INTP is a brainy type; they enjoy the process of thinking and planning far more than implementation, which may seem like a drudgery. Hence, the INTP should look for jobs where his or her logical thinking and planning skills are sought-after, but the implementation is done by other people. The ideal jobs for INTPs should allow them to design physical or theoretical systems. Examples of physical systems include machines, buildings or bridges. Theoretical systems would be corporations or curricula. You can read more on this here.
So the first type of careers to avoid would be
1. any career that requires implementation of their own or others’ plans.
For example,
- contractor (1),
- builder (2),
- electrician (3),
- carpenter (4),
- school teacher (5).
INTPs are independent thinkers and need to be given plenty of freedom to be happy. They want flexible jobs with as little supervision as possible. They will not thrive in a very structured environment or a company with excessively rigid rules and regulations. So the second thing to avoid would be
2. any company or organization with emphasis on rules and hierarchy.
Examples:
- most military careers (6),
- most careers in the maritime industry (7),
- careers in big established companies that have no tolerance for the INTP’s lack of punctuality and disregard to rules and procedures (8).
INTPs are introverts and have a need for time to be alone and think. They particularly dislike meetings or environments where they are forced to interact with a lot of people. The third type of INTP careers to avoid would be
3. jobs that require communication skills.
Examples:
- publicist (9),
- marketing manager (10),
- lawyer (11),
- sales person (12),
- social worker (13).
INTPs dislike boring and repetitive tasks that provide little room for creativity. This brings us to the last point: INTPs should avoid
4. monotonous and repetitive jobs.
Examples:
- accountant (14),
- data entry (15),
- driver (16),
- lab technician (17),
- air traffic controller (18),
- compliance officer (19).
This may sound like INTPs are good for nothing, but it is not true. INTPs can enter all occupations, even those that are not in accordance with the above recommendations; however, they naturally prefer such jobs as
- computer programmer,
- researcher,
- college professor,
- writer,
- biologist,
- chemist,
- computer system analyst.
You can find a full list containing 101 job titles on INTP profile page.
All 16 personality types here.
Image source @jcomp via Freepik