ISTJ careers include job opportunities that help them build for the long term and bring stability. That does not mean that these people cannot do flexible work as sole proprietors or consultants. Most of them constantly think that the grass is greener on the other side.
ISTJs are dependable people. This aspect is evident in their choice of work more than in any other part of their lives. The basis of most of their careers lies in authority, tradition, consistency, and security.
Apart from dependability, ISTJs are highly meticulous in carrying out their responsibilities. They are ideally suited for those jobs which allow them to create a detailed course of action and follow those with minor changes.
Even though this is one of the Myers Briggs personality types like working independently, they also appreciate the value of teamwork.
It can happen if colleagues are sensible, carry the mindset of businessmen, and have a clear hierarchy. Undergo this personality testing to know your type of personality.
In the article, we will discuss various career options which ISTJs can pursue to meet their goals and objectives. We will even touch upon the job opportunities these people should avoid taking up at all costs.
ISTJ Careers
ISTJ is someone who carries the Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging traits in their personality. When we talk of different career options, ISTJs prosper in those jobs that let them solve practical problems by maintaining a proper order. For these individuals, an ideal work environment is quiet, structured, and organized. There must be well-established rules and regulations which everyone can follow.
Logisticians or ISTJs carry strong opinions about how to perform some tasks. If there is too much shuffling inside a workplace, these people do not hesitate to express their displeasure.
These people must understand that even the most stable and traditional career paths can and need to change with time. The desirable thing is to accept it with utmost grace rather than developing the reputation of being enemies of fresh ideas.
ISTJs might even struggle with the open and social needs of professional life. They are poor when it comes to judging others’ feelings. Their tendency to focus only on facts can alienate all those people belonging to sensitive types of personalities.
It applies not only to colleagues but also to customers. Hence, service industry positions, the ones of retail sales with other emotionally demanding careers like psychiatry are terrible career choices for ISTJs.
Ideal career paths for these personality type individuals carry a specific trend. Wherever they work, they should always put facts over feelings. The workplace must ISTJs to uphold the stringent rules and regulations which form the society’s backbone.
People tend to take rules for granted in this modern world. The reality is that they form the basis of everything, right from maintaining a social contract that allows making relationships smooth to the legal bindings that protect the basic safety needs of people. ISTJs take up roles to defend these principles and ideas in different ways.
ISTJs are those team members who only focus on carrying out different tasks. They always classify goals in clear terms and set standards to measure the team’s performance.
They always prefer the team environment to carry some structure where there is a clear set of rules and each member has clarity over the duties they need to perform.
These people work meticulously and systematically. They make sure that all the details are perfect and that the team’s production meets the desired level of expectations.
As ISTJs have their complete attention on tasks, they usually do not wish to spend much time carrying out discussions. Rather they would prefer to get on with the work they have to do.
In their careers, ISTJs always want to work under a set plan. If there are only discussions of concepts abstractly taking place without any plan, it irritates these people a lot. They approach everything like a business and hence do not have patience for colleagues who want to discuss anything other than work.
15 ISTJ Careers to Decide Upon
Some of the ideally suited options in which the career matches with ISTJs’ personality type are as follows –
1. Supply Chain Manager
When ISTJs work as supply chain managers, they use their skills to understand the complications in the logistics of a company’s supply chain. Their attention to detail ensures efficient tracking of data, whereas ISTJs’ critical thinking skills allow them to propose solutions for the challenges in the distribution network.
Supply chain management carries several moving parts. ISTJ personality type people truly relish the opportunity to ensure that everything runs smoothly to maximize the profit margin.
2. Business Analyst
People with the ISTJ personality type enjoy working under proper order and structure. It makes them the perfect fit for the position of business analyst. The duties in this job involve collecting, organizing, and processing data to offer fruitful recommendations for the growth of the business.
ISTJs excel in working with hard core numbers and statistics. It is easy for them to organize information and go through all the details meticulously. Hence, they will ensure that the work is totally free from errors.
3. Dentist
All those who belong to the ISTJ personality do well as a dentist. It is because the profession involves a person focusing on details. They can work in an orderly manner. Dentists always practice in quiet and clean dental clinics. This profession allows them to work independently, just as these individuals prefer.
The responsibilities of this work include examining patients, careful analysis of X-ray reports, and diagnosing dental problems. All these are predictable. These tasks make perfect use of ISTJs’ logical thinking style.
ISTJs have the skill to focus on dealing with complicated dental tasks. They include the likes of extracting teeth, filling cavities, and applying crowns or sealants.
4. Bank Teller
As ISTJs pay close attention to details and work methodically, they are perfectly suited for doing the job of a bank teller. This position needs someone good at handling high levels of responsibilities. There is none better than an ISTJ who is adept at handling them with great precision.
These individuals are good at following strict rules and regulations. They identify discrepancies in no time. Thus, it allows them to prevent the occurrence of fraud. A bank teller also sees that the financial transactions are up to the mark.
This Myers Briggs type knows how to abide by the detailed guidelines for different types of work. They include the processing of deposits, transfers, withdrawals, and all other kinds of transactions.
5. Inspector
This Myers-Briggs personality, out of the 16 personality types, always looks for a job that contains a clear set of rules. ISTJs excel in those careers, which allow them to check whether someone is following the guidelines. Thus, the role of an inspector is an ideal job profile for anyone with this personality.
