Careers & Personality Type: Structure vs. Content

[Architect]

New article by Drenth

Careers & Personality Type: Structure vs. Content

Pretty light, as his stuff has been recently, but he's zeroing in on career stuff now. But here's a point I've been making which is pretty good

More than other types, INTPs and INFPs seem concerned with (if not obsessed with) finding their “one thing,” with pinning down their identity and purpose (might this stem from introverted judging a la Ti or Fi?). This is exemplified in INP philosopher Soren Kierkegaard’s notion that “purity of heart is to will one thing.” Hence, both career content and structure are typically of high importance to INPs.

I've been obsessed by my path - work, career, whatever you want to call it, since I was in Middle School. Now my son, without any prompting from me is doing the same thing. While the other kids are chasing each other (of the opposite sex) he's figuring out how to launch a software startup. Go figure.

 

[Sinny91]

I agree with the opening line about a journey in finding one's correct career path is akin to a journey to find ones self. For example, I've just ducked out of the business sector. The position and position growth into recruitment and events was appealing to my Ti. The office can be mundane, but in an advisory position, the list of problems that people need solving never end.

Having said that, I've also found myself on a spiritual journey to find myself, and I've that realised I can't do that succesfully within a restrictive and structured environment.

I can relate to Ne being the cause of my divergance, I have deep interests, I just need to figure out a way to apply them practically within society, for the benefit of others and myself. I don't have the answer yet, but I hope it will arrive one day.

 

[StevenM]

I've been obsessed by my path - work, career, whatever you want to call it, since I was in Middle School. Now my son, without any prompting from me is doing the same thing. While the other kids are chasing each other (of the opposite sex) he's figuring out how to launch a software startup. Go figure.

Well damn, which tree did that apple fall from?

Hence, both career content and structure are typically of high importance to INPs.

Did I miss a memo, or something?

 

[paradoxparadigm7]

Is it the magic bullet or the maze leading to only ONE path? Fi/Ti likes to hone in like a funnel to one purpose, one path, one calling, one truth. Seems obsessive to me but maybe it's more the process than the destination?

 

[Architect]

Well damn, which tree did that apple fall from?

Yeah it's rather weird, him being an INTP I mean. From an INTP and INFJ. The fact that he's followed up on me makes sense growing up as my son, but the other part makes me wonder about a genetic basis for type.

Did I miss a memo, or something?

PJ is getting a little scattered I think. He wrote an earlier post on the introverts journey for career. It was weak I thought, I couldn't make a lot of sense of it. He seems to have reached the level of his own incompetence on that site.

 

[DrGregoryHouse]

Now my son, without any prompting from me is doing the same thing. While the other kids are chasing each other (of the opposite sex) he's figuring out how to launch a software startup. Go figure.

Cool

 

[Jennywocky]

Is it the magic bullet or the maze leading to only ONE path? Fi/Ti likes to hone in like a funnel to one purpose, one path, one calling, one truth. Seems obsessive to me but maybe it's more the process than the destination?

There's that, but I know I've regularly struggled with finding my "purpose" -- i.e, the task I should be focusing on in life (best-fit), and as a lesser corrolary my identity.

My INTP kid has had the same problem and has been floundering horribly, whereas my other two kids either have a solid idea of what they want to try and/or have no issues doing something they like until they get bored or find something better and then moving on. Narrowing things down to the "ultimate goal of one's life" and making sure they know it before investing energy seems to not cross their minds.

 

[paradoxparadigm7]

There's that, but I know I've regularly struggled with finding my "purpose" -- i.e, the task I should be focusing on in life (best-fit), and as a lesser corrolary my identity.

My INTP kid has had the same problem and has been floundering horribly, whereas my other two kids either have a solid idea of what they want to try and/or have no issues doing something they like until they get bored or find something better and then moving on. Narrowing things down to the "ultimate goal of one's life" and making sure they know it before investing energy seems to not cross their minds.

Maybe the payoff is greater for you and your son (and other INTPs who relate) who reach their goal or maybe it's just a wanderlust of sorts that has to be appreciated for what it is. I guess we all have our own crosses to bear and try and work out.

