Careers for Enterprising Types

Enterprising types, or otherwise known as “The Persuaders” work best with people and data. They tend to be adventurous, energetic and confident and are often found socializing with others!

In this article, we will explore the Enterprising type in more detail. We will look at their strengths in the workplace. We will also look at which careers, based on these strengths, Enterprising type personalities are likely to thrive in.

Overview of the Enterprising Type

The Enterprising personality type, or “The Persuader”, is one of the six personality types included in the Holland Code model of personality. Typically, Enterprising types are adventurous and enthusiastic. These types of people tend to place great value on power, status and money and, as a result, they are dominant, assertive and influential.

They get their nickname “The Persuader” because of their excellent social skills. They are good talkers and very persuasive. Some would say that these types of people can “sell ice to an eskimo!”.

Career Considerations

Many of an Enterprising personality types strengths are in their energetic nature and ability to persuade others. At work, they truly stand out because of skills such as:

• Negotiation skills. Due to their excellent social skills, Enterprising individuals are able to strategically negotiate with others and persuade them to do things.
• Motivating and Influencing Others. Enterprising types like to make lasting impression on others, as a result they use their energy to motivate others.
• Leadership skills. Enterprising people confident and are therefore comfortable leading large teams.
• Energy. Enterprising people have great social skills. When communicating with others, they will exert their good mood and positive energy.

Best Careers for Enterprising Types

In general, Enterprising types are energetic, confident and enthusiastic. They are often found in sociable careers, where they can take risks and use their social skills to influence and persuade others. Such careers include sales, investment banking or law. Enterprising types also tend to have the natural ability to lead others and are often found in positions of power. These positions include as executives, directors or editors.

It is important to note that although you may relate most to the Enterprising personality type, your ‘ideal’ career may be influenced by your secondary (and then tertiary) type.

• Enterprising types with a secondary type of ‘Artistic’ are more likely to be found in creative careers, for example fashion designers, models or chefs.
• Enterprising types with a ‘Social’ secondary type like to help others. As a result, they will be found in careers, such as hairdressing, personal training or customer service, that focus heavily on working with others.
• Enterprising types with an ‘Investigative’ secondary type are influencing with a combination of solving problems and researching things. Based on this, these types may be best suited to a career as a management consultant, industrial-organizational psychologist or logistics manager.
• Enterprising types with a ‘Realistic’ secondary type are likely to thrive in practical careers, where they can operate machinery and tackle work. Such careers include landscape architecture or air traffic control.
• Enterprising types with a ‘Conventional’ secondary type are likely to be found in careers, such as logistics management or financial advising, where they can influence others whilst working reliably and accurately.

Worst Careers for Enterprising Types

Enterprising types like to work with people. They are sociable and therefore are likely to struggle in careers that require little social interaction or the chance to influence others. Careers as a scientist, truck driver, computer programmer, librarian or network engineer, for example, may frustrate the Enterprising types.