The ideal INTP career

[Architect]

Generalizing some ideas I've talked about here, I think stepping back from some of the professions I've mentioned as ideal or good fits can be generalized in the following way.

The ideal life work for an INTP is being a writer. ​

I mean this in the most general purpose way. INTP's don't like doing, but we seem to love writing out symbols of one form or another which is just a way of getting ideas out. And there's the key - thinking about ideas and writing them down. That I believe is the ideal.

Einstein
If you think about it he was a writer. He thought about the natural world, solved some problems and wrote a few papers. All that matters is that he wrote those few papers that contained a handful of equations, how he got there is immaterial. Later in life he wrote extensively about many subjects, become a philosopher from just a natural philosopher.

Paul Wolfowitz
Probable INTP. He thinks about conservative policy and ideas and communicates them. He was the Bush presidency political advisor.

Larry David
Probable INTP. He thinks about human interactions and is a comedy writer. How he views commonplace interactions is eerily like how I see and think about them. He always chafed against having a regular job too, he quit Seinfeld several times.


Now what professions support this? Let me start by pointing out a few types of writing I don't think are good fits

Composing
I wanted to do this for years, until I got to know a semi-famous INTP composer. I hated his music, you could hear him exploring ideas. As music I thought it was terrible. Which is the point, a composer has to have a sense of taste and history, decisions aren't made based on how interesting they are but how they'll be interpreted. This is more the domain of F than Ti.

Fiction writing
Similiar to above. INTP's can certainly pull this off, but the crafts person types (e.g. ISFP's) are probably better suited for this kind of work.

Journalist
I get the impression from EditorOne that this is a mixed bag.

Here then are professions then that are worth looking at

Programmer
I sit around, think, solve problems and write them down. All at my own pace, I love it.

Analyst
Like Wolfowitz above. Think about some problems and write about solutions. Jennywocky's requirements analyst work is an example, intelligence analyst, market analyst, etc.

Non fiction author
A.J. Drench seems to have found satisfaction in this area. I know for me that eventually I'd get bored of my subject, if I could switch to other ones periodically this would be a good fit.

Theoretical Scientist
It's basically impossible to become of these, but if you have the right talent, luck and did the right things it can be a good choice as Einstein showed.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

I've done everything from your list, aside from science and I have to tell I find it to be some of the most directly rewarding things I've done in my life.

All that said, If possible I wouldn't want to capitalize it or make a career of what I enjoy doing for the sake of it. Some of my favourite modes of employment include artists/writers who create content and people donating for their continued effort, the so called mecenate. That way neither side is forced to change or adjust to what is being created and done.

Also how being INTP is any relevant to these activities being desirable. Is it so important to classify something as ideal or INTP?

I'm not so sure I am INTP but I still tend to agree with what you have listed, I don't see a real correlation to be made with this and something informative about people though. These seem to be popularly employed tools for a variety of creative individuals. Therefore creative tools for creative individuals are "ideal", seems obvious enough.

 

[Puffy]

Writing is an important skill to develop for anyone interested in intelligence or creative thinking, in my opinion, I wouldn't generalise it to INTPs.

The first rule of behavioural psychology is 'you get more of what you positively reinforce.' If you reinforce the habit of compulsively recording interesting thoughts you have, note-taking, annotating, systemising & integrating what you learn with what you know, you positively reinforce an active intelligence that's useful to anyone. (I believe Einstein emphasised this point himself in what he called 'combinatory play.')

An INTP's Ti to me feels like a 'refining' function. It perfects, refines, clarifies, etc, models that exist, as opposed to something like Ni or Ne which are purely original creative impulses which do not care for pre-existing knowledge & models per se, but originate (INTP's have Ne obviously, but it's secondary to Ti). Both make interesting writers, as writing in itself is broad enough to encompass any approach and any field of interest.

Type shouldn't be a determinant of career imo, it's a tool-kit or modality. Passion is primary & your positioning in that field should be optimised to your modality.

