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The Best Careers for INTP Personality Type

The Logician’s combination of creativity, dedication, and intellectual firepower means this personality type is suited to many different careers. Typically, INTPs are drawn toward jobs in the hard sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and they thrive in the world of tech.

They are often likely to become bored and disconnected in jobs that are too routine—most INTPs wouldn’t last long as sandwich artists or retail clerks. They also tend to shy away from fields that are too people-heavy.

However, INTPs are also nothing if not adaptable. If they are able to do things their way, they can succeed in some unlikely areas, including business, advertising, and marketing. The real death knell to an INTP in the workplace is having an overbearing, micromanaging boss. This personality type really enjoys workplaces where everyone is equal and where they are free to innovate.

Core motivations

It can be difficult for employers and coworkers to really work out what is driving the INTP personality. Rather than external drives such as money, fame, and power, or the desire for belonging and acceptance, the INTP is typically driven by a desire for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

These personalities are perfectionists—they are competing with themselves, rather than others. INTPs can often thrive as self-employed consultants or freelancers and even excel in some management positions.

Unfortunately, it might take them a while to build up the skills and expertise they need to work independently. But the logician will usually be proactive in building up their skills as much as they can via self-development and training courses. If you’re an INTP, know that sometimes having a bit of patience can be worth it in the long run as you build towards your dream job.

People skills

This personality type is far more comfortable with ideas than feelings. There are some jobs and roles that an INTP will always struggle with. Early childhood teachers, psychotherapists, or an actor are some examples of occupations a Logician might find challenging because they involve dealing with others’ emotions and expressing their own.

Unfortunately, some INTPs rule themselves out of other jobs that are well within their level of competency, because they know that social skills aren’t their strong suit. But INTPs can still make fantastic high school science teachers, inspiring academics, and caring and competent health professionals if they are motivated and believe in what they’re doing.

If you’re an INTP, don’t give up on your dreams—your expertise is often invaluable, and you really do have a lot to offer. Sometimes the best way to truly connect with and reach others is by following your own passions.

Analytical power

INTPs are extremely intuitive and analytical, which can make them proficient not only in the sciences but in the humanities, and in the worlds of business and law. The trick is to also find a position that allows them to be creative. INTPs can work within some constraints, but they will often lose interest in their job if forced to do mindless, repetitive tasks.

Although it’s within their capabilities, a job such as accounting or working in conveyancing might simply be too boring for the INTP. On the other hand, they might excel at something a bit more unpredictable and exciting, like research for a criminal law firm.

While they tend to be reserved, INTPs are also among the most innovative personality types. This is one of the reasons that their skills are so valuable in companies like Tesla and others in Silicon Valley. The INTPs’ analytical abilities can also make them very good translators, designers, and technical writers.

The engineer

The Logician wants to know how things work. Not surprisingly, when they’re young they are often fascinated by physical trades like construction, plumbing, or welding: but if they actually try to train for this type of work, they might find that their skills are not fully utilized.

In fact, they might perform poorly, because their imaginations aren’t stimulated and because they simply don’t pay enough attention to the physical world. If they’re willing to train for a job that’s one step removed, they will find more scope to harness their curiosity, imagination, and love of innovation. INTPs make great town planners, architects, and engineers.

The arts

Generally, when INTPs are drawn to the arts, they tend to head towards subjects like animation and graphic design. Less commonly, they might become science fiction novelists, painters, and photographers.

Top careers for an INTP

• Software engineer
• Civil engineer
• Scientist
• Science teacher
• Graphic designer
• Translator
• Architect
• Audio engineer
• Medical specialist
• Information security analyst
• Business analyst