What are the top qualities most employers want to see in prospective employees? You’re probably thinking of traits like determination, focus, drive for excellence, ambition, adaptability, quick learning, teamwork, and efficiency.
These are all great skills; any employee with a fraction of them is regarded as a quality candidate. But what if an employee possesses all of these great skills? No, it's not wishful thinking. You can find all of these in the Enneagram 3 Personality Type.
Since they have all these qualities, Enneagram 3s should be able to do well in any career, right? Well, not exactly. Just because they can succeed in a career doesn't mean it is a good fit. While this article covers why employers should consider hiring Type 3s, the real focus is to suggest jobs that align with the strengths and weaknesses of their personality type.
Since you are here, you’ve probably taken an Enneagram test, learned your Enneagram personality type, and are now looking for the ideal career that matches your personality. Are you a newbie trying to find a job you love? Or perhaps you’ve grown tired of your current career and are trying to switch to a more fulfilling one.
Either way, we've got you covered.
We’ll take you on a journey to help you understand your personality type and workplace preferences, the strengths Enneagram Type 3s bring to the workplace, their weaknesses, and the best and worst Enneagram Type 3 careers.
Let’s get started.
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Workplace Preferences and Personality Traits of Enneagram 3 at Work
According to the Enneagram system, the Enneagram Type 3 personality is one of the nine Enneagram Types. People with this personality type are popularly referred to as "Achievers," "Go-getters," or "Performers" (not to be confused with the ESFP Performers in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator system.)
Success and fulfillment are important metrics in a great career. Since Achievers know how to succeed, the challenge comes from finding fulfillment in their careers. Enneagram 3s are goal-oriented and highly motivated individuals who fear failure, desire public praise, and are motivated by success. They aim for the top, never settle for less, and set high standards in their personal and professional lives.
Type 3s love a fast-paced working environment that prioritizes performance and results and rewards individual achievement. The ideal career path must provide a clear opportunity for career growth and offer them consistent challenging tasks that match their ambition instead of routine tasks.
Enneagram 3 prefers a place with good company values where competent and efficient workers are rewarded and publicly praised for their performance. They want to work under a manager who gives constructive feedback to help them improve, credits them for their work, and praises them for their valuable insights.
Do Type 3 Achievers Work Well in a Team?
As charismatic and charming individuals who make friends easily, understand others well enough to build connections, and influence themselves and others to reach their goals, people with Enneagram 3 have everything to excel in a team. Achievers bring many positive things to the team, but sometimes, they unintentionally ignore the benefits of teamwork and collaboration.
Teamwork requires working together to achieve a common goal. However, Type 3s focus too much on individual recognition, undermining cooperation and shared goals. They don’t mind working in a group if their contributions can be recognized and credited. They are not like traditional introverts, who are energized by being alone. Instead, they lean more toward being either ambiverts or extroverts.
Type 3s crave external validation, so they must be around others to feel valued. While they are diligent enough to work independently without being micromanaged, they still want to compete with others.
Do Type 3 Achievers Make Good Leaders?
There is no room for slackers in a team led by an Enneagram 3. Achievers are goal-oriented individuals who set ambitious goals for themselves and those around them. They are highly competitive and encourage this in their team to get everyone to work harder.
Type 3's determination to be the best in everything makes them take the bulk of the work. They hope their positive personal traits like productivity, efficiency, confidence, charisma, and focus will rub off on their team and inspire them to raise the bar. While some leaders delegate everything to their subordinates and hang around in the corner waiting to take the glory, Achievers lead by doing.
In the right team, their hard work and productivity inspire the workers and challenge them to reach their highest potential. However, other workers might struggle to cope with their relentless nature, leading to a high risk of stress or burnout in the team.
Enneagram 3 Strengths at Work: What Do Type 3s Bring to The Workplace?
Achievers have many admirable personality traits that help them stand out and achieve success. These key skills are valuable in almost every workplace. Let’s examine some positive personal values Type Threes brings to the workplace.
They Are Goal-Oriented
An Enneagram 3 Achiever’s goal-oriented nature helps them set clear goals and objectives at work and strive to meet them. Once they meet their immediate goals, they move on to the next ones.
They Are Competitive
Healthy competition among workers increases work productivity. Enneagram 3's competitiveness can be valuable in a fast-paced work environment where workers are judged based on performance.
They Are Success-Driven
An Enneagram Type 3's professional and personal life is always geared toward success. Whether they consider potential career paths or start their own business, Achievers always have a plan to help them succeed.
They Are Ambitious
No matter their chosen career path, Type 3 Achievers always set high standards for themselves and strive to climb the career ladder straight to the top.
They Adapt Well to Different Settings and Environments
Type 3s can integrate into new roles and environments and accomplish goals effortlessly as if they have been in that situation for years.
