Summary

The author, a recent graduate and Enneagram Type 3, discusses how understanding their personality type has provided emotional support and a redefinition of success during the COVID-19 pandemic's job market challenges.

Abstract

The article delves into the personal struggles of a Type 3 Enneagram individual, known as "The Achiever," during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author, a recent graduate, has found it difficult to secure employment amidst a hiring freeze, leading to feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, especially when comparing themselves to peers on social media. Knowledge of their Enneagram type has offered insight into their emotional responses and has guided them in redefining success beyond traditional metrics like job status and social media validation. The author emphasizes the importance of self-worth independent of external achievements and the need for Type 3 individuals to be honest about their feelings, take breaks, and accept affirmations to foster personal growth.

Opinions

The author believes that knowing their Enneagram type has been crucial in navigating the emotional turmoil caused by the pandemic's impact on their career prospects.
They express that societal norms and social media often create unrealistic benchmarks for success, which can be particularly challenging for someone who values achievement and recognition.
The author suggests that success should be redefined to include personal happiness, self-improvement, and the enjoyment of simple pleasures, rather than being solely tied to professional accomplishments.
They highlight the importance of self-compassion and the acceptance of one's inherent worth, regardless of external validation or circumstances.
The author advocates for the necessity of vulnerability and emotional honesty for personal development, especially for those who identify as Type 3 on the Enneagram.
They argue that the Enneagram can be a valuable tool for understanding one's strengths and weaknesses, and for using that knowledge to grow during challenging times.

How Knowing My Enneagram Type Helped Me Handle the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effects

The name of my Enneagram type is “The Achiever,” but I’ve felt quite unsuccessful lately. The hiring freeze that’s going on right now because of COVID-19 has not been lost on me, especially as a recent graduate.

While I have gotten some internships and jobs in the past, I’ve been rejected more than I’ve been accepted. And because I’m a type 3, “The Achiever,” this has been especially hard for me.

The Enneagram is a kind of personality typing that describes how different people understand the world and deal with their emotions. There are nine “types” we can be.

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-enneagram-of-personality-4691757

Type threes specifically are success-driven and image-conscious. They work hard in hopes of not failing and of feeling worthy. They need affirmation and admiration to feel good.

But enter in a global pandemic in which people are either losing their jobs or not getting hired. Enter in some peers who somehow are lucky enough to still get jobs in spite of it all, and enter in all the humblebragging seen on LinkedIn and other social media sites.

Now you know why being a type three right now is hard.

The fact I haven’t been successful in my job search has been quite emotional for me. I don’t have that external validation and frankly, money, to feel secure. I feel like others are judging me or assuming I’m not good enough for a job because I don’t have one.

I find my worth in others’ affirmations and my doing well in the world, but it’s hard to find validity in any affirmation I receive. I know bigger problems exist in the world right now, but I still struggle on an individual level.

However, the fact that I know why I’ve been crying multiple days a week and why I feel deeply jealous despite my best efforts has helped me handle this predicament. While knowing my type three qualities is tough in that I see them everywhere, it also gives me an answer to my emotions and lets me know what I need.

I’ve learned the importance of redefining success. Success is not just having a normal, corporate job and getting hundreds of likes on a post about it. Success is also not required to be considered a worthy human. Success is not even required for joy.

Success can be happiness felt when spending time with a loved one. Success can be spending lots of time writing since I enjoy it and can gain experience from it. Success can be knowing that right now I can go watch Netflix and not worry about a list of things to do. Success can be knowing that one day things will get better and that my lack of a job right now is not all my fault.

I’ve also learned that when you’re as hard on yourself as I am, it’s hard to believe you’ve been successful at all, no matter what you’ve achieved. We often look at our “behind-the-scenes” and others’ “highlight reels,” in which others will always seem smarter, prettier, more successful.

For example, I’ve gotten positions in which there were few other applicants.

But that doesn’t mean that others haven’t gotten a job with few applicants either. And that also doesn’t mean that I wasn’t just as worthy for the job or wouldn’t have gotten it with more applicants.

I’ve gotten congratulations messages on my recent graduation. I don’t see it as a huge accomplishment, personally, at least with my situation in which I was privileged in many ways.

While it’s important to be thankful for the ways in which we’ve been blessed and the ways in which others have made our paths easier, acknowledging that doesn’t mean we haven’t still done something great.

We don’t always remember the hard parts, the mountains we climbed. We don’t always feel comfortable accepting compliments. We don’t always give ourselves the credit we deserve, or understand that maybe our accomplishment doesn’t feel like some huge feat because we’re smarter than we believe we are.

Sitting with these reminders and letting them fuel my personal growth has been a process. We all could use some help with growth and a little extra time to work on it.

And this period in which I’m quarantined, unemployed and aware of my Enneagram type has given me all of the resources I need.

In order for type threes to grow, they must be honest about their feelings and needs. They must allow themselves to be vulnerable, to share their shame, to admit how down on themselves they feel.

In order for type threes to grow, they must take breaks both in general and in their pursuit of advancement. They must allow time for reflection, relaxation and enjoyment.

In order for type threes to grow, they must redefine success and happiness. They must allow in and accept others’ affirmations in whatever forms they present themselves. They must learn to be okay with who they are and know their worth is inherent.

This pandemic has caused pain for people in many ways. But that doesn’t mean that our lives will be filled with that pain constantly. We can find ways to understand ourselves and work towards embracing our best qualities while adjusting our worst ones.

After all, the purpose of the Enneagram is to identify your strengths and weaknesses and go forward with that information to become stronger. And after all, what else do we have to do?