INFINITE FIELDS OF INSIDIOUS INDECISION INHIBIT MY CAREER SEARCH: Advice Needed!

[Avocado]

I am a 7w6 male ENFP that needs to find a job that is relatively safe and could be family friendly. I've considered teaching literature, or maybe even history, at the middle school level. I believe that job would be a decent comprimise between fun and responsible. I would enjoy creating fun, entertaining, and educational lesson plans. My method would center around spontaneity, creativity, intuition, experiments, and individuality. I would also enjoy giving each child memories that they can remember fondly, and that could inspire them to do amazing things. In addition, summers off would allow me to nurture my own family.

The downside is that the education system is becoming increasingly bureaucratic. If I wanted to serve chocolate seeds to show what the first native americans tasted when they arrived and started civilization, the paperwork required would be immense. Even though it would involve the children's minds in a debate about why a European would care to bring back such a fruit, the legal work could push things way behind schedule. The same could convievably happen if I tried to bring pomnegranets and allow the pomnegranet seeds to be devoured by the children to help the children ponder why such fruit was considered divine by the Ancient Greeks. The pay might not be enough to support two to three children, either.

My mother said I should either be a Pharmasist or an Engineer. I noticed that most pharmasist work three days on, three days off. Pharmasist also make over 100K per year. When I looked at the job description, I felt naseous. Everything is done by the book and the consequences of even a minor error are scary. I don't know much about engineering.

I've considered Architecture, too. The hollond code for architecture is AIR, and my Holland code is AIS. I dont know much about architecture, either.

I love writing fiction. I plan for this to be my secondary career. I dont see it as secure enough to be my main lifeline, but I love it. I especially like writing science fiction and fantasy.

 

[mintleaf]

The downside is that the education system is becoming increasingly bureaucratic. If I wanted to serve chocolate seeds to show what the first native americans tasted when they arrived and started civilization, the paperwork required would be immense. Even though it would involve the children's minds in a debate about why a European would care to bring back such a fruit, the legal work could push things way behind schedule. The same could convievably happen if I tried to bring pomnegranets and allow the pomnegranet seeds to be devoured by the children to help the children ponder why such fruit was considered divine by the Ancient Greeks. The pay might not be enough to support two to three children, either.

If you're an imaginative person, you'll find ways to make the most of your situation, no matter how bureaucratic it is. Limitations stoke creativity.

I doubt that you would enjoy being a pharmacist or engineer based on what you wrote in the first paragraph. You seem like you'd prefer something more social and idea-oriented. What about something related to publishing, or television? Also, no idea if this is something you'd be interested in, but I was just reading about this today.

fwiw I had an ENFP 7 English teacher, and he's perfectly cut out for his job and loves it.

(I just realized that every teacher I can think of who has children only has two. Don't know if that's representative of American teachers as a whole, but yeah, I'd imagine it would be difficult to support a large family on a teacher's salary.)

Hope you eventually find a career you love.

Edit: this is a good source for career information: http://stats.bls.gov/ooh/

 

[Avocado]

The Sesame workshop sounds like something interesting. I'm glad you recommended it!

 

[Avocado]

I believe that middle school is best because the pupils would be old enough to understand the experiments and demonstrations, yet young enough to be amazed.

 

[Honor]

I am a 7w6 male ENFP that needs to find a job that is relatively safe and could be family friendly. I've considered teaching literature, or maybe even history, at the middle school level. I believe that job would be a decent comprimise between fun and responsible. I would enjoy creating fun, entertaining, and educational lesson plans. My method would center around spontaneity, creativity, intuition, experiments, and individuality. I would also enjoy giving each child memories that they can remember fondly, and that could inspire them to do amazing things. In addition, summers off would allow me to nurture my own family.

