INTP Careers?

[Sparrow]

So, what do some of you older guys do? How do you like it?

I'm going to college next year and I have to submit my application in a week or so...

It's been two weeks now and I just cannot make up my mind. I thought I made my mind like a week ago but now I'm just unsure of myself.

There's the health sciences aka Doctor work...pure and applied sciences which is like engineering and then the social sciences.

What interests me is history, literature, geography.

My strengths are creative writing, writing...digesting facts...

My weaknesses: I have no patience...I get distracted easily. I can obsess over things that interest me and put aside anything I don't "want" to do. I waste my time.

Math...amazing mental math. I can stack numbers, multiply, divide with ease but it's algebra that kills me. I actually used to be good at math. I just don't put the effort in. I hate studying for math. I like doing math when I understand but I usually just don't care or bother to understand. I like playing with systems but I'm always in LaLaland...

I like the sciences...the theoretical.I'm just no good at things like physics/math. Chemistry is easy for me, it's so simple. I also have motivation issues. Nothing can get me motivated.

Oh, I also have like 0 confidence. "Impending Doom" feeling. It always gets me and I panic. I also have slight anxiety issues. If there's too much pressure on me, I break.

I don't think I'll go far in life...I just don't want to suck at it because I have dreams that need to be fulfilled.

What the hell should I do? XD

 

[ashitaria]

A linguist? An editor?

Do you have very active imagination? Perhaps a writer would be fine. Most ideas of stories are born from history, and seeing that you like literature and history, perhaps you could write a story.

And you don't necessarily need to be patient to write a story.

Right?

Also, your sense of Geographical understanding could further help you write a book. You could write an epic war scene or something, while covering the lands and terrains. You get paid for being in Lalaland, and for pondering stuff.

Since you are already in creative writing, perhaps you should work on your writing skills? I sometimes post my stories on the net and gather criticism, which helps, though I only do so rarely, being so busy with my life and being so un-motivated.

Then again, writing is only for the motivated...

 

[Sparrow]

I'm a lost cause :P

So little time left. I've been on square 1 for 2 weeks now. It's frustrating. This indecision is. I love to write but writing for a living? Don't have the patience XD. I'm in LaLaland enough as it is. I'm frustrated. I've never really wanted to be something...my parents always told me to become a doctor...but I don't want to. I have no clue. Everything interests me...I'm just so damn lazy. Bleh, how am I supposed to get anywhere if I can't make up my mind...and how the hell do I stop procrastinating...seems like every time I tell myself "I'm gonna get this done", I just don't. It fails to materialize. I get distracted and preoccupied wasting my time. I spend at least 95% of my time wasting my time doing Literally NOTHING. *Facepalm

I should've been born ESTJ or INTJ. Those guys have the willpower.

 

[Shatokan]

I can't do college. So I'm going to try working in resorts. It worked for my granny, who I'm supposedly almost exactly alike. Might as well give it a try.

 

[Infinite Regress]

I'm part of the Australian system, so it may not be applicable - but if your quantitatively inclined - just do a math degree. It is quite flexible later on.

I noted you said you were quick with mental math, so I was going to suggest something in trading/game theory related. But then saw you mention you crack under pressure - so may not be as relevant

Otherwise any sort of liberal arts is good to scope exactly what you'd like to do. More often its the people you meet at college and their recounting of job experiences etc. that give you a more realistic view of what work is actually like.

I remember reading job descriptions when at school and it didn't sound too bad. Oh how I was mistaken...

 

[UppyDownyMouth]

Im running my own iPhone development company... i like it

www.no-data.co.uk

 

[Lobstrich]

Im running my own iPhone development company... i like it

www.no-data.co.uk

I'm half though on my way to become a cook.. It's not what most people would call a "suitable" job for an INTP.. Since you there is alot of routine, alot of communicating and alot socializing involved.. But nobody is 100% introverted (And no. You are not 100% introverted just because the tests says you are)
On the other hand, the plus of INTP'nes: The difference between a proffesional cook and someone who just cooks at home. Is that when you cook at home, you cook to eat. As a cook, you cook to serve. You want to be creative, you wante to CREATE something not cook something, you want to be innovative, be arrogant. And say "Screw your fucking recipe"
And make something that is unique, something new and something good.
You want to serve other people. Give the meal to the waiter. And think to yourself "That was okay" You can never go to far on being creative in cooking, trust me when I say there is litteraly ALWAYS something new coming up.

