The INFJ Career Path

General Overview

INFJs have certain needs when it comes to their career. They need to be intellectually challenged and they also need to find some kind of deeper meaning in their career path. INFJs are always on the lookout for this deeper meaning. They see layers in every part of life, and if they don’t find it in their career they’ll move on to something else. INFJs use introverted intuition as their dominant function, which is probably responsible for this search for deeper meaning. Introverted intuition takes in information from the world and looks for its patterns, its true meaning and purpose, and uses it to predict the future. And because an INFJs introverted intuition is connected to their auxiliary, extraverted feeling, this tendency usually focuses on emotion and human connection.

Tips for Job Interviews

INFJs are quiet people who don’t like to talk about their accomplishments or about themselves until they’re comfortable with someone. But in a job interview, there isn’t time to get to know the other person on this deep, personal level, and they need to be able to talk about their own achievements and successes if they want to impress their potential employer. Which is why INFJs need to prepare themselves for this before they do an interview. They can do this by listing their accomplishments, so they’re ready to talk about them, and by practicing saying them out loud to other people. This will help them get used to talking in this way, and will hopefully teach them that they aren’t bragging, just sharing the things they’re most proud of that will impress potential employers.

Best Careers for the INFJ

INFJs obviously do well in the health and wellness sector. They have a natural empathy and compassion. They can talk to anyone and at the same time encourage trust so that other people are usually happy to share things with them. In fact, this is the INFJs greatest strength, and it’s so obvious that people often come up to them on the streets to share their life stories. This is partly because of the INFJs auxiliary function, extraverted feeling, which gives them an incredible awareness of the emotions of others and the desire to help in any way they can. But a number of personality types use this function and don’t seem to encourage others to walk up to them on the street and share their problems. This feature of the INFJs life seems to be unique to them, possibly caused by a combination of factors including the INFJs natural gentleness and empathy. And when they can use these qualities in their career they usually find a great deal of satisfaction and fulfilment.

INFJs are also very creative people and they often crave careers in which they can use this creativity. This makes them a good fit for artistic careers as well as any career in which they have to come up with creative solutions for the problems that other people face. Because of this creativity, INFJs usually enjoy working freelance as well. They enjoy having lots of alone time, working on projects that are meaningful for them, and being able to be independent and autonomous in the way they work. And as long as they’re careful to maintain their social connections while they’re freelancing, they usually do really well in these positions.

Unsuitable Careers for the INFJ

INFJs are gentle and sensitive people who don’t usually fit well with the high pressure and demand of corporate careers. These types of positions, with their lure of money, prestige and power, are usually of no interest to INFJs, who seek other rewards for their work. INFJs who find themselves in these kinds of positions will burn out quickly, pushed beyond their limits by the competition and the drive to get ahead by whatever means. They usually prefer to focus on helping others and making them happy rather than achieving material success, and often see this kind of work as hollow and unfulfilling, as well as a little unethical.

Workplace Roles

INFJs have a natural independence and a desire to do things their own way. They have a deep moral core, a code of behavior that they have to adhere to or risk feeling uncomfortable in everything they do. And often, the best way to satisfy their own moral code in their working life is to get into a leadership position. Once they’re in that position, INFJs are usually warm bosses who communicate well with their staff and tend to encourage an atmosphere of trust and co-creation. And this makes any workplace that they’re in charge of very fulfilling and comfortable to work in.

INFJs often struggle to work with other people, though they can do it when necessary. They have their own way of doing things, usually created from years of experience, and like to follow their hearts when it comes to doing things. This allows them to use and showcase their creativity and their compassion in all of their career decisions, but it often isn’t valued when they’re someone else’s employee and expected to work to a pre-defined standard and mold. If they’re in these types of roles, INFJs will find it chafing, mindless and boring, and will usually dream of the day when they can escape and do something that’s more fulfilling.

Final Thoughts

The gentle, sensitive INFJ needs the right kind of career path to feel secure and cared for. This type doesn’t usually enjoy high pressure situations, instead they prefer to use their natural strengths to help other people. This approach is far more likely to give them the intrinsic rewards that they need to feel happy and fulfilled in their career.

References

1. Granneman, Jenn. “How Introverted Intuition Works For INFJs and INTJs“. Oct 6, 2016. (Retrieved Mar 2018).
2. Storm, Susan. “ENFJs, INFJs and Empathy Burnout“. Dec 26, 2016. (Retrieved Mar 2018).
3. “INFJ – The Counselor“.
4. “The INFJ in the Workplace“.
5. “The INFJ as an Entrepreneur“.
6. “Best Jobs For Your Personality“.