Before diving deeper into INTJ careers, let’s take a quick look at the INTJ personality type. Defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the INTJ personality type is among the rarest of the 16 personality types.
The INTJ meaning comes as an acronym of the four cognitive functions that distinguish these individuals: introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging.
The combination of these traits defines individuals who are exceptionally independent, logical, and progressive.
Their analytical mind is continuously working towards inventing and testing new theories and ideas, prioritizing their jobs over everything else in their lives.
Therefore, we created this article to discuss the INTJ jobs and career paths and how they relate to the working environment to understand their personality strengths and weaknesses better.
Are you an INTJ?
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The Most Compatible Jobs and Career Matches for INTJs
INTJs are individuals with strong intellect and logical thinking. Their reasoning stands firm in front of challenges and is in a constant flow to explore possibilities. INTJs seek facts and evidence, and whatever decisions they make, they’ll be based solely on in-depth analysis and scientific backup.
Since they apply strategy and wire information in complex systems methodically and strategically, INTJs are called Architects, Strategists, or Masterminds.
However, Architects are not just data-driven individuals. They look for solutions in the most creative way, often thinking outside the box.
And this intensive focus is usually done in solitude, away from other people’s ideas and suggestions. INTJs are very independent, and they prefer to have the job done on their own.
When it comes to the ideal work environment, it is a place that allows them to explore and test their ideas. It is usually a structured and efficient organization that allows its employees to implement their ideas and work on complex systems.
Masterminds appreciate intelligent, productive, and innovative colleagues but look down on procrastinators and lazy people.
What also might influence INTJs’ preferences for a specific job is their individual manifestation, i.e., whether they are Assertive or Turbulent INTJs.
So, comprehending the INTJ-A and INTJ-T differences can provide even more insight into the INTJ profile. Bearing their personality traits in mind, the following jobs are the most compatible for the INTJs:
Accountant
Those INTJs who prefer logic over creativity will find this job particularly attractive. The reasoning is that Strategists love independence and having full control over their job, and that’s precisely what the accounting job offers. To do this job, you need analytical and problem-solving capabilities, which is what INTJs boast of having.
Computer Programmer
It is also one of the ideal jobs as it implies coming up with creative solutions while coding and testing their data systems.
What inspires INTJs the most is finding viable and innovative solutions to existing problems, which is what this job offers. Plus, the autonomous environment and the possibility to think outside the box are features that make it very attractive for INTJs.
Scientific Researcher
INTJs have an enhanced thirst for fact-based information and strive to expand their knowledge. Regardless of the scientific field, INTJs would gladly explore new topics or new ideas.
Doing research is an independent, creative job that leaves much to the researcher’s intellect. Since INTJs are masterminds in the real sense of the word, they can excel in this job as prominent researchers or inventors.
Are you an INTJ?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
TAKE THE FREE PERSONALITY TEST
Engineer
The engineer’s job involves solving mathematical, technological, and scientific problems that match the INTJs’ preferences.
They grasp each challenge with excitement and love thinking over plausible solutions. Since INTJs are perfectionists, they’ll pay attention even to the slightest details and can be extremely accurate.
Lawyer
Any legal system is complex, to say the least, so navigating through the network of laws and regulations is what motivates INTJs.
Finding the right solution for peculiar legal matters or offering persuasive arguments goes in line with the analytical and creative nature of the INTJs’.
Another perk of the INTJ’s personality is the absence of emotional involvement in their job, so they could easily handle severe cases and see the situation from a bird’s perspective.
Project Manager
Project managers usually plan things ahead and see the big picture before it gets done. Their analytical and strategic mind foresees the tiniest details of the project to end successfully. The job description includes delegating tasks, budget planning, monitoring, and problem-solving techniques.
Detective/ Investigator
When INTJs bring together their intelligence and intuitive, creative thinking, they can solve many problems and mysteries. They have an impressive capacity to put pieces together, observe, research, and assess the evidence. INTJs are dedicated and persistent, so they won’t settle until they see the case completed.
