Hi y'all

[MizzPatty]

Well, well, well. Sometimes I feel rather isolated amongst the populace ... and then I find a whole group of people who sound an awful lot like me! Hallo to all you fellow INTJs, and any supporters that may be hanging out here too.

I recently (ok, 10 months ago) lost my job of more than 7 years. I was asked to resign because I "intimidated" some folks (read: inner circle around the C.O.O.) and was advocating an evolution of the business "too advanced" for their conservative ideology. It was all very civil, even apologetic from the COO, but I was asked to leave since I didn't "fit" anymore. And I thought I was doing them a service that none of the other 100 employees could or would provide ... providing solutions to chronic strategic and operational problems in the business. I did give them tons of value (added at least $1M per year), but in the framework of all-hype sales people plus type-D routinists I found no long-lasting allies. My personality, which I have been working to "improve" for all that time, still yielded comments like "scary smart" from some, even though I was consciously trying to portray myself as just one of the "normals". That's a bit difficult for me since I don't find socializing an effective means to achieve my goals ... and the executives (all from sales, of course) expected socializing to be a necessary component of "fit" in the company.

So, I'm looking for employment ... this time, I'm trying to be very discerning in choosing what positions to apply for. I'm old, and I want to do something I like. To that end, I have been trying to understand what this personality is that I've got. And, lo and behold, I found and took the MB test and it seems I'm an INTJ!

The description of INTJ at http://typelogic.com/intj.html sounds rather eerily like me. I'm hoping as I come to understand myself and others, I can get employed again in an appropriate position. I don't feel like investing time and effort into another company that doesn't appreciate my "gift".

rant concluded ... thanks for listening! And Hello again!

[The Rose]

Hey Mizz Patty, welcome to the forum. :D

There's a great book you can borrow from the library called "Do What You Are" by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron (http://www.personalitytype.com/dwya/index.html). It will suggest jobs or careers that you might find satisfying based on your type. Try to get the latest version since it will have IT jobs and other stuff in it that didn't exist when they wrote the first one.

[MizzPatty]

Thanks for the tip, Rose!

I looked over suggested careers for INTJ and saw Natural Sciences, Computer Programming, Information Technology Specialist, Corporate Lawyer and Librarian. They all sound inviting, for sure, but I was last in school for a BSBA and had to leave college in '76. No degree, unfortunately for me, means no reasonable possibility of getting into any of those, not even Librarian. :(

Not that it's impossible, I know, but there's so much young, cheap and degreed talent around for those I don't think I stand a chance. I'm going to check out the book soon, but I think I'm going to need to invent some permutation on a standard career ... or play more games and try to show a more generally acceptable personality. Bah. That's part of why I think I need to know more about personalities.

But thanks for the welcome! I mean that! :)

[MizzPatty]

oooo ... I checked out the web link ... that "Do What You Are" looks like something I need to get right away! It nailed what I've figured was my most desired occupation, one I might be able to finagle my way into ... Design Engineer. Should have a degree, but I have some experience luckily. And it has other ideas tha are making me think even wider. Thanks again!

[rwyatt365]

Thanks for the tip, Rose!

I looked over suggested careers for INTJ and saw Natural Sciences, Computer Programming, Information Technology Specialist, Corporate Lawyer and Librarian. They all sound inviting, for sure, but I was last in school for a BSBA and had to leave college in '76. No degree, unfortunately for me, means no reasonable possibility of getting into any of those, not even Librarian. :(

Not that it's impossible, I know, but there's so much young, cheap and degreed talent around for those I don't think I stand a chance. I'm going to check out the book soon, but I think I'm going to need to invent some permutation on a standard career ... or play more games and try to show a more generally acceptable personality. Bah. That's part of why I think I need to know more about personalities.

But thanks for the welcome! I mean that! *:)
Welcome MizzPatty!

I sympathize with your predicament. I'm mid-50s, and have been struggling in the job market for the past several years. It's not easy competing with a younger, degreed, certified, and less expensive talent pool. You have to know what your strengths are and market yourself relentlessly. Hang in there!

[mind_wander]

Well, well, well. Sometimes I feel rather isolated amongst the populace ... and then I find a whole group of people who sound an awful lot like me! Hallo to all you fellow INTJs, and any supporters that may be hanging out here too.

I recently (ok, 10 months ago) lost my job of more than 7 years. I was asked to resign because I "intimidated" some folks (read: inner circle around the C.O.O.) and was advocating an evolution of the business "too advanced" for their conservative ideology. It was all very civil, even apologetic from the COO, but I was asked to leave since I didn't "fit" anymore. And I thought I was doing them a service that none of the other 100 employees could or would provide ... providing solutions to chronic strategic and operational problems in the business. I did give them tons of value (added at least $1M per year), but in the framework of all-hype sales people plus type-D routinists I found no long-lasting allies. My personality, which I have been working to "improve" for all that time, still yielded comments like "scary smart" from some, even though I was consciously trying to portray myself as just one of the "normals". That's a bit difficult for me since I don't find socializing an effective means to achieve my goals ... and the executives (all from sales, of course) expected socializing to be a necessary component of "fit" in the company.

So, I'm looking for employment ... this time, I'm trying to be very discerning in choosing what positions to apply for. I'm old, and I want to do something I like. To that end, I have been trying to understand what this personality is that I've got. And, lo and behold, I found and took the MB test and it seems I'm an INTJ!

The description of INTJ at http://typelogic.com/intj.html sounds rather eerily like me. I'm hoping as I come to understand myself and others, I can get employed again in an appropriate position. I don't feel like investing time and effort into another company that doesn't appreciate my "gift".

rant concluded ... thanks for listening! And Hello again!
Thanx for bring that up about COO because I have no clue what is their job position. But, I do know learnign from my current Strategic Management Studies, this is the small percentage of the group, who you do not want to changed their dynamics and their powerful hierarchy structure. I do know, as an INTJ we want to find the right alternative choices to make things better for everyone; my guess is that they listened to you, but in order for them to really listen too you. Its important you fit into the tight circle criteria.

After that is said, Welcome abroad.

[Natrushka]

Hi Mizz Patty, welcome and good luck with the new career.

[maai]

I too made friends with a VP. Made same mistake of reading the "obvious" signs, a slowdown in product sales 6 months down the road. Not exactly what marketing wants to hear when they are projecting fantastic sales. Yes- they did have the slowdown within 6 months. Guess who was on layoff list?

[mind_wander]

hmm, let me guess. You. I know INTJ's are more truthful, kinda want to sugarcoat it next time around.