They Learn New Things Quickly
As the achievers they are, Type 3s understand that learning is critical to success, so they devote themselves to learning new beneficial things that can aid their career growth.
They Are Efficient at Problem-Solving
Most people focus on getting the job done; Type 3s care about how efficient the work is. Achievers will likely adopt Time Management techniques like Pomodoro, To-do lists, and Time Blocking to help them achieve goals efficiently.
They Are Focused
Enneagram 3s can remain focused on achieving their career goals despite facing significant stress.
They Are Charismatic
Achievers understand that second chances are rarely guaranteed, so they almost always make good first impressions. Type 3's charisma and charm help them achieve this without breaking a sweat.
They Motivate Others to Achieve Success
Enneagram 3s are highly motivated individuals who motivate their colleagues in the workplace. Usually, their positive actions at work influence and inspire those around them.
They Communicate Ideas Effectively
Effective communication is necessary for every workplace. Enneagram Type 3s utilize their excellent communication skills to communicate ideas to their colleagues, superiors, and clients.
They Are Confident and Self-Assured
It’s rare to see an Enneagram 3 cowering under pressure or shying away from challenges. Threes are always confident and self-assured.
They Build Connections Easily
Enneagram Three’s key traits, like charisma, charm, and confidence, attract people to them. They make friends easily in their personal lives and build meaningful connections at work.
Enneagram 3 Weaknesses: What Do 3s Struggle With at Work?
All Enneagram personality types have things they struggle with at work. Just as they have strengths that help them advance professionally, these weaknesses hinder their career advancement. Let’s examine the Type 3 weaknesses in the workplace.
They Struggle With Sensitive or Emotional Issues
Most people understand that workplace success partially depends on a person’s intelligence. However, a lesser-known fact is that your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is equally crucial to your career success.
Your EQ determines how well you manage your emotions to deal with work stress, communicate with others without appearing insensitive, solve conflicts, etc. Achievers neglect their emotions, impacting how well they deal with sensitive issues at work.
They Fear Failure
Some people may see Achievers’ fear of failure as a positive because it motivates them to do everything possible to succeed. However, since failure is inevitable in the workplace, knowing how to deal with it can aid their personal and professional development. It's important for Type 3s to work on separating making mistakes from "being a failure."
They Require External Validation
You will struggle to find personal fulfillment if you require people’s approval in everything you do. Sometimes, ruffling a few feathers to do what is right for the company may be key to achieving success.
They Are Too Concerned With Their Image
Left between choosing to do what benefits the organization and what enhances how they look to others, Achievers will almost always choose the latter. Their obsession with their image sometimes makes them insensitive to the feelings of others.
They Can Be Too Competitive
Their competitive nature is encouraged for some fast-paced careers like sales and marketing, where meeting sales targets or converting potential customers are the objectives. However, Type Threes can be overly competitive for no reason, affecting teamwork.
They Are Prone to Stress and Burnout
Enneagram 3s tend to overwork themselves because of their ambition and over-competitiveness. They risk suffering from stress and burnout because they set many goals and work hard to accomplish them without taking regular breaks.
Tips to Help Enneagram Threes Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance
It's no secret that Enneagram Type 3s overwork themselves to achieve success, and many have Type A personality traits. Whether their motivation comes from seeking public praise or desperation to avoid failure, it's undeniable that the results of their efforts are admirable. However, their sustained success usually comes at a risk if not carefully managed.
When there is too much focus on achieving targets and seeking recognition from the public, what time do you have to live your life and build meaningful relationships? No matter how successful you are in your professional life, you must balance that with success in your personal life.
Here are tips to help Enneagram Type 3s maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Take Regular Breaks
Working non-stop for long hours without breaks hinders productivity. A study on micro-breaks showed a positive correlation between taking breaks and improved well-being and performance on many tasks. Another study on employee breaks showed that breaks between work increase focus, creativity, and productivity.
Set Clear Boundaries
Once your work hours are over, use your personal time for yourself and your loved ones. Set clear boundaries to avoid working during your “me-time.”
Delegate and Outsource
The Eisenhower Matrix for time management recommends delegating urgent but unimportant tasks to capable hands. Delegating or outsourcing tasks frees up your schedule and allows you some much-needed time to focus on your personal life.
Practice Self-Care for Personal and Professional Development
Adopting simple but effective self-care habits like regular exercise and rest, healthy eating, meditation, showing gratitude, and positive affirmations can help their personal and professional development.
Best Enneagram Type 3 Careers
Armed with a clear understanding of the Achiever personality type's strengths, weaknesses, and needs, we can now focus on discovering the right careers for Enneagram 3. When Achievers explore career paths whose requirements and work environment align with their best personality traits, the chances of career fulfillment are high.
