Your ISFP Personality Type and Your Career

Knowing yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses is one of the strongest skills you can employ to make a good career choice. If you are an ISFP personality type, you’ll save yourself time and energy looking for the right choice. And, you’ll avoid ending up in a job that makes you miserable.

The ISFP acts in a vivid way that illustrates who they are as unique individuals. The way they live is flexible and adaptable. Some personality types live on strict schedules and routines, but not ISFPs. Doing what feels right in the moment is what they do each day. By leaving plenty of room in their lives for the unexpected some of their most cherished memories are of spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment outings and adventures, whether alone or with their loved ones or friends.

With this flexible mindset, ISFPs are remarkably open-minded and tolerant. They are passionate about living in a world filled with diverse people – even people who do not agree with them or choose radically different lifestyles. ISFPS are remarkably open to changing their minds and rethinking their opinions. An ISFP believes in giving something or someone a second chance.

Because of their open flexibility ISFPs are often called adventurers or composers. 

In this article, we’ll look at your personality traits and then tie them to careers that match your best talents.

Why Personality Type Matters in Your Career Choice

Ensure you complement your future work associates by knowing the talents you bring to the team.

Compatibility is crucial for your department to encourage team cohesion and enhance performance. You work best when you fit in the culture.

Having a career that compliments your personality will help you achieve your best job performance and boost your business performance.

Recognizing your weaknesses can enable you to identify areas that need improvement. Your strengths will determine the career path where you should excel, but you may also learn how to reduce your weaknesses. So, you should develop an action plan that addresses these gaps.

The more chemistry you have with colleagues and greater productivity, the higher career satisfaction you achieve. Due to tasks and assessments that are specific to both your strengths and personality traits, you become more confident in your abilities, giving you a more positive attitude about your career.

Your feeling of value as a worker also increases workplace happiness.

Additionally, when employees’ values align with the company’s values, they often feel more comfortable in the workplace and more committed to their role.

The ISFP Personality Type

ISFPs live in the present moment with cheerful, low-key enthusiasm and enjoy their surroundings. They are flexible and spontaneous and enjoy life in its fullest form. ISFFs are unassuming and quiet and can be a challenge to get to know. The ISFP is warm and friendly to those who know them well, eager to share in life’s many experiences.

ISFPs are conscious of their environment and seek beauty. In addition to sensory experience, they also have a natural talent for the arts. ISFPs are especially adept at manipulating objects and they can wield imaginative tools like paintbrushes and sculptor’s knives with great skill.

The ISFP Personality Functions

ISFP is an acronym used to describe one of the sixteen personality types created by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers. It stands for Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving. 

• Introverted – energized by time spent alone
• Sensing – focused on facts and details rather than ideas and concepts
• Feeling – makes decisions based on feelings and values
• Perceiving – prefers spontaneity and flexibility over planned, organized action

ISFP Motivations and Values

ISFPs tend to be tolerant and nonjudgmental, and are loyal to the people and causes that matter to them. With an eye to accepting and supporting others, they ultimately learn and live by the values they hold dear. Usually, they will try to be accommodating and have difficulty working with other people who aren’t willing to do the same.

In general, ISFPs are modest and may underestimate their capabilities. Typically, they do not like to be in the spotlight, preferring instead to play a supporting role and avoid planning and organizing whenever possible. They are responsive and eager to help others, and they feel the need to do what needs to be done.

ISFP Personality Trait Strengths

ISFP Personality Trait Weaknesses

The ISFP at Work

ISFPs seek employment opportunities that allow them to express themselves or participate in a cause they believe in. Typically, ISFPs enjoy hands-on activities and often gain satisfaction when they are able to achieve tangible results. What an ISFP finds ideal is the opportunity to observe clearly the fruits of their labor, in a context that feels significant and consistent with their values.

IFSPs desire an environment that is respectful and cooperative, where they can work quietly, with assistance when needed. Since ISFPs are so attentive to their environment, they often want to maintain an aesthetically pleasing workplace.

ISFPs usually prefer to stay low profile and do not usually want to be in positions that require them to speak publicly or lead large groups. As ISFPs often prefer working independently, when they do work with others, they expect their colleagues to be flexible, supportive, and loyal to them.

ISFP Leadership

ISFPs are driven by a personal mission and are interested in helping their teams achieve realistic goals. They are especially skilled at understanding the needs and concerns of the people they work with and adapting gracefully to changing circumstances. ISFP leaders are pragmatic and down-to-earth, and they are skilled at sizing up and assessing the current situation. When it comes to building trust and leading by example, they prefer to be quiet and supportive rather than authoritarian or domineering.

ISFPs often prefer not to assume leadership roles, but can be motivated to lead when the project is personally significant to them. To lead, they prefer to lead a small, cooperative team that enables concrete results.

ISFP as a Team Member

ISFPs are highly sensitive, helpful team members looking to contribute directly and in a practical way. They are eager both to assist and provide support, and they take on the role of listeners if needed. Dedicated to cooperation, the ISFP seeks to compromise and accommodate others. Often, they step in when others need assistance and are often prepared with relevant, specific data needed to help the team understand the facts.

ISFPs excel when they can contribute and work as teams in a supportive, action-oriented position. Their creativity is great at solving immediate problems that help other people. ISFPs shy away from theory and future projections, which may lead to impatience with ideas that have no concrete benefit for people. When it comes to supporting their own perspectives on teams, ISFPs are characteristically unassuming. They can become frustrated with team members who are domineering or competitive because of their lack of cooperation. A caring, egalitarian team where everyone’s contributions are valued is the best way to accomplish goals for an ISFP.

