cause them to overcommit and get more responsibilities than they could carry.
- Independent and stubborn
Although ISFPs can work with a team, these introverts prefer working alone. They do not like the spotlight and would rather listen than lead or speak in front of a group.
Simultaneously, their strong beliefs may lead them to reject outside input and stick to their plans. Their strong work ethic might cause them to demand from their peers the same level of commitment, support, and loyalty to the team’s goals.
- Risky behavior
Their natural curiosity, spontaneity, and desire for challenge may lead these ISFPs to engage in risky behaviors. They may get too caught up in the thrill of the moment and fail to attend to things that may have future consequences.
- Not good with long-term
While they work well with short-term projects and deadlines, goals that need long-term projections and planning are challenging for these types.
- Easily bored
Since these types thrive in fast-paced, action-driven environments, workplaces that do not offer enough challenges bore them. They do not work well with idle workplaces that require repetitive and routine work.
- Sensitive
Due to their desire to offer the best of themselves to everyone, they may become self-critical and rely on others for validation. Being action-oriented people, ISFPs go beyond what is required of them to contribute to the team.
That said, they may get hurt when their efforts are not recognized. This is also why an ISFP’s best romantic match is someone who appreciates their efforts in the relationship.
Are you an ISFP?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
TAKE THE FREE PERSONALITY TEST
ISFP Working in a Team or Group
ISFPs are good at cooperating and working with others and providing their team with any form of tangible support or help. They enjoy collaborating with the team to solve problems and are ready to provide relevant observations and input that they have gathered from the present situation.
Highly perceptive of other people, they consider other people’s needs and desires when making decisions. Likewise, ISFPs are the type of colleagues who would accommodate and compromise. They make sure that every person in the team is equally heard and provided equal opportunities to contribute.
ISFPs prefer to take on a listener’s role and may be hesitant to push for his or her ideas. Inasmuch as they do not like imposing their views on people, they do not like being imposed and tend to distance themselves from domineering and controlling people.
ISFPs are quick learners who learn best with hands-on experience. This is why ISFPs could be relied on to address novel challenges in the workplace. This, along with their ability to finish tasks on time, and their undeniable zeal at work, make ISFPs indispensable team members.
ISFP Working as a Leader or Manager
Their passionate and on-the-go personality makes ISFPs encouraging and motivating leaders. They lead with their principles and expect the same level of commitment and passion from their team members.
This is not to say that they are domineering. On the other hand, they are not imposing and do not like micromanaging people.
ISFPs are supportive and adaptable, and their relaxed and easygoing nature makes it easy for their members to trust them.
At the same time, their genuine interest in learning about people enables ISFPs to be understanding and accommodating leaders.
While ISFPs generally do not prefer leadership roles and prefer to be on the sidelines, they may be fueled to lead when tasks or events are meaningful to them.
When given the opportunity to lead, ISFPs work best with a small team and prefer results-oriented work.
ISFP Career Stats and Facts
- One of the bottom five personality types in the MBTI who earn low incomes
- Among the types (along with ISFJs and ESFPs) to report the need to stay home to take care of their children as the reason for earning small incomes
- Least likely of all the types to hold a managerial role
ISFP Career FAQ
What is a good career for ISFP?
ISFPs can truly excel in artistic careers. They are great at designing and thinking creatively. Plus, their ability to take a community-centered approach to goal setting can be beneficial in the workplace.
Some great careers for the ISFP include being a: graphic designer, artist, chef, physical therapist, customer service personnel, chef, teacher, or environmental scientist.
Why ISFPs are the best?
ISFPs have a knack for thinking creatively and helping others. They can understand body language and know when someone is upset. They can be caring and nurturing, too.
However, many overlook the ISFPs’ ability to solve problems. Their unique thinking method can help them approach problems from a new angle. Plus, they can also help others avoid burnout by adopting a nurturing leadership style.
What should ISFP study?
ISFPs should focus on something creative or artistic. It is great for an ISFP if they can be authentic and express themselves in their work. It is even greater for the ISFP to also help the community around them while expressing themselves.
For example, the best college majors for ISFPs include design, art, architecture, dietetics, environmental science, physical therapy, social work, public relations, and speech/language pathology.
What job should an ISFP do?
There are many jobs that are suitable for the ISFP. They should always be able to help the world around them, whether directly or indirectly.
Roles, where they can think creatively and be themselves, are especially well suited for ISFPs. Such jobs include being a: chef, artist, architect, speech pathologist, nurse, nutritionist, customer service personnel, teacher, or environmental scientist.
Can ISFP be successful?
Yes, ISFPs can find immense success in their careers. They can inspire others to fulfill their own goals, which makes them great and compassionate leaders. Plus, the ability to think creatively is extremely valuable to employers.
They do not want everyone to approach problems in the same way. Creative thinking helps improve products and drives innovation. Thus, their creativity gives them an edge and it could help their employer get a competitive advantage.
Conclusion
Choosing a career that suits one’s preferences and work styles assures that an ISFP will thrive in his or her chosen workplace and be an asset to that industry and the community at large.
However, while there are many ISFP career matches, there is no perfect one.
Despite this, the ISFP’s passion, strong commitment, and genuine heart to serve make them valuable members of any kind of career they wish to pursue.