 

[Architect]

All that said, If possible I wouldn't want to capitalize it or make a career of what I enjoy doing for the sake of it. Some of my favourite modes of employment include artists/writers who create content and people donating for their continued effort, the so called mecenate. That way neither side is forced to change or adjust to what is being created and done.

I take work here very generally. I work for pay - programming, and spend much of my outside time working on my own projects in AI and modeling. It has some advantages and disadvantages, but I like it better than if I was a sign painter programming on the side. And I'm not sure if I was a rich heir would be any better. Likely scenario is that I wouldn't produce anything at all.

Also how being INTP is any relevant to these activities being desirable. Is it so important to classify something as ideal or INTP?

People most often make bad career choices based on their inferior, so flipping it and looking for good career choices based on dominant/auxiliary seems like a good idea too.

I don't see a real correlation to be made with this and something informative about people though.

I wish I had read this when I was 18.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

I wish I had read this when I was 18.

Would your 18 year old self seeing this choose to act otherwise, or would you agree and still do what you did?
If you would change based on what you just now said, how many things could be improved or altered. It's said that wise people learn from others mistakes, then how about being a fool?

Being 18 I pretty much did things from the list, except I didn't retrospect and analyse why and what for. I used to be more in the moment.

People most often make bad career choices based on their inferior, so flipping it and looking for good career choices based on dominant/auxiliary seems like a good idea too.

I don't think people would naturally fall into their inferior since they can clearly see it is not working? Unless they don't experiment enough? Weak Ne?
Seems like a pathological / errant pattern, or just a part of being foolish and learning what was bad for them that was necessary to arrive at who they are.

 

[manishboy]

Agree with much of what's been said. I'd refine architect's formulation: The ideal life work for an INTP is as a thinker who writes.

I know a few writers and they tend to be serious, even obsessed, with the act of writing itself. For me, output a necessary burden. I tend to be serious about, and obsess over, patterns of ideas. Sometimes these get expressed when necessary, but often they simply go into the grand schema. Their expression tends to be somewhat disappointing.

I've been grappling with ways to make output more consistent, since I've yet to find anyone who would pay for my ideas alone.

 

[Architect]

Would your 18 year old self seeing this choose to act otherwise, or would you agree and still do what you did?

Nobody could definitively answer that question, the experiment isn't reversible. However, if I had a solid understanding of MBTI and the functions, say I had A.J. Drench's materials sent back to me, I believe I would made some different choices. You have to appreciate how hungry an INTP would have been for information in the pre-internet age.

But in point of fact I have a version of this experiment. My son is a clear and obvious INTP. Was born this way, I disbelieved it for years. He's been raised by parents who fully understand his predilections, and in turn he has taught me much about what INTP's like and don't like, when they aren't influenced to not be themselves. Simply because we didn't try to push him away from his natural desires, but instead explored them. Much of my thought and research on this subject is from him.

If you would change based on what you just now said, how many things could be improved or altered. It's said that wise people learn from others mistakes, then I'm fine with being a fool.

Not sure what you're driving at.

Remember I'm approaching this as a thought experiment. Individual circumstances differ. It certainly can be the case that an INTP tried all forms of ideation writing and hated them. It can also certainly be the case that they didn't approach it right, or had poor circumstances around it. I've seen many times that an idea I had about something, based on what I personally tried, turned out to be wrong when I tried it again. I hated music the first time with it, same with physics and math. On all those subjects I didn't get it until after trying and failing a few times.

Now that I think of it I flunked my first programming course.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

On all those subjects I didn't get it until after trying and failing a few times.

I totally relate . I don't want to give examples to unnecessarily make an idiot out of myself, but oh well, I failed a theoretical driving test a few times because I didn't memorize questions and it was the only thing required to pass it, I just didn't care. I wouldn't tell it to people that I want to have a serious relationship with that I know couldn't take it.

But I see it as a necessary and fun part of exploring life and I just love people thinking I am an idiot, I stopped caring about that in many social situations.

