Personality and career
Based on Carl Jung’s theories of personality, the MBTI self-assessment is tailored to measure an individual’s preferences in their perception of the world and how it influences their decision making (Martin, 2009). Jung’s theories suggest that a person is either born with or as they grow, develop preferred positive thinking and acting ways. The MBTI test sorts out the individual psychological differences into four different pairs of personalities, which can be further sub-divided into a possible sixteen psychological types. These four pairs of personality differences sit on a spectrum: from sensing to intuition; extraversion to introversion; judging to perceiving; and thinking to feeling (Martin, 2009). In this paper, I will reflect on my personality type, labeling how this personality type fits the kind of work habits I have and, the type of career I would wish to pursue in the future.
Personality types
Individuals with the ‘perceiving’ function tend to thrive under uncertainty. They perceive themselves as open to new possibilities and experiences- on which they act without prior planning or sufficient information (Martin, 2009). ‘Judging’ people prefer to settle problems and disputes as soon as they arise and like things in their life to have order (Martin, 2009). These two personality traits are a reflection and representation of how individuals manage their daily lives, those of the people around them and the world around them. Secondly, people with a ‘thinking’ function see themselves as rational and logical people who arrive at decisions after examining the facts and information gathered, they stick to rules and prefer routines (Martin, 2009).
Contrary, individuals who preferably trust their gut feelings and base their decisions after consideration of the subjective viewpoints and feelings of other people and respect to specific contexts tend to lean toward the ‘feeling’ function. Thirdly, ‘extroversion’ people talk through problems to arrive at solutions; ‘Introversion’ people, on the other hand, prefer having time to consider and think through the available information before giving opinions. Introversion and extroversion are used to describe the spectrum of different interaction styles adopted by different people as they try to make sense of the world and inner self (Martin, 2009). Finally, ‘sensing’ individuals take time to observe and weigh concrete facts and ideas, or prefer to make decisions based on past and present occurrences (Martin, 2009). These individuals carefully run tests before they decide to commit to new projects (Martin, 2009). On the other hand, people who prefer managing abstract ideas to create a bigger mind image, focusing on the possibilities of the future tend to lean toward the ‘intuition’ function. These individuals do not mind experimenting with new ventures in the world without evidence.
Examples of Personalities
- ENTP: (extroverted, intuitive, thinking and perceiving) Barack Obama, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Richard Feynman, and Socrates.
- ENTJ: (extroverted, intuitive, thinking, judging) Bill Gates.
- ENFJ (extraverted, intuitive, feeling, judging) Oprah Winfrey.
- ESTJ: (extroverted, sensing, thinking and judging) Margret Thatcher.
- ESFJ: (extroverted, sensing, feeling and judging) Barbara Walters.
- ESFP: (extroverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving) Steven Spielberg.
- ESTP: (extroverted, sensing, thinking and perceiving) John F. Kennedy
- ENFP: (extroverted, intuitive, feeling, perceiving) Walt Disney.
- INJT: (introversion, intuition, thinking, and judgment) Colin Powell
IFNJ and My Career
Successful people understand their true personality; and are such motivated by their underlying values of order, responsibility, tradition, accuracy, and duty to achieve more. An individual who understands what his exact needs and values are and additionally feels good about them increases their potential for maximal achievement in all areas of their life (Martin, 2009). I see myself as a rational and logical person who arrives at decisions after examination of gathered information, follows routines and sticks by the rules; effectively lining me toward the thinking function. I aim at understanding and mutually sharing the core values and needs of the people around me as this forms the basis for effective communication, and also serves as a motivation for the achievement of common goals with utmost respect, dignity, and efficacy.
Martin (2009), in the book “Quick guide to the 16 personality types and career mastery: Living with purpose and working efficiently”, defines IFNJ as a particular person who aspires to get more out of their careers than just viewing it as a job. This kind of individual feels the need to sync everything they undertake in their lives with the strong values and systems they believe to be right. IFNJ persons, thus, choose careers they can live with in their daily activities and in accordance with their profound principles. These careers are directed toward supporting their lives’ quest of doing an extraordinary achievement.
Indeed, the personality tool is a practical guide for narrowing the field of jobs and career options within particular careers that are naturally best suited to one’s preferences. As a student, understanding my personality type will help me plan a successful career path. It will steer me to best choices of subjects and other majors later, as well as providing me with a framework for choosing a career, advancing in it, or even in case I would wish to change careers in future. Individuals who enjoy and feel comfortable doing their work more often than not understand their personality and have less trouble finding their passion.
References
Martin, C. R. (2009). A quick guide to the 16 personality types and career mastery: Living with purpose and working effectively. Huntingtin Beach, Calif: Telos Publications.
