Figuring out a career that makes you happy

[paradigmshift22]

and you enjoy. Is this possible? What are some good INTP jobs? thanks!

 

[Chimera]

People are so set on finding a career that makes them happy...I don't think enough are genuinely trying to find happiness in their own careers.
Also, just because some intps enjoy a certain career doesn't mean all do.
[/useful answers]

Really though, I'm too young to have a career. I'd imagine I would enjoy something involving animals and little human interaction though.
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[kinetickyle]

Also, just because some intps enjoy a certain career doesn't mean all do.

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I'll agree with this part of Chimera's post. The preceding sentence sounded like something a corporate manager tells his disgruntled employees.

As for me, I've worked a fairly good cross section of jobs out there and I think the corporate office job was by far the worst. It was mind-numbing and the environment was unbelievably restrictive. The navy wasn't as restrictive as this office job. It was awful!

I find my current position as a medical research assistant to be the most fulfilling. I work with intelligent, educated people and I get to use my noggin as more than a hat rack. Granted, I'm not too pleased when dealing with the administrative part of the job, but the rest makes up for it. I don't mind some of the patient interactions, but I love analyzing data and doing lab work. If they would just hire someone to do the paperwork for me, I'd be in heaven.

I'm not really trying to give advice. You'll have to find your own path. I'm only telling my story to say that it is possible for an INTP to enjoy his job.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Find out what makes you happy, then find a career.

 

[Stoic Beverage]

Find out what makes you happy, then find a career.

I'm having trouble at step 1, Doc.

 

[Architect]

Software engineering is a popular vocation for INTP types, so certainly the field has a likely potential to make you happy. Whether you are actually happy in it then depends on the particulars of your job, your success at it, pay, boss, working conditions, opportunities, etc.

I tried several careers, physical scientist, classical musician, others, and found happiness in being a software architect. It's about as good as it gets in my estimation. My son is also an INTP and he's already decided that he wants to grow up and be an engineer. Of course a lot can happen until then, but I wouldn't be surprised if that happens.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I'm having trouble at step 1, Doc.

You have to be patient.

 

[kinetickyle]

You have to be patient.

On top of that, I think you need to be pretty brave. A lot of people stick with jobs they hate because they're too afraid to leave the security the job provides. If you're not happy with a job, you have to be brave enough to throw caution to the wind and head in an entirely different direction.

 

[Chimera]

I'll agree with this part of Chimera's post. The preceding sentence sounded like something a corporate manager tells his disgruntled employees.

Yeah, I typed up 3 different paragraphs trying to get one thought across, but then I got bored. It was something related to how a lot of people (maybe just young people, I don't know) assume that there's a PERFECT job out there for them that will make them the happiest/richest person they can be, and they wind up letting the hypothetical perfect be the enemy of the good. I'm not saying someone with a lackluster job needs to be whistling and smiling all the time, but happiness (perhaps contentment would be a better word) can spring from just finding a purpose to what you're spending your job hours doing.
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[kinetickyle]

Yeah, I typed up 3 different paragraphs trying to get one thought across, but then I got bored. It was something related to how a lot of people (maybe just young people, I don't know) assume that there's a PERFECT job out there for them that will make them the happiest/richest person they can be, and they wind up letting the hypothetical perfect be the enemy of the good. I'm not saying someone with a lackluster job needs to be whistling and smiling all the time, but happiness (perhaps contentment would be a better word) can spring from just finding a purpose to what you're spending your job hours doing.
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I'm totally with you. I didn't mean to dig on you. It's just that I got so sick of hearing those corporate platitudes when I was in that world that I've little tolerance for it now.

You're right about people thinking that there is some perfect job out there. There isn't. The secret is finding the job that annoys you the least. And I agree that purpose is important. I think that my current job has meaning besides putting food on the table, which is another reason it annoys me less than other jobs.

 

[Jade Adagis]

Choice is a blessing and a curse. INTPs can be great at many things; but actually enjoy very few for long periods of time. Case in point - I ended up in my job by the mere fact that I'm great at it. There are periods where it's good and periods where I just feel like screaming.

There is a silver lining, though. You may not be able to find the job you love, but there's a good chance that you will make your job loveable. I used some programming skills and automated the part of my job that made me want to pull my hair out.

Kinetckyle - consider the possibility of automating your paperwork.

 

[Indigo NT]

Choice is a blessing and a curse. INTPs can be great at many things; but actually enjoy very few for long periods of time. Case in point - I ended up in my career by the mere fact that I'm great at it. There are periods where it's good and periods where I just feel like screaming.

There is a silver lining, though. You may not be able to find the job you love, but there's a good chance that you will make your job loveable. I used some programming skills and automated the part of my job that made me want to pull my hair out.

Kinetckyle - consider the possibility of automating your paperwork.

This. And also you wouldn't believe it but people at your workplace are damn important. If they suck, your job is gonna suck, no matter if you're a feeler or a thinker.

 

[Sorceress_Rin]

I would agree with most of the replies at the start of this thread. Finding a career that makes you happy is 90% attitude. But I would also suggest looking back in your life and try and find your passions and other parallels that have followed you. I would never have imagined choosing the career I did but when I looked back to my childhood I realised that I have always been passionate about science, whether chemistry and cell biology or primary school anatomy. Find something that has meaning to you so that you can use that that when you are feeling down.

 

[aaaw]

Researcher.