Retrospective and hindsight are pointless, arriving where you are with the tools you had at that point was probably possible thanks to these errors.

On the other hand, what you say and about your son, probably can be used to theorise about a very efficient form of educating a person. Still I don't think it is required of healthy individuals to get somewhere in life to be happy, etc.

 

[Polaris]

I don't know. As Puffy pointed out, writing can appeal to most types, depending on interest and preference. It's not the writing itself, it is how we write.

Secondly, I think it is important to understand what we don't want to do as a career, although this is perhaps particularly important for Ti doms as I also perceive Ti as a rejecting operator, among it's other applications.

To clarify I have to use myself as an example. I find it nearly impossible to make my mind up between multiple choices, so I default to rejecting the least likely options first. It's a process of elimination. This is how I do everything; considering every option and sorting systematically.

How this has played out in career choices was my tendency to try everything. I had a rather broad field of interests when I was very young, and I couldn't make my mind up. I made some poor choices because of this, but I would rather have had that experience as I am now absolutely certain based on my own experience of what it is I don't want to do.

Ti operates based on Si acquired knowledge and experience and I believe you cannot understand properly until you have tested all the variables over and over. In that way, my career history has been another science experiment. Now I am happy with my choice, but I am only truly comfortable as I have had the emotional as well as intellectual realisation.

Spoiler

This is an aspect of general psychology that shouldn't be ignored, IMO, and which INTPs tend to ignore if we rely too much on Ti. I was discouraged from using Ti in my younger years, or rather, pushed into a role that did not sit comfortably so I actually ended up quite confused about most things. I think this this has been beneficial though, as I have had to adjust to using functions, or fitting into archetypes that forced me to see things from very different perspectives. Only later in life did I have the luxury to indulge in Ti.

My goal is to specialise through research and writing scientific textbooks. Fictional writing was just a delusion.

 

[D_in_Oz]

Recently my 39 year old son thanked me for his childhood. We lived in a well off community and were considered poor. However I believed in exposing my children to different experiences and giving them the chance to choose which activities they wanted to participate in. I also took them places and allowed them to see and experience things so they would have a better perspective to make choices in later life. My son thinks his childhood was far "richer" than the rich kids as they may have had the flash house and designer clothes, but their parents didn't invest the same amount of time in them as individuals. I always thought I was an adequate parent but it was the INTP part of me that allowed them to make their own mistakes and learn from it. Encouraging independent thought at a young age had it 's moments but in the long run was the right choice. As to career choices I've always been drawn to jobs where I get to analyse things or solve problems. Most people feel better when doing a job they are good at and not having many other talents analysis was the right fit for me.

 

[Architect]

I don't know. As Puffy pointed out, writing can appeal to most types, depending on interest and preference. It's not the writing itself, it is how we write.

Yes I agree writing can appeal to most type (or may not), but I think this point lies at the heart of typology. Is there an ideal 'meta-profession' for INTP's, or not?

Take the flip side, is there an absolute worst career for an INTP? How about being a steel worker, or an assembly line worker? Rote physical action with great attention to detail. Would you expect to find any INTP's who liked this kind of thing? And no cheating by saying nobody likes those jobs, I know people who do production line work who are content enough (SP's often).

So it's reasonable to take the other side, there is some meta-career such writing, service, expressive or investigative. So, if you think not writing as I outlined above, then what?

 

[Polaris]

So it's reasonable to take the other side, there is some meta-career such writing, service, expressive or investigative. So, if you think not writing as I outlined above, then what?

Oh, that's not what I was getting at.

Writing is great for INTPs....and some other types, for sure. That wasn't my main point.

It's how we get to that point of realisation, which I was outlining in the rest of my post.

 

[Teffnology]

Screenwriting.

IMO anyone can write a book but to write a screenplay worthy of being made is an accomplishment.

 

[Puffy]

Screenwriting.

IMO anyone can write a book but to write a screenplay worthy of being made is an accomplishment.