 

[Architect]

Is it the magic bullet or the maze leading to only ONE path? Fi/Ti likes to hone in like a funnel to one purpose, one path, one calling, one truth. Seems obsessive to me but maybe it's more the process than the destination?

I think it relates back to Ti/Ne mostly*Ti wants closure, Ne wants openness. As soon as Ti thinks it's found It, Ne upends the apple cart. I think a balance can be found when the career is decided and pursued (i.e., physics for Einstein, programming for me, etc) but it's an open ended field. That is, Ti is more or less satisfied knowing "I'm a Physicist" or whatever, and Ne is happy doing investigative work within that.

This relates to Drenth's point, which is that it's more complex than just the headline career. The content is also important. For example, as much as I am doing the right thing with programming, I wouldn't be so happy as IT support, even though they both can be considered IT careers.

This is why these discussion of "this career, that career" are a little useless, you need to get specific.

 

[Inquisitor]

There's that, but I know I've regularly struggled with finding my "purpose" -- i.e, the task I should be focusing on in life (best-fit), and as a lesser corollary my identity.

My INTP kid has had the same problem and has been floundering horribly, whereas my other two kids either have a solid idea of what they want to try and/or have no issues doing something they like until they get bored or find something better and then moving on. Narrowing things down to the "ultimate goal of one's life" and making sure they know it before investing energy seems to not cross their minds.

I can totally relate to this. My ISFP mother and ISTJ father are both at a loss as to why I have gone through such a lengthy questioning process. They know I desperately want to find my "purpose" so to speak. I'm not the kind of guy who just doesn't care, sleeps in on the weekend, goes out and gets wasted and/or high or plays video games all day. They know I agonize over this question.

I think it relates back to Ti/Ne mostly*Ti wants closure, Ne wants openness. As soon as Ti thinks it's found It, Ne upends the apple cart. I think a balance can be found when the career is decided and pursued (i.e., physics for Einstein, programming for me, etc) but it's an open ended field. That is, Ti is more or less satisfied knowing "I'm a Physicist" or whatever, and Ne is happy doing investigative work within that.

This relates to Drenth's point, which is that it's more complex than just the headline career. The content is also important. For example, as much as I am doing the right thing with programming, I wouldn't be so happy as IT support, even though they both can be considered IT careers.

This is why these discussion of "this career, that career" are a little useless, you need to get specific.

Totally. Every field has its niches. INTPs won't be suited to all of them. I would absolutely despise IT support. No patience for that kind of thing at all.

 

[Sabreena]

There's that, but I know I've regularly struggled with finding my "purpose" -- i.e, the task I should be focusing on in life (best-fit), and as a lesser corrolary my identity.

My INTP kid has had the same problem and has been floundering horribly, whereas my other two kids either have a solid idea of what they want to try and/or have no issues doing something they like until they get bored or find something better and then moving on. Narrowing things down to the "ultimate goal of one's life" and making sure they know it before investing energy seems to not cross their minds.

I have a similar issue. Just yesterday I was ranting to my (ISTJ) mother about how I don't like my major. There's no point getting a psych bachelor's if there's nothing you want to do after college. The world is so WIDE and there are many awesome THINGS out there, how can I pick just one, and what if I decide something only to regret it later? Is this all just a feeling of "the grass is always greender on the other side of the fence"?

She was like "Well, if you like all those things, wouldn't (xyz double major with a minor) work?" No, it doesn't work like that in my head. It's not a formula; it's more like an open ended problem.

Such is my life. Most of my peers either know EXACTLY what they want to do it, or have no problem just doing whatever until something else comes up. I think my Si and Ni functions do work towards finding one goal in life, even though it's a ridiculous and nearly impossible task.

 

[roguedoll]

I think it relates back to Ti/Ne mostly*Ti wants closure, Ne wants openness. As soon as Ti thinks it's found It, Ne upends the apple cart.

My life story in a nutshell.

I relate to the desire to find purpose and having an exceptionally difficult time doing so. I partly blame life, but I'm sure a lot of it has to do with being INTP. I've almost given up on the dilemma being resolved...I'm 31 and still don't have a clue. College, it being exorbitantly expensive and me being totally unused to a classroom environment, seems like a waste of time unless there's a real purpose and reason to go. I can't see sinking $$$ into college and not having a subject to really be interested in...yet not feeling trapped.