Which type would make a worse server, INFP or INTP?

[greenfairy]

first of all, don't go blaming your ability to get the job done on your type. that is exactly the type of [MENTION=825]ygolo[/MENTION] created a thread about (something about psychological theories creating a "fixed" identity in some people that keeps them from overcoming obstacles because they see it as an inherent part of their being)

Don't worry, I'm not.

Which one's got the goldfish legs and which one got the sardine fingers

Haha. What does that mean?

Again, it all depends on the person. My cousin is INFP and apparently is an incredibly skilled waitress, if her tips were anything to go off of when we lived together.


I'm not fond of the 'hard sets' of MBTI, and psychology in general.




Although I see how this does not answer your question. Hm. My friend is INFP, and appears to sympathize with people rather well?

An incredibly skilled INFP server? That's excellent. I want to know her secrets.

 

[sprinkles]

Haha. What does that mean?

Sorry, I'd just woken up. I'm weird when I wake up.

 

[wolfy]

a server? you're an internet provider? HMMMM.

I thought that too. I suppose an infp is more personable so would make the better server in a restaurant. And an intp would make the better computer server I'd imagine. Someone has probably already pointed this out though.

 

[Craft]

Well like I say, I like my job, and if I were really good at it I'd probably want to stay in the restaurant business and maybe have my own one day. So in making my life better I'm trying to become a better server (and yes server is the politically correct term for waiting tables now, it's not being an internet provider).

Hows your maths? Do you like systems and technical stuff? If you do, then go study that instead.

My current question as a server is, how can a Ti user best develop Te, and how does one develop common sense if s/he doesn't have any?

I agree that Te is the right function here. But i think ENFJs would be the best waiters, better than ExTJs. It's Te but it's also Je. So both IxxPs, having inferior Je, do the worst. I don't know, I don't care.

Te is simple. Just do what you always do and Ti, but this time, as a group. Pretend like your a hive-mind. Their "Ti" is "your Ti." "Your Ti" is "their Ti." Be arrogant enough to assume that.

 

[Mike5609]

Those INTPs who have a well-developed secondary function and passable social skills can make a decent go of being a server, for the same reasons that they can make reasonable secondhand car salespeople. With their Ne, they gather 'all' the incoming information 'about' the customer (I put in quotes because this is an intuitive function), and with their dominant Ti they structure it internally, to be fed back out as a sort of faux Fe which is generated from the initial Ti construct of what the customer wants. Another round of Ne ensues, gathering how the customer responded to the INTP's faux-Fe 'output'. And so on. All the while thinking about the tip - if tips are individual to the server, not pooled, that will be quite an incentive to the INTP!

The INTP's Fe, being the inferior function, isn't really up to the job - but at least the INTP's F is e! And let's not overlook that 'real' Fe isn't that important in a server/customer context anyway: it's not like a relationship situation where hidden cues, body language and 'mind games' enter into the mix. Customer walks in, customer is seated, customer orders, customer eats, customer pays and tips, customer leaves. Easy-peasy. Sort of...

 

[Cellmold]

As an introvert, and having introverted feeling, why would you relate with a group?

Good point, I dont relate to either groups or individuals.

 

[rhinosaur]

I think that neither would be inherently better. Both have strengths and weaknesses.

An INFP would be better at making customers feel welcome and feel that they are being personally cared for. They would also naturally have more personality and presence. I would bet that their weaknesses would be 1) inattentiveness and 2) letting a bad table affect their mood, which then affects their performance on other tables.

INTPs, on the other hand, would be able to multitask very efficiently and would be able to sense when something needs to be done, but would still be able to fake the welcoming smile and charisma when necessary. They would also have more consistent performance, and wouldn't get too bothered by the occasional bad table. Their weaknesses would be a lack of genuine caring, and focus on efficiency that gives them a "cold" demeanor.

Also, what this guy said:

Those INTPs who have a well-developed secondary function and passable social skills can make a decent go of being a server, for the same reasons that they can make reasonable secondhand car salespeople. With their Ne, they gather 'all' the incoming information 'about' the customer (I put in quotes because this is an intuitive function), and with their dominant Ti they structure it internally, to be fed back out as a sort of faux Fe which is generated from the initial Ti construct of what the customer wants. Another round of Ne ensues, gathering how the customer responded to the INTP's faux-Fe 'output'. And so on. All the while thinking about the tip - if tips are individual to the server, not pooled, that will be quite an incentive to the INTP!

The INTP's Fe, being the inferior function, isn't really up to the job - but at least the INTP's F is e! And let's not overlook that 'real' Fe isn't that important in a server/customer context anyway: it's not like a relationship situation where hidden cues, body language and 'mind games' enter into the mix. Customer walks in, customer is seated, customer orders, customer eats, customer pays and tips, customer leaves. Easy-peasy. Sort of...

 

[greenfairy]

I think that neither would be inherently better. Both have strengths and weaknesses.

An INFP would be better at making customers feel welcome and feel that they are being personally cared for. They would also naturally have more personality and presence. I would bet that their weaknesses would be 1) inattentiveness and 2) letting a bad table affect their mood, which then affects their performance on other tables.

