MBTI® Test ESFJ Secretaries

Strong Interest Inventory® General Occupational Theme Code: Conventional, Enterprising (CE) (GOT)

Hammer (1996) points out that people are generally happier and more content when they choose careers that complement their Myers-Briggs test Personality Type. Because Extraverted-Sensing-Feeling-Judging (ESFJ) MBTI test types strike a balance between being team players while still maintaining efficient and effective functioning, they tend to keep organizations running smoothly. As a result, ESFJ’s can often do well as secretaries, and often contribute to positive yet highly organized working environments for everyone.

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Secretaries are in many ways the oil that keeps offices and companies running smoothly. They do anything that needs doing, from answering phones to keeping appointment calendars to handling customer service issues. They are often the first point of contact for customers, and can have a great impact on company perception in the public eye. Secretaries also keep office records, including event or room calendars and inventory of office supplies, and manage incoming and outgoing mail flow. They also place orders as mailing and office supplies need replacing. Secretaries may also perform payroll functions, train or supervise new clerical staff, support staff with computer usage, and generally handle unforeseen circumstances or contact those who can.

Because secretaries have such a wide range of tasks and duties, they often need to communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of media. As a result, they need to be able to effectively use personal, laptop, tablet, and handheld computers, as well as mobile phones, scanners, photocopiers, land phones, and fax machines. They also need to be proficient users of Microsoft Office Suite and their Google equivalents, in addition to accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks Pro), calendar and scheduling software (e.g., Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook), photo editing software (e.g., Adobe photoshop), and publishing software (e.g., Adobe InDesign). Though different organizations or companies, especially if they are in different sectors, may use different programs or software, secretaries will generally need to be able to use those listed above. Nonetheless, they should have enough of an understanding to be able to master more technology on-the-job as well.

In addition to these more technical skills, secretaries also need to have a positive attitude, knowledge of procedures and practices of customer service, and a general understanding of business and management principles. Furthermore, because so much of a secretarial position is communication, strong written and oral English language skills, as well as any other languages that are used in the workplace in question, are absolutely necessary to the success of a secretary. In most cases (over 90%), these skills are developed in high school or in a college program.

Below are some employment trends for Secretaries:

  • Median wage: $18.12 hourly, $37,690 annually
  • Employment: 2,382,500 employees
  • Projected growth (2018-2028): Average (-2% or lower)
  • Projected job openings (2018-2028): 233,500

Visit Our MBTI® About Page and Our ESFJ Personality Type Page For Detailed Information on The ESFJ Personality Type

Visit Our Strong Interest Inventory® Resource Page To Learn About The (CE) GOT

ESFJ Careers

Click on one of these corresponding popular ESFJ Careers for detailed information including Career Stats, Income Stats, Daily Tasks and Required Education: Hotel, Motel, or Resort Clerk, Kindergarten Teacher, Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner, Personal or Home Care Aide, Radiologic Technologist, Receptionist or Information Clerk, Registered Nurse, Secretary, Teacher Assistant, and Teller.

Learn More About the MBTI ESFJ Personality Type

Explore additional information that delves deeper into the ESFJ Personality Type by examining various personality and career based subjects:

Click on a link below to read more about different MBTI Personality Types

ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP
ISTP ISFP INFP INTP ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

References:

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections Onetonline.org
  1. MBTI® Type Tables for Occupations, 2nd Edition. Schaubhut, N. & Thompson, R. (CPP, 2008)
  1. Introduction To Type and Careers, Hammer, A. (CPP, 1996)