Slight derail, but depends. I'm a very visual thinker: I did an MA level screenwriting class with no prior experience and came top of the class with encouragement to go into it professionally (whether it's worthy of being made -shrugs-). However, I'm absolutely terrible with prose despite years of attempts.

People have different natural affinities, which is what makes me think passion & individual factors are more important in career choice, with type effecting the way you adapt to that field.

 

[Pizzabeak]

Screenwriting.

IMO anyone can write a book but to write a screenplay worthy of being made is an accomplishment.

Not really. That's probably more suitable if not enjoyable for INFPs. Then again 4 or 5 different disciplines related to writing (and even then let's not limit that to writing) could be considered 'ideal' for them.

Most people probably have decent story ideas that they'd like to see get made into films or even have decent motivation for wanting to adapt a work. A "screenplay worthy of being made" is arbitrary, any script can technically get made with enough patience or grit, which is the usual process. Someone can get five or so friends and simply shoot a screenplay. Even if it isn't Hollywood standard numerous rewrites in the right hands (script doctor?) could simply make it worthy. It isn't ever really just one person, although one person may initially have the story idea.

INTPs can enjoy or be good at this but whether full time or not is questionable. No job is perfect. The creative problem solving, troubleshooting or go to role, or overall script reviser/refiner will be good and effective but the issue would be getting taken serious or even listened to. Of course if that niche is earned and sustained there would be no issue.

INFPs would have no issue in any facet and would just want to be expressive, EXTJ is useful to have to get things done although they'd want to be in charge and may be rigid and stick a formula, kind of basic, would probably go well with ISTP, INTJ would be more like historians and specialize in one aspect, being somewhat indispensable and would of course usually be drawn towards more avant garde and cerebral.

Passion and individual factors are probably key, an INFP can probably do screenwriting or composing depending on personal interest obviously (maybe music runs in the family; etc).

 

[Architect]

Yeah, screenwriting is an interesting example. Generally I'd think no as it depends on having a sense of present taste, and anticipation. Falls more into the composing and fiction writing category than logical problem solving category.

 

[Seteleechete]

I intend to become a fiction writer. I will to go at it with the attitude of it being a hobby rather than a profession. As you said others might not be as appreciative of my writing as I am. Not a problem since I want to write primarily for myself not others. I do however hope that at least some other people will like my work. For my profession I will study to become some sort or psychologist/analyst. Haven't decided exactly what yet.

 

[Architect]

I intend to become a fiction writer.

I knew an INTP fiction writer, I was convinced he was one at least and he identified as such. He was a successful published author too with some 10+ books. I read one of them and the experience was similar to my INTP composer friend. The story seemed more clever and for his own amusement than my enjoyment. He was published but not a great success.

The best creative types - authors, composers, artists, actors and the like, give to their audience. They crawl into the head of their audience and give them what they want or need. INTP's aren't good at this. We can analyze what people want, but generally not at giving of ourselves in this way.

Larry David, who I believe is an INTP, is a rare example of an INTP (supposing he is one) who can give people what they want. But, he does it by making fun of them. He analyzes people, puts it in stark contrast, and shows everybody what jerks we all are. People find this funny. I think he's the exception that makes the rule.

 

[ActiveMind]

I'm toying around with writing some science fiction but I've heard some good money can be made from writing trashy romance stuff. Apparently, women eat it up if it's written halfway decent, though my INTP-ness would work to improve the quality of writing to where it may or may not ever get done....

 

[Seteleechete]

I would find no enjoyment being a fiction writer if I limited myself, to appease others. That's why I see it as a hobby, with the off potential of becoming a career should I be successful.

 

[Pyropyro]

Non fiction author
A.J. Drench seems to have found satisfaction in this area. I know for me that eventually I'd get bored of my subject, if I could switch to other ones periodically this would be a good fit.

It's a balance of Ti-Si and Ne. You'll get burned if you don't satisfy these aspects of your personality. Ti-Si is satisfied by composing the article itself while Ne is revitalized by doing research, interviews and good old data mining. I occasionally like doing these documents sometimes and I usually have ~20-30 pages of research materials to do 4-page articles.

