[intj5784]

is it even a wise move to be another type or will i end up changing careers eventually into something more intj? have any of you tried this btw?

[Trivani]

Moving to another type is probably unrealistic. If you can develop the extroverted-feeling function you will do a lot better. People will like you as a person and also admire you for your INTJ strengths.

[brad]

if you can find something that appeals to your natural intj interests, and can communicate with coworkers as necessary via non-INTJ skills, you should be all set.

I often find myself playing the role of another personality type in order to get certain goals accomplished. Sometimes it's important to let other people know that such communication is unnatural to you, but you're trying. They might appreciate it, and your individuality, all the more.

[rokxal]

the ability to compromise with others, the patience to explain your ideas, and the need to make concessions to "workplace norms" while not appearing condescending

[murkrow]

compromise?

maybe I'm not an INTJ...

[Lilo]

In my opinion, changing careers into something more INTJ is the way to go.

[Monte314]

Choice 1: "To thine own self be true."
Choice 2: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Choice 3: (Choice 1 + Choice 2)/2

[SoupNazi]

Just fake it.. practice makes perfect!

Interpersonal skills are worth working on (to differing degrees depending on your interests/priorities).

ok.. maybe it won't make perfect.. not for us anyway.. but I agree that people will admire your INTJ strengths if you can manage to not come off as an ass..

and you're probably not an ass, you just know your shit and don't like to have your time wasted. So I suggest you try to remember to smile at people, and pretend you don't mind when they talk to you. Don't think of it as putting up with something.. if you are putting in the effort, then without knowing it they are helping you to work on your interpersonal skills.. which I suspect you'll find useful in a variety of future undertakings.

[fivespeedg]

Perhaps one of the biggest threats in a populated workplace is the I in INTJ. If you don't talk, people won't automatically think you're introverted -- instead, they'll think you're stuck up, arrogant, or too good to talk to people.

The ability to engage people, make small talk -- as painful as it is -- use humor, etc will be really important, esp at higher levels.

The perceived INTJ condescending/arrogance factor is also another one to really use sparingly. The work-world seems to move at glacial speed, at least in my experience, and so do many employees. Lots of explanation, lots of communication, and a LOT of patience is needed.

[Zadoc]

	Originally Posted by intj5784 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	is it even a wise move to be another type or will i end up changing careers eventually into something more intj? have any of you tried this btw?

To answer the question, if you are willing to work on developing the "E" part of personality and have the ability to market your skills, then you can move up.

[mind_wander]

Originally Posted by brad To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

if you can find something that appeals to your natural intj interests, and can communicate with coworkers as necessary via non-INTJ skills, you should be all set. I often find myself playing the role of another personality type in order to get certain goals accomplished. Sometimes it's important to let other people know that such communication is unnatural to you, but you're trying. They might appreciate it, and your individuality, all the more.

Sometimes, you can try to mimic another personality type only for a short period of time. Why is that? Because you know its like lying to yourself of who you are? It does helps break the tension for others to get an idea what you are all about?

[PRBori]

Learn to be an Extrovert in a work environment... that's if you have strong sense for achieving your goals in the long term.

I know because at work I literally turn into an ENTJ... I talk to everyone and make friends quickly from day one... that's necessary in order to excel on my career goals. I let nothing get on my way.... I return to being an INTJ in my home environment and personal life.

The only recomendation is Plan your steps carefully and learn to deal with others. No matter where you are you will need interaction with others... even if you become a programmer which I believe will be the less boring option for an INTJ which would allow you to be in your natural habitat to some extend.

[Mercury]

In my experience as an INTJ we need to develop communication skills and interpersonal skills. Learn how to interpret body language. Learn patience as other personality types use frivolous behavior such as inane jokes, lots of small talk, etc as coping skills. Try to be less direct in your communication as other personality types often interpret this as rudeness. For example, when asked a Yes or No question, give a brief reason why then say Yes or No. If you just say Yes or No in response other personality types will see you as brusque. Learn not to take things personally...other personality types can seem attacking to you when constantly questioning you about stuff but mostly they are impressed and intrigued by you and just want to get close to you. Whereas you just want to cut the chase, get the work done and go home.

Personally I have struggled in the workplace a great deal. I find it much easier to be my own boss even though I have to work longer hours. If you can, go for jobs/careers that are a natural fit for your strengths as an INTJ, primarily where you can work bulk of time alone and/or in control of your work duties.

[PDP11]

Moving to another type is same as asking someone to become someone else. Not an option, at least in the short run.

Assuming that one is not yet considering or it is not required to change his/her work profile, consider compensating to requiring to stay alone by writing frequent and longer emails.

As Mercury has also said, avoid being terse.

[Chisos]

Originally Posted by Mercury To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

In my experience as an INTJ we need to develop communication skills and interpersonal skills. Learn how to interpret body language. Learn patience as other personality types use frivolous behavior such as inane jokes, lots of small talk, etc as coping skills. Try to be less direct in your communication as other personality types often interpret this as rudeness. For example, when asked a Yes or No question, give a brief reason why then say Yes or No. If you just say Yes or No in response other personality types will see you as brusque. Learn not to take things personally...other personality types can seem attacking to you when constantly questioning you about stuff but mostly they are impressed and intrigued by you and just want to get close to you. Whereas you just want to cut the chase, get the work done and go home. Personally I have struggled in the workplace a great deal. I find it much easier to be my own boss even though I have to work longer hours. If you can, go for jobs/careers that are a natural fit for your strengths as an INTJ, primarily where you can work bulk of time alone and/or in control of your work duties.