INTPs, on the other hand, would be able to multitask very efficiently and would be able to sense when something needs to be done, but would still be able to fake the welcoming smile and charisma when necessary. They would also have more consistent performance, and wouldn't get too bothered by the occasional bad table. Their weaknesses would be a lack of genuine caring, and focus on efficiency that gives them a "cold" demeanor.

I think you're right about all this.

Also, what this guy said:

And this.

 

[greenfairy]

Hows your maths? Do you like systems and technical stuff? If you do, then go study that instead.

I find technical stuff to be really boring, but I've never become skilled at it. I can imagine being good at debugging computers and liking it, so I actually did get a couple of computer books (which I haven't had time to read yet because of school). So I might do that on the side some day. I also thought about taking the class at H&R Block and doing taxes, but once again that interferes with school. It might still happen though.
Edit: Oh yeah, math. I'm pretty good at it. I don't think it would be very useful though. I like geometry. I'm currently studying sacred geometry a bit in my spare time.

I agree that Te is the right function here. But i think ENFJs would be the best waiters, better than ExTJs. It's Te but it's also Je. So both IxxPs, having inferior Je, do the worst. I don't know, I don't care.

Te is simple. Just do what you always do and Ti, but this time, as a group. Pretend like your a hive-mind. Their "Ti" is "your Ti." "Your Ti" is "their Ti." Be arrogant enough to assume that.

You might be right about this. I was definitely thinking being a J helps, so Je makes sense. As for collective Ti, that's an interesting idea I'll have to think about to make sense of.

 

[greenfairy]

Haha so if the poll results are anything to go by, and INTP is in fact the best fit for me (and even if I'm INXP), then I am the very worst personality type for the job. But I will prevail! I will use all my functions and intelligence to succeed. I will take advantage of my XNXX status to shapeshift and develop the needed skills.


And continue to consider other options as backup.

 

[Ism]

I'm too busy trying to figure out a system of principles which will work every time (and the problem is that they don't because things are always changing).

I think I finally understand why I'm so scatter-brained on the job.

 

[greenfairy]

I think I finally understand why I'm so scatter-brained on the job.

Another person! I figured out that a Ti user (or someone who does this) needs to develop Se to pay attention to relevant data about situations, so then we can apply Ti and thus develop common sense. Like look at whether food is about to be ready and what kind of food it is, to know how important it is that it is taken to a table immediately. Or look at the tickets to see whose food is about to be ready. Or...I don't know, because I don't pay attention. But I shall. So, look at things we would normally consider boring and then think about them.

 

[WhoCares]

TP would be worse, at least FPs give a fuck about the other person.

 

[greenfairy]

TP would be worse, at least FPs give a fuck about the other person.

That's what a lot of people think; it's probably true in general. As for me, I more like the process- I like doing simple, relatively easy things to make people happy and healthy (i.e. giving them food and drinks) with minimal interaction. I kind of care about people's well-being, but I don't make a habit out of caring about random people. It actually makes me feel better if I start out stressed. If I smile and give people food and they smile back, I'm happy. I've never experienced mean customers, but if I did I'd only be mad at myself if it was my fault. Otherwise I just wouldn't really care.

Don't know what all this looks like type-wise.

 

[Ginkgo]

Lol. It's serving.

 

[greenfairy]

Lol. It's serving.

?

 

[Totenkindly]

Lol. It's serving.

Yes. When's the last time you can recall an INTP walking up and graciously saying, "Oh, hello, and how may I serve you?" (At least not thru gritted teeth?)

... oh yeah. We're naturals.

 

[Ginkgo]

?

Yes. When's the last time you can recall an INTP walking up and graciously saying, "Oh, hello, and how may I serve you?" (At least not thru gritted teeth?)

... oh yeah. We're naturals.

By extension, the OP questions the general functionality of these types for most work settings since serving requires no prerequisites.

 

[Southern Kross]

Yes. When's the last time you can recall an INTP walking up and graciously saying, "Oh, hello, and how may I serve you?" (At least not thru gritted teeth?)

... oh yeah. We're naturals.

Yeah I did a lot of that pleasantness-through-gritted-teeth approach. I don't know why people would assume the INFPs would be all that nicer.

I'm not sure which is worse, all I know is that I'm TERRIBLE at serving customers.

I worked in a convenience store part time for many years and I pretty sure my customer service standards are crap. I hated the job, mostly because I had to spend all day talking to people and being nice while I did it. Also it seems I'm very easily irritated by human beings and their stupidity/rudeness and all annoying little crap they do. Normally this isn't a problem because I can escape when I feel myself getting on edge but when it's your job, you can't. And it makes it even worse where you have to endure that shit over and over again - I can be cheerful for only so long before my patience wears thin. I would regularly have to go out the back and literally silently scream, jump up and down and punch the air in sheer irritation.

I did do my best to maintain a mimimum level of civility but I'm sure at times that came across as rather surly. I did have days where I was in a good mood (or with certain customers) and was happy and obliging, but mostly I was not overly pleasant.

I just don't think I'm nice enough person to do that sort of job - not to mention too bad tempered.

 

[Totenkindly]

By extension, the OP questions the general functionality of these types for most work settings since serving requires no prerequisites.

Well, it only assumes a predisposition toward wanting to make others happy.

Typically if you catch an INTP wanting to help someone, it's more to provide them information and perspective/framing rather than E2 style helps.

(Not that we can't do other things, but those are typically more developed/learned skills, not instinctive.)