And when a cook just starts to cook for the money, or just because he has too, or without just a tad of innovation or creative thinking..

That's where he is no longer a cook.


Besides that I would also love to get alot better at drawing, and draw concept art for games, movies etc. I love they way that you actually dictate how it's going to be.. Sure they can say "Hey I want this dude to have like an old look, you know with a grizzly voice" But in the end, it's how YOU think an old man with grizzly voice looks like, right?

And lastly I'd also like to try out some sort of field work. I don't know, not like being an assassin. As some dude on this forum said he wanted to be. But something where you do indeed to work, that's not just giving parking tickets. In the field, alone, reporting. Acting on what you think is right.

If you've ever played Mass Effect. A Spectre.. Something like that, It probably sounds a bit stupid. But I like the concept of being able to dictate the outcome of something, without someone saying dictating, how I dictate the outcome.



I hope that gives you just a tad of perspective.

EDIT: Uops.. I ment to quote Anamalech, and not you. Hehe

 

[Robbaz]

You know, it's tough. I have a 17 yr old nephew that is an INTP and I can see the same confused, bored, unmotivated kid that I was at that age and easily up to my mid 20's. I'm 35 now, so I keep trying think about what can help him along and get him motivated. You know. Being an INTP sucks when your younger because like you said, your interested in everything, but find that your too lazy to do anything.

But if your just getting into school now, I wouldn't worry about your end game yet. Just take the basics and figure it out on the way. If you're anything like I was at your age, you'll change your mind several times along the way. My suggestion is to just not stress about it and try to stay away from areas you know you don't like, (like for me it was accounting, or artsy things).

The fact that you say you're lazy or unmotivated or get bored with things just emphasizes how much you need something that stimulates your creative side. A job that isn't so routine. Writing might be a great job for you because there's something new everyday. Anyways, I'm rambling now, but hope that helps a little......

 

[Irishpenguin]

I dunno if I can really give helpful advice, but seeing as how you mentioned creative writing...

I have pretty much already decided that my dream job is to become a fiction writer so I'm at least going to make a push for it, I mean even if I can't sell stories I still just want to get these ideas onto paper...I mean, it's just naggin' at me to write it. Anyway, I have the exact same problems you say about yourself. The stuff that you say about how you can never hold focus for very long and how everything interests you, those traits make it harder to write a structured story. The main motivator for me to still have the dream of writing is pretty much the stories themselves. When I think about them, they just seem like they could be so good if told right. So I guess as far as creative writing goes, if you can actually find a story, or have an idea interesting enough to hold your attention, then definitely hop on that and write it. Or you could just keep reading for cool jobs, I mean Robbaz just posted and it seems like he has way better advice, either way, good luck.

and as a side note

On the other hand, the plus of INTP'nes: The difference between a proffesional cook and someone who just cooks at home. Is that when you cook at home, you cook to eat. As a cook, you cook to serve. You want to be creative, you wante to CREATE something not cook something, you want to be innovative, be arrogant. And say "Screw your fucking recipe"

The way you look at being a chef is interesting. I love cooking, you can end up making something amazing when you go into that kitchen prepared to innovate, yet I always saw becoming a chef as pretty much being a robot unless you get to a super chef status like Bobby Flay or those food network guys. Otherwise it just seems like you would have your basic foods on the menu, then maybe one or two of you're signature dishes, and the customers simply say "I want this one". Then you are just forced to make a dish that you have probably already made a thousand times. I mean even if you do get to put your signature dish on the menu, after a while, everything could get old.

Now cooking for yourself on the other hand, that's a different story to me. I absolutely love it when I'm pumped and find a recipe online that looks good and I might make some changes, or sometimes mistakes, that make it taste pretty good. Either way the big pay off is that you actually get to eat it and you get to be innovative.

The main point of this is just that I was just confused about how one goes about being an actual working chef that serves people while still being able to be creative on the spot.

