Job Search and “The Achiever, Producer, Performer”

"The Superstar” is number "three" of the nine Enneagram styles. The Achiever, which we will call "threes”, get their energy from their accomplishments. Threes need to succeed and if you could put an Enneagram number on a country; you could call the USA: an All American Three country.

Image counts with threes including titles, cars, homes, salary. Threes want to achieve and be recognized.

Threes have a lot of charisma and energy. They are hardworking, goal oriented, organized, and decisive.
Threes are heart people. They like people and often take others under their wing.

They can also be very impatient when dealing with joblessness. They are so used to accomplishment that when they are out of work; they feel like utter failures. This is not the truth. Threes are no more failures than the rest of us; they just “feel” that way. These feelings can give the three a lot of trouble with their job search.

Threes are used to getting things done and are found frequently in management or leadership positions. They often work in sales, law, banking, the computer field, and politics. Being in the public eye, as broadcasters and performers, is also common.

The more helping-oriented Threes tend to go into teaching, social services or the health field. They also become homemakers who put tremendous energy into their responsibilities.

Threes have trouble mounting a professional job search when they feel like failures. They can drop out, tune out, and maybe even get in trouble. They will frantically try to hang on when all reason tells them to cut their losses and find a new occupation. Threes hate to fail.

Determining the next step in their career takes time and if the three did not anticipate the job loss; they can become impatient with the process. They are not used to waiting and can make hasty choices which are not healthy. They can even turn to unhealthy compulsive behavior.

Threes do better on their job search when they are more patient. Realizing that job transitions take time especially when the job loss is a surprise or that they have completely “burned-out” in the process to save the old job.

Threes need to brainstorm possible job positions to create choices for themselves and to network into new areas that will rejuvenate them. The old network of friends may not be that helpful, if it only serves to remind the three of their past failure.

A healthy three will wisely use the extra time to volunteer. Getting their head and heart into the process; they can immerse themselves into discovering a new direction that will give purpose and meaning to their work. Threes make a difference in everything that they do. They are the ultimate doers.