Understanding the ESTJ personality type: The Supervisor
This week’s personality series article is all about the ESTJ type also known as The Supervisor. Learning more about yourself and why you act a certain way can help you realise what you are great at and what you can do to improve yourself and your interview technique. We are all individuals, so this information should be tailored to you. This is the 12th article in this series, so if you want to read more, the rest of the articles are on E&TJ in the Career and Advice section.
ESTJ’s are hardworking individuals, they are often eager to take charge and tend to be very orderly people. They like to get things done. The Supervisor personality type usually works very hard and makes sure that their work is completed in a very methodical way. They thrive with structure, having an organised lifestyle and work life works in their favour and when they see a lack of organisation, they take it into their own hands, to establish guidelines.
An ESTJ type looks for rules to follow and if there isn’t any, they’re usually the people in charge forming the rules and regulations. They are very task orientated and make it their mission to help others around them work in a similar way.
What does ESTJ stand for?
Extraverted – This often means that an individual is energized and works well when they have spent time with others. They work well in a team and are able to communicate well with the people around them.
Sensing – They would rather focus on the facts and figures to get a job done, rather than think of new ideas. If nothing’s wrong with the system, then why try and fix it?
Thinking – They made choices in their personal and work life based off of logic and reason. They find it very easy to make choices when the answer is right in front of them, this doesn’t mean they are not creative minds, they just have a way of doing things and don’t often like to stray from that.
Judging – The Supervisor is usually someone who would prefer to do things to a schedule. They know what they should be doing, and they are normally always on time with their daily routine. They don’t often find comfort in being spontaneous.
Strengths of ‘The Supervisor’
Likely to be organised and efficient – ESTJ’s are people that thrive from making lists and being ready with a plan already set. They prefer to have some kind of structure to their day and this can help massively with their work life. They are very likely to be punctual people as well, which obviously, really helps with interviews. When invited to an interview, the employer often asks for you to bring certain things. So, on top of being punctual and ready to go, having everything sorted and ready to go can really work in your favour.
Integrity – ESTJ’s respect the people around them. They believe that the rules apply to them just as much as they do to the other people they work with. They know that organisations and teams run best when everyone is giving it their all and show a sense of duty. This personality type are often very good in leadership positions, but they don’t fail to work as hard as the people in their team. A little hard work really does go a long way.
Dedicated individuals – Giving 110% simply comes naturally to The Supervisor, they do their work and they do it well. They are often organised, motivated, and hard-working individuals who do what they think is right every single day. Employers want someone who knows what they’re doing, but they also want someone who can be trusted to come in and do the job they were hired to do. ESTJ’s will do exactly that and show employers that they have made the right choice in a candidate. Dedication is always worth shouting about, it is always highly sought upon.
Potential weaknesses of an ESTJ
Can be stubborn – Having a schedule is great and works well for many people in their everyday lives. However, sometimes things may happen that you simply cannot control and when important issues arise, you have to stray from your plan and do what needs to be done. ESTJ’s can be very inflexible with their schedule and may not change it for others or unforeseen circumstances. Being put on the spot can be difficult and when you feel uncomfortable with change, straying away from your ‘plan’ can be hard. However, being able to take a list and alter it to ensure the proper work is done, means you have had a successful day, even if it doesn’t feel it. Sometimes, being a little more flexible with your day can really help you and your team.
Can sometimes be judgmental – The Supervisor often believes that there way of doing things is the only way. They can sometimes fail to see that creativity and innovation can be beneficial and help a project or even something in their personal lives. However, although they can be open to trying new things, they are often impatient. When something doesn’t work straight away, they may judge people and try to revert back to the traditional way of doing things.
What can you do?
Employers want to know that you are flexible, sometimes things won’t go to plan, and you might have to turn your attention to a more important task. Being adaptable can feel out of your comfort zone, but it can really help employers know that you are reliable. When someone likes to work to a highly organised schedule, this can be difficult, but try and take small steps to becoming just a little more spontaneous. When an employer asks about weaknesses, it’s important to mention something like this, but ensure them of the steps you are taking to learn and adapt. All they really want to know is that you can adapt to situations in the workplace.
No one is perfect and although we may all have our own way of doing things, what one person agrees with, another may not. You need to be able to see from other people’s perspective and once you understand that not everyone thinks like you, you can try new ways of doing things. It is a good idea to have a break sometimes as well, an ESTJ type is likely to enjoy work, but taking time out can help you feel revitalised and ready to start again. It can feel hard to step back, but it will help in the long run.
“At work, the ESTJ excels at organizing—people, projects, and operations. ESTJs like to be in control and often seek out management positions, preferring to be in a role where they can make decisions and enforce policies and procedures.”
The Supervisor is likely to have the skills that employers want, but there is always room to improve your professional self. The people around you can help you become the employee you want to be as much as you can help them find some structure.
