INFJ
Introverted, Intuition, Feeling, Judgment
As an INFJ, career satisfaction means doing work that:
Popular Occupations for INFJs
In listing occupations that are popular among INFJs, it is important to note that there are successful people of all types in all occupations. However, the following are careers INFJs may find particularly satisfying and some of the reasons why. This is by no means a comprehensive listing but is included to suggest possibilities you may not have previously considered. Although all of these occupations offer the potential for career satisfaction, the future demand for some careers is anticipated to be greater than for others. Based upon our research, the occupations that are italicized in the lists below are forecast to enjoy the fastest rate of growth over the next several years.
COUNSELING/EDUCATION
These occupations allow INFJs to use their ideas and knowledge to help others. The counseling and teaching fields require very personal interaction, often on a one-to-one basis, allowing INFJs to make in-depth connections with others. INFJs also enjoy studying, learning, and the growth opportunities found in an educational context, so they are usually quite comfortable in an academic setting.
RELIGION
Religious work requires a deep and personal commitment and a work philosophy that can be characterized as a mission. INFJs frequently see their work that way and find deep satisfaction in sharing their philosophy and beliefs with others.
CREATIVE
The appeal of the arts to the INFJ is the ability to create unique works, using their own ideas and vision. The arts enable INFJs to express themselves in a personal way, and the result is often to have an impact on others. With these occupations, the work is generally done independently, allowing the INFJ to organize and control the environment, the process, and the product.
HEALTH CARE/SOCIAL SERVICES
The social service occupations require a commitment to helping others, often within an organizational structure. Most INFJs enjoy working in such a setting, especially when it involves a small and close-knit staff. Social service enables the INFJ to consider and develop new approaches to the problems of individuals or society. Many times social workers work independently on a caseload, allowing them to have frequent and one-on-one interaction with clients and colleagues.
BUSINESS
Although INFJs do not tend to gravitate toward business careers in large numbers, there are areas of business in which INFJs may find satisfaction. Human resources, or personnel, and organizational development consulting are the “people” parts of business, requiring an interest in and facility with many different types of people. These occupations enable the INFJ to help others find jobs, structure effective work environments, and engage in creative problem solving in which people are the focus. The marketing occupations enable INFJs to use their creative problem-solving abilities, often working on a team. If INFJs have significant input into the process and are able to maintain a comfortable level of personal and professional integrity, they can find this type of work satisfying. Remember, these are only some of the areas that provide satisfying expression for the unique natural talents of the INFJ.
TECHNOLOGY
With the proliferation of technology, there is a rapidly growing need for people who understand technology but also have good people and communication skills. Being the liaison between the technology people and the end users appeals to many INFJs, who find these jobs satisfy their need to help and be connected with their co-workers.
Your work-related strengths may include:
Your work-related weaknesses may include:
Using your strengths is easy. The secret to success for an INFJ is learning to: Pay attention to details, be flexible, and be willing to act spontaneously.
- Lets me consider and create new ideas and/or approaches to a variety of problems, mostly those that help others to grow and develop
- Lets me produce a product or service that I believe in and am proud of
- Recognizes my authorship and ownership and my unique contributions
- Lets me express myself and see the results of my vision
- Lets me implement my ideas for the good of people or in the service of others; lets me work with others on a one-to-one basis
- Is done in a friendly and tension-free environment where my ideas are seriously considered and where I am psychologically supported for my efforts
- Can be done independently but with the opportunity to share frequently with others in an environment that is friendly and free of interpersonal conflict
- Lets me organize my own time and work environment and exert significant control over both the process and product
- Gives me adequate time to formulate and process my ideas so they are thoroughly prepared
- Is in harmony with my personal values and beliefs and lets me maintain a high degree of personal and professional integrity
Popular Occupations for INFJs
In listing occupations that are popular among INFJs, it is important to note that there are successful people of all types in all occupations. However, the following are careers INFJs may find particularly satisfying and some of the reasons why. This is by no means a comprehensive listing but is included to suggest possibilities you may not have previously considered. Although all of these occupations offer the potential for career satisfaction, the future demand for some careers is anticipated to be greater than for others. Based upon our research, the occupations that are italicized in the lists below are forecast to enjoy the fastest rate of growth over the next several years.
COUNSELING/EDUCATION
- Career counselor
- Clinical psychologist
- Teacher: high school or college English, art, music, social sciences, drama
- Educational consultant
- Librarian
- Special education teacher
- Bilingual education teacher
- Early education teacher
- Employee assistance counselor
- Child welfare counselor
- Substance abuse counselor
- Social worker (elderly and child day care issues)
- Sociologist
- Museum research worker
- Public health educator
- Occupational therapist
- Educational program director
- Parenting instructor, child development course
- Developmental psychologist
These occupations allow INFJs to use their ideas and knowledge to help others. The counseling and teaching fields require very personal interaction, often on a one-to-one basis, allowing INFJs to make in-depth connections with others. INFJs also enjoy studying, learning, and the growth opportunities found in an educational context, so they are usually quite comfortable in an academic setting.