Theoretical Scientist
It's basically impossible to become of these, but if you have the right talent, luck and did the right things it can be a good choice as Einstein showed.

Not that impossible but you better have something else to put on the table aside from being an INTP. These guys are the nerds of nerds but I can't help but admire their brilliance.

However, My eyes bleed whenever I read these guys' papers so I'm glad I don't have to most of the time.

 

[Ex-User (8886)]

It's surly topic worthy expansion.
INTPs are creators(or wizards, architects), and writing means to create something and because we are intuitive (abstract) we want to create something in our minds rather than creating something materialistic.
I would add drawing, it's similar to writing, and also it's a concept of something which doesn't exist (yet), like car or building project or concept of location or character in a game.

 

[ToughRye]

Ideal INTP careers for me are computer scientist, mathematician, or engineering. In particular, I would strive to do something 'dumb' just for attention to satisfy my Fe. But if people like good storytellers, then who has got the right to complain apart from NTJs with a strong Te.

 

[ToughRye]

I would find no enjoyment being a fiction writer if I limited myself, to appease others. That's why I see it as a hobby, with the off potential of becoming a career should I be successful.

Oh, the next Stieg Larsson.

 

[Perfectly Normal Beast]

lighthouse keeper.

preferably on the anti-social side of a causeway.

oh, the long abandoned dreams of youth. sigh.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

lighthouse keeper.

That or being an eremite on a platform atop a high pillar or tower.

 

[Seteleechete]

A nighttime security guard.

 

[Architect]

lighthouse keeper.

I looked into this, there are ones still running you can work at for a weekend or week. Dropped the idea when I found you have to do it with another couple.

 

[Perfectly Normal Beast]

you have to do it with another couple.

childhood fantasies shattered

 

[xZero]

I fit all of mentioned with exception that I also love and enjoy theoretical and fiction science.

 

[Happy]

The ideal life work for an INTP is being a writer. ​

I mean this in the most general purpose way. INTP's don't like doing, but we seem to love writing out symbols of one form or another which is just a way of getting ideas out. And there's the key - thinking about ideas and writing them down. That I believe is the ideal.

By this criteria, I'd like to suggest Architectural Design as a good fit.

After writing this, I see Manipulator has said something similar, and perhaps a more broad definition ('Design') is more appropriate.

Also, I view Programming as a branch of the Design tree.

 

[Architect]

By this criteria, I'd like to suggest Architectural Design as a good fit.

After writing this, I see Manipulator has said something similar, and perhaps a more broad definition ('Design') is more appropriate.

Also, I view Programming as a branch of the Design tree.

Yes agree with all of the above. David Keirsey makes careful distinctions among the types using words in Personology, I think it was designer which was the specific concept for INTP's (ENTP was something like "Improviser", INTJ "Inventor" or some such)

 

[Happy]

Perhaps there's a word more encompassing for the INTP. Maybe something like 'The Author'?

Actually, I think I like it. Has it been used before to describe the INTP? If not, I call 'first'.

 

[Architect]

Perhaps there's a word more encompassing for the INTP. Maybe something like 'The Author'?

Actually, I think I like it. Has it been used before to describe the INTP? If not, I call 'first'.

I'll check Personology later. Keirsey was a humanities guy and was obsessed with word usage (yeah and he was an INTP too, go figure).

The Author implies fiction though. I think the point here is that INTP's main mode is in designing (architecting) in one form or another, but our output is in the form of writing. Writing words, code, diagrams, etc. That's just how we best express ourselves (not by speaking or drawing say), but the main work is in our heads.

 

[Happy]

I'm not sure fiction is necessarily implied. For me, Authorship is more analogous with creative ownership of ideas, which I think is what an INTP holds most dear.

Nonetheless, I see your point. Designer works, but falls short IMO.

Furthermore, I dislike using the word 'architect' in the context of personality typology.

