[m2dgg]

At this point, I'm not sure I CAN stand a job. I suspect starting a few blogs where I make a couple dollars on each is the best option for me since I'd be my own boss, could work on my own, when and where I want, etc. Since I'm a software developer, I'm also thinking that building my own software product would be good. There's this thing called Micorpreneurship, which is where a software developer goes out on his own to create software for a very niche group. I'd love to do this for INFPs, but frankly, I have no clue what we could use. And that's odd, since I'm always coming up with ideas to help certain groups of people. But, if I could come up with something(linkedin for INFPs, as you said above) for INFPs, I think that would be key. I care passionately about being an INFP and thus, helping other INFPs find careers. So if I could do something to help them where I'm my own boss, that would be "ideal." But then whenever I say the word "ideal" I get a little freaked out because my head my be too far in the clouds.

My initial thought was some kind of website where we all enter our percentages of I, N, F and P and then the jobs we loved and hated. Then the software would compare you to others with similar percentages and say "hey, this person who is like you likes this job. Maybe you can give it a try." But I'm not sure there's any scientific basis for something like that. I think you need to take more into account, like cognitive functions, interests, etc.



If anyone has any ideas of what I could create that would be helpful for INFPs who are toiling over jobs, let me know. I just don't know the solution at this point. How the hell do we figure out what job suits us? ugh.

Also, like Flora, this is the part of being an INFP that I HATE. My home life is actually pretty great. I LOVE being a Dad. But every few months I HATE my job and can't deal with it and start searching for something else. Totally lame.

[infpblog]

But every few months I HATE my job and can't deal with it and start searching for something else.

How much of hating your job is your actual tasks and responsibilities and how much of it is the people you work with and your boss?

[Aero]

My initial thought was some kind of website where we all enter our percentages of I, N, F and P and then the jobs we loved and hated. Then the software would compare you to others with similar percentages and say "hey, this person who is like you likes this job. Maybe you can give it a try." But I'm not sure there's any scientific basis for something like that. I think you need to take more into account, like cognitive functions, interests, etc.

It doesn't really need to be scientific, it's always going to be just a suggestion, so as long as it's interesting or useful it's fine. Other than that, I'm not sure what specifically I'd want designed in, it's harder for me to think that way than just adding as you go.

I've been wanting (and it may exist but I'm having trouble finding anything) simply a collection of all possible jobs, careers, and (legal) methods of making (or obtaining) money. Even a log of all possible reasons money is exchanged, just so I can get a grasp of what's going on in the world and the flow of things. I think if I had that, I could more easily find somewhere to place myself. (By obtaining I meant short term, one-time transactions that could get you by or potentially become a new job/business/model.)

My thought would be to start with something like that, a database. All the possible results. We'd need to know how much they pay, the style of it (salary, freelance, etc), estimates of how much time is generally needed (on a continual basis, to train/school/learn, etc), whatever else is useful. I'd be happy just being able to do a "power search" with that, where you can restrict all the different things. For example, cut out all freelance, all that pay under X amount, and only in a selected set of categories.

With enough searchable data, I think we could find stuff on our own using what we know we want, rather than having (for example) a test that tries to determine what we want and assuming that the results aren't subpar (they always are, because the "determining what we want" is usually the focus). Personally, I've seen a lot of suggestions, and that isn't my problem. I need quality ones, I need to know that what I'm finding is among the best of the options presented, not just one of many that will "do," and for undisclosed reasons generated by some quiz.

You could add data/values that can be searched over time as more ideas came along or were suggested often. One of the searchable fields could be like "suggested for MBTI type: INFP" or something, but there's probably a better way to include that sort of thing. Point is just that it could be included.

If there's something like this already, I'd love to know. My guess is that there are things that come close, but all have critical flaws, such as being out of date or not updated, not being sufficiently searchable (the core idea here), and/or missing important things to search. I also always fear there are a lot of potential options left out, that it is not comprehensive.

Being able to sort the results in different ways would be highly useful too (pay, time to learn/school, hours per week, etc).

No matter what was done, I think having the results pool to choose from is the hardest part, and if you had that, it'd probably be all you need anyways. From there you could do all sorts of things with it.

Edit: For the record, the worst part of work for me is the time it takes. I feel like it's wasting my time, like I should be doing something so much more, and the thing only obstructs me from it. I know I have some kind of capability and that it's not used in most jobs, it just sits and rots. It's uncomfortable. Not only are whatever abilities I have going to waste, the job demands abilities/traits that are my weaknesses. That doesn't benefit anyone, not me, society, or even really an employer if he has other options (and it seems they have that in plenty currently).