MD – PhD
If you are familiar with the popular character of the series ‘Dr. House’, picture the doctor himself, and you’ll see the resemblance. INTJs would fit the best in diagnostics or surgery or any other complex fields that require an analytical approach, going through symptoms, and coming up with a possible solution.
Investigative Journalist
Journalism, in its essence, is appealing to INTJs. However, investigative journalism ticks all the boxes on the preference list.
Not only do they have to process information analytically, but they need to patiently compile pieces of information, and structure what they know into a whole that has a beginning and end. INTJs are good at systemic data processing, and whatever they do, they rely on proven facts.
Jobs and Career Paths That INTJs Should Avoid
While the list above is not limiting, and there are many more similar or related jobs that can be added to it, there’s another list of jobs that states occupations that are not deemed a good match for INTJs.
Therefore, occupations that involve sensitivity to emotions and adequate responses to them are mostly incompatible with the INTJ personality type.
Architect personalities are clueless when it comes to showing or understanding emotions, so they might feel perplexed to offer an adequate response.
Then, chaotic and unstructured jobs are a wrong choice, as the lack of systemic organization will prevent INTJs from finding their place in the organization or institution they work for.
Plus, INTJs could feel hindered from offering their potential and stress if such jobs include constant social interaction.
Also, jobs that don’t offer personal growth and development will make INTJs feel miserable. INTJs despise mundane activities and monotonous and stagnating working atmosphere, so such jobs are definitely no option for INTJs.
The following list includes some of the jobs that INTJs should avoid:
- Sales Person
- Social Worker
- Hospitality Careers
- Receptionist
- Nurse
- Assistant
- Secretary
- Preschool Teacher
- Counselor
- Telemarketer
Are you an INTJ?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
TAKE THE FREE PERSONALITY TEST
INTJs Strengths and Weaknesses in the Working Environment
- Self-Confident
INTJs know who they are and what they can do, so when they start doing a job, they are able to see the big picture and focus on its completion. The fact that they are self-confident helps them access constructive criticism and work towards improvement.
- Aspire to learn more
INTJs never get satisfaction from the average. When they work on complex, tangled issues, they have the patience and focus to dive deeper and learn the functionality of every single detail. They use their newly acquired knowledge to solve problems in the most elegant manner.
- Logical creativity
It is impressive how INTJs use their intelligence and logic to come up with creative solutions. They are out-of-the-box thinkers who find pleasure in offering new methods or new concepts.
- Determined and Efficient
When Masterminds start a project, they won’t rest until they see the final outcome. They have immense dedication and patience to go step by step, explore, wait, test, and try until the last piece of the puzzle is completed.
- Independent
This can be both a strength and a weakness, but on the positive side, it means that INTJs don’t need other people’s help to do their job. They strongly believe in the idea that whatever you have to do, you should do it yourself, and that’s how they function.
INTJ Weaknesses and Soft Spots
- Overthinking
INTJs have the tendency to consider all aspects of the situation and focus too much on minor details and trivialities. This can lead to wasting too much energy which could lead to stress and anxiety.
- Highly Critical
INTJs’ intelligence and reasoning often stand as an obstacle when it comes to dealing with average situations or people. They tend to set very high standards that are hard to reach, so any failure to meet their expectations can lead to intense criticism, sometimes even mockery.
- Bad at reading emotions
Even in a working environment, emotions can be a reason for completing or failing a given task. INTJs, however, are clueless when it comes to understanding people’s feelings and don’t consider them as a factor that needs to be considered in a working environment.
On the contrary, they believe them to be a weakness and look down on people who put too much emphasis on them.
- Arrogant
INTJ’s self-confidence can often turn into arrogance, particularly when they refuse to consider other people’s insights or opinions.
