The best careers for INTJ personalities are those professions that cater to the skills and personality traits common among INTJs.
INTJ is one of the rarest types of all the Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI). MBTI is a sixteen personality type system used to classify personality types, each with a four-letter descriptor.
As with all the Myers-Briggs personality types, the four letters represent four personality traits. For INTJs, the results are:
- Introversion
- Intuition
- Thinking
- Judging
INTJ individuals are logical, creative, intelligent, ambitious, and have a thirst for knowledge. These are the type of people who focus on and invest in their future instead of worrying about the here and now. While these personalities are typically social introverts, they do not lack confidence, and they are fully aware of just how intelligent they are.
Indeed, this confidence sometimes comes off as arrogance, which is one of the things that challenges most INTJs. But, as long as INTJs keep their egos in check, their attitudes will be seen as confidence, rather than arrogance or self-satisfaction.
If you’ve gotten this personality type on a Myers-Briggs personality test, you may be wondering which career choices you’ll enjoy the most. There are a number of careers that work, especially in the tech industry. Let’s take a look at some of the best INTJ careers that will bring the most satisfaction to the group of people called “Architects.”
Best INTJ Career Matches
Here are the careers people with INTJ personalities most enjoy working in:
- Computer Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Market Research Analyst
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Logistician
- Product Manager
- Project Manager
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Technical Writer
Computer Programmer
Programming jobs are a good career option for INTJ personality types. These logical and creative jobs have a strong focus on design, data, writing, and testing. INTJ’s tend to be problem solvers, and coding allows for a number of creative solutions to any problem. Computer programming also gives INTJs the chance to thrive in a work environment that doesn’t force them to be social.
INTJs are great troubleshooters. Finding and repairing a bug in code aligns with the problem-solving skills that INTJs have. Thinking up an appropriate solution to problems and discovering causes and effects are important aspects of programming, and INTJs are naturally good at these.
The freedom to work at the comfort of your own desk and the appeal of improving systems make programming a satisfying INTJ career.
Software Engineer
A software engineer was behind every computer program you enjoy, and the field is a good career match for INTJ personality types. Software engineers use their creativity to design applications that help people perform various tasks on their computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. As a software engineer, you create, program, analyze, and test new software.
As a software engineer, the INTJ has several options for their work setup. Some developers work alongside computer programmers, but others develop their own code. The second option works especially well for INTJs who prefer to work alone and have full control over the product.
Software engineers have multiple career options. They can work as app developers, freelancers, or for large tech companies with big teams. With an average income of over $100,000, INTJs can find a great deal of long term success in this field.
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts study conditions and trends. They then apply their research to the development and marketing of services and products. Analysts use their predictions to help companies get a better understanding of what their customers are willing to purchase.
Collecting data, studying that data, and analyzing trends are all tasks of market research analysts. They are also tasks that people with the INTJ personality type are perfectly suited to. Of all INTJ careers, this one requires the most interaction. Market research analysts have to collect data through surveys, polls, and questionnaires.
INTJs, with their innate skills and high intelligence, are often well-suited to the tasks of interpreting data, using statistical techniques, and operating complex software. Many companies rely on digital marketing these days, and this job security makes the field a good career option for INTJ personality types.
Computer Systems Analyst
The position of a computer systems analyst appeals to INTJs logical nature and their problem-solving abilities. These positions allow you to study current computer systems and design solutions to help organizations operate more efficiently.
These analysts research emerging technologies, prepare cost-benefit analyses, create new functionality to existing computer systems, and much more. With a median income of $88,740 and a fulfilling career at the forefront of technology, this is an ideal position for INTJs.
Logistician or Product Manager
Because INTJs are very logical, it only makes sense that they would find success as logistician. Logisticians analyze and coordinate the supply chains of organizations. This job is for people who want to manage the entire cycle of a product from start to finish.
Logisticians have to work with a number of people and develop the relationship between suppliers and customers. Logisticians have to work with everyone in the supply chain. Because they have to do business with suppliers and customers, logisticians need strong communication skills.
A major aspect of working as a logistician is using software systems to track and plan the transportation of goods from suppliers to customers. This is what makes it a good position for INTJs, as they are skilled at solving complex problems and logistical challenges.
However, one of the things that can be challenging for INTJs in project or product management positions is interpersonal relationships. You won’t find most INTJ managers being chummy with their employees (think Mark Zuckerberg). Sometimes, those employees might see their INTJ bosses as aloof or arrogant.
While typically introverted, INTJ logisticians can enjoy many aspects of their jobs, such as problem solving and analysis. Logisticians have an average income of nearly $75,000. There are also related professions they can branch into, especially in different types of engineering. For instance, industrial engineering, quality control inspection, and cost estimation.
While typically introverted, INTJ logisticians can enjoy many aspects of their jobs, such as problem solving and analysis. Logisticians have an average income of nearly $75,000. They can branch into related professions as well, especially in different types of engineering. For instance, industrial engineering, quality control inspection, and cost estimation.
Computer Hardware Engineer
INTJs are highly analytical, and their ability to find solutions makes them a great fit for many careers. Computer hardware engineers do a lot of tasks that take advantage of many of the natural traits INTJs possess.
The profession involves research, design, development, and a great deal of testing. Computer hardware engineers experiment with processors, circuit boards, routers, and so much more.
If you love taking things apart and putting them back together or have ever built a computer, this could be the career for you. A median income of $114,600 alone makes it a career path that many INTJs can enjoy for years on end.
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Technical Writer
Technical writing positions aren’t as analytical as many the other INTJ careers on this list. Still, INTJs can find satisfaction and success in this field. The profession fits perfectly with people who enjoy complete autonomy when they work. As technical writers, INTJs can work in privacy, and they can even work from home in a freelance capacity if they so choose.
Being a technical writer requires high intelligence and the ability to take a complex idea and simplify it for a wider audience. The problem solving and creativity required to work as a technical writer is just what INTJs need to make their work enjoyable and satisfying.
Computer Scientist
Computer scientists get to invent and design new computer technology and find innovative ways to use current tech. This position involves a lot of studying, problem solving, and computing. One of the best aspects of computer science is that you can choose your industry. Your skills can be put to use in medicine, science, business, and so much more.
The duties of a computer scientist are numerous. They mostly help scientists and engineers solve computing problems, develop software systems, create experiments to test systems, and analyze experiment results. In addition to aiding others, computer scientists invent new languages, tools, and methods to improve how people work with computers.
As computer scientists, INTJs can push their intellectual capacities to the limit and be at the forefront of technology. Further, while working on their own projects, INTJs can help people all over the world by improving the current state of technology.
Conclusion
INTJ personalities hold themselves to a high standard, and these personality types work well in a number of fields. Their more judicious nature separates them from their more perceptive cousins, the INTP-type personalities, and as a result, they should expect to find success in roles that require analytical rigor, such as project managers, analysts, and engineers.
But make no mistake, there are a lot of great INTJ and INTP careers in tech. Learning to code is one way to get started in the industry. If you love analytics, problem-solving, and want to work in the tech industry, you can start your coding career today.
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