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Enneagram Type 9 Careers

Best jobs for Enneagram Type 9 and career growth advice illustration of the peacemaker type nine

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An Enneagram Type 9 thrives in careers where there is a promise of stability and consistency. Peacemakers like to be in positions where they are able to help others, which is why they are most successful in careers where they are able to accomplish this. Type 9s are empowered by resolving conflict, which is why they typically like to find themselves in careers where they are able to help others through tension to create their core desire of peace and harmony. However, type 9s do not bode well working in fast-paced environments because they feel they can't connect with others on a deep level, which is why it is important for them to be in a slower-paced setting.

  • Organizational Culture
  • Teamwork
  • Managerial Style
  • Recommended Careers for Type 1

Organizational Culture

What organizational cultures are best suited to Enneagram Type 9 careers?

Peacemakers prefer a formal, open, and connected organizational culture. It's extremely important to type 9s that they are working in a career where they are able to help people on a daily basis. This leads to many type 9s seeking out leadership positions because they are in a higher position of power to make a difference. Enneagram 9s do not bode well in organizational culture where there is not an open line of communication between themselves and their superiors. It's important to them that they feel seen and heard in their workplace, because it allows them to feel their acceptance from others.

dim lightbulb

Enneagram 9s do not bode well in organizational culture where there is not an open line of communication between themselves and their superiors.

A career setting not best suited for an enneagram 9 consists of cut-throat or fast-paced environments. These types of career working conditions can lead a type 9 to feel as if they don't belong, and they aren't able to help others to their full potential. “Because an enneagram nine is motivated by a desire to create peace and bring people together, if they are doing work that they feel causes them to compromise this core longing it will not be fulfilling to them.” (Doyle, Evan).

Teamwork

How do Enneagram Type 9s work by themselves and with others?

Enneagram 9s prefer to work alongside other people in their career settings, and struggle when they are working alone. They like to collaborate with their peers and create a solution oriented environment, because this not only allows them to help as many people as possible but they are able to fight their fear of being alone. Peacemakers are known for being able to see all sides to a situation, which even though it can create personal issues for them, it allows type 9s to be creative and think of solutions with their peers in a work setting. “Nines excel at seeing all points of view. This can make it difficult for them to make personal decisions, but at the same time, they can be excellent mediators and peacemakers for others.” (O'Hanrahan, Peter).

Problem solver

Peacemakers are known for being able to see all sides to a situation, which even though it can create personal issues for them, it allows type 9s to be creative and think of solutions with their peers in a work setting.

It can be difficult for type 9s to work alone because of the lack of relationship with their leadership team, and superiors. One of type 9's greatest fears is being alone, and being able to work in a team, and have close relations to their leaders allows them to keep this fear at ease. However, it is extremely important to type 9s that these environments be free of conflict. This is why they do their best to be stationed in open-minded, calming and solution seeking teams and careers as a whole.

Managerial Style

How Type 9s are best managed and how they manage others

Managing a Type 9

Peacemakers thrive in careers where there is an extremely open line of communication between themselves and their superiors. They also like to be in managerial positions because it places them in a higher position of power to help those in need. Type 9s are a part of the body within the triad of the heart, head and body, and their gut intuition serves them well in the workplace. Enneagram 9s can become passive aggressive, lash out in anger or completely numb out their feelings if they deem themselves to be under superiors who do not take the time to truly hear and see them for what they have to offer. “Type 9's may want to consider avoiding where they do not feel connected to their boss or their peers.” (Doyle, Evan).

A Type 9 manager

Type 9s are seen as being excellent managers when they are in careers that have stability, consistency and create the sense of calmness type 9s represent. One of their greatest desires and traits that make them stand out is their constant need to help other people. They are a group of individuals who will root for you, and do whatever they can to help another person. Whether it be the top performing employee of the company, or the underdog no one sees coming.

blue star

Type 9s will show a mixture of transactional and transformational leadership. They will focus on the minor details as well as the bigger picture.

Data: Most Popular Enneagram Type 9 Career Sector

Which job sector are Enneagram Type 9s most and least likely to be in?

Figure 1: Most popular employment sector for Enneagram Type 9

Results from our self-report survey on career choices for Type 9s. By surveying Type 9s in existing jobs we gain a suggestion of which careers this type is most suited to.

career choices

What this chart shows

The most popular career sector for Type 9s from our survey was 'Finance - Other'. When we compare this to how all types responded, we see there is a higher than average proportion of Type 9s in sectors such as 'Technology - Software', 'Construction/Engineering', and 'Automotive/Aerospace' for example. There is a lower than average proportion of Type 9s in sectors such as 'Healthcare/Medical', 'Legal', and 'Insurance' for example.

Notes:
  • 1. n=27985
  • 2. Population: all
  • 3. Live dataset last updated:

Recommended Careers for Type 9

What jobs are good for an Enneagram Type 9?

So far we've broken down the structures and environments that suit Type 9s, but you may be thinking 'what is the best career for Type 9 Enneagram?'. Well, there are certain careers that are better suited to the traits and behaviors of Type 9s. Here we will list the best and the worst careers for Type 9s.

Top 10 Enneagram Type 9 careers

Careers to seek
  • Librarian
  • Therapist
  • Social Worker
  • Veterinarian
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Editor
  • Counselor
  • Psychiatrist
  • Diplomat
  • Entertainment

10 worst Enneagram Type 9 careers

Careers to avoid
  • Sales
  • Investment Banking
  • Military
  • Litigation Lawyer
  • Stock Tader
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Short-order Cook
  • Recruitment
  • Diener (Morgue worker)
  • Mortgage Broker

 

letter i in grey circle for information point

Note: These Enneagram Type 9 career role recommendations are based on what is the best fit for a Type Nine in theory. However, this does not mean that a career in the private sector working in business development would not work. That will depend on the managerial style, other team members, and the company values.

 

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Chloe Yarwood, MSc

University of Chichester, Advanced Applied Psychology

Chloe Yarwood, MSc in Advanced Applied Psychology from University of Chichester. Specialist in personality type theory and developing valid personality questionnaires.