Spot on, Mercury!

Re: Body Language, a couple of years ago I finally realized how deficient I was with this sense--which is something many folks find intuitive. I began studying this through a couple of books that looked helpful. Here's another idea--find an ENFP, and pick their brain on body language.

Also, intj5784, I've found it helpful in recent years to learn how the other folks perceive and process things can be quite helpful--such as Keirsey's Please Understand Me. You get down the road in the "non-body language" stuff.

I wish I'd known about both of these 25 years ago

Perhaps there are some legitimate seminars that can help an INTJ develop the insight into these things that I've learned are so critical in dealing with the other 99% of the world (and that, bit by bit, I'm getting better at--I still have a long way to go.). I'd just be cautious in making sure it was legit.

Under no circumstances would I even try to change my type, or would I suggest you try, either. However, you can develop those parts of your personality that are not as prominent as others (and, in the process, being cognizant that it may be like strenuous excercise--you may become spent sooner than others who are "naturals" at those things.).

And, yes, intj5784, you may end up changing careers into something that is "more INTJ." And it may take a while to determine what career is "truly INTJ." I was told that law is, and I now totally disagree with that "experts" advice. So I am in the middle of trying to find that INTJ career right now--months from being 50.

Good luck.

Chisos.

[tichila]

For me, I have to be more extrovert, be more patient and try to understand others' idea.
However, I quit my last job becuase I don't fit the org cultures. It's Asian company. They prefer conservative and unassertive people, particularly for female staffs.

[Iscariot]

Changing who you are is a ridiculous idea, you can't change who you are. What you can do is learn social skills, it's not that hard, just observe how ''normal'' people behave in social situations. It makes communication easier. Just don't take what you learn and try to change your own behaviour with it in the sense of becoming more like the fun, cheery normal people.

I have found that being myself actually makes people like me, they appreciate my directness, honesty and sarcasm. Sometimes the more E and F types of people say i'm weird and mean, I've learned to not give a damn about what they say since people can't stay angry with me for longer than a day.

(by the way: this is my second post, the links and pictures are mine!)

[Marcus]

I've just seen this in a job advertisement:

Beneficial Skills:
Experience with gcc, MSDev, Perforce, Python.
(...)
Intelligence, knowledge, self-reliance but without arrogance.

[Jaxx]

Originally Posted by PRBori To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Learn to be an Extrovert in a work environment... that's if you have strong sense for achieving your goals in the long term. I know because at work I literally turn into an ENTJ... I talk to everyone and make friends quickly from day one... that's necessary in order to excel on my career goals. I let nothing get on my way.... I return to being an INTJ in my home environment and personal life. The only recommendation is plan your steps carefully and learn to deal with others. No matter where you are you will need interaction with others... even if you become a programmer which I believe will be the less boring option for an INTJ which would allow you to be in your natural habitat to some extend.

I second this. I've gotten it to the point where the higher ups who oversee everything turn a blind eye if I'm doing something against the rules. It makes my day go much smoother.

[intj5784]

thanks! great help all of you!

[Lupin]

Chisos, you inspire me.

Thank you so much for your posts on your experiences in the legal profession and for your insights on how to progress through your career by making directional choices in closer alignment with your INTJness.

It's really informative and practical advice.

[Shakyamuni]

As many here have already stated, develop the E.

I try to be an ENTJ at work, and an INTJ at home. Be a leader at work. Take charge of situations and use your maturity to boss people around. If you are civil and respectful (mature), people will be more likely to listen to you. You can then accomplish more and start ordering people around (in a nice manner of course). Sometimes I just get fed up and stop talking to people at work though. I feel more comfortable but then people start thinking something is wrong....

Originally Posted by PRBori View Post Learn to be an Extrovert in a work environment... that's if you have strong sense for achieving your goals in the long term. I know because at work I literally turn into an ENTJ... I talk to everyone and make friends quickly from day one... that's necessary in order to excel on my career goals. I let nothing get on my way.... I return to being an INTJ in my home environment and personal life. The only recommendation is plan your steps carefully and learn to deal with others. No matter where you are you will need interaction with others... even if you become a programmer which I believe will be the less boring option for an INTJ which would allow you to be in your natural habitat to some extend

Hahaha. I posted before reading this. Basically the same thing I was thinking.

[NonChris]

Why do we INTJs need to work on our communication skills? Do the other types try to change themselves? No. Just because we are no good at being social, which is much more noticeable then someone being inefficient or lazy, doesn't mean we must pretend to be something we are not. Just do your thing, be yourself, and you will get exactly what you want, a nice quiet work area, where you have your space, and no slacker extroverts try to talk to you about the weather for 15 minutes. They may think your arrogant, but who cares what they think? You are comfortable.

-Chris.

[Grant]

	Originally Posted by Zadoc To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	To answer the question, if you are willing to work on developing the "E" part of personality and have the ability to market your skills, then you can move up.

Careful though that what youre "moving up" to doesnt drive you nuts. If you get a promotion based on "faking it" then you could wind up in a job that is totally draining. My "faking it" is way more about trying to convince people that I am not stuck up. Im careful not to overdo it because I might just get new responsibilities that depend on skills I dont really have - and sooner or later people will realize Im not as good at my job as the others who arent faking it.

[Monte314]

It's important to remember that, for almost all of us, the "I vs. E" thing is not a physical law; it's a preference. Learning how to operating succesfully outside of your preferences as needed can (and should) be learned.