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Best job for an ISFJ

Joined
May 15, 2010
Messages
6
MBTI Type
ENFP
Searching for my husband. He's got a degree in business (didn't like business much) and is currently a teacher, wondering if he should switch subjects or go into admin or ed. diagnostician or something else totally. Any happy ISFJ (you or someone you know) what to share about their perfect job?

By the way I'm a stay at home mom who earns a bit on the side, so the job has to support a family (though we are thrifty and don't need a whole lot.)

Thanks!
 
Last edited:

Timeless

Playnerd
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
896
MBTI Type
ENTP
Enneagram
7
Hello!?

This is the perfect ISFJ job:

judge-judy.jpg
 

Lady_X

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
18,235
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
784
Instinctual Variant
sx/sp
Careers for ISFJ Personality Types


* Interior Decorators
* Designers
* Nurses
* Administrators and Managers
* Administrative Assistants
* Child Care / Early Childhood Development
* Social Work / Counselors
* Paralegals
* Clergy / Religious Workers
* Office Managers
* Shopkeepers
* Bookkeepers
* Home Economics

i would add to that pastry chef :D
 
Joined
May 15, 2010
Messages
6
MBTI Type
ENFP
Careers for ISFJ Personality Types


* Interior Decorators
* Designers
* Nurses
* Administrators and Managers
* Administrative Assistants
* Child Care / Early Childhood Development
* Social Work / Counselors
* Paralegals
* Clergy / Religious Workers
* Office Managers
* Shopkeepers
* Bookkeepers
* Home Economics

i would add to that pastry chef :D

Don't you think that ISFJ seems to have a lot of jobs in it's list that are better suited to (or at least traditionally held by) women? Or is it just me? I mean my dh would never be an interior designer and isn't interested in being a secretary or a child care worker. He's worked at a church. Social work doesn't pay enough. There just don't seem to be many good options for him.
 

Lady_X

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
18,235
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ENFP
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sx/sp
^^ right, i would think so.

why does he want to change? that's a good place to start i guess..more money??...need something more challenging? not using what he feels are his strengths or what?
 

kiddykat

movin melodies
Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
1,111
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
4, 7
Has he thought about accounting? His degree in business might help to his advantage.. Or does he want to steer clear of the business world and drift into another field of occupations?
 

cascadeco

New member
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
9,083
MBTI Type
INFJ
Enneagram
9w1
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
Yeah, I was going to ask specifically what he didn't like about business. 'Business' is such a giant descriptor... and many business degrees tend to be pretty generic anyway. Lots and lots and lots of options within 'business' - some he would no doubt loathe, others that would probably be much more suited for him.

My ISFJ father ended up working for the same company his entire life; he had a handful of various jobs/'careers' over his 30+ years, some early on that I think he made do with, others mid-career that I'm guessing weren't at all his ideal but he stuck with them because of our family, and late in life, his final 12 or so yrs of employment, he really adored his work -- he ended up as an economic analyst for the oilseed (soybean) market.

One of my good friends/former coworkers is an ISFJ and is a pretty successful Systems/QA Analyst (systems testing). Our team of QA analysts has a wide range of personality types - ISFJ, a few INFJ's, an INTJ, an IxTJ, an ISTJ, an ISTP, a few ISFP's, a few ESFJ's... all bring different strengths to the table. With the ISFJ, very attuned to detail, very dependable and organized, team player, and good analytical skills.

Just a few alternatives in the business world, outside of the typical xxFJ careers you find on personality websites. Of course with any career change it's a matter of getting your foot in the door/experience.
 
Joined
May 15, 2010
Messages
6
MBTI Type
ENFP
For the most part, business doesn't feel purposeful to him. Plus, we don't want to move to a big city, so some business ops are limited by that. He did not like accounting in college.
 

cascadeco

New member
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
9,083
MBTI Type
INFJ
Enneagram
9w1
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
Well if he's not interested in business in the generic sense, and the environment that comes with it, then there really are only a handful of other broad categories, many of which have been mentioned. Education, health care, services (restaurant/entertainment/hotels), trades (electrician, construction, etc), government..... but even within those sectors (government, for example), a bulk of the jobs will be business-related. And, each of those too also have needs for more creative/artistic positions - graphic design, marketing, etc.

Also, if pay rate is a factor as to why things like social work don't work, options are going to be limited. Business/sales are typical avenues for someone if they're just wanting & needing the money. Other higher-earning positions would entail going back to school, probably -- law, medicine, engineering and other technical fields.... Sounds like he'll need to do some soul-searching. Maybe he could also check out a book called 'Now, Discover Your Strengths' - it's very much geared towards utilizing your strengths in career, and honing in on that. Also the 'What Color is your Parachute' book: he might find after going through the exercises that there are business-related careers he could find purposeful, if the people he worked with, the 'cause' of the business, etc, were to his liking. Or, he might discover some brand new possibilities that he hadn't entertained before.