 

[Architect]

I'm not sure fiction is necessarily implied. For me, Authorship is more analogous with creative ownership of ideas, which I think is what an INTP holds most dear.

Nonetheless, I see your point. Designer works, but falls short IMO.

Furthermore, I dislike using the word 'architect' in the context of personality typology.

Agree, no single label seem to fit.

"Designer philosopher who likes to write"

 

[RandomGeneratedName]

"The ideal INTP career" Good one :P

Ideal career, writer? I disagree. I honestly think many INTPs end up folding back to that because the challenge of finding the right career is exhausting and ultimately demoralizing at times.

We're theorists, problem solvers, designers.
Many of us have tried to communicate ideas with others and probably didnt get the response back we thought we might.

INTPs are always in their head, expression is one of the ways to deal with it, albeit temporarily. (excess/vent/release)

Maybe i'm wrong though because i am biased being more on the artistic than literature side, lol.


I think writing might be just one of our tools for keeping our mind under control.
I mean, I can type or write endlessly, but I don't enjoy it.
I used to write short adults stories and somehow was pretty decent at them, I didn't enjoy writing them though, it was just a task, simply a task.

Not sure if this is an ADHD thing or whether other INTP experience it this extent, but, most of the time, everything is neutral for me. Indifference. Boredom. Procrastination. Simply CBA. Everything is just a task. Similar to when we offer advice, unsolicited if we've not yet learned from that burn, it's how we give sincere, unaltered, honest, no hidden agenda advice? (problem solve)

Yeah, I think writing is just a tool. An INTP mind isn't suited for such a primitive form of expression


I read a post on the wrong planet forum a couple of weeks ago, and they were discussing "how do you think". I can't remember the exact description, but I read a post and it was profoundly described, but it hit me, that's how I think, but I can say that ain't being communicated from my mind into a few scratches on paper.

(Ofc. ADHD/ASD been "associated" with INTP etc.)

I think too many of us, think too much and don't use our intuition enough.

Single label: Creationist?

 

[Happy]

Single label: Creationist?

Creationist (from creationism) refers to the belief that God created everything, and the term's use is usually contextually associated with an individual or group's rejection of the theory of evolution.

You'll find that this term does not describe the typical INTPf user.

I don't mean to be condescending, only to point out this error and discourage a derailing of this thread.


I understand what you're saying, and I believe (and I may have misinterpreted) when Architect began this thread, he was referring to writing, or being a writer, as an encompassing term for a career whereby an INTP may forge meaning in their life by making a physical record of their own thinking. This extends to the more visual fields of 'writing', whether they be drawing, painting, modelling, building, designing, etc. And I think this is what you are also trying to describe.

My own career is in a field that falls under this more broad definition and I can honestly say that I believe it is ideal for me as an INTP.

I can also honestly say that I find writing (words) to be one of my least favourite activities.


Finally, in regards to your comment on ADHD and neutrality, I must disagree. As a person who has been diagnosed as having ADHD, I see no correspondence between the 'disorder' and what I'm going to term, for lack of a better word, passion.

 

[Architect]

and I believe (and I may have misinterpreted) when Architect began this thread, he was referring to writing, or being a writer, as an encompassing term for a career whereby an INTP may forge meaning in their life by making a physical record of their own thinking.

Correct

This extends to the more visual fields of 'writing', whether they be drawing, painting, modelling, building, designing, etc. And I think this is what you are also trying to describe.

Incorrect. Or more specifically, only drawing when it's a visualization for concepts and ideas. Such as architectural drawings. The free plastic fine arts do not come into this, and I truly believe INTP's would not be good at that (though we can become competent).

I can also honestly say that I find writing (words) to be one of my least favourite activities.

The theory here is writing down of ideas, concepts and theories, in whatever form in whatever field takes the INTP's interest. Usually these are words, or math symbols. Musical symbols is problematic, as the result is dictated by taste and not logic (remember the INTP composer friend of mine who's music sounds terrible). Visual symbolic form - diagrams and modeling, also fits in this category.

Free expressive forms of writing, drawing etc do not.