INTJ Working in a Team or Group
INTJs are, in their essence, lone wolves who prefer working independently and without anyone looking over their shoulders. They believe that if they want to see the results they expect, then the best way is to do the job alone.
However, they can work in a small team, provided that all the team members are efficient and constructive contributors who provide valuable input.
When INTJs know that the team they are part of is efficient, they can be fairly open to new ideas and are likely to consider their opinions.
What INTJs won’t like are team members who are lazy and inefficient. They detest anyone who has advanced in their career in any other way, but hard work and are not likely to cooperate with such people.
INTJs never create close friendships and relationships with team members on a personal level, as their only interest is the work itself.
Are you an INTJ?
Take the free personality test to identify your true personality type. 16 Personality Types test reveals who you naturally are and why you do things the way you do. With this knowledge of yourself, you can build successful careers, find a dream job, build strong relationships, and live an authentic life.
TAKE THE FREE PERSONALITY TEST
INTJ Working as a Leader or Manager
One thing is for sure when INTJs lead a team or a company: they will make sure the job gets done! Being a leader is not mainly their aspiration, as they don’t like having to communicate with people frequently.
They prefer independence and self-reliance, but if they are offered the job, they will do it with the utmost sophistication.
Masterminds usually lead the team without being especially involved in their daily tasks, yet, they are excellent delegators and know what has to be done to achieve the goal.
INTJs know how to analytically approach a complex task and develop steps to overcome any difficulty. They can pass on their strategies to the team members and develop ‘how to’ systems to handle the challenges better.
INTJs are good at spotting ineffective workers, and they never tolerate laziness or procrastination. Once they spot it, they are not reluctant to handle it in the way they consider appropriate.
What INTJs often lack is the patience to clearly convey their demands, which might confuse those who are supposed to respond to them.
INTJ Career Stats
- INTJs are among the personality types that earn the most.
- INTJs earn more when self-employed.
- INTJs are the most likely to excel when self-employed.
- Of all personality types, INTJs are second least likely to be stay-at-home parents.
- The least likely to put family or friendships before their career.
INTJ Careers FAQ
What career is best for INTJ?
INTJs can excel in a plethora of careers. Their rationality, independence, work ethic, and curiosity can benefit them most in fast-paced, engaging, and innovative environments.
INTJs, therefore, make great executives or CEOs, engineers, professors, programmers, and designers. Their desire to be perfect is a necessity in these fields. Plus, INTJ’s problem-solving abilities and thirst for knowledge will be useful as well.
What jobs should INTJ avoid?
While INTJs make excellent leaders and employees in some fields, in others, they can become uninspired and bored.
INTJs should avoid becoming clerks, secretaries, social workers, telemarketers, preschool teachers, or sales representatives. Repetitive tasks may bore the INTJ, and needing to deal with inefficiency (in schools, for example) is also frustrating to them.
Are INTJs successful?
Success is extremely important to INTJs. They are one of the most career and goal-oriented MBTI types. As such, INTJs experience a great amount of success in their careers.
They are usually financially stable and hold jobs that are high up on the socioeconomic ladder. The ability to be imaginative and curious helps INTJs innovate, which often makes them remembered for decades to come.
What should INTJ study?
The INTJ should study something that makes them excited. It should be a field that gives them an opportunity to explore and innovate, as well as where traditional thought is allowed to be challenged.
Some good matches for the INTJ include studying engineering, mathematics, philosophy, economics, environmental science, biology, chemistry, computer science, or similar fields.
A Summary
Masterminds are individuals with highly developed logical reasoning and creativity. They are extraordinary in many respects, so anything mundane or mediocre they discard as unacceptable. This strongly applies to their professional engagement, and they often put their careers as a top priority in their lives.
INTJs are independent and don’t find work-related relationships useful. So, jobs that involve tackling issues that require analytical skills and strategy are the best option for them.
On the flip side, those jobs that require emotional involvement, repetitive tasks, or don’t offer a possibility for development INTJs should avoid.
