If you are an INFJ and happy in your job....

[BarbaraFromOopNorth]

What do you do?

Wrong thread, sorry!

I am INFJ/P so bit boarderline. I’m a lecturer/researcher working in global health. I do really like it. It would hard to imagine doing anything else.

Don’t know what INFJ even meant, not heard of it before. Had a quick google. Still none the wiser

Definite I and J here, letters in the middle are a bit interchangeable. I juggle stats and data all day, work from home, and mostly happy with my lot. Just a handful of people who can manage to ruin my day

INFJ/P, charity admin work from home. Can't say it's my dream job but I much prefer the alone time to working in an office, and I like that I can mostly schedule human interaction for when I'm feeling up to it!

I was INTJ when I was younger, probably until I became a parent. I may still be in a totally office environment, but I've managed to avoid one of those for 20 years now. Working on my own allows hyperfocus and organisation.

Scheduling people rather than them surprising me is very important, I find. I loathe group work because I can still never rely on others to do their bit, even now. I deal with clients 1 to 1, so that works well for me, and I'm deeply immersed in what I'm talking to them about. I tried to get into broader, collaborative history a couple of years ago via research groups and twitter, but the truth is I'm all about the arcane and tiny pieces of detailed information, so I'm rubbish at it and it just stresses me out. Even electronic networking makes me feel a bit sick.

ISFJ-A apparently and I'm a theatre nurse. Love it.

INTJ, a Chief Operations Officer.

I did a history degree, and am working on being a writer though!

I checked and I'm ISTJ, not INTJ, so time to read up.

DPotter

Thanks, I suspected that you get different results as when I was reading the questions I realised how I could answer them differently depending on a wide range of factors.

It has been widely discredited as people tend to move through different types depending on situation, mood etc.

The cover art on the teaching guide is referred to as a way to check if you're T or F (thinking or feeling). Or was it J or P (judging or perceiving)? Probably the latter. Anyway I was organiser for a reunion of bodymind professionals and they came out with all these different creative wishy washy types of interpretations for what the cover art could be depicting or representing, and I was like "it's clearly as brick wall." 🤣 ... I was the only INTJ in the room that day but I'm normally INFP. My role needed me to be a TJ that day.

Anyway. I'm a history teacher, two tendencies in one! (and I disagree that the dead can't give you any trouble, that's plenty of dead who hide their secrets and then boom, completely changed understanding of shaggy they got up to and shaggy we taught as fact for years. Bastards 🤣

INFJ (for what it's worth) and a self-employed translator working from home.

INFJ Accountant, 25+ years now. What has worked best for me is moving towards a more technical role (process improvement, overlap with programming) and being a contractor working on projects. Basically I avoid repetitive work - I figure out /set up the best way to do something then hand it to someone else to do. Also don't manage any staff - people are very frustrating to me because they don't behave logically and not always in their own interests. I no longer have the energy for this, it feels like banging my head against a brick wall. And contractors are better positioned to avoid office politics

My best job was working for a musical instrument maker. Lots of craft work working in a workshop on my own the majority of the time.

Just the boss in the same building to interact with now and then. We got on well so that helped.

I could never work in a job where I had to interact with the general public … but ok working behind the scenes with a group of people I know well. Did data input for long periods in that situation.

Thanks everyone

I work with a super amazing team. They are all lovely. I am part time which does help. I will try to move towards working more independently and 1:1 if I can. It's early days so I don't know how it is going to work.

In my other life I have been freelancing for companies which has presented it's own problems. If I develop this, it will be from home working independently with occasional meetings of one to two people. I'll be able to organise my own time and the work will be much more focused. It sounds like this is what really works for the majority of INFJs (and me!).

It's taken me a long time to understand myself. My Mum always pushed me to be more outgoing, the life and soul of the party, working in busy social environments. As you can imagine, I have spent most of my life feeling misunderstood!

@FirstOfMyNameMotherOfCats I also previously spent a lot of time contracting. That worked for me quite well and I'm also good at seeing problems, setting up a process then leaving!

Love this thread. I'm doing a PhD, it suits me very well. Lots of reading and alone time. I do get lonely at times but couldn't cope in a big office. I used to work as an IDVA and whilst I was v good at it, (as I'm very empathic), I think I got vicariously traumatised (as I absorb other peoples' emotions)

Can I ask, any INFJs struggled with depression? (I feel like it's inevitable with this personality type)

I can't believe so many people know their 4 letter personalities and consider it relevant.

Myers-Briggs is RUBBISH. These 4 letters don't mean anything. It is just a badly thought out personality test that is not repeatable and has no meaning in the real world. Genuine psychologists never use Myers-Briggs, it only survives in self-help guides and business.

Forget your 4 letters and do something you enjoy.

@Springfern I know what you mean. I like my own company but after a few days need to see someone for a coffee/chat.

I don't think I've ever suffered with depression but I do get affected by what's going on around me. Toxic offices and drama queens drain me. I'm very aware that I need to retreat or avoid people to get back on track.

INFJ palliative care doctor. Lots of talking but great teams, though glad I have a longish commute to recharge!

INTJ

Historian and history teacher. Happiest when researching and writing. Work best on my own.

I’ve name changed because I want to post quite specific details 👍

I’ve been taking the test since I was 18 and have always had E/INFJ. I’m not the sort to go for shaky science but I can’t help it with this one! It just seems so consistent 😆

Whether I come out E or I depends on how burnt out vs lonely I am feeling at that point in my life.

I previously worked with animals for 12 years. As a conservationist and lecturer. I enjoyed the job immensely, I hated the pressure and the fear of making mistakes.

I retrained as a secondary teacher and have been in education for 7 years. I’m signed off with stress for the third time and know this time I have to save myself and never go back.
I love teaching actual lessons and my students. I feel devastated when I think about leaving them but I am suffering so much in a coercive and fear driven culture.

I love creating connections and relationships with people. I love helping others for their sake.

I’m going to take a complete career break for maybe 18 months because my INFJ husband can’t cope with the knock on effects either lol!

Academic.. lecturer and researcher...health sciences... incredibly,almost overwhelmingly, stressful at times but I love it. Lots of autonomy, not much team working. Lots of student contact which I love.

Interesting thread. Every time I've done this test, I've either come out as INFJ or ENFJ. I work in Communications which suits my ambivert personality pretty well most do them time. Lots of presentations, team work, etc, but also writing strategies, articles, etc, so it's a good balance.

I’m an INFJ and an academic. I don’t mind interacting with people so long as it’s in short bursts and generally only when I’m in control of the situation, like a lecture. I wfh a lot and enjoy the peace and quiet of my own company. I loathe group work, it makes me very antsy.

parietal

Yep, this.

It is bollocks. I have done the assessment many times and come out differently every time. It depends what mood I'm in when I complete the assessment.

It was developed by a Mother and Daughter during the 1940s to pigeon hole women into their best suited war work. It has no relevance to people today.