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For most people, the alphas of the MBTI are the ENTJ and the ESTJ. However, for someone trying to find out who they are, it can be tough choosing between these two types. It’s understandable. They both desire control over their lives. They are both typed as enneagram 8 in most cases. Thus, an ENTJ vs ESTJ is only appropriate if we want to tell them apart.

The main source of confusion is usually on the N and S letters. For both people, they could be borderline. For others, they might have taken tests that gave them more two more MBTI types. Now, they just have to find out where they fall.

So, in this article, we are going to discuss some of their main differences.

What is the Main Difference between the ENTJ and ESTJ?

An ENTJ is more of a visionary who takes charge of their life or business. They are charismatic and always have a bigger picture in mind. ESTJs, on the other hand, are amazing leaders with an incredible work ethic.

The difference is in their long-term plans. ENTJs usually have a long-term vision and works towards it while ESTJ is more interested in the present and how to get the best out of it.

ENTJ vs ESTJ- Cognitive Functions

The first difference is in their cognitive functions. Cognitive functions refer to the way these types take in and process information.

For each personality type, they have four dominant cognitive functions.

ENTJ	ESTJ
Extroverted Thinking	Extroverted Thinking
Introverted Intuition	Introverted Sensing
Extroverted Sensing	Extroverted Intuition
Introverted Feeling	Introverted Feeling

You’ll quickly notice the ENTJs and ESTJ share their first and last functions. However, the two middle functions are different.

Let’s break down what these cognitive functions mean and how they influence the behaviors of these two types.

Extroverted Thinking

Both ESTJs and ENTJs use extroverted thinking as their leading function. This function helps these types to think and logically organize their lives. Their Te also helps them to set goals for themselves.

Because this is a thinking function, it helps both types to calculate their odds and chances of their goals being successful. It is also the function that allows the ESTJ and ENTJ to manage people successfully.

Ni vs Si

This is where the first main difference between both types comes to light. For their second function, ENTJs use introverted intuition. This function allows them to find the right dots or patterns needed to achieve their goals.

Their Ni plays the role of supporter to the Te as it draws on internalized theories and instincts to make important decisions.

The ESTJ, on the other hand, uses introverted sensing as its second function. This function allows the ESTJ to draw on past experiences when making decisions.

This means that ESTJs will make decisions based on what has worked well in the past.

Se vs Ne

ENTJs uses Se as their third function. This function allows the ENTJs to be in touch with their environment. So, expect ENTJs to be big exercise freaks. They might also like sports or taking walks in the park.

However, since this is their third function, ENTJs will use it less than their leading and supporting function.

ESTJs, on the other hand, make use of Ne as their third function. This function allows them to express their ideas and possibilities. Thus, expect the ESTJs to be expressive about what they think. They can be extremely blunt about how they feel.

Introverted Feeling

Introverted feeling deals mostly with internalized feelings and beliefs. Thus, when considering things relating to emotions, religion, or morals, the ENTJs and ESTJs will lean on their own personal beliefs.

Fi comes to play also when they have to comfort people. They feel their pain deeply and as a mirror of themselves. This allows them to put themselves in other’s shoes comfortably.

ENTJ vs ESTJ- Love and Romantic Relationship

ENTJ Love

ENTJs approach relationships with a sense of loyalty. Once they have committed to a relationship, it becomes extremely hard for them to pull away.

They want to take care of their partners and give them the very best. If you are married or dating an ENTJ, you can expect that they will defend you with everything they have.

Trust is also a big thing to the ENTJs. They fully trust their partners and want them to do the same. Thus, breaking the trust of the ENTJ in a relationship might be fatal.

ENTJs also have a few struggles that they are bound to face in a relationship. Their need to treat every issue as a problem needing a solution often comes back to bite the ENTJ. In situations where their partners might simply want comfort, the ENTJ might prefer to come up with multiple ideas on how it can be solved.

ENTJs can also be quite insensitive in a relationship. Their need to use logic will often make their partners feel unloved. However, if an ENTJ marries a thinker, this problem might be insignificant.

The natural partner of an ENTJ is the INTP. They are also compatible with the ISTP and INTJ.

You can expect your ENTJ’s love language to be physical touch and quality time.

ESTJ Love

ESTJs are not ones to immediately fall in love. They can be practical and slow to make decisions about their love life.

