In an ideal world, we’d all be working in the jobs we love. If you are an INTJ personality, you might want to know what are the best jobs and which ones you should avoid.

Before we start exploring jobs and suitable career paths, let’s get a basic overview of the INTJ personality.

INTJ Characteristics

  • I – Introverted: Likes to spend time alone
  • N – Intuition: Is perceptive and can see the big picture.
  • T – Thinking: Thinks logically and makes decisions based on reason.
  • J – Judging: Prefers to plan in advance rather than be spontaneous.

INTJ’s are the rarest of all the Myers-Briggs personality types, making up just 2% of the population. Known as the ‘Mastermind’, they have incredible analytical minds.

They soak up facts and information which they then store and use when needed. But not only that, but they are also extremely perceptive. They are able to see random connections and patterns within a wider picture.

INTJs are great problem solvers and intellectuals. This, coupled with their ability to store facts and knowledge allows many of them to attain great scientific breakthroughs in fields such as maths, physics, chemistry, or medicine.

As for their personality traits, INTJ’s are known as thinkers but because they prefer to spend time on their own they can be labeled as weird by others. They tend to live in their own world and might not understand the social niceties we all follow in real life. Think of book worms or computer geeks and you get the picture.

As the INTJ is not impulsive they won’t like unpredictable situations and this includes certain types of people and even careers. They’ll stick to what they know, what they can control, and what they can plan. That’s not to say they want a boring job that doesn’t stimulate them.

When thinking about career paths for INTJ’s remember that they love solving problems. They also like to work alone and be in charge of their routine.

So let’s start with the best jobs for an INTJ.

Best Jobs for an INTJ

Architect

Architects have to plan and design complicated structural buildings down to the smallest detail. They also have to work out the number of materials needed for construction, load-bearing weights, estimate time scales, and costs.

INTJ’s will be drawn to the planning and execution side of this career. The fact they can control every element will be appealing to them. It is also important for them to see a project through from start to finish so they’ll enjoy every step ad process of this kind of work.

Civil Engineer

The duties of a civil engineer are complex and varied and include analyzing surveys and maps, understanding government regulations, compiling permits to councils, etc.

It will be the analytical side of this job that will be particularly interesting to INTJs. Likewise, the sense of responsibility will also appeal to them.

Forensic Accountant

Some people would find accountancy boring but forensic accounting is a whole different ballgame. Not only do you have to know the basics of accountancy, which is complex and takes a particularly logical mind, but in forensic accounting, you have to be able to see the wider picture to spot anomalies.

As the INTJ loves solving problems, this job is perfect for them.

Investment Banker

This is an important job with responsibilities that the INTJ will take seriously. They have the task of raising money for governments or companies and as such will have to have an extremely keen mind.

Knowing how financial institutions and the stock markets work is key. Those who are especially clued up can even progress to investment banking training.

Medical Scientist

Any kind of laboratory work is a good career choice as it is stimulating and despite the fact that technicians work in a team, it is generally a solitary job. Duties include running tests, conducting studies, comparing results, analyzing samples, and writing up reports.

Software Designer

Here is where the analytical mind comes to the fore. Not many people have the intellectual chops to be able to design software from scratch, but for INTJs it’s like you’re giving them money to play at their hobby all day.

Not only can they do this by themselves, but they can also stay at home and start their own businesses.

Translator

Playing to the intellectual side of the INTJ, translating skills require an ability to operate on several different levels quickly and at the same time.

Thanks to their encyclopedic knowledge and their ability to see the wider picture, translating the written word is a great career choice for these analytical thinkers.

Worst Jobs for an INTJ

So what jobs should an INTJ avoid at all costs? This personality type is not going to deal well with a career that involves constant socializing with the public or a job that isn’t stable. Here are just a few examples.

Chef

It’s stressful working in a restaurant kitchen. I should know, I’ve done it, and that was just a small village pub. Orders come flying through the till you don’t know what they are going to be or how many people they are for.

Talk about spontaneous and uncontrolled. Definitely not a good choice.

Holiday Rep

I cannot think of a worse job for this personality. Having to socialize and meet and greet holidaymakers who are happy and want their rep to join in on the fun. This is the ultimate nightmare for them.

Nursery School Teacher

There are some teacher training jobs that are suitable for this personality, but being in charge of young toddlers is not one of them.

Young children are completely uncontrollable. Subsequently, you can’t really plan or structure your day with the under-fives. This is more of a job for an extrovert.

Police Officer

Now, detective work would probably appeal to the INTJ. I bet many of them would love to analyze clues and solve crimes in the comfort of an office.

However, the role of a police officer is very different. Police are called out to situations they know very little about. Moreover, they have to work under extreme pressure with the possible threat of violence.