(I already feel bad for making the reply to your post longer than my reply to the actual thread question, so I guess if you actually want to reply to this you can just leave a comment on my page. okay bye)

 

[Robbaz]

I dunno if I can really give helpful advice, but seeing as how you mentioned creative writing...

I have pretty much already decided that my dream job is to become a fiction writer so I'm at least going to make a push for it, I mean even if I can't sell stories I still just want to get these ideas onto paper...I mean, it's just naggin' at me to write it. Anyway, I have the exact same problems you say about yourself. The stuff that you say about how you can never hold focus for very long and how everything interests you, those traits make it harder to write a structured story. The main motivator for me to still have the dream of writing is pretty much the stories themselves. When I think about them, they just seem like they could be so good if told right. So I guess as far as creative writing goes, if you can actually find a story, or have an idea interesting enough to hold your attention, then definitely hop on that and write it. Or you could just keep reading for cool jobs, I mean Robbaz just posted and it seems like he has way better advice, either way, good luck.

and as a side note



The way you look at being a chef is interesting. I love cooking, you can end up making something amazing when you go into that kitchen prepared to innovate, yet I always saw becoming a chef as pretty much being a robot unless you get to a super chef status like Bobby Flay or those food network guys. Otherwise it just seems like you would have your basic foods on the menu, then maybe one or two of you're signature dishes, and the customers simply say "I want this one". Then you are just forced to make a dish that you have probably already made a thousand times. I mean even if you do get to put your signature dish on the menu, after a while, everything could get old.

Now cooking for yourself on the other hand, that's a different story to me. I absolutely love it when I'm pumped and find a recipe online that looks good and I might make some changes, or sometimes mistakes, that make it taste pretty good. Either way the big pay off is that you actually get to eat it and you get to be innovative.

The main point of this is just that I was just confused about how one goes about being an actual working chef that serves people while still being able to be creative on the spot.

(I already feel bad for making the reply to your post longer than my reply to the actual thread question, so I guess if you actually want to reply to this you can just leave a comment on my page. okay bye)

Are either of you currently writing a book? I've made that a goal to write a fictional book and it's harder than I thought it would be. At the rate I'm going, I should have it written in about, say, 20 years or so. I have great ideas for the book that I know will be very interesting if I'm able to put them all together cohesively, but I just get too sidetracked and I'm too analytical on everything I start writing. It's hard to stay focused and I keep changing my direction over and over. Every once in a while, I get brief sparks of interesting ideas which keeps me going. I'm a great technical writer, but Ive found writing fiction to be pretty challenging.

It would just be nice to see if another INTP is able to write fiction.

 

[Lobstrich]

I dunno if I can really give helpful advice, but seeing as how you mentioned creative writing...

I have pretty much already decided that my dream job is to become a fiction writer so I'm at least going to make a push for it, I mean even if I can't sell stories I still just want to get these ideas onto paper...I mean, it's just naggin' at me to write it. Anyway, I have the exact same problems you say about yourself. The stuff that you say about how you can never hold focus for very long and how everything interests you, those traits make it harder to write a structured story. The main motivator for me to still have the dream of writing is pretty much the stories themselves. When I think about them, they just seem like they could be so good if told right. So I guess as far as creative writing goes, if you can actually find a story, or have an idea interesting enough to hold your attention, then definitely hop on that and write it. Or you could just keep reading for cool jobs, I mean Robbaz just posted and it seems like he has way better advice, either way, good luck.

and as a side note



The way you look at being a chef is interesting. I love cooking, you can end up making something amazing when you go into that kitchen prepared to innovate, yet I always saw becoming a chef as pretty much being a robot unless you get to a super chef status like Bobby Flay or those food network guys. Otherwise it just seems like you would have your basic foods on the menu, then maybe one or two of you're signature dishes, and the customers simply say "I want this one". Then you are just forced to make a dish that you have probably already made a thousand times. I mean even if you do get to put your signature dish on the menu, after a while, everything could get old.

