1 Aspire Career Workshop: What Type Are You? Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to choose the ideal career Monica Lee February 26, 2005

2 Agenda Overview of the MBTI The 16 personality types MBTI & your career Q&A

3 MBTI Based on the principle that we have a range of behaviors, but one underlying personality Understanding personality type can help us pinpoint our strengths and weaknesses Caveats: Self-reporting Change over time

4 History 1920’s – Carl Jung posits that there are underlying personality types 1940’s – Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers build on Jung’s work and create the MBTI test 1970’s – Serious work to link MBTI types to careers, love matches, etc. Today – MBTI widely used in educational, corporate settings

5 Agenda Overview of the MBTI The 16 personality types MBTI & your career Q&A

6 The 4 dimensions Personality type dependent on 4 dimensions: Extraversion – Introversion How we interact with the world/direct our energy Sensing – Intuition Kind of information we notice Thinking – Feeling How we make decisions Judging – Perceiving Whether we prefer to live in a more or less structured way

7 The 16 types ISTJISFJINFJINTJ ISTPISFPINFPINTP ESTPESFPENFPENTP ESTJESFJENFJENTJ

8 Extraversion (E) / Introversion (I) How we interact with the world / where we direct our energy Extraverts Energized by being with others / “charged” by large groups Center of attention Act, then think Think out loud Are easier to “read” and know Talk more than listen Introverts Energized by being alone / need this time to “recharge” Avoids center of attention Think, then act Think inside their heads More private; shares with few Listen more than talk Where are you in this continuum? Extraversion Introversion

9 Sensing (S) / Intuition (N) What kind of information we naturally notice Sensors Trust what is certain and concrete Like new ideas only if they have practical applications Value realism Tend to be specific and literal; give detailed descriptions Present information step-by-step Intuitives Trust inspiration and inference Like new ideas and concepts for their own sake Value innovation Tend to be general and figurative Present information through leaps Where are you in this continuum? Sensing Intuition

10 Thinking (T) / Feeling (F) How we make decisions / come to conclusions Thinkers Step back; apply impersonal analysis Value logic, justice, fairness Naturally see flaws; critical May be seen as insensitive Consider it more important to be truthful than tactful Feelers Step forward; consider effect on others Value empathy and harmony Naturally like to please others May be seen as illogical Consider it more important to be tactful than truthful Where are you in this continuum? Thinking Feeling

11 Judging (J) / Perceiving (P) Whether we prefer more or less structure Judgers Are happiest after decisions Set goals and work to them Want to know what they are getting into Are product oriented Derive satisfaction from finishing Take deadlines seriously Perceivers Are happiest leaving options open Change goals with new info Like adapting to new situations and challenges Are process oriented Derive satisfaction from starting See deadlines as elastic Where are you in this continuum? Judging Perceiving

12 Agenda Overview of the MBTI The 16 personality types MBTI & your career Q&A

13 MBTI & your career To find right career, we traditionally thought about our abilities, interests, and values. Current belief that you also need to know your personality type because different jobs satisfy different types of people. E.g., Salesperson Beyond career selection, MBTI also helps you think about your strength and weaknesses as well as help you understand your colleagues

14 Extraversion (E) / Introversion (I) How we interact with the world / where we direct our energy ExtravertsIntroverts ArtistEntertainerJournalist CounselorLawyerProgrammer Sales personConsultantDoctor

15 Sensing (S) / Intuition (N) What kind of information we naturally notice SensorsIntuitives JournalistConsultantResearcher LawyerProgrammerCEO AnthropologistStrategic plannerPlant manager

16 Thinking (T) / Feeling (F) How we make decisions / come to conclusions ThinkersFeelers Investment bankerConsultantTeacher LawyerProgrammerCEO CounselorDoctorPlant manager

17 Judging (J) / Perceiving (P) Whether we prefer more or less structure JudgersPerceivers JournalistConsultantResearcher LawyerProgrammerCEO AnthropologistPilotCFO

18 Agenda Overview of the MBTI The 16 personality types MBTI & your career Q&A