So, the deed is done. You have graduated and you are now ready to begin the arduous task of the job search.
But hold up. Before you plunge into the deep pool of available jobs out there, we have but one simple question for you:
Do you know what are the natural gifts you can bring to your potential employers?
No? Not sure?
Okay, no worries. That’s where the Enneagram comes in. In this three-part series, we will give you a quick rundown of the 9 Enneagram Types, the specific gifts each Type possesses and brings to the table, and one job search tip to help each Type maximise their success in finding the right job fit for themselves.
Before we begin, here is a quick disclaimer. This is not just about getting any job. This is about getting a job that speaks to the core need; a job that is meaningful to you. Coupling it with other factors like passion, interest, calling, this can help you to find the right career. The examples that are given are by no means exhaustive, just a general direction, something to jumpstart you on your journey towards finding the job for you right now.
Let’s begin with analysing the first three Ennegram types.
Gifts:
- Highly aware of what needs to be improved;
- Make good teachers to new people to the organisation;
- Ensures that processes are followed and that everything is in its right place;
- Sets high standards (for everyone but especially for themselves).
Who they are:
See Type 1s as the enforcers of the company. Their love for rules and structures make them the perfect candidate for positions that insists on high-quality standards (think ISO kind of high) and their meticulousness will ensure that the bosses can rest easy, knowing that they are on the job, checking every detail of the projects they have been given. If you have a newbie in the company, unleash the Type 1 to teach them the right way to do their job (a.k.a following procedures), they will make sure the newbie will be up to speed in no time.
Job search tip for Type 1s:
If rules, regulations and proper procedures rock your world, an ideal career would be jobs that would allow you to put systems in place, that puts you in a position to improve things and make things better, or even be a position where it allows you to teach people new things. Such jobs would include a mechanic, a surgeon, a web developer, a teacher, a fitness instructor.
Gifts:
- Good with meeting the unspoken needs of others;
- Generous with their knowledge, time (basically themselves);
- Nurturing towards the people around them.
Who they are:
Type 2s (regardless of their gender) will inevitably remind you of a nurturing mother. These people are always on the lookout for your needs and will go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals and in the process, support and empower the team to be the best they can be.
Job search tip for Type 2s:
If you are all about helping others, if you would like a job that earns you that all-important ‘thank you’ from the end-user, then maybe search for jobs that are in the service sector, like customer service, hospitality staff, or even the social services sector like nursing, counsellors, social workers, daycare teachers, coaches.
Gifts:
- Able to multitask;
- Good managers of resources;
- Have a can-do attitude (Nothing is impossible, there is always a way);
- Good at presenting and selling an idea.
Who they are:
Nothing daunts a Type 3. No matter what the client’s requirements are, they will be able to figure out a way to make things happen. They are awesome at looking at how to move the chess pieces around to fully maximise resources in the company to help it achieve its goals. Their talent for multitasking enables them to work at a lightning speed.
Job search tip for Type 3s:
If your life motto is the same as Nike’s, then search for jobs that allow you to make things happen; be in a position to sell ideas and even to manage resources then these jobs would be in event planning, marketing, branding, sales, client servicing to name a few.
So there you have it: the first three Enneagram Types. In our next article of the series, we’ll look at the next three Enneagram Types: Type 4s – The Individualist; Type 5s – The Investigators and Type 6s – The Loyalist!
If you want to truly understand your gifts and strengths, sign up for our workshop that is funded by Workforce Singapore here. (It’s also free because you can use your SkillsFuture credits to attend.)
This article was first published in Talent Tribe.