If you’ve taken the
Myers Briggs personality test and discovered you’re an INFP (introvert, intuitive, feeling, perceiving), then you know a few things about yourself. You’re introverted. You’re perceiving. You’re intuitive, and you feel your decisions more than you think them.
Personality quiz aside, you know some other things about yourself. You know that you’re idealistic: you want to see the best in the world. You also know that you have a hard time being satisfied in a job. No matter how hard you try, you end up burned out, bored, and miserable in only a few months. Believe it or not, these things both relate back to your personality type--INFPs can have a hard time working a typical job. Creating and helping others--if a job doesn’t involve one or both of these aspects, an INFP could end up miserable. A job that’s great for most people could leave you feeling blue. How then, do you choose a good profession? Don’t worry--there are great careers out there for you. Here’s a list of the best jobs for an INFP personality type.
Writing
INFPs are sometimes called the “writer” personality type. It’s speculated that many famous writers, from J.R.R. Tolkien to Aldous Huxley
were INFPs. Your empathy and perception make you a great communicator, and you’ve probably considered writing at some point in your life. While not everyone can make it as a novelist, you might also enjoy freelance writing, journalism, or ghostwriting nonfiction for a living.
Psychology
An an INFP, you easily see into human nature, and when you combine that with your interest in helping people, a career in psychology could be a great fit for you. Common psychology jobs include research, working in hospitals, counseling, or working in schools. You can’t work as a psychologist without at least a master’s, though, so you’ll want to be sure it’s right for you before you invest in the schooling.
Social Work
Similar to psychology, social work allows you to help people on a regular basis. While the introvert side of your personality might not enjoy this regular interaction with people, you might find that your altruistic side gives you with all the energy you need. Social work provides a number of career options, from working in hospitals, to working with at-risk children, to working with the elderly. You can pursue some careers in social work with only a BA, but others require a master’s or even a doctorate. You can start with a BA, however, and always get your
doctorate in social work online.
Healthcare
Many INFPs end up in the medical field, because healthcare is all about helping people. With so many different options, an INFP could choose to become a nurse, a massage therapist, a physical therapist, a midwife, a nutritionist, or a veterinarian. Each one of these jobs can provide you with that daily dose of helping others, making your job not just a job, but an area of personal satisfaction.