However, once the ESTJ makes up their mind, they can become the best partners in the world. They will be supportive and very loyal. They will make sure that their partners are comfortable and safe. This will be their number one priority.

However, there will be some struggles in a relationship with ESTJs. Just like the ENTJs, they are very logical types. This means that they approach their relationship with logic. If they are with a feeler type, this can be hard to understand.

Their need to rely on past experiences also means that they are often unwilling to be adventurous and spontaneous. If they are with a spontaneous partner, this can easily become a problem.

The natural partner of the ESTJ is the ISTP. They are also compatible with ISFJs and ISTPs

You can expect the ESTJ’s love to be a blend of quality time and acts of service.

ENTJ vs ESTJ- Population Count

ENTJs make up about 2% of the total population. This puts them among the top 3 rarest personality types. 1% of the world’s population is an ENTJ female. To know more about ENTJ females, you can click that link.

ESTJs, on the other hand, are much more popular than ENTJs. They make up 9% of the world’s population. 6% of the world’s population are ESTJ females.

ESTJ vs ENTJ- Enneagram Types

According to Heidi Priebe, ENTJ has a joint probability to be typed as enneagram 3 and enneagram 8. These are the two major enneagram types open to the ENTJ. This makes sense as type 8 especially has similar cognitive functions with ENTJs

ESTJs are more likely to be typed as enneagram 8 than any other type. This is closely followed by type 1, type 3, and type 6.

ENTJ vs ESTJ- in the Work Place and Career

ENTJ

ENTJs are workaholics. They are the take-charge MBTI type. This means that they work better in workplaces where they are part of the management.

They can make tough decisions in a business setting and have direct communication with their employees. Most people find it inspiring to work under ENTJ because of their leadership skills and management.

To get the best out of the ENTJ in the workplace, you need to put them in charge of others. They can execute management jobs with precision and accuracy.

Here are some career options for the ENTJ

• Entrepreneur
• CEO
• Financial Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Stock Broker
• Top Executive
• Blogger
• Freelancer

Here are some careers that we should avoid

• Teacher
• Social worker
• Medical Assistant
• Nurse
• Paralegal
• Administrative Staff

ESTJ

ESTJs are big on work ethic and performing tasks the right way. They are happy to work routine jobs as long as it helps them meet their goals.

The difference between the ESTJ and ENTJ in the workplace is ENTJ’s need for creative thinking and ESTJ’s need to rely on past experience.

While both of them strive in management, organizations ran by both types will take a very different approach to finding solutions.

To get the best out of ESTJs, make sure you give them a role that allows them to handle the day-to-day bustle of the workplace. There’s no one more adept at making sure that everyone knows what is expected of them.

Here are career options for ESTJs

• Doctor
• Physician
• CEO
• Entrepreneur
• School Principal
• Paralegal
• Judge
• Pharmacist
• Dentist
• Clergy

Here are some careers that ESTJ should avoid

• Psychologist
• Social worker
• Writer
• Photography
• Musician
• Actor
• Social scientist
• Poet

ENTJ vs ESTJ- Childhood

ENTJ

Even as children, ENTJs are going to very independent. Their need to be strong and rely on themselves will be evident even when young. This means that attempts to control them will be resisted.

This will usually lead to friction between ENTJ kids and their parents. They are also very logical as children. They want to know why things work the way they do and if they can be changed.

If you have an ENTJ child, you need to raise your child with love.

ESTJ

ESTJ children grow up with a sense of duty or responsibility. This is even more evident when they are the firstborn. They are ready to take on tasks that might seem difficult and quickly grow up.

They use their logic and practical nature to make sure that their duties are handled efficiently.

ESTJ vs ENTJ- Dealing with Breakup

ESTJs are one of the slowest types to fall in love. However, when they do, they put in their best. Thus, they do not like to end relationships. To them, it’s more of a sign of failure. Thus, they put the blame on themselves.

When ESTJs have a traumatic experience with past relationships, it might take a long time for them to enter a new relationship.

ENTJs are quite similar in the way they handle breakups. They are very loyal and supportive. Thus, they try to find ways to make things work. Even if this involves changing who they are, ENTJs might actually consider it.

When a relationship is truly over, it might take a while for the ENTJs to truly get over the person. It takes even longer for them to be in another relationship.

So what do you think? Are you an ENTJ or an ESTJ?