RELIGION
- Priest/clergy/monk/nun
- Religious worker
- Director of religious education
Religious work requires a deep and personal commitment and a work philosophy that can be characterized as a mission. INFJs frequently see their work that way and find deep satisfaction in sharing their philosophy and beliefs with others.
CREATIVE
- Artist
- Playwright
- Novelist
- Poet
- Interior designer
- Informational-graphics designer
- Universal design architect
- Freelance media planner
- Editor/art director (magazine)
- Genealogist (family tree researcher)
- Desktop publisher/editor
- Multimedia producer
- Editor/art director (Web sites)
- Film editor
- Documentary filmmaker
- Set designer
- Educational software developer
- Exhibit designer
- Costume and wardrobe specialist
- Merchandise designer and displayer
The appeal of the arts to the INFJ is the ability to create unique works, using their own ideas and vision. The arts enable INFJs to express themselves in a personal way, and the result is often to have an impact on others. With these occupations, the work is generally done independently, allowing the INFJ to organize and control the environment, the process, and the product.
HEALTH CARE/SOCIAL SERVICES
- Health care administrator
- Director, social service agency
- Mediator/conflict resolver
- Social scientist
- Social worker
- Mental health counselor
- Dietitian/nutritionist
- Speech-language pathologist/audiologist
- Holistic health practitioner (alternative medicine)
- Massage therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Chiropractor
- Grant coordinator
- Fund-raising director
- Legal mediator
- Adult day care coordinator
- Corrective therapist
- Crisis hotline operator
- Legislative assistant
The social service occupations require a commitment to helping others, often within an organizational structure. Most INFJs enjoy working in such a setting, especially when it involves a small and close-knit staff. Social service enables the INFJ to consider and develop new approaches to the problems of individuals or society. Many times social workers work independently on a caseload, allowing them to have frequent and one-on-one interaction with clients and colleagues.
BUSINESS
- Human resources manager
- Marketer (of ideas and/or services)
- Organizational development consultant
- Employee assistance program coordinator/counselor
- Job analyst
- Diversity manager–human resources
- Corporate/team trainer
- Preferred customer sales representative
- Merchandise planner
- Environmental lawyer
- Interpreter/translator
- Planned-giving officer
- Philanthropic consultant
- Curator
- Literary agent
- Outplacement consultant
Although INFJs do not tend to gravitate toward business careers in large numbers, there are areas of business in which INFJs may find satisfaction. Human resources, or personnel, and organizational development consulting are the “people” parts of business, requiring an interest in and facility with many different types of people. These occupations enable the INFJ to help others find jobs, structure effective work environments, and engage in creative problem solving in which people are the focus. The marketing occupations enable INFJs to use their creative problem-solving abilities, often working on a team. If INFJs have significant input into the process and are able to maintain a comfortable level of personal and professional integrity, they can find this type of work satisfying. Remember, these are only some of the areas that provide satisfying expression for the unique natural talents of the INFJ.
TECHNOLOGY
- Customer relations manager
- Staff advocate (technology consultant)
- Coach
- Project manager
- Engagement manager
- Human resources recruiter
With the proliferation of technology, there is a rapidly growing need for people who understand technology but also have good people and communication skills. Being the liaison between the technology people and the end users appeals to many INFJs, who find these jobs satisfy their need to help and be connected with their co-workers.
Your work-related strengths may include:
- Integrity that inspires people to value your ideas
- Focus and single-mindedness about projects that are important to you
- Decisiveness and strong organizational skills
- Creativity and ability to come up with original solutions
- Empathy and ability to anticipate others’ needs
- Perspective to see the big picture and the future implications of actions and ideas
- Ability to understand complex concepts
- Genuine interest in others and talent for helping others grow and develop
- Independent streak and strong personal convictions
- Drive to be productive and reach your goals
- Deep commitment to work you believe in
Your work-related weaknesses may include:
- Single-mindedness that can result in inflexibility
- Unrealistic sense of how long things take
- Difficulty working on projects that conflict with your values
- Tendency to be impractical about viability and/or feasibility of some ideas
- Difficulty working in competitive or tension-filled environments
- Reluctance to revisit or reverse decisions once they’ve been made
- Difficulty dealing with conflict and tendency to ignore unpleasantness
- Trouble disciplining subordinates with objectivity and directness
- Difficulty changing plans or directions quickly
- Difficulty communicating complex ideas simply
- Tendency to be judgmental
Using your strengths is easy. The secret to success for an INFJ is learning to: Pay attention to details, be flexible, and be willing to act spontaneously.