INTP personality type: “The Thinker”

Understanding the characteristics of the various personality profiles found in the Myers-Briggs type indicator can help you in the job-hunting process. Although the INTP personality type is one of the least common, it is one that offers many positive skills and attributes for the workplace. If you are someone who has the INTP personality type, it’s helpful to assess your strengths and weaknesses, so you can apply them accordingly. Certain personality types work better in particular jobs. Once you learn what characteristics are common with your personality type, you can highlight them on your resume.

Myers Briggs personality test

The Myers-Briggs personality test is based on Carl Jung’s theory of personality types and has been around for many years. It assesses your personality type by asking a series of questions on which you rate how much you agree or disagree with each.

The Myers-Briggs test identifies sixteen personality types made up of four different scales or dichotomies. Within each are two contrasting personality styles, ESTJ and INFP:

Extraversion (E) versus Introversion (I)
Sensing (S) versus Intuition (N)
Thinking (T) versus Feeling (F)
Judgment (J) versus Perceiving (P)

Once you complete the test, you will have some combination of these four scales creating a personality type. The sixteen different personality types from the Myers-Briggs test are:

ISTJ: The inspector
ISTP: The crafter
ISFJ: The protector
ISFP: The artist
INFJ: The advocate
INFP: The mediator
INTJ: The architect
INTP: The thinker
ESTP: The persuader
ESTJ: The director
ESFP: The performer
ESFJ: The caregiver
ENFP: The champion
ENFJ: The giver
ENTP: The debater
ENTJ: The commander

What is the INTP personality type?

The INTP personality type is made up of the following four scales:

Introversion

An introverted person is more “inward-prone” in their behavior. They are reserved and quieter than extroverted people.

Intuition

A person who relies more on intuition sees the big picture, realizes the possibilities in life, and values ideas. Even if things don’t always seem practical to others, the person who has the “N” in their personality profile can imagine the future.

Thinking

A thinking person tends to use logic and facts when making decisions. They are also consistent and impersonal when making determinations.

Perceiving

This involves more spontaneous action and improvising as you go along in life. People with the perception characteristic are generally more open and flexible.

Work style of an INTP personality

So what happens in the workplace with the INTP personality type? Let’s delve into how the INTP work style can help you land the right jobs and flex your skills.

The INTP personality type enjoys a challenge. They thrive on solving complex issues and will develop innovative solutions to challenges. Their analytical skills come in handy for getting a good grasp on difficult problems.

They can also find creative ways to solve problems because of their ability to think outside the box and imagine new possibilities. However, due to their analytical use of facts, they won’t be too far out when it comes to making something doable.

They are quick to see discrepancies due to how they see patterns in the world around them. So, when something is “out of sync,” an INTP person notices it.

INTP personalities are also excellent at remembering details and information, which is helpful in any position or job. It can accelerate the learning curve on a new job too.

When it comes to working with others, an INTP person will work best with people who they feel are competent, smart, and logical. They will also excel in a team setting that offers some individual freedom to think about how things work so that they can come up with new ideas.

They don’t like conflict, so working in a relatively calm, stable environment is best for them.

Characteristics of INTPs

Several characteristics define the INTP personality. These are as follows:

Imaginative

INTPs have a unique way of thinking about concepts and issues. They always look for ways to improve a product, service, or system. They utilize their imagination to discover possibilities and answers in the world around them. This can be an asset to any company.

Objective

Objectivity is sometimes difficult to find in the workplace. Those who are INTPs want truth and will objectively search for understanding it. This may involve rooting out inconsistencies and errors that others would rather overlook. They are ready to take on the challenges of the task by using their analytical intellect combined with their objective thinking. They welcome the opinions of others as long as facts and logic support them.

Analytical

People with INTP personalities may be quiet in their demeanor, but they have strong intellectual abilities. These can be a boost to any work situation or position. By analyzing facts and being quick on their feet, INTPs can connect the dots to find how the pieces fit together in any complex situation. They quickly assess how larger systems are interrelated and can deduce information from that.

Enthusiastic

Although introverts are more reserved, they are enthusiastic when it comes to exploring new ideas. Enthusiasm is an excellent quality to have around the office. It can be contagious and bring a good vibe to the workplace. This is especially helpful when working on difficult projects.

Transparent

Transparency is a quality that is refreshing to have in the office. Someone who is honest and has a straightforward method of communicating will be easy to work with. Sincerity goes a long way in making connections with customers and other employees.

What careers are best suited for an INTP personality?

If you are an INTP, there are many suitable career choices for you. Some of these include:

• Computer programming

• Information technology

• Engineer

• Forensic medical examiner

• Technical writer

• Urban or regional planner

• Accountant

• Market research analyst

The INTP personality type also work well in non-traditional settings, independently, or with a small team.

Check out:

ENTP personality type: The rare traits of a “Visionary”
ENTJ personality type: The traits of a born leader
ISFJ personality type: “The Defender”