Why Taking the Enneagram Test Can Benefit and Supplement Your Interviews
Understand Yourself to Show Up Stronger in Every Conversation
The job interview isn’t just about showing your qualifications. It’s about demonstrating self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and how you’ll fit into a team. One of the best ways to prepare on a deeper level is to better understand yourself—your patterns, communication style, motivators, and blind spots. That’s where the Enneagram test comes in.
More than a trendy personality quiz, the Enneagram is a time-tested tool that helps uncover core motivations and behavioral patterns. It can give you a language to talk about your strengths and development areas in a way that’s authentic and memorable.
What Is the Enneagram? The Enneagram is a personality framework made up of nine core types, each driven by different fears and desires. Unlike other assessments that focus only on behavior, the Enneagram dives deeper into the motivation behind your actions.
The nine types are:
The Reformer (principled, purposeful)
The Helper (generous, people-pleasing)
The Achiever (driven, image-conscious)
The Individualist (sensitive, expressive)
The Investigator (analytical, reserved)
The Loyalist (committed, security-seeking)
The Enthusiast (spontaneous, scattered)
The Challenger (confident, assertive)
The Peacemaker (easygoing, accommodating)
Each type also has a unique growth path, making it a dynamic tool for personal and professional development.
Why the Enneagram Is Useful in Interviews
1. Increases Self-Awareness Knowing your type can help you understand how you respond to stress, how you communicate, and where you tend to shine. For example:
Type 3s (Achievers) are naturally results-oriented and confident in presenting themselves.
Type 9s (Peacemakers) bring harmony to teams and adapt easily to different personalities.
This awareness helps you speak clearly about your strengths and challenges.
2. Enhances Your Ability to Reflect Behavioral interviews often ask questions like “Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge.” With your Enneagram type in mind, you can better articulate how you grow and learn in response to challenges.
Example: “As a Type 6, I tend to prepare for worst-case scenarios. It’s made me a highly organized project manager, especially when dealing with risk. That said, I’ve learned how to lean into trust and not over-plan to a fault.”
3. Provides Language for Authentic Answers Interviewers value candidates who are thoughtful, humble, and aware of how they work with others. Your Enneagram type can help you:
Explain your leadership style
Describe how you collaborate
Talk about personal growth without sounding overly rehearsed
4. Helps You Identify Role Fit Understanding your Enneagram type can also help you assess whether a company’s culture, communication style, and team dynamics are a good fit for you. For instance:
Type 5s may prefer independent, analytical roles with space for deep thinking.
Type 2s may thrive in collaborative, service-oriented environments.
5. Makes You Stand Out Bringing up your Enneagram type—when appropriate—can be a great conversation starter. It signals emotional intelligence and a commitment to self-development, which are major green flags for employers.
How to Use the Enneagram in Interview Prep
1. Take a Reliable Test Start by taking a reputable Enneagram assessment. Free versions exist, but for deeper accuracy, consider using platforms like Truity or The Enneagram Institute.
2. Learn About Your Type Don’t just skim the surface. Read up on:
Your type’s core fear and desire
Stress and growth behaviors
Communication style
Conflict and collaboration tendencies
3. Prepare STAR Examples Through the Lens of Your Type Revisit your most common interview answers and reframe them to highlight what you now understand about yourself.
4. Use Enneagram Language Strategically In interviews, don’t just say “I’m a Type 1.” Instead, integrate what it means: “I tend to be very detail-oriented and strive for high standards. I’ve had to learn when ‘good enough’ is actually the right call, which has made me a better team player.”
5. Keep It Balanced While the Enneagram can be a powerful addition to your interview toolkit, it’s not a replacement for experience or results. Use it as a supplement, not the focus.
Examples of Enneagram-Based Responses Question: “What’s a weakness you’re working on?” Answer: “As someone who identifies with Type 8, I’m naturally assertive and confident, which is great in fast-paced environments. But I’ve also worked on softening my approach in sensitive conversations so I can lead with more empathy.”
Question: “How do you handle pressure?” Answer: “I’m a Type 4, which means I tend to internalize stress. Over time, I’ve built tools for resilience like structured planning and staying grounded in facts, which have helped me handle fast-moving projects.”
When Not to Mention It If a hiring manager seems unfamiliar with the Enneagram or personality assessments in general, it’s best to avoid overemphasizing it. Instead, let the insights you’ve gained influence how you present yourself without explicitly referencing the test.
Taking the Enneagram test isn’t about labeling yourself. It’s about discovering how you operate and using that understanding to communicate more clearly, work more effectively, and grow intentionally.
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