INFPs present a calm, pleasant face to the world and are seen as reticent and even shy. Although they demonstrate a cool reserve toward others, inside they are anything but distant. They have a capacity for caring which is not always found in other types. They care deeply – indeed, passionately – about a few special persons or a cause. One word that captures this type is idealistic. At times, this characteristic leaves them feeling isolated, especially since INFPs are found in only 1 percent of the general population.
INFPs have a profound sense of honor derived from internal values. INFP’s seek unity in their lives, unity of body and mind, emotions and intellect. The deep commitment of INFPs to the positive and the good causes them to be alert to the negative and the evil, which can take the form of a fascination with the profane.
INFPs prefer the valuing process over the purely logical. They respond to the beautiful versus the ugly, the good versus the bad, and the moral versus the immoral. INFP’s have a gift for interpreting symbols, as well as creating them, and thus often write in lyric fashion.
At work, INFP’s are adaptable, welcome new ideas and new information, are well aware of people and their feelings, and relate well to most, albeit with some psychological distance. INFP’s dislike telephone interruptions and work well alone, as well as with others. They are patient with complicated situations, but impatient with routine details. Their career choices may be toward the ministry, missionary work, college teaching, psychiatry, architecture, psychology – and away from business. They seem willing and usually are able to apply themselves scholastically to gain the necessary training for professional work, often doing better in college than in high school. Often they hear a calling to go forth into the world to help others; they seem willing to make the necessary personal sacrifices involved in responding to that call, even if it means asking others to do likewise.
As mates, INFP’s have a deep commitment to their pledges. They like to live in harmony and may go to great lengths to avoid constant conflict. They are sensitive to the feelings of others and enjoy pleasing those they care for.
For INFP’s, their home is their castle. As parents, they are fierce in protection of home and family and are devoted to the welfare of family members. They have a strong capacity for devotion, sympathy, and adaptability in their relationships, and thus are easy to live with.
In the routine rituals of daily living, INFP’s tend to be compliant and may even prefer having decisions made on their behalf – until their value system is violated! Then INFP’s dig in their heels and will not budge from ideals.
As in INFP, career satisfaction means doing work that:
1. Is in harmony with my own personal values and beliefs and allows me to express my vision through my work
2. Gives me time to develop substantial depth to my ideas and maintain control over the process and product
3. Is done autonomously, with a private work space and plenty of uninterrupted time, but with periodic opportunities to bounce my ideas off people I feel respect me
4. Is done within a flexible structure, with a minimum of rules or regulations, letting me work on projects when I feel inspired
5. Is done with other creative and caring individuals in a cooperative environment free from tension and interpersonal strife
6. Lets me express my originality and in which personal growth is encouraged and rewarded
7. Does not require me to present my work frequently in front of groups of people or be called upon to share before it is completed to my satisfaction
8. Allows me to help others grow and develop and realize their full potential
9. Involves understanding people and discovering what makes them tick; allows me to develop deep one-to-one relationships with others
10. Allows me to work toward fulfilling my ideals and not be limited by political, financial, or other obstacles
STRENGTHS
Prefer working toward causes they endorse
Work well alone, with frequent, meaningful, supportive interaction with others they admire
Faithful to duties and obligations
Inspired when working at a job they believe in
Able to understand and communicate one-on-one with other people
WEAKNESSES
Can be unrealistic in planning a project
Want control of their projects and may lose interest if control is lost
Can become discouraged if work is not directed toward the purpose they believe in
May be inflexible about making necessary changes in their ideas
Can have trouble working in competitive environments
POPULAR OCCUPATIONS:
§ Artist
§ Journalist
§ Editor
§ College Professor: humanities, arts
§ Counselor
§ Librarian
§ Minister/Priest
§ Employment development specialist
§ Social scientist
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS:
Your strength and talent for the job search lies in your ability to know what is important to you and to work tirelessly to find a career that will be an expression of your values. Beware of your tendency to be swept away by your idealism and, in the process, ignore practical realities
POSSIBLE PITFALLS
Develop realistic expectations for yourself and your job search
Try not to take criticism or rejection personally
Look at the logical consequence of your actions
Resist the tendency to avoid eliminating options and to put off making decisions
Concentrate on getting better organized
Your Type: Your Job Search
Knowing the particular strengths and blind spots of your type can afford you a tremendous advantage in your job search campaign. In all aspects of the process, from conducting research into available positions, identifying and contacting prospective employers, developing personal marketing tools such as resumes, arranging and conducting job interviews, negotiating salaries and finally accepting a position, people will act true to their type. Being able to capitalize on your assets and compensate for your liabilities can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful job search.
The differences between types are sometimes subtle and other times dramatic. It is the subtle variations in advice we offer that make the real difference between success or failure in a job search. The concept of "networking," or meeting and talking to people to gather information about potential jobs, serves as a good example. Extraverts will naturally enjoy networking and are advised to do so on a large scale, while Introverts find more limited and targeted networking, especially with people they already know, easier. Sensors tend to network with people in a defined scope, while Intuitives will go far and wide to find people often seemingly unrelated to their field of interest. Further, Feelers take networking, like everything else, very personally and enjoy establishing warm rapport, while Thinkers will be more objective and detached in their style. Finally, Judgers tend to ask fewer and more structured questions during their networking, while Perceivers could ask questions of all sorts all day long! One valuable search technique, many ways to implement it.
Tips to Help You Find the Right Workplace
Try to seek out an aesthetically pleasing, personal, and democratic environment in which you and your co-workers are free to be yourselves and to build friendships.