ISFP Compatibility with Other Personalities

ISFPs are loyal, patient, and easygoing in relationships. Because ISFPs are eager to help, they respond quickly to the needs of their partners, co-workers, friends, and family. With simple, practical gestures, they make their loved ones feel comfortable and well taken care of.

ISFPs are very reluctant to engage in conflict because they want to maintain harmony. It may be hard for them to assert themselves and hard to express anger or resentment. Ideally, they want to be cooperative and accommodating, so they may find themselves taken advantage of if their partners are not sensitive to their needs.

In addition to being tolerant, ISFPs are uncritical and adapt quickly to their surroundings. They like to live life from moment to moment and enjoy it in the flow. A perfect match for an ISFP is someone who shows spontaneous gestures and appreciates the ISFP’s kind and helpful nature.

Personality Types Compatible with ISFPs

• ISTP
• ISFP
• ISFJ
• ESFP

ISFP Personality Career Choices

• Fashion Designer
• Interior Designer
• Cosmetologist
• Artist
• Landscape Architect
• Jeweler
• Carpenter
• Chef
• Tailor
• Graphic Designer
• Mechanic
• Forester
• Surveyor
• Gardener
• Florist
• Nurse
• Massage Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Veterinary Assistant
• Dental Hygienist
• Physical Therapist
• Fitness Trainer
• Optician
• ER Physician
• Physician Assistant
• Dietitian
• Pharmacist
• Office Manager
• Paralegal
• Insurance Appraiser
• Botanist
• Geologist
• Preschool Teacher
• Social Worker
• Translator
• Special Education Teacher
• Teacher’s Aide
• Air Traffic Controller
• Police Officer
• Firefighter
• Residential Counselor
• Animal Trainer
• Retail Manager
• Recreation Worker
• Bookkeeper

ISFP Careers to Avoid

• Executive
• Sales Manager
• Marketing Manager
• Retail Salesperson
• Auditor
• School Administrator
• Surgeon
• Dentist
• Psychiatrist
• Health Care Administrator
• Biomedical Engineer
• Biologist
• Aeronautical Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Attorney
• Judge
• Actor
• Architect

Famous ISFPs

As natural creatives, you’ll find many ISFPs in the arts and other creative fields.

Musicians

• Jimi Hendrix, U.S. guitarist and singer.
• Michael Jackson, U.S. singer and dancer.
• Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince), U.S. musician and songwriter.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer.
• Paul McCartney, English musician. 
• Rihanna, Barbadian singer. 
• Britney Spears, U.S. singer. 
• Kurt Cobain, U.S. musician. 
• Bjork, Icelandic singer. 
• Frank Ocean, U.S. singer and rapper. 
• Lana Del Rey, U.S. singer. 
• Mick Jagger, English singer. 
• Lady Gaga, U.S. singer. 
• Liberace, U.S. pianist. 
• Jim Morrison, U.S. musician. 
• Christina Aguilera, U.S. singer. 
• Andre 3000, U.S. rapper. 
• Sheryl Crow, U.S. singer. 
• Alex Lifeson, Canadian guitarist. 
• Janelle Monae, U.S. singer. 
• Joss Stone, English singer. 
• Pharrell Williams, U.S. singer and rapper. 

Politicians & World Leaders

• Millard Fillmore, U.S. President. 
• Ulysses S. Grant, U.S. President. 
• Warren Harding, U.S. President. 
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. First Lady. 
• Dan Quayle, U.S. Vice President. 
• Prince Harry of Great Britain. 
• Nero, Emperor of Rome. 
• Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. 

Actors & Filmmakers 

• Marilyn Monroe, U.S. actress. 
• Leni Riefenstahl, German director. 
• Brad Pitt, U.S. actor. 
• Steven Spielberg, U.S. director. 
• Ryan Gosling, U.S. actor. 
• Heath Ledger, Australian actor. 
• Fred Astaire, U.S. dancer and actor. 
• Jessica Alba, U.S. actress. 
• Jean Reno, French actor. 
• John Travolta, U.S. actor. 
• Mel Brooks, U.S. director. 
• Monica Bellucci, Italian model and actress. 
• Elizabeth Taylor, U.S. actress. 
• Brooke Shields, U.S. model and actress. 
• Christopher Reeve, U.S. actor. 
• Paris Hilton, U.S. heir and television personality. 
• Doris Day, U.S. singer and actress. 
• Julie Delpy, French actress. 

Athletes 

• David Beckham, English midfielder. 
• Kobe Bryant, U.S. shooting guard. 
• Warren Moon, U.S. quarterback. 
• Greg Louganis, U.S. diver. 
• Dwyane Wade, U.S. shooting guard. 
• Reggie Wayne, U.S. wide receiver. 
• Mark McGwire, U.S. first baseman and slugger. 
• Yogi Berra, U.S. catcher. 

Writers 

• Neil Simon, U.S. playwright and screenwriter. 
• Arthur Rimbaud, French poet. 
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Swiss philosopher and author.

Artists 

• Auguste Rodin, French sculptor. 
• Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter. 
• Paul Gauguin, French painter. 
• Bob Ross, U.S. painter and television personality. 

Career Choices for the ISFP

1. Create a portfolio
2. Know and use industry terms
3. Develop a personal brand
4. Use social media as a career tool

And they advised:

Creative positions such as graphic designer, writer, and Web designer may seem like unattainable dream jobs, and jumping into the creative professional world can seem intimidating. However, these jobs are attainable.