ISTP personality type: “The Crafter”

The Myers-Briggs personality test defines the ISTP personality type as the crafter. There are many other words used to describe the ISTP-T person, such as logical, pragmatic, action-oriented, and more. But before going into the description of an ISTP personality, it’s important to break down what each letter (I-S-T-P) stands for.

Learning about the ISTP Myers-Briggs personality type will provide you with insight into its strengths and weaknesses and which career this personality would thrive in.

Basics of the Myers-Briggs personality test

The Myers-Briggs test asks participants a series of questions, which they rate on a scale. The test is then scored on four different scales or dichotomies. These scales are as follows:

1. Extraversion (E) versus Introversion (I)
2. Sensing (S) versus Intuition (N)
3. Thinking (T) versus Feeling (F)
4. Judgment (J) versus Perceiving (P)

Consequently, the results identify up to sixteen different personality combinations that are made up of four different scales. For example, you could score an I on the first scale and an S on the second scale, a T on the third scale, and a P on the fourth scale. This would result in the ISTP personality addressed in this article. Each personality combination is also referred to by a name that helps define the personality further.

The total combinations and accompanying names possible are as follows:

1. ISTJ: The inspector
2. ISTP: The crafter
3. ISFJ: The protector
4. ISFP: The artist
5. INFJ: The advocate
6. INFP: The mediator
7. INTJ: The architect
8. INTP: The thinker
9. ESTP: The persuader
10. ESTJ: The director
11. ESFP: The performer
12. ESFJ: The caregiver
13. ENFP: The champion
14. ENFJ: The giver
15. ENTP: The debater
16. ENTJ: The commander

Overview of the ISTP personality

As you can see, the ISTP is referred to as the crafter. This personality type is made up of the four following dominant scales:

Introversion: This is a more introverted, reserved, and quiet person compared to extroverted people.

Sensing: A person who pays close attention to physical reality uses their senses to make decisions. This personality scale involves being focused on what is actual, present, and real. They tend to be fact- and detail-oriented. They are also quite practical in the use of objects.

Thinking: A person who leans more toward thinking versus feeling tends to use facts and logic as they solve problems and make decisions.

Perceiving: The perceiving person involves more improvision as the person completes tasks. They can be creative and work well with others due to their flexibility.

Personality traits common among ISTPs

Since ISTPs are generally more logical, practical people, they can work well on problems or troubleshooting. They do well with working independently since they are introverted. In fact, working alone may be the best scenario for them in the workplace.

ISTP people are also thoughtful when working on a job. They pay attention to the details, which means they are more apt to do a thorough job at what they do. They would also see mistakes or problems in systems more quickly, which is an asset for certain types of jobs.

The following personality traits are closely associated with ISTP types:

• Capable
• Curious
• Detail-oriented
• Effective
• Flexible
• Logical
• Observant
• Meticulous
• Practical
• Problem-solver
• Quiet
• Rational
• Reflective

Career paths for the ISTP personality type

Knowing your ISTP personality traits can help you seek out the best career path. People are happier when they work in a field that is a good fit for them. The following is a list of some career options that would work well for the ISTP personality type.

Computer programmer: Attention to detail would be helpful in this position, as would being attentive to problems.

Engineer: Engineering requires an analytical mind. ISTPs can also grasp the intricate workings of things, which is necessary for an engineer. Also, since engineering has tangible results, it is an attractive field for ISTP people.

Inspector: Inspectors must have an eye for errors, problems, and details. This is exactly what an ISTP is adept at doing. They are also usually able to memorize information easily.

Machinist: A machinist must have a lot of focus on the equipment, which could be complex and expensive. They need to be very careful in handling the machinery. It also may be an attractive job since the person will work alone.

Technical worker: Similar to an engineering job, a technician will require a strong focus and a detail-oriented style. Technical work could include working on a range of items, such as electrical items, HVAC equipment, airplanes, and more.

Scientist: Scientists are problem solvers, which is something ISTPs like to do. Forensic scientists work in a quiet lab environment. They must focus on the project details and carefully collect and analyze their samples. It requires strong attention to detail and an excellent memory.

Pilot: A pilot has a huge responsibility of transporting people. They must work with many controls and gauges that are delicately tuned to move the plane at certain angles and degrees. If they don’t do things precisely, a person could get off course or worse. A pilot must be able to focus on the task at hand and also be extremely precise.

You can use the knowledge about the ISTP personality type in your pursuit of a career. Highlight some of these skills on your resume, so recruiters and interviewers know what abilities you bring to the table.

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”
INTP personality type: Traits of the “Thinker”