The downside is that the education system is becoming increasingly bureaucratic. If I wanted to serve chocolate seeds to show what the first native americans tasted when they arrived and started civilization, the paperwork required would be immense. Even though it would involve the children's minds in a debate about why a European would care to bring back such a fruit, the legal work could push things way behind schedule. The same could convievably happen if I tried to bring pomnegranets and allow the pomnegranet seeds to be devoured by the children to help the children ponder why such fruit was considered divine by the Ancient Greeks. The pay might not be enough to support two to three children, either.

My mother said I should either be a Pharmasist or an Engineer. I noticed that most pharmasist work three days on, three days off. Pharmasist also make over 100K per year. When I looked at the job description, I felt naseous. Everything is done by the book and the consequences of even a minor error are scary. I don't know much about engineering.

I've considered Architecture, too. The hollond code for architecture is AIR, and my Holland code is AIS. I dont know much about architecture, either.

I love writing fiction. I plan for this to be my secondary career. I dont see it as secure enough to be my main lifeline, but I love it. I especially like writing science fiction and fantasy.

First of all, I feel the pain of your indecisiveness in your career search, as I am plagued by this myself. From reading your post, it sounds like you are truly a people person and that you won't really be satisfied unless you're engaging other people in a meaningful context. I think something like teaching might be the way to go. It sounds like the primary reasons why you're considering pharmacy and engineering are the salary and other benefits of the job but that you haven't really thought about what it would be like to do those jobs day in and day out.

Being a pharmacist is providing a service that people need but you don't get to interact with people extensively. Most of your job will be about chemistry, attention to detail, and getting things done. Being a teacher, you will get a lot more extensive interaction with people. In fact, you'll be one of the primary people in a group of people's lives for a year. There will be a lot of bureaucracy, and perhaps teaching involves more responsibility than an ENFP would want to take on. There's a lot to get done in this field too between all the grading and lesson planning. But I can see an ENFP a lot more content in this field than in pharmacy. Or engineering.

That's my take on it from your original post. Good luck with whatever you decide! xo

 

[Avocado]

First of all, I feel the pain of your indecisiveness in your career search, as I am plagued by this myself. From reading your post, it sounds like you are truly a people person and that you won't really be satisfied unless you're engaging other people in a meaningful context. I think something like teaching might be the way to go. It sounds like the primary reasons why you're considering pharmacy and engineering are the salary and other benefits of the job but that you haven't really thought about what it would be like to do those jobs day in and day out.

Being a pharmacist is providing a service that people need but you don't get to interact with people extensively. Most of your job will be about chemistry, attention to detail, and getting things done. Being a teacher, you will get a lot more extensive interaction with people. In fact, you'll be one of the primary people in a group of people's lives for a year. There will be a lot of bureaucracy, and perhaps teaching involves more responsibility than an ENFP would want to take on. There's a lot to get done in this field too between all the grading and lesson planning. But I can see an ENFP a lot more content in this field than in pharmacy. Or engineering.

That's my take on it from your original post. Good luck with whatever you decide! xo

Thank you!

 

[Stephano]

Definitely teaching, especially children.
I'm good with children and like em. I voted archi too since INFPs seem to attend these jobs more or less.
I say it would more appeal to an intro than an extro, but it's still something arty.

My advice: Find out all your talents and get youself a job that you really like. ENFPs can have different talents. There are very artistic ones, visionaries...etc. And go to university if it takes a higher edu.

 

[Avocado]

Definitely teaching, especially children.
I'm good with children and like em. I voted archi too since INFPs seem to attend these jobs more or less.
I say it would more appeal to an intro than an extro, but it's still something arty.

My advice: Find out all your talents and get youself a job that you really like. ENFPs can have different talents. There are very artistic ones, visionaries...etc. And go to university if it takes a higher edu.

OK...
I have a scholarship that makes it to where they pay ME to go to school if it's in-state.
I must maintain a GPA of 3.8 or higher, though, or else I flunk out.
My family couldn't afford to send me...

 

[skylights]

I promise I'm not stalking you, really, your threads/posts have just been interesting to me lately.

