Whether you're 20 or 60, you might be on the hunt for the perfect job. It can take some people a lifetime to find the job they want. If you're not sure what career is right for you, there are a few things you can do to help you decide. One of the best ways to pick a career is to take the Myers Briggs test. Learn more about the test and why you should consider taking it.
What is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Test?
During World War 2, a mother and daughter duo wanted to create a personality test that would allow women to find jobs that suited them. Although it's technically a personality test, the Myers Briggs is extremely useful for figuring out a career path.
The test accomplishes this by taking a close look at your personality. To complete the test, you need to answer questions about yourself. At the end of the assessment, you receive a code of four letters. The first letter is either "I" for introverted or "E" for extroverted. Then, the next letter relates to how you prefer to learn things. You receive either an "S" for sensing or "I" for intuition. Thirdly, you receive a letter indicating the way in which you make decisions. It's a "t" for thinking or an "F" for feeling. Finally, you receive a letter for the way you perceive the world - "J" for judging or "P" for perceiving.
In total, there are 16 unique personality types. Your personality type can help you pick an appropriate career. While the test won't necessarily be 100% correct, it's a great way to find a few careers you may not have considered. You can also learn what careers to avoid.
How Each Letter Affects Your Career Path
If you really want to understand how the test works, you need to consider each letter in the assessment. The first category looks at how you are from a social standpoint. If you enjoy being around others and being the center of attention, you are an extrovert. But people who are more quiet and subdued would be introverts.
An introvert may find a career that revolves around people or large teams exhausting. Meanwhile, an extrovert would probably be dissatisfied by a career that keeps them on their own all day. Could an extrovert succeed at a job without much social interaction? Yes, but it might not be fulfilling.
Sensing and Intuition
Someone who learns by sensing prefers to experience things themselves, but someone who relies on intuition likes abstract situations and problem-solving. If you're an "S" type, you won't enjoy a job that has you thinking abstractly and trying to come up with new solutions or processes.
Similarly, someone who is an "I" won't like having to be practical all the time. Taking the wrong type of job could limit your success and make the workday miserable.
Thinking and Feeling
When you make decisions, you either rely on your head or your heart. If you think out logical decisions, you're a thinker. But, if you go with your gut and what your heart tells you, then you're a feeler.
As a feeler, you might excel in a career that requires empathy. A thinker could thrive in an accounting career or another field that has concrete formulas and numbers.
Judging and Perceiving
The way you like to structure your life affects the type of career you should choose. If you like to remain organized and have a clear structure to your do, you are a judging type. Someone who is open and flexible about their day is a perceiver.
Once again, this distinction plays a huge role in your career. A judger can't handle the chaos of certain jobs, and a perceiver would hate a role with no flexibility.
Which Job is Right for You?
If you take the Myers Briggs test, you can use your letter code to search for a new career. Here are a few careers for each personality type:
ISTJ
An ISTJ is someone who likes order and also someone who doesn't want to be creative. But they can get things done and thrive when they work as analysts, appraisers, and engineers.
ISFJ
This person has a great work ethic and is extremely empathetic. They do well when they work as tech support people, healthcare workers, and HR specialists.
INFJ
A creative person who wants to help others, an INFJ does well as a counselor, writer, or massage therapist.
INTJ
With a passion for logic, an INTJ is best suited to working as a software engineer, statistician, or architect.
ISTP
This type of person is quiet but solution-focused. If you're an ISTP, you could work as a detective, mechanic, or economist.
ISFP
If you're an ISFP, you like to work alone and don't like conflict. You might be a fashion designer, occupational therapist, or pharmacist.
INFP
This person is a healer who can identify new trends. They should look into marketing, journalism, and art.
INTP
Someone who looks at the big picture, an INTP could be a great director, web developer, or video game creator.
ESTP
People who have tons of energy and love solving problems often classify as ESTPs. They do well as entrepreneurs, sales managers, and video producers.
ESFP
As an ESFP, you're a performer who loves working with others. You might be a career coach or an event planner.
ENFP
Those who use their imaginations and have unparalleled optimism are often ENFPs.They could be teachers, real estate agents, and politicians.
ENTP
Typically, ENTPs are highly resourceful and excellent at solving problems. They often work as lawyers, engineers, and operation managers.
ESTJ
Do you like to be as efficient as possible and get things done? Then you might be an ESTJ and should consider a career as a sales manager, auditor, or budget analyst.
ESFJ
In this category, people often work well in teams and have an organized approach. They usually work as nurses, corporate trainers, and event coordinators.
ENFJ
If you have a deep sense of caring for people, you may be an ENFJ. Ideal careers include social worker, guidance counselor, and editor.
ENTJ
An ENTJ likes to set goals and can easily make hard decisions. They should look into working as a judge, professor, or financial advisor.