Inspectors are meticulous in dealing with problems. They use their intelligence and intuition to get to the roots of a crime and finally catch hold of the criminal.
These individuals also make sure to maintain law and order within a place. Apart from this role, they are also good at inspecting the quality of products, materials, and various facilities.
6. Military Officer
When you possess the personality type of an ISTJ, it indicates that you are responsible, dedicated, and dutiful. These qualities make you a suitable person for making a career in the military field.
Military officers are known for their discipline, following a clear-cut hierarchy and certain levels of expectations.
ISTJs can easily follow an in-depth plan of action and act accordingly. They will have no problem maintaining the standards required in the Army. It will also let them mix with like-minded people in a structured and organized workplace.
7. Certified Public Accountant
When an ISTJ works as Certified Public Accountant, it is a terrific way to make good use of their analytical knowledge. This career allows him to work with concrete stuff in the form of data and abide by strict regulations.
As people with ISTJ personality type are followers of rules, one can trust them with managing money and taking care of other investment options. This professional does most of the work in this profile on their own.
They do so in a peaceful and structured work environment. Apart from these, it offers stability that an ISTJ always appreciates.
8. Software Developer
ISTJs possess the attitude of completing any work rather than spending time discussing it. This attitude to go with their ability to keep moving forward despite facing setbacks help them become ideally suited for making their career as a software developer.
They have tremendous skills for analyzing and solving problems. It plays a significant role in making them successful in this field.
The work of a software developer involves designing, testing, developing, and maintaining application software or computer systems.
In some organizations, they also need to write computer code that brings life to software and applications. If any problem appears in testing, a developer needs to get back to the design process, detect issues and solve them.
9. Lawyer
Most individuals with the ISTJ personality type have the urge to formulate and enforce order, maintain traditions, and perform their duties.
All these traits make them efficient lawyers capable of fighting for their clients. Lawyers suggest and represent companies and individuals on legal matters.
They carry out thorough research of laws along with previous rulings to represent a case and put forward arguments on behalf of their esteemed clients.
Lawyers work across different fields and industries, which include working as environmental lawyers for the government or as tax lawyers for any corporation.
10. Civil Engineer
The profession of a civil engineer needs an expert to check out details, and adopt a practical mindset while carrying out their work apart from adhering to regulations and standards. All these are perfectly in line with the personality traits of an ISTJ.
They have the potential to supervise any project right from the start till its completion. This kind of thing genuinely attracts an ISTJ’s urge to meet targets and formulate proper order and structure.
11. Food Science Technician
ISTJs will do well in the profession of food science technician. These technicians work with food technologists or scientists for performing standardized quantitative and qualitative tests to determine the chemical or physical properties of beverage or food products.
They even include experts who give their assistance in the research and development of technology for production purposes, maintaining quality, processing, packaging, and proper use of foods.
12. Audio Engineer
The work of an audio engineer includes setting up, operating, and maintaining the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit and send audio and video for programs across radio and television channels.
Apart from the duties mentioned above, when ISTJs work as audio engineers, they even control and make necessary adjustments in both incoming as well as outgoing signals.
This is essential for regulating volume, testing out signal strength, and attaining clarity. These professionals even operate a microwave, satellite, or other equipment to transmit programs.
13. Geological Technician
ISTJs can even make their careers work as geological technicians. They are those professionals who offer help to engineers or scientists in using instruments for measuring sonic, electronic, or nuclear radiations in activities of exploration, laboratory, and production.
These measurements help obtain data that indicates resources like metallic ore, gas, minerals, petroleum, or coal.
In addition to all these, geological technicians also analyze temperature, chart pressure, and other features of boreholes or wells. The work profile is detail oriented, which is invariably suitable for this Myers-Briggs personality type.
14. Commuter Pilot
As a commuter pilot, an ISTJ navigates the flight of a plane on scheduled routes for the air carrier for transporting cargo and passengers. Flying an aircraft has the goal of reaching a destination attached to it.
It is right in line with the motive of an ISTJ, who thrives in doing those activities that carry a purpose. Hence, they will do well if they decide to make a career in this field.
15. Athlete
ISTJs will do well as athletes, participating in organized sports competitions to entertain spectators. The requirements of being successful in this field are in line with the traits of this personality type. They will do constant practice for the development of new skills and honing their existing ones.
The profession will also call for attending regular training sessions, doing exercises, and following specific diets so that they can keep their fitness level and sports equipment in the best conditions.
It will also need to follow definite rules of the sport while being part of competitions. They must assess their own and the team’s performance after every event, and focus on their strengths and weaknesses.
ISTJ Careers to Avoid
There are some fields of work that ISTJs should try and avoid making their careers into as chances are high that they would struggle to flourish in those jobs.
Following are some of those job opportunities –
- Graphic Designer
- Musician
- Photographer
- Art Director
- Retail Salesperson
- Receptionist
- Craft Artist
- Child Care Provider
- Restaurant Host
- Actor
To Sum Up
We have discussed in this article how ISTJs are meant for specific work profiles, which help them excel in their careers.
This think piece has also talked about the fields of work that this Myers-Briggs personality type needs to avoid.
These people will perform well in those jobs that need them to dig into details, contain clarity in the workflow, contain concrete data, and have a goal attached to them.