Therapist

It’s not that INTJs are heartless or emotionless, it’s just that they are best solving problems in a logical and rational way. This is their strength.

Some people are great at offering emotional support when needed and make exceptional carers and therapists. It’s just that this kind of work is not good for INTJs.

Civil Servant

You would think that working in the civil service would be ideal for this personality but no. INTJs need to express their ideas.

They often think outside the box and have to have the freedom to discuss different concepts. You have to stick to the rules in the civil service. There are lots of government regulations and certainly no room for idealistic thinking.

Night Club Worker

Because INTJs are introverts, they don’t like loud environments. Therefore a nightclub or a noisy bar is going to tire them out very quickly.

Another thing they can’t handle is frequent interruptions. They prefer a quiet space where they can get on with the work in hand. Being in a nightclub with raucous people around them dancing will be hell.

We all have strengths and weaknesses, that’s what makes us who we are. But knowing what they are can also help us when it comes to choosing a job. And let’s face it, when we spend so much of our time at work, we should all have a career that plays to our strengths.


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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Mariana T Hernandez Arias

    Here is a well-written article which I cannot agree with. The problem with being categorical and generic with information regarding personality types is that someone who knows nothing about the MBTI or INTJ personality, but identifies with the very limited information provided on this type, will likely feel limited by this yes or no approach.

    Here’s the thing. I am a proven INTJ. I have taken the MBTI and Kirsey Temperament Sorter assessment on multiple occasions throughout my life. My I and iN scores are consistently to the extreme, while my T and J scores are more in the middle range. And yet, contrary to what this article suggests, I am a therapist and a darn good one.

    An article like this one could probably benefit more it’s readers if instead of categorically indicating which jobs are good and which are not for the INTJ, it would create a more general guide as to what characteristics of this type could be strengths or weaknesses in each job. Basically, provide the food for thought INTJs want and crave.

    I am an INTJ Professional Counselor and Life Coach

  2. Ford Warrick Jr. LPC

    I’m INTJ and have worked as a licensed therapist in community mental health and crisis services for 25 years. Granted my personality is not that of the typical therapist but INTJ’s are particularly good in staying grounded when dealing with emotionally charged individuals where a cool head and problem solving skills are necessary. Approaching individuals in crisis with rational compassion rather than empathy, where someone’s distress makes you feel distressed, is natural for INTJs and helps prevent burnout in emergency services workers

  3. Ashley Moore

    I’m an INTJ, I’ve tested for it multiple times. I’m also a female, the rarest of the rare. And for those who follow astrology, I’m a Sagittarius. And I have to say, I disagree with this article. I’m a Security Officer and EMT, and I’m moving further into Law Enforcement. I like the work involved. I can keep well grounded under extreme pressure, that’s what makes me so good at my career choices. I can see the bigger picture and not get stuck on single details, but see multiple details at once and quickly prioritize need. My analytical mind and need for knowledge is what makes me an asset in time sensitive problems. When you have issues A-Z, and freak out because you don’t know if you need to start at C or M, I come in and start at A. All situations have an absolute starting place. A Medic walks on the scene, the patient is squirting blood and not breathing, what do you do? Stop the blood or open the airway? In that situation, most go for the airway first. True, you have to have O2 to live. And that’s not wrong, but it’s not the best option either. Its not gonna do you any good to have an airway if there is no blood to circulate the Oxygen… That’s where my analytical mind comes in. Now make that patient a kid. This is where so many shut down because of emotion. But thinkers thrive because we clamp down and analyze. I’m not saying we’re unfeeling, but in my career choices, the ones the article says I should avoid, emotions get people killed. Emotions will cloud the situation and that’s when mistakes are made.

  4. Bonnie Miller

    I am a career counselor and have been working with the MBTI for many years. I agree that the article is well written but also believe that it made generalizations that are not necessarily true and more importantly, not helpful. I cringed when I read that INTJ’s “should not” be therapists because one of the most gifted therapists I’ve ever met was an INTJ. Her great strength was her perspective: she was calm, clear, and somehow or another was able to connect the dots and explain to just about anyone how their issues fit into the big picture and able to encourage personal growth based on this healthy perspective. I have learned that it is important to help my career counseling clients understand what their strengths are and what that says about what they do well and how they might do some things in a unique way (like the INTJ therapist), rather than rushing to judgement about what they can’t do. This might sell well from a journalistic point of view but is too superficial a way to look at type imho. Also, I do not believe the INTJ is the most unusual type, I believe research shows that the INFJ is.

  5. genetk

    I am an INTJ. I am also an artist.

  6. James

    I stayed at home and designed and built a large software platform which I just sold, it’s very uncommon to do this by yourself. Im amazed to see it written here, so accurate.

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