Enterprising Careers and Interest Type

What is the Enterprising interest type?

People with a strong Enterprising interest tend to enjoy being in charge, or at least having a say. They like to set a target, get others behind it and push until it is done. Talking someone into a plan can feel like a game to them. Many are drawn to competition, status and reward, and they often move fast. They would rather make a decision with most of the facts than wait for all of them.

This interest shows up in sales, management, law, politics, real estate, marketing, event planning and running your own business. It also appears in smaller ways, like leading a school club or organizing a fundraiser. Liking to lead is not the same as already knowing how. Good leaders learn to listen, plan and handle setbacks, and those skills grow with practice. Your other letters show what you might most like to lead: people, products, projects or ideas.

What work do Enterprising people enjoy?

• Leading a groupTaking charge of a team, setting the direction, sharing out tasks and keeping everyone moving toward a goal they can all see.
• Persuading and sellingConvincing people to buy a product, back a plan or try an idea, and enjoying the back-and-forth of making a strong pitch.
• Starting new thingsTurning an idea into a real project, shop, event or business, and handling the many choices and risks that come with it.
• Making big decisionsWeighing the options quickly, picking a path and owning the result, even when some facts are still unknown and others feel unsure.
• Competing and winningChasing targets, beating last year’s numbers or closing a deal, and feeling the rush when hard work turns into a clear win.

Where do Enterprising people tend to work?

Enterprising work often happens in offices, shops, sales floors, law firms, banks, new tech companies, restaurants and event venues. Many jobs involve a lot of meetings, calls and travel. The pace tends to be fast, with clear targets and rewards like bonuses or promotion. Some people in these fields run their own business, which brings freedom along with risk. Pay can depend on results, so steady effort and good relationships matter.

Which interest types often go with Enterprising?

• Enterprising and SocialEnterprising and Social are neighbors on the hexagon. Both enjoy people, and this mix tends to like leading with a human touch. People with both may enjoy managing a team, hiring and training staff, running a school or clinic, or selling services that help others.
• Enterprising and ConventionalEnterprising and Conventional are neighbors too. This mix enjoys business with good order behind it. People with both tend to like managing budgets, running a store or office, working in finance or real estate, or growing a company with clear systems and goals.
• Enterprising and RealisticEnterprising with Realistic is a common mix among people who run hands-on businesses. They enjoy leading and selling, but they also like real, physical work. Running a building company, a farm, a garage, a restaurant or a fitness business can suit this mix well.

What are the top Enterprising jobs?

These jobs have the highest Enterprising interest scores in O*NET® data, grouped by how much preparation they usually need. Most jobs mix two or three interest types, so a job high on Enterprising may still need other interests too. Tap a job to read its full page on O*NET OnLine.