I relate 100% to him desiring a purposeful job, but many/most of the truly purposeful jobs out there won't have a stellar income stream, just due to the very nature of what they are and how they are valued/prioritized in society.
 

miss fortune

not to be trusted
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
20,589
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827
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sp/so
hmm... my ISFJ mom is a teacher, my ISFJ friend is in the military (medic) and another ISFJ friend is an art therapist... though the common thread is that all were attracted to their careers because it seemed like a way to help people to them- and they're all satisfied with their jobs :)

perhaps he should look at something he feels will have a positive impact in a way? :thinking: It really depends on the ISFJ in the end- same as with any other type, I fear

and ask a mod to change your type if you'd like
 

phthalocyanine

#005645
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
679
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
9w1
Instinctual Variant
sx
ISFJs don't seem to usually enjoy being the boss or leader, but they do seem to make excellent right hand (wo)men in an office setting, as they're very dependable and can be blunt, shrewd, and constructive advice-givers.

they're tough, but not in a forceful way; usually they are firm but tactful. they seem to have a rather high work ethic as well. these things can be assets in just about any field.

they also seem to work well with children of all age groups, balancing authority and sensitivity... though the ISFJ type is not known to be highly logistical, a lot of ISFJs seem to enjoy clerical work, or working in libraries, museums, etc. - sorting and archiving information seems like something that is natural and easy for these folks.

i can easily see ISFJs working with the disabled, the impoverished, the mentally ill, and with animals (such as the veterinary field or in animal shelters). they're patient and driven to help those in need...

can also see them working well in pharmacies because it's a way to help people in a practical, behind-the-scenes way, and the ISFJs i know are very precise in their work, which is very important when working with medications.

one area which i don't often see highlighted for ISFJ is in aesthetic fields.... i think the ISFJ type would make an excellent interior decorator. creating an inviting space is a talent of this type that is often overlooked, i think. i guess artistic capacity is more of an SP or NF stereotype...

medical fields and teaching have already been mentioned, but i second those, as well as financial work and campaigning for causes in general.

i think ISFJs are sometimes given too little credit because they're typically so modest and hardworking that they can easily go unnoticed, or unappreciated.. i envy this type's consistency and devotion to duty immensely, personally. the ISFJs i know serve as role models in terms of silent leadership.
 
Joined
May 15, 2010
Messages
6
MBTI Type
ENFP
Seems like you know ISFJ's well! Esp this:
i think ISFJs are sometimes given too little credit because they're typically so modest and hardworking that they can easily go unnoticed, or unappreciated..

Medical might be a perfect field except we prefer alternative medicine routes, so that would be a values conflict. And alternative medicine is too undefined for dh to like. sigh.

Any thoughts on what area of teaching would be most satisfying (both as an ISFJ and as a human who wants too avoid overwork!)
 

Speed Gavroche

Whisky Old & Women Young
Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
5,152
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EsTP
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6w7
Instinctual Variant
sx/sp
Seen here:Ball State University - ISFJ

ISFJ Careers and Majors
(Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging)


The ISFJ personality is characterized above all by a desire to serve others. ISFJs are warm, kindhearted individuals who bring an aura of quiet warmth, caring, and dependability to all that they do. They are hard-working and conscientious individuals prone to be quiet and serious. ISFJs tend to choose careers in which they can use their exceptional people-observation skills to determine what people want or need and then use their exceptional organizational abilities to create a structured plan to fulfill the need. Their excellent sense of space and function combined with their awareness of aesthetic quality also gives them special abilities in practical artistic endeavors such as interior and fashion design. ISFJs make up about 6% of the general population. The following list represents some careers that may appeal to ISFJs.

Artist
Athletic Trainer
Bank Trust Officer
Biochemist
Biologist
Bookkeeper
Botanist
Child life specialist
Clerical supervisor
Computer operator
Computer support specialist
Corrections officer
Corrective therapist
Counselor
Curator
Customer service representative
Dental hygienist/technician
Dietitian/nutritionist
Educational administrator
Physician
Fashion merchandiser
Fish and game warden
Franchise owner, retail
Funeral director
Genealogist
Grant coordinator
Health care administrator
Health technician
Historian
Home economist
Home health aide
Home health social worker
Hospice worker
Hotel/motel manager
Interior decorator
Jeweler
Librarian/archivist
Massage therapist
Medical equipment salesperson
Medical records administrator
Medical researcher
Medical technologist
Merchandise planner
Minister
Museum research worker
Musician
Nurse
Occupational therapist
Optician
Orthodontist
Paralegal
Personnel administrator
Pharmaceutical salesperson
Pharmacist/pharmacy technician
Physical therapist
Police detective
Police identification and records specialist
Probation officer
Real estate agent/broker
Religious worker
Respiratory therapist
Secretary
Social worker
Speech pathologist
Surgical technologist/technician
Tax preparer
Teacher (K-12)
Teacher (preschool)
Teacher (special education)
Title examiner or abstractor
Veterinarian

Ball State Majors for the ISFJ Personality Type


Apparel Design
Art
Athletic Training
Biochemistry
Biology
Child Life Specialist
Computer Science
Counseling Psychology
Criminal Justice and Criminology
Fashion Merchandising
Dietetics
Education
Family and Consumer Sciences
Finance
History
Hospitality Management
Interior Design
Legal Studies
Medical Technology
Music
Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Nursing
Pre-Dental
Pre-Law
Pre-Medical
Psychology
Religious Studies
Residential Property Management
Social Work
Speech-Language Pathology





For more information on personality types visit these sites:


Betty C. Jung’s Personality Page – Jobs and Careers: PERSONALITY PAGE - Compiled by Betty C. Jung
CareerTypes.com: careertypes.com
Columbia State MBTI Types: ISFJ
Connecting Personality Types with Careers and Jobs: types
DiscoverYourPersonality.com: ISFJ Personality Type
LearningChoices.com: Degree Programs | LearningChoices.com
PersonalityPage.com: http://www.personalitypage.com/info.html
PersonalityType.com: Welcome to Personality Type!
TypeLogic.com: TypeLogic Home Page
Wayne State College Personality Page: ::Wayne State College:: Advising Services
 
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