Hello! Wait, that sounded stupid. Why did I say that? Dammit, how do I get this name tag off and

[SpeedAgent]

I recently discovered my minority status while working with an executive career coach. After several unsuccessful career moves I realized I could no longer see out of the hole I was digging and realized I needed some type of intervention. What I found was a questionable resource for career advice at $175/hr.

The first thing I learned in my coaching sessions was that I am an INTP with scores heavy on INP, but only slightly in the T and boarderline with F. The MBTI results were very eye opening for me, but left me with more questions than answers. Questions like- "WTF am I supposed to do with this information?" After many months and a lot of introspection I now have questions like- "WTF am I supposed to do with this information?" I have no answers.

I have been unemployed for 10 months and have gone through the stages of grief at least 5 times; sometimes in reverse order and sometimes I start in the middle. This isn't the first time I've been unemployed, but it is the longest, most frustrating and most dangerous. I have a family that I would like to support, but seem to have no mental ability to think my way out of my situation. I can find solutions to just about any problem for anyone other than myself. I have spent a lot of time over the last 10 months gaining useful career certifications and have recently enrolled in an MBA program. However, I have feverishly been trying to speed through my studies to finish as quickly as possible. I seem to like to add to my pile of anxiety. I have stopped seeing my coach as I found too many faults with her and I'm back to staying up many nights trying to think my way out of my problems. I'm happy to report that I have designed a way for Facebook to make money, but have no new answers for myself in finding a job.

I found this forum after doing a brief search for INTP topics like "INTP jobs", "INTP behavior", INTP and sex drive", and "INTP- WTF am I supposed to do with this information?". I look forward to learning more about this site and over analyzing what I read and trying to internalize my thoughts and sharing just enough about myself so some people here find me annoyingly mysterious.

Chris

 

[The Gopher]

Hey! Your title reminds me of something that must remain untalked about. However welcome and I hope you find what you need to find at least.

 

[Cognisant]

Print out lots of resumes and hand them out to every single employer you can find, eventually you're bound to find somebody who's hiring, I find that's far more effective than looking in the paper or online because that's what everyone else does.

 

[SpeedAgent]

What is a "paper"?

 

[Architect]

What is a "paper"?

A reed that grows along the Nile.

Spoiler

πάπῡρος

 

[Cognisant]

What is a "paper"?

Newspaper.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

pick a random job on Craigslist, then, use that introspective mind and 'figure' out a way to get it; a new and novel industry might be the thing you need-- an industry you never would have imagined yourself being a part of before... start on the lowest rung you can to get your foot in the door-- then, you can always move up or jump ship to another industry;

challenge yourself and do something totally anti-INTP for a while-- go do telemarketing or something

it's very likely that if you keep your eyes open, the perfect opportunity or people will present themselves to you, as long as you're moving forward and not backwards;

of course getting a menial job would be easy and not give you full ability to support a family-- but something is better than nothing and a happy husband/father is always better than depressed

 

[Da Blob]

A) Learn how to play the system, via corruption and personal politics (difficult for INTPians)

B) Forsake the system, go off the grid, move to somewhere on a permanent basis where the economy is driven by tourism, not technology. If nothing else one can gloat about living somewhere that most others only dream about visiting. Don't invest in a single employer, instead work at a number of part-time jobs on a flexible schedule, with one of those jobs being of a self-employed nature.

C) Rethink priorities! providing for one's family can include a wide-range of activities, including such inexpensive things as spending time doing the things that they want to do. After all, once one has acquired the necessities of life (food, shelter), everything else is just a game involving social status.

 

[SpeedAgent]

Thanks for warm welcome. The issues related to careers in the INTP analysis was a serious eye opener for me. I've held various positions with various companies with the same outcome- I got bored and distracted after a couple of months and I really began to hate the work. I could never understand why, but now I kinda get it. I "get it" from the perspective that my personality doesn't conform to certain types of jobs, but what I don't get is what am I supposed to be doing? I have narrowed it down to a few positions; Biz Analyst, Management Consultant (specialized), CCO (in the future), or Project Manager. The trouble now is actually finding a job within any of these areas. I have been networking, but little has come of it.

From lurking prior to joining I understand that the career topic is one of the most popular so I won't ask you guys to chime in here. However, I do have a question for you guys. It is possibly philosophical to some and rhetorical to others.

Many INTP'ers (myself included), from my reading, think of themselves and their ideas in grandiose ways. Many times these ideas are not properly expressed, there is no outlet for them, they aren't seen as grandiose to others, etc so nothing is generated from these ideas, regardless of how terrific they are. This frequently being the case are INTP'ers destined for mediocrity? I don't mean this in a way to denigrate or insult anyone here, but everything I'm reading about INTP'ers is not necessarily depressing, but it isn't uplifting or inspiring either, at least to me. It seems that I could possibly go through my whole life still wondering what I want to do and continuing to try and fit in. This doesn't fit with my internal thoughts of myself nor does it fit with what I have always wanted to make of myself.

Alright, I'm done. I feel better.

Chris

 

[MissQuote]

Hello welcome.

I have no advice as I am lost right now myself.

I recently decided (beginning of this year) I should go to school and peruse a degree in library science and possibly become a librarian. I really want to do this, actually. I have yet to make any steps towards accomplishing it, however.

I hope you figure out what you want and how to get it AND how to make yourself take the steps, soon. Sorry I am no help.

 

[contextblues]

Please update us when claw your way out of the rabbit hole. I'd like to accomplish a similar feat someday.

 

[SpeedAgent]

I will, but please don't wait on me. I am finding that the more I read about INTP and our characteristics the less I like being an INTP and the more I realize I want to be someone else.

 

[eagor]

hello (put name here) i hope you work out your problem with (add problem) and remember (add a sappy unnecessary phrase).

i didn't bother reading your intro so there you go

 

[Velo]

Hi SpeedAgent,

Your post struck a nerve, enough so that it finally got me to quit lurking for the past 2 weeks and finally register, so at least you accomplished that.

I've had the same frustrations with finding a rewarding career and wish there was an easy answer. INTPs don't seem to meld with the corporate environment in the US, so I'm not sure that any job linked to a large company like "program manager" would be fulfilling for you.

My experiences have resulted in being labeled as the oddball, go-to person at work for solving complex, seemingly "impossible" technical problems that no one else wants to deal with, and I have shown up on different employer's org charts in my own little box off to the side. Other than the satisfaction for having solved the problems, there has never been any career advancement. I have an INTP friend who shares this legacy, so it's not just me.

Until we find a magic career answer, I'll continue to ignore the urge to walk away due to a family to support.

Keep up with the biting sense of humor. If mine were taken from me, I couldn't make it through the day, even with the internal voices floating around in my head.

Cheers, and good luck.

 

[SpeedAgent]

I feel like I have accomplished something this week- thanks!