Be wary of career moves that take you away from the core of what you love or compromise your strong ideals.
Don't underestimate the value of life experience you picked up outside the parameters of formal schooling or paid work. Give yourself credit for all of your talents.
Consider creating your own job.
INFPs have a profound sense of honor derived from internal values. INFP’s seek unity in their lives, unity of body and mind, emotions and intellect. The deep commitment of INFPs to the positive and the good causes them to be alert to the negative and the evil, which can take the form of a fascination with the profane.
INFPs prefer the valuing process over the purely logical. They respond to the beautiful versus the ugly, the good versus the bad, and the moral versus the immoral. INFP’s have a gift for interpreting symbols, as well as creating them, and thus often write in lyric fashion.
At work, INFP’s are adaptable, welcome new ideas and new information, are well aware of people and their feelings, and relate well to most, albeit with some psychological distance. INFP’s dislike telephone interruptions and work well alone, as well as with others. They are patient with complicated situations, but impatient with routine details. Their career choices may be toward the ministry, missionary work, college teaching, psychiatry, architecture, psychology – and away from business. They seem willing and usually are able to apply themselves scholastically to gain the necessary training for professional work, often doing better in college than in high school. Often they hear a calling to go forth into the world to help others; they seem willing to make the necessary personal sacrifices involved in responding to that call, even if it means asking others to do likewise.
As mates, INFP’s have a deep commitment to their pledges. They like to live in harmony and may go to great lengths to avoid constant conflict. They are sensitive to the feelings of others and enjoy pleasing those they care for.
For INFP’s, their home is their castle. As parents, they are fierce in protection of home and family and are devoted to the welfare of family members. They have a strong capacity for devotion, sympathy, and adaptability in their relationships, and thus are easy to live with.
In the routine rituals of daily living, INFP’s tend to be compliant and may even prefer having decisions made on their behalf – until their value system is violated! Then INFP’s dig in their heels and will not budge from ideals.
As in INFP, career satisfaction means doing work that:
1. Is in harmony with my own personal values and beliefs and allows me to express my vision through my work
2. Gives me time to develop substantial depth to my ideas and maintain control over the process and product
3. Is done autonomously, with a private work space and plenty of uninterrupted time, but with periodic opportunities to bounce my ideas off people I feel respect me
4. Is done within a flexible structure, with a minimum of rules or regulations, letting me work on projects when I feel inspired
5. Is done with other creative and caring individuals in a cooperative environment free from tension and interpersonal strife
6. Lets me express my originality and in which personal growth is encouraged and rewarded
7. Does not require me to present my work frequently in front of groups of people or be called upon to share before it is completed to my satisfaction
8. Allows me to help others grow and develop and realize their full potential
9. Involves understanding people and discovering what makes them tick; allows me to develop deep one-to-one relationships with others
10. Allows me to work toward fulfilling my ideals and not be limited by political, financial, or other obstacles
STRENGTHS
Prefer working toward causes they endorse
Work well alone, with frequent, meaningful, supportive interaction with others they admire
Faithful to duties and obligations
Inspired when working at a job they believe in
Able to understand and communicate one-on-one with other people
WEAKNESSES
Can be unrealistic in planning a project
Want control of their projects and may lose interest if control is lost
Can become discouraged if work is not directed toward the purpose they believe in
May be inflexible about making necessary changes in their ideas
Can have trouble working in competitive environments
POPULAR OCCUPATIONS:
§ Artist
§ Journalist
§ Editor
§ College Professor: humanities, arts
§ Counselor
§ Librarian
§ Minister/Priest
§ Employment development specialist
§ Social scientist
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS:
Your strength and talent for the job search lies in your ability to know what is important to you and to work tirelessly to find a career that will be an expression of your values. Beware of your tendency to be swept away by your idealism and, in the process, ignore practical realities
POSSIBLE PITFALLS
Develop realistic expectations for yourself and your job search
Try not to take criticism or rejection personally
Look at the logical consequence of your actions
Resist the tendency to avoid eliminating options and to put off making decisions
Concentrate on getting better organized
Your Type: Your Job Search
Knowing the particular strengths and blind spots of your type can afford you a tremendous advantage in your job search campaign. In all aspects of the process, from conducting research into available positions, identifying and contacting prospective employers, developing personal marketing tools such as resumes, arranging and conducting job interviews, negotiating salaries and finally accepting a position, people will act true to their type. Being able to capitalize on your assets and compensate for your liabilities can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful job search.
The differences between types are sometimes subtle and other times dramatic. It is the subtle variations in advice we offer that make the real difference between success or failure in a job search. The concept of "networking," or meeting and talking to people to gather information about potential jobs, serves as a good example. Extraverts will naturally enjoy networking and are advised to do so on a large scale, while Introverts find more limited and targeted networking, especially with people they already know, easier. Sensors tend to network with people in a defined scope, while Intuitives will go far and wide to find people often seemingly unrelated to their field of interest. Further, Feelers take networking, like everything else, very personally and enjoy establishing warm rapport, while Thinkers will be more objective and detached in their style. Finally, Judgers tend to ask fewer and more structured questions during their networking, while Perceivers could ask questions of all sorts all day long! One valuable search technique, many ways to implement it.
Tips to Help You Find the Right Workplace
Try to seek out an aesthetically pleasing, personal, and democratic environment in which you and your co-workers are free to be yourselves and to build friendships.
Be wary of career moves that take you away from the core of what you love or compromise your strong ideals.
Don't underestimate the value of life experience you picked up outside the parameters of formal schooling or paid work. Give yourself credit for all of your talents.
Consider creating your own job.
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