Now cooking for yourself on the other hand, that's a different story to me. I absolutely love it when I'm pumped and find a recipe online that looks good and I might make some changes, or sometimes mistakes, that make it taste pretty good. Either way the big pay off is that you actually get to eat it and you get to be innovative.

The main point of this is just that I was just confused about how one goes about being an actual working chef that serves people while still being able to be creative on the spot.

(I already feel bad for making the reply to your post longer than my reply to the actual thread question, so I guess if you actually want to reply to this you can just leave a comment on my page. okay bye)

Cooking for myself is an absolute joy as well.. I wasn't saying that was just daily chore.. And the thing you say about a cook just being a robot. Is very true.
And that is why I don't want work at any restaurant.
All those tools you are talking about might be educated cooks, But I don't think the have the mentality of a "real" cook. Otherwise they wouldn't waste 10 years doing the same fucking dishes.

(Keep in mind that I'm in no way a cook yet.. But that doesn't refrain me to have an opinion about what cooking is)

And I think becoming a tool has something to do with you! How you decide to tell the chef "hey dude, I got this great idea" If you even do?
And that's where I am somewhat of a snob. I don't want to work at any restaurant. I want to work at a restaurant. Where it's passion and not money that counts.
If I got the choice "Boring restaurant, lot's of money" And "Innovative, creative restaurant, not alot of money/Maybe even non" I would still pick the creative ANY day.

And those restaurants change their menu each season. It's only shitty restaurants where you pay 5 bucks for a full meal. Where hey have the same fucking frozen steaks and stupid fries. Where they keep the menu all year.
right now the Scandinavian/Nordic cuisine is coming up.. Italian, French and asian food has been raped to death, and now it's Nordic's turn. And It's good.
It's alot about natural taste. You want your fish to taste like FISH not like all kinds of stupid spice, You want your berries to almost be gardened in the kitchens garden! It's all about the natural, organic taste of everything. The worlds second best restaurant (Noma, which is a Danish restaurant)
They don't even use pepper, at all.

And trust me, those cooks do feel like tools sometimes, they meet up 0800 and go home 2400. BUT, they get to be creative. There is always a new menu. If they aren't any good mushrooms, they don't serve stuff with mushrooms. Same goes for berries. So they have to change according to the "time of the year"

And those guys, have shitty hours. But they feel VERY good about the work they do. And so will I, without a doubt. If I ever get to work at such a unique place.

EDIT: Also. Alot of people tend to think the scandinavian cuisine is boring. And it kind of is, It doesn't have all this nice colours and cool flavours that the Italian do, or the french. But you have to look at it without having any other cuisine in your mind. And then you will appreciate the naturality of everthing is simply, Awesome.

 

[Alice?]

All right, so... This is my first post on here, so forgive me if my thoughts aren't competely coherent in text yet. The reason I decided to reply to this post in particular is that I was in the midst of the same struggle not to long ago. Only recently (within the past couple of months) have I found my calling in Astrophysics and am currently working my way to a B.S. (I'm a freshman in college.)

Here's the thing about most colleges: You have time to explore your options. To most INTP's, this is both a blessing and curse because we are interested in so many areas that the surplus of options might only confuse us further... yet it may also guide us in the right direction. If I were you, I would choose a college/university that doesn't pressure you to choose your major right away. I know some of the ones that I looked at prefer to put their students in a death grip once they've chosen their major... urgh.
But anyway, take your time and get your general ed. out of the way and take time to explore a couple of elective courses to see what you like. Since you mentioned having an interest in the medical field as well as some chemistry skills, how about combining them into Biochemistry? That way you have both the intrigue and the ease... doesn't sound so bad to me.
As far as the motivation issue... it'll come with time. Partly. I'm more motivated now that I've found what I really want out of life (to learn and explore the depths of the universe... go figure, haha), but I still have problems with forcing myself to do things that don't absolutely NEED to get done NOW. Agh. I'll let you know when I figure that out... Actually, I'll probably forget. And I'll probably never figure it out.
As an ending note, don't put too much pressure on yourself. That will probably be the worst thing to do... pressure yourself into choosing something that's not completely right. You'll know when you've made the right decision. But until then, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the new phase of life and all the oportunities that it will present to you!
Hope I helped a little.