It sounds like you have a bunch of positive energy and great ideas for teaching. I think that's wonderful. Try not to let the bureaucracy get you down! My mom and boyfriend are both teachers, and they do have a lot of paperwork, but not so much that it stifles their ability to be creative with lesson planning. At least around here, food given to students just has to be purchased sealed from a retailer (as opposed to homemade) and with no peanuts.

As for the pay, eh. It's better in some states than others. My state is pretty bad, but unionized states are pretty good, especially considering the excellent benefits packages that are typically offered. It'd probably be enough to reasonably raise one kid on, but it'd help a lot to have a second income earner.

But I think the most important thing is choosing a career that you find intrinsically satisfying, because ultimately even though a pharmacist might make double or triple the pay, no amount of money is worth spending 8 hours a day, 5 days a week wishing you were somewhere else.

PS I'm a Holland SIA, close

 

[RDF]

I am a 7w6 male ENFP that needs to find a job that is relatively safe and could be family friendly. I've considered teaching literature, or maybe even history, at the middle school level. I believe that job would be a decent comprimise between fun and responsible. I would enjoy creating fun, entertaining, and educational lesson plans. My method would center around spontaneity, creativity, intuition, experiments, and individuality. I would also enjoy giving each child memories that they can remember fondly, and that could inspire them to do amazing things. In addition, summers off would allow me to nurture my own family.

The downside is that the education system is becoming increasingly bureaucratic. If I wanted to serve chocolate seeds to show what the first native americans tasted when they arrived and started civilization, the paperwork required would be immense. Even though it would involve the children's minds in a debate about why a European would care to bring back such a fruit, the legal work could push things way behind schedule. The same could convievably happen if I tried to bring pomnegranets and allow the pomnegranet seeds to be devoured by the children to help the children ponder why such fruit was considered divine by the Ancient Greeks. The pay might not be enough to support two to three children, either.

My mother said I should either be a Pharmasist or an Engineer. I noticed that most pharmasist work three days on, three days off. Pharmasist also make over 100K per year. When I looked at the job description, I felt naseous. Everything is done by the book and the consequences of even a minor error are scary. I don't know much about engineering.

I've considered Architecture, too. The hollond code for architecture is AIR, and my Holland code is AIS. I dont know much about architecture, either.

I love writing fiction. I plan for this to be my secondary career. I dont see it as secure enough to be my main lifeline, but I love it. I especially like writing science fiction and fantasy.

Have you tried looking at standard lists of careers for ENFPs? Even if you decide that teaching won’t work out for you, an detailed career list may suggest other fields that provide similar rewards but at better pay, such as counseling for kids. Just google “Careers for ENFPs.”

For example, I really like this site:

http://www.personalitydesk.com/career-profiles/personality-type

At that site, go to the drop-down menu under “Select personality type,” click on “Enfp,” and hit “Apply.” Not only will it list career paths, but it will describe the field and tell you the pros and cons for that type of work.

Also, here’s a generic list of careers for ENFPs from “Do What You Are” by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger:

ENFP CAREERS

CREATIVE
Journalist
Screenwriter/playwright
Columnist
Character actor
Musician/composer
Newscaster
Interior decorator
Cartoonist
Artist
Reporter/editor
Reporter/editor (magazine)
Informational-graphics designer

MARKETING/PLANNING
Public relations specialist
Marketing consultant
Advertising account executive
Copy writer/publicity writer
Advertising creative director
Strategic planner
Publicist
Research assistant
Editor/art director (magazine)

HEALTH CARE/SOCIAL SERVICE
Dietician/nutritionist
Speech-language pathologist/audiologist
Holistic health practitioner (alternative medicine)
Massage therapist
Employee assistance program counselor
Physical therapist
Legal mediator

EDUCATION/COUNSELING
Special education teacher
Bilingual education teacher
Early childhood education teacher
Teacher: art/drama/music/English
Child welfare counselor
Alcohol/drug addiction counselor
Social worker (elderly and child daycare issues)
Development director
Career counselor
Residential housing director (residence life)
Ombudsperson
Pastoral counselor
Rehabilitation worker
Social scientist
Psychologist