[jdjdsquared]

Hrrm... not sure. I've never had a prof job I've liked... and I've quit 4 of them. I have worked in IT and definitely do not like it, and it isn't the job role or the company either... Just not suited for me. I also hate corporate america in general. But... might have to take one again. Corp America by the way is largely an ESTJ realm, complete antithesis of an INFP. I tried liking it on job #2, and job #3... then said I was completley done with it. Had to take another one out of need for $ and ended up quitting that too, nothing is worth me being that miserable about. I do not like what the jobs are about, and I don't like the people in the industry too much. It's actually turned me into a bit of a neo luddite (in theory).

I started out as an CS Major as it looked pretty stable back in 1999... ended up switching it and did English (Writing) but had enough CS skills to get IT jobs anyhow.

I have written for a few blogs, and have worked on several novels, travel journals/zines ... but that doesn't really pay the bills.

Right now I am unemployed. I'd like to find just a smaller scale *any* person job...

Basically I'm looking for a job that is 35-40 hours a week, and pays the most money. I do not want career advancement, more responsibility, or more hours in those type of jobs, etc. etc.
I also realize working a minimum wage job doesn't really work either so... it is a fine line.

I've applied for writing/journalism type jobs in the last few years but have never been able to land one... limited jobs, declining industry, and probably high applications in the last few years recession.

[Aelthwyn]

The cunundrum I think a lot of us have is that it's hard for us to do what we love for a living because it frequently requires us to go by other people's guidelines and ideas and such, which makes it nolonger our own creative epression and cheapens it for us. And if we do that all the time we want to do something else in our free time, so we don't end up ever really getting into our flow and feeling really alive in the actiities we love. However, we also have a hard time doing something that isn't something we really love and believe in because then we are pouring our time and energy into something that doesn't matter and that leaves us empty.

Likewise, we are neither interested in directing others nor following directions. The trouble for us with this is that most of the time being in charge of your own work/business requires practical knowlege, organization, and ability to get out there and convince others they need your goods/services - none of which are our strong point. We also tend to like security, which entreprenuership doesn't often have. Not to sound too bleak, but it feels like a catch 22 as they say.

What we really need is someone interested in helping us in the practical matters of personal business, or as mentioned above being part of a small company where we can be seen as individuals, have a caring family feel, and have a chance to be recognized for our creativity and inginuity without having to be too bold or have authority over others. Other than that, what we need are Patrons, someone rich who wants to help support us so that we don't have to worry about the mundane money-making aspect of life.

A lot of us Idealists probably find money a rather unworthy goal, and thus have a hard time with almost any job setting (even if it seems initially to be something we like) because a lot of time it starts to feel like it's all coming down to money - how much work can they get out of us, how much money can we get out of them....and that just clashes with our value system. In a sense it starts to feel like baking brownies every day when you don't like chocolate - why am I doing this again? I don't even really care about this!

I think the common reccommendation that INFPs would like to work in people oriented service jobs is a bit off the mark. We do usually care about others and enjoy showing our care, but we are still introverts and we don't generally like a lot of shallow interactions - which means that service jobs may be fullfilling and draining at the same time. I think we are much more likely to feel fullfilled serving a small number of people that we know well, such as family and friends. Honnestly, I've always thought my ideal job would be either as a nanny or a stay-at-home mom. I love to invest in a few people who are close to me, and enjoy taking care of things for others - being the behind the scenes support system for those that do go out and do other things.

I definately don't have any good answers to this Ultimate INFP dilema, I'm going through this myself. A couple years ago I felt like I'd lost my soul working in a book store (hey it sounded great, I love books and I was back in the stockroom alone wih my own music, sounds good....but the burden of more and more proceedures, and pressure to be more and more productive, and negative managers sucked me dry of life and creativity). I'm still attempting to get my own sewing/craft business going, and wanting to look into photography but feeling overwhelmed by that.

I think perhaps a lot of us could use a good career counselor who understands and respects our needs, but knows a lot of possibilities and can make the connections for us that are hard for us to make ourselves. sigh.....

Something I did at one point shortly after quitting my old job was to make a list of things that I really needed in a job - not interests, but practical aspects.

Some of the things I found important for me were (in no paticular order):
Working on Projects Alone - I don't do well in groups, I either end up doing all of it, or get totally ignored.

Autonomy - I hate being constantly directed, I want to see what needs to be done and do it in my own way in my own order

Projects not Hours - I hate stopping when I'm in the flow, and I hate having to hang around when there's nothing to do. I'll put in a lot of extra work if you let me, but don't make me waste my time pretending to look busy just because you want a body there during 'work hours'.