Type 3 Enneagrams will likely prefer jobs similar to the ESTJ personality type (The Director), one of the 16 MBTI personality types. Some Achievers may also prefer jobs similar to the ENTJ personality type (The Commander).
The following are some of the best careers for the Enneagram Type 3 personality.
- Salesperson
- Real Estate Agent
- Entrepreneur
- Marketing Officer
- Financial Analyst
- Athlete
- Lawyer
- Banker
- Journalist
- Project Manager
- Management Consultant
- Public Relations Specialist
- Teacher
Let's look a little closer at some of these professions to understand better what makes them such a good fit.
Salesperson / Sales Manager
A career in sales allows Enneagram 3 to set ambitious goals and use its charisma and charm to convert customers. This career offers limitless growth potential, opportunities to meet new people, and an active environment enabling independent work.
Real Estate Agent
It takes meticulous planning and careful decision-making for clients to decide where they want to live and the qualities they want in the house. As Realtors, Type 3s help clients achieve their life goals and fulfill their dreams.
Athlete
Type 3s are well suited to Sports because this line of work has no shortage of recognition and public praise. Sports provide the competitive atmosphere Achievers love and a path to achieving recognition. Despite being a career that prioritizes teamwork, individuals have enough room to stand out.
Banker
Type 3s with an affinity for high-profile careers that promise financial success for hardworking individuals will enjoy a career in banking. Working as a banker provides an opportunity for career advancement and a steady rise to the top based on one’s accomplishments.
Teacher
Healthy Type 3s will motivate students, inspire them, help them set and achieve goals, and instill a remarkable drive for excellence in them. They will also build a good rapport with students and communicate well while teaching.
Entrepreneur
Type 3s love a good challenge, and what’s more challenging than building a business from the ground up with all the risks and uncertainty in the market? Achievers will fancy entrepreneurship because they love the prestige of leadership roles, the freedom to set their own goals, and the opportunity to compete with other established businesses.
Project Manager
As a project manager, Type 3s will get to plan, procure, and execute projects from start to finish. They will also use their leadership skills to lead a team, hoping to deliver the project on time and beyond expectations.
Worst Careers for Enneagram 3
Despite the Achiever’s impressive key traits, certain careers seem like poor fits because the work requirements and environment of those jobs do not align with the Enneagram Type 3 personality.
For example, a career in ghostwriting will not appeal to an Achiever because it requires them to use their creativity to develop a mind-blowing piece and have someone else take all the credit and accolades. Nursing, Social Work, Human Resources Management, and other careers requiring sensitivity also may not fit because Type 3s usually avoid dealing with their emotions.
Achievers seek authority and respect in their careers, so careers that do not enhance their public image may not appeal to them. Finally, Type Threes dislike slow, non-sociable, non-competitive careers.
Here are some of the worst careers to avoid as an Enneagram 3 Personality Type.
- Nurse
- Social Worker
- Ghostwriter
- Actuary
- Electrician
- Security Officer
- Human Resources Manager
- Accountant
For Life and Career Success, Choose a Job That Brings You Fulfillment!
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median employee tenure for wage and salary workers is 4.1 years. Now, look at your current job. Do you see yourself doing it for that long? After four or five years, will you wish to continue with the same job? Your answers should tell you if your current job brings you satisfaction and fulfillment.
Barring drastic changes like relocation, most people will want to continue with a fulfilling job for as long as possible.
How do you guarantee that the career you choose will make you feel fulfilled, professionally and personally? It starts with ensuring the career aligns with your Enneagram personality. As an Enneagram Type 3, choose a career that maximizes your strengths and doesn't expose your weaknesses. Need some inspiration? Check out these successful Enneagram 3s!
The optimal work environment for Enneagram Type 3 individuals recognizes and rewards their achievements. They thrive in dynamic, fast-paced settings where they can take on ambitious projects, set high standards, and demonstrate their skills. Type 3s are motivated by success and are drawn to roles that provide clear metrics for achievement, allowing them to showcase their competence and leadership abilities. They excel in careers that offer opportunities for advancement, leadership, and public recognition.
Regarding work tasks, Type 3s are most productive when given challenging goals that tap into their drive for accomplishment. They are adept at managing teams, devising innovative strategies, and delivering results under pressure.
The best careers for Enneagram 3s include those in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, and media, where their charisma, determination, and adaptability can shine. Ultimately, a career that allows them to be in the spotlight while contributing meaningfully to the organization aligns perfectly with their ambitions and need for validation.
It’s important to understand that your Enneagram Personality is not the only metric for choosing the right career.
Learning about Holland’s Theory of Occupational Choice is very effective for identifying jobs that match your personality traits and interests. Also, since most Type Threes score high in Extroversion, you may want to learn more about the Big Five Personality Theory to examine potential career paths.