ENTREPRENEURIAL/BUSINESS
Consultant
Inventor
Sales: intangibles/ideas
Human resources manager
Human resources development trainer
Conference planner
Employment development specialist
Restaurateur
Management consultant: change management/team building/diversity
Merchandise planner
Diversity manager-human resources
Corporate/team trainer
Advertising account manager or account executive
Public relations specialist
Marketing executive: radio/TV cable broadcast industry
Outplacement consultant
Environmental attorney

 

[Avocado]

My original parental aspirations called for three children, all born less than two years apart. I could cut back to two, though…

I always felt lonely as an only child, so just one wouldn't be enough…

 

[Lady_X]

is this happening soon? do you and the gf plan on it? talk about it at all? or is this just way ahead future stuff?

 

[Avocado]

is this happening soon? do you and the gf plan on it? talk about it at all? or is this just way ahead future stuff?

Way ahead…
Think years…
I couldn't reasonably do it now…

My Fi leads me to be a father, to the point career seems secondary…

I know, I'm weird for thinking about it now…
XD



And yes, we talk about it, but its a mental exploration of it…rather than physical…

 

[Avocado]

Nursing was a bust and pharm tech is not a good fit.

 

[Haven]

From the things that you've tried and failed so far, what worked for you and what didn't?

If you don't like rules and regulations, engineering probably isn't for you. An engineer's mistakes can have disastrous consequences.

 

[Avocado]

From the things that you've tried and failed so far, what worked for you and what didn't?

If you don't like rules and regulations, engineering probably isn't for you. An engineer's mistakes can have disastrous consequences.

I hate rules and regulations, I overlook important details right in front of me, and I make the same general mistakes over and over again. Half the customers I work with really like me and ask for me by name, saying how friendly and personable I am, the other half hate my guts and say I mess everything up. I also got way too personal with a few customers on occasion, because I just want to be part of their world.

I like the idea of stability, but hate the reality. I also have problems with problem solving and panic if things go suddenly wrong (though I can come up with something eventually.)

This career search is becoming less about what I like and more about what I get, and in general, I dislike work as it gets in the way of the open, unscheduled, relaxed time I like. That said, it is a bit of a red herring, as I know that in order to have money to do things like eating new and interesting food and exploring, I need work. I see the details thing as much more of a weakness I have no control over than a preference, though…

I guess maybe something with people, but I do not work well with all people and sometimes laugh at bad news.

 

[ceecee]

I hate rules and regulations, I overlook important details right in front of me, and I make the same general mistakes over and over again. Half the customers I work with really like me and ask for me by name, saying how friendly and personable I am, the other half hate my guts and say I mess everything up. I also got way too personal with a few customers on occasion, because I just want to be part of their world.

I like the idea of stability, but hate the reality. I also have problems with problem solving and panic if things go suddenly wrong (though I can come up with something eventually.)

This career search is becoming less about what I like and more about what I get, and in general, I dislike work as it gets in the way of the open, unscheduled, relaxed time I like. That said, it is a bit of a red herring, as I know that in order to have money to do things like eating new and interesting food and exploring, I need work. I see the details thing as much more of a weakness I have no control over than a preference, though…

I guess maybe something with people, but I do not work well with all people and sometimes laugh at bad news.

Do you even grasp there are rules and regulations for any job? You may want to rethink being a parent if you panic and fall apart when things go wrong too. You should look at drama/acting. You appear to love attention.

 

[Avocado]

Do you even grasp there are rules and regulations for any job? You may want to rethink being a parent if you panic and fall apart when things go wrong too. You should look at drama/acting. You appear to love attention.

That I do. I have a speech impediment, but otherwise enjoy that kind of stuff.

 

[ceecee]

That I do. I have a speech impediment, but otherwise enjoy that kind of stuff.

I'm pretty convinced you are going to say you have an impediment/disability/affliction/disqualification for anything anyone suggests.

 

[Avocado]

...and ignored.