Free Schedual - I need to be respected to have my own life and priorities. I will do the work - but does it really matter when? I hate hvaing to eat when I'm not hungry, or not be able to take a break at an opportune stopping point.

Creativity & Intelligence - I need to be allowed to come up with creative solutions and ideas and have them listened to and appreciated. I hate being treated like an idiot just because I don't have a big pay-check.

Personal - not Impersonal - I hate the impersonal 'business' attitude

My Own Space - I need to have a pleasing personal environment, some place I can feel comfortable in order to be able to feel positive and stay energized and focused. Working in drab, company standard environments, or having to listen to popular music all day makes me angry and depressed and distracted and....I just break down very fast.

Ideals & Values - I can't invest in or promote things I don't believe in, I can't be asked to go against my values

Positive People - A Negative criticle atmosphere really takes the life out of me, strained feelings in the air make me physically ill. I need to know that I am appreciated.

Security - stress over money is not something I do well with, being afriad of not being able to pay my bills tends to imobilize me and distract me from creative inspiration.

......who knows what job has all these things?

I've also considered what seems to be what I'm made to do, what do I do naturally that gives me fullillment in life?
1. Loving and encouraging others
2. Appreciating the beauty in the world and helping others to see it, also reminding people of the simple joys in life
3. Creating - coming up with stories, immagining, designing many kinds of things, arranging, making things beautifull
4. Thinking deeply and coming to an understanding of things

Surely these things are usefull. Surely there must be a way to make a living through them???

[jdjdsquared]

Wow, great post. You should probably blog that somewhere if you have a blog or something you post to. It is really good and certainly "career advice" blog quality.

Every single thing you posted there is exactly how I feel about them.

[Michael82]

Oh thank God/Deity/Whatever, I was worried that this was just me. I know, "misery loves company" isn't particularly nice, but I appreciate you guys writing me back.

I'm about to start tearing my hair out. Who knew that needing to be happy where you work could eliminate so many potential jobs? Millions of people have jobs where they're miserable and still manage to survive. I'm AWFUL at covering up how I feel, and I automatically treat other people as they treat me, which as you can imagine tends to backfire. My inner teenager wants to interject: "Dude, we could be, like, the soul of the universe, and we can't get a freakin' job".

I took a career placement test once, and the result was "Other". Maybe we should start an INFP social networking site like LinkedIn, since we all know what a hard time we can have finding a job...

Well 28 here too and also an INFP. From my coach I learned to focus on my strengths and needs (and all the "good stuff") and forget my bad sides when choosing jobs. After doing the jung test it turned out I could be doing marketing or hrm looking at my studies. And you know what, that's the last thing I imagined I would be doing! now i did that other test of which you can see the results in my sig..this can add too to what you can do for your job. i searched loads of websites through google with job suggestions for infp's. most of them say the same.

important is, that although its hard for infp's to keep positive and happiness as main thoughts and feelings, you do that when you choose your job because it gives you the willpower to work with what you can do. Good luck!

(Edit: if you live in your own world then where does your happiness come from? Initially not from other people or environment, so don't worry too much ;).)

[m2dgg]

How much of hating your job is your actual tasks and responsibilities and how much of it is the people you work with and your boss?

Programming is fine(that's what I do). It works out my obessiveness and INTP side. But there are too many people at this job to let me stand out. Plus it's for a financial firm, which I simply don't care about. Does this crap REALLY matter? And then there's the fact that it's corporate America and I have to dress in business casual.

The key, I suppose would be finding a small company that does something to benefit the human race where I can be in direct contact with users and use creativity to solve their problems. Oh, and I also have to have a bonus if I do well and if the company does well. Not feeling like that's too realistic.

[m2dgg]

Wow, great post. You should probably blog that somewhere if you have a blog or something you post to. It is really good and certainly "career advice" blog quality.

Every single thing you posted there is exactly how I feel about them.

I totally agree. Right in line with my thinking.

[m2dgg]

The cunundrum I think a lot of us have is that it's hard for us to do what we love for a living because it frequently requires us to go by other people's guidelines and ideas and such, which makes it nolonger our own creative epression and cheapens it for us. And if we do that all the time we want to do something else in our free time, so we don't end up ever really getting into our flow and feeling really alive in the actiities we love.

As I read this, although I was like "hell yeah," I was also like "crap, this is kind of unrealistic isn't it? Am I screwed?"