ESFJ Personality Type, Strengths & Weaknesses

Taking a look at the myers briggs type indicator (MBTI) type, the extroverted sensing feeling judger, ESFJ personality type. Also, including general character traits, ideal careers, and strengths and weaknesses. Also, including a list of famous and fictional ESFJ characters.

The ESFJ personality type is very much focused on people. They will generally be upbeat due to their high levels of positive emotion. This positive emotion makes them very approachable and social. They enjoy small talk and are likely to be the one to start a conversation. They’re also high in reward sensitivity, so very tempted by impulsive pleasures.

They will often be meticulous in the way they dress, mostly conservative and traditional. However, they are likely to be adventurous about wearing brighter colours. When it comes to movies and books, they like stories that focus on people and relationships; a good romance story, for example.

ESFJ Personality Type Careers

ESFJs are very much suited to jobs that involve dealing with people and the care of people. Example jobs include, working in sales, customer service, public relations, and caring and nursing positions. They will also be ideal for jobs or positions that require good observational and organisational skills. Example careers: counsellor, nurse, caterer, dentist, pediatrician, receptionist, event planner or coordinator, HR manager, and teacher.

ESFJ Personality Functions

• Dominant – Feeling (Fe)

• Auxiliary – Sensing (Si)

• Tertiary – Intuition (Ne)

• Inferior – Thinking (Ti)

ESFJ Personality Type Strengths

Social & Friendly

ESFJs are a very friendly, welcoming and social personality type. They will get on well with most people, and not likely to cause frictions or confrontation. They will be motivated to create harmony and stability within a group.

Detail Orientated

They’re good at paying attention to the details, with naturally good observational skills. They’re good at jobs that require a good eye for the smaller details, or specifics.

Compassionate

With feeling being the ESFJ personalities dominant function, it means they’re always in tune with their emotions, their feelings are always present with them. Because of this, they are always considering the feelings of others, which naturally makes them more compassionate.

Good Workers

They tend to take their work seriously; they’re organised and orderly and will often be attracted to managerial roles, especially with them being extroverted.

ESFJ Personality Type Weaknesses

Rigid Thinking

The ESFJs thinking tends to be rigid and inflexible, not particularly creative as their thinking follows a straight path, and they struggle to deviate from that path.

Social Status Seeking

They have a strong outward focus which comes from being extroverted, which means they can be at risk from shallow status-seeking.

Not Always Honest

As feeling is the ESFJ personalities dominant function, they prefer to tell white lies rather than hurting someone’s feelings. It also makes them more likely to be politically correct.

Can Lack Logic & Objectivity

Thinking is their inferior function, which means logic and reason are not their strong points. They probably have no interest in analytical thinking or statistics, their emotions rule.

Avoids Conflict

The ESFJ personality tends to avoid confrontation at all costs. This includes disliking competition. They just want to cooperate and for everyone to get along. They’re less likely to stand up for themselves, or ask for pay rises. For this reason, they can sometimes become scapegoats. Others may also take credit for their work because they know they will get away with it.

ESFJ Famous & Fictional Characters

• Jennifer Garner
• Taylor Swift
• Bill Clinton
• Danny Glover
• Paul McCartney
• Chris Evans
• Anne Hathaway
• Jennifer Lopez
• Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos)
• Monica (Friends)
• Woody (Toy Story)
• Sansa Stark (Game of Thrones)
• Snow White