Best INTP Careers & Jobs – Which To Pick or Avoid & Why

INTPs are often misunderstood and undervalued in the workplace. They have a unique set of skills that can be leveraged to great effect, but they’re not always appreciated because their coworkers don’t understand them.

If you’re an INTP at work, you might find yourself surrounded by people who just aren’t “getting it.” You’re more logical than others so you see things differently than your colleagues or bosses.

This is frustrating for everyone involved because no one understands why you do what you do. It’s like trying to communicate with an alien species.

This article will help give you a better understanding of what jobs may be right for an INTP based on interests and abilities. We’ll also show how those careers may fit with your unique personality. Let’s get right into it.

Are you an INTP?

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Job Recommendations and Career Matches for INTPs

Jobs for an INTP personality are best when they provide a high degree of autonomy and freedom. These careers will feel right because you have the power to follow your vision, rather than a strict set of rules to follow.

Since an INTP is constantly observing and thinking about things, you’ll uniquely see the world. It will feel easy and natural to develop innovative new solutions to problems that others have struggled with.

This is ideal for an INTP personality because you get to solve complex problems and leverage your creativity at the same time.

In fact, here are 10 best careers for an INTP:

Information technology systems analyst
Computer programmer
Statistician
Mathematician
Web designer/developer
Logistician planner
Journalist
Social Media Manager
Game designer
Scientist

Information Technology Systems Analyst

This is great for an INTP because no manager is breathing down your neck. You’ll have absolute control over how you complete tasks and you can work on them at your own pace.

Computer Programmer

This is a great job for an INTP personality because it allows you to be a problem solver in a comfortable environment without bosses trying to evaluate every move.

Statistician

Statistics is a field that relies on logic and reasoning so it’s right up the alley of an INTP. It will feel like home.

You’ll be interested in exploring the numbers and creating new ways to solve problems.

Mathematician

You are drawn to mathematics because of its beauty, precision, and symmetry, all qualities that appeal to your logical mind (in fact, the INTP personality is known as The Logician).

You will feel a sense of peace when working on such problems because you have found your home. Math is where you belong.

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Web Designer/Developer

The best thing about working as a web designer is that you get to use your creativity to build something new and exciting. You’ll feel connected with the world in this job.

Moreover, you also have the freedom to do things your way, instead of following someone else’s rules.

Logistician/Transportation Planner

This is a great career for an INTP personality because it allows you to think out of the box and be creative while using your logic skills.

You’ll find yourself solving problems that others have struggled with.

Journalist/Editor

Social Media Manager

Game Designer

Scientist

Are you an INTP?

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Jobs and Career Paths INTPs Should Definitely Avoid

The following are careers that you should avoid because they would not be a good fit for your INTP personality:

Clerical Work
Factory Work
Sales
Service Industry Jobs
Construction
Manual Labor Jobs
Farming
Manufacturing

INTP’s Core Strengths and Weaknesses in a Working Environment

Strengths

You are visionary, determined, and independent. You also have a keen interest in theoretical possibilities which you can use to solve problems for others.

Finally, because of your self-reliance, you usually work very independently and can be trusted with tasks on your own without needing constant supervision from management. Also, consider that INTPs are usually open-minded and innovative.

This combination of traits makes you a great candidate for things like brainstorming sessions, where one can bring new ideas to the table. Because an INTP is not bound by tradition or social norms, their views may be completely fresh.

Weaknesses

Because we all have weaknesses as well as strengths, it’s important to take a look at what would be a bad fit for an INTP personality in the office environment. In particular, a logician struggle with things like office politics and working on a team, so they’re not likely to do well in those situations.

They may also tend to be rigid in their thinking and have difficulty adapting when necessary. Moreover, because INTPs are usually quiet and reserved, they may not get along with more outspoken personalities.

In addition, while they might have a great deal of passion for the important things in life, they can have trouble expressing that passion to other people. These weaknesses would make it difficult for an INTP personality to work well in jobs that involve: public speaking; teamwork; dealing with sales or clients; and working under tight deadlines.

