Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsKey ESTP CharacteristicsESTP Cognitive FunctionsESTP Personal RelationshipsESTP Career PathsTips for Interacting With ESTPsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator GuideESFP: The Performer (Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Key ESTP Characteristics
ESTP Cognitive Functions
ESTP Personal Relationships
ESTP Career Paths
Tips for Interacting With ESTPs
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide
Close
Verywell / JR Bee
IS ESTP the rarest personality type?According to psychologist David Keirsey, the creator of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, approximately 4—10% of people exhibit an ESTP personality. It is believed to be one of the most common personality types.
IS ESTP the rarest personality type?
According to psychologist David Keirsey, the creator of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, approximately 4—10% of people exhibit an ESTP personality. It is believed to be one of the most common personality types.
People with an ESTP personality type tend to exhibit a number of characteristics centered on their tendency to be extraverted sensors. They tend to be decisive thinkers with strong people skills. ESTPs also tend to:
StrengthsGregarious, funny, and energeticInfluential and persuasiveAction-orientedAdaptable and resourcefulObservantWeaknessesImpulsiveCompetitiveDramatic at timesEasily boredInsensitive
StrengthsGregarious, funny, and energeticInfluential and persuasiveAction-orientedAdaptable and resourcefulObservant
Gregarious, funny, and energetic
Influential and persuasive
Action-oriented
Adaptable and resourceful
Observant
WeaknessesImpulsiveCompetitiveDramatic at timesEasily boredInsensitive
Impulsive
Competitive
Dramatic at times
Easily bored
Insensitive
The MBTI suggests thatpersonalityis composed of a number of different mental functions (sensing, thinking, intuition, and feeling) that are either directed inwardly (introverted) or outwardly (extraverted). The most prominent of these plays the largest role in personality, while the secondary function acts as a co-pilot. The tertiary and inferior functions tend to have smaller influence.
Dominant: Extraverted Sensing
Extraverts gain energy from social engagement. Because of this, they tend to be outgoing, engaging, and novelty-seeking. Because they are more outward-turning, they also tend to seek stimulation through the senses.
Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking
When making judgments about the world, people with an ESTP personality type focus inwardly and process information in a logical and rational way. Because this side of personality isintroverted, it is something that people may not immediately notice.
Tertiary: Extraverted Feeling
This function focuses on creating social harmony and relationships with others. Whileemotionsare not an ESTPs strongest suit, they do have a great need for social engagement.
Inferior: Introverted Intuition
This aspect of personality focuses on looking at information in order to see patterns and develop a “gut feeling” about situations. It allows ESTPs to gain impressions of incoming data and develop a sense of the future.
ESTPs You Might KnowDonald Trump, businessman and U.S. PresidentMadonna, singerErnest Hemingway, novelistThomas Edison, inventorCaptain James T. Kirk, fictional character,Star Trek
ESTPs You Might Know
Donald Trump, businessman and U.S. PresidentMadonna, singerErnest Hemingway, novelistThomas Edison, inventorCaptain James T. Kirk, fictional character,Star Trek
Asextraverts, the ESTP personality type gains energy from being around other people. In social settings, people with this personality type are seen as fun, friendly, and charming.
The MBTI also suggests that certain personality types may exhibit preferences and strengths that align them with certain careers. People with an ESTP personality type feel energized when they interact with a wide variety of people, so they do best in jobs that involve working with others. They strongly dislike routine and monotony, so fast-paced jobs are ideal.
ESTPs have several different personality characteristics that make them well-suited for certain careers. Because of their strong people skills, ESTPs tend to do very well in careers that involve sales and marketing.
Because they are action-oriented and resourceful, they are great in first-responder positions that require fast-thinking and quick responses, such as emergency medical personnel and police officers.
Popular ESTP CareersComputer support technicianDetectivesEntrepreneurMarketerParamedicPolice officerSales agent
Popular ESTP Careers
Computer support technicianDetectivesEntrepreneurMarketerParamedicPolice officerSales agent
If your friend, co-worker, loved one, or partner has an ESTP personality type, there are some things you can do to improve your communication and interaction with them. Learning more about what makes this personality type tick can help you understand them better.
Friendships
Parenting
ESTP children can be adventurous and independent, so parents need to set boundaries and ensure that fair, consistent discipline is used. Kids with this type of personality need lots of hands-on activities to keep them busy, but they may struggle in classroom settings where they quickly grow weary of routines.
Relationships
Frequently Asked QuestionsNone of the MBTI personality types are any better than the others. Just like all the other types, the ESTP personality type has both strengths and weaknesses.On the good side, ESTPs tend to be persuasive, action-focused, and resourceful. They have strong people skills and are good at observing people and situations. However, they can also struggle with impulsivity, competitiveness, and a need for constant stimulation. Understanding these characteristics can help you overcome challenges while maximizing your strengths.While people of any personality type can enjoy healthy relationships with this personality type, ESTJs tend to be most compatible with ISFJs or ISTJs.ESTPs have a number of intellectual strengths. Because they are good at observation, they often notice things that others do not.They also have excellent social intelligence and are great at communicating with others. While they tend not to enjoy abstract or theoretical information, they are good at solving problems and finding solutions to real-world issues.
None of the MBTI personality types are any better than the others. Just like all the other types, the ESTP personality type has both strengths and weaknesses.On the good side, ESTPs tend to be persuasive, action-focused, and resourceful. They have strong people skills and are good at observing people and situations. However, they can also struggle with impulsivity, competitiveness, and a need for constant stimulation. Understanding these characteristics can help you overcome challenges while maximizing your strengths.
None of the MBTI personality types are any better than the others. Just like all the other types, the ESTP personality type has both strengths and weaknesses.
On the good side, ESTPs tend to be persuasive, action-focused, and resourceful. They have strong people skills and are good at observing people and situations. However, they can also struggle with impulsivity, competitiveness, and a need for constant stimulation. Understanding these characteristics can help you overcome challenges while maximizing your strengths.
While people of any personality type can enjoy healthy relationships with this personality type, ESTJs tend to be most compatible with ISFJs or ISTJs.
ESTPs have a number of intellectual strengths. Because they are good at observation, they often notice things that others do not.They also have excellent social intelligence and are great at communicating with others. While they tend not to enjoy abstract or theoretical information, they are good at solving problems and finding solutions to real-world issues.
Reasons to Learn About Your Personality Type
4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.Keirsey.Learn about the artisan promoter.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Personality and careers.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Psychological type and relationships.Additional ReadingKeirsey, D.Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company; 1998.Myers, I. B.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc; 1998.
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.Keirsey.Learn about the artisan promoter.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Personality and careers.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Psychological type and relationships.Additional ReadingKeirsey, D.Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company; 1998.Myers, I. B.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc; 1998.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.Keirsey.Learn about the artisan promoter.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Personality and careers.The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Psychological type and relationships.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.The 16 MBTI types.
Keirsey.Learn about the artisan promoter.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Personality and careers.
The Myers & Briggs Foundation.Psychological type and relationships.
Keirsey, D.Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company; 1998.Myers, I. B.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc; 1998.
Keirsey, D.Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company; 1998.
Myers, I. B.Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc; 1998.
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