When an INTP is working in a team, they may struggle with social interpersonal skills. They can appear insensitive and detached from others which makes them a poor candidate for management positions.

Even though INTPs are innovators, they tend to show their creativity in individual tasks rather than brainstorming sessions where they have to consider other people’s perspectives as well.

When an INTP is behaving like a leader, their quiet and reserved nature can cause them issues. They don’t naturally seek the limelight, so they may have a hard time stepping up to the plate when it comes to management responsibilities.

Are you an INTP?

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INTP Working in a Team/Group

INTPs in a team environment will value independence, creativity, and freedom. They tend to be loners, so they don’t like being monitored all the time. They also need a certain degree of flexibility in their work environment because they won’t respond well to micromanaging.

Next, they may not appreciate social interaction as much as other types might do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t communicate effectively with them. For example, if there’s a problem or issue at hand that requires their attention, keep it short and specific rather than open-ended or vague when communicating with an INTP.

INTP Working as a Leader/Manager

INTP’s are not usually great leaders or managers. They may have difficulty communicating with others and being assertive with them which would make it hard for them to be effective as managers or leaders. They can even appear intelligent but blunt and insensitive.

In addition, they may find the administrative aspects of a leadership role demeaning since they prefer independence and freedom in their work environment rather than close supervision from a supervisor.

Moreover, this personality type is independent-minded which makes them less likely to follow rules that don’t seem necessary to them given the circumstances surrounding the situation.

On top of that, they have trouble with delegation because they prefer to do things on their own whenever possible instead of asking others for help. INTP personalities naturally enjoy working on individual and imaginative tasks more than group projects or keeping up with social niceties required in a corporate setting.

They may even be perceived as odd or eccentric by other types who can’t understand why they keep to themselves so much or ignore the necessities like going to meetings when necessary.

However, if you consider their personality type, it’s not hard to see why this type would stand out from others. First off, they’re very private and reserved about their personal lives which means that co-workers will rarely hear anything about how their life is outside of work.

Secondly, they’re innovative and enjoy thinking in an open-ended and imaginative way which can make them seem like eccentrics who think differently from most others.

Since INTPs are more interested in the theoretical possibilities than actually using practical applications, others may not understand why this type would approach problems in a roundabout way when it’s easier to simply get to the point.

Are you an INTP?

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Interesting INTP Career Stats and Facts

INTPs tend to like being self-employed.
Women in this group earned 88% of what men earned.
When they are not happy doing what they do, INTPs tend to rate their work as having the lowest scores overall when compared to other personality types.

INTP Careers F.A.Q

What careers are best for INTP?

How can an INTP get rich?

Yes, INFPs, like every type of MBTI personality, can technically get rich. But considering their amazing talent for seeking opportunities, they have a greater potential to get rich.

In fact, INTPs are often successful due to their ability to think critically, organize things, and follow their plans. They are extremely determined individuals who aim to achieve success and become independent. As a result, they become financially independent at a young age and, consequently, become rich.

What jobs do logicians (INTP) have?

Logicians have amazing analytical and problem-solving skills. Therefore, they often become mathematicians, researchers, scientists, or business analysts.

Regardless of their particular jobs, INFPs usually choose careers that are related to science. They have strong reasoning skills and thrive in careers that require creative thinking. Usually, logicians dream of having careers that require scientific experimentation and empirical research.

What are INTPs interested in?

INTPs are especially interested in empirical research and scientific experimentation. They are practical people with a hands-on approach, which makes them interested in the ways people observe the world.

Usually, INTPs have diverse interests, including playing strategy games like chess, working with computers, writing, or hiking to explore the world. Everything that requires solving complex problems motivates them and sparks a deep interest in them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, INTP personality types can be a bit eccentric and different from others (such as the Architect) which can lead to difficulties in finding their place in the world. However, they’re highly independent thinkers who have no problem thinking outside of the box and ignoring conventional wisdom when necessary.

This type isn’t afraid to go their own way instead of doing what everyone else is doing if it’s more productive or efficient for them. Keep in mind that this type isn’t necessarily shy or anti-social, they’re just private and reserved about their life outside of work.