 

[Inquisitor]

Architect, I've been following your posts for a while now...you rock! This is my first post on this forum, but I've been lurking for some time...anyway just wanted to say I've learned a lot from reading your comments...as well as from reading Drenth's stuff...(amazing insights in there too...) I can tell you have a lot of experience and you've put a lot of thought into understanding typology...(and what real INTP would not be interested in this?!)

I think writer is a fantastic way to describe INTPs. It's a great insight. One more piece of the puzzle. After reading that, I knew instantly that was the word to describe what I do best, and what comes naturally. I think in words, and I even tested in the 99th percentile on the WAIS IV for verbal comprehension (not trying to brag at all, it's just another data point). Before you made that connection, the output of an INTP's actual work was something that always seemed kind of fuzzy to me. But now, it's a lot clearer.

About me: I am actually an ESL teacher, but I am looking to move into another field, seriously considering CS, as I've gotten into programming the past few months with C. One thing I was hoping to get your take on is I know that you were a "humanities geek" when you were younger...what prompted the shift of interest for you to CS, and you also said you failed your first programming course...did it take a while for you to get interested in CS or did you take to it immediately?

I love thinking about social problems, learning about the contributing factors, assembling the whole issue in my head and then pondering solutions...I do it naturally...I assume you did too at one point and probably still do, but it seems like you did not choose this as your work and I'm wondering why not?

Sorry, long post

 

[Architect]

and I even tested in the 99th percentile on the WAIS IV for verbal comprehension (not trying to brag at all, it's just another data point).

I was 99+ in total verbal SAT. Math was 64% I think. However I believe I think in a combination of visually and verbally, plus something else (Ti 'fluid intelligence' is what I've come to believe it is)

One thing I was hoping to get your take on is I know that you were a "humanities geek" when you were younger...what prompted the shift of interest for you to CS, and you also said you failed your first programming course...did it take a while for you to get interested in CS or did you take to it immediately?

I actually shifted to hard science first (Physics), then into CS as I found myself dorking on the computers more than the physics. Much later, also with insight from my INFJ I came to realize I was always a computer obsessive. Probably dates back to when I saw my first Pong game and was blown away that we could do this kind of amazing technology.

As for CS and programming in general, it's complex. My first efforts were lackluster, I think I got a D in my first programming class (Pascal). But that was when I was still a recovering humanities guy too and not sure of what was next. Anyhow programming didn't give me a big thrill.

Now after some 25 years of professional programming, it has ups and downs. Even within a same week. Which is how it should be, only your hobbies give you nothing but pleasure, unless you have trouble it's not your calling and you're just a weekend warrior. Plus being an INTP there's always some degree of questioning.

I assume you did too at one point and probably still do, but it seems like you did not choose this as your work and I'm wondering why not?

Solving social problems directly appears to be a vipers nest to me. I've failed at doing that kind of thing so much - I had a post here recently about the difficulty with trying to help people. Instead developing technology that makes lives easier is the path. Much more comfortable, it feels right.

For example, every one of you that has used a commercial airline can thank me personally for the safety of that flight, for something I did. Of course it would have been done without me, and others have done the same thing, but that's the nature of the world. I've contributed, and I've got more coming. It feels great when you write software that makes people's lives better.

 

[Inquisitor]

Thanks for that reply...what about some kind of analyst position like you mentioned though...intelligence analyst/business/etc. Any downsides you've seen from those kinds of positions vs. CS, more specifically software engineering? Seems like those would be great ways for an INTP to solve problems and write about them...Specialization would probably be mandatory though, and it might get boring after a while...not sure though...

I know you said solving humanity's problems seems like a viper's nest, but for me, programming doesn't have enough of that Fe and I think that's why, it's hard for me to get motivated to actually code, but once I start, it seems like it fits. It's not like geopolitics or envisioning what a good education system would like...those have immediate appeal because of their obvious relevance to helping humanity as a whole.

One thing I don't like about programming is having to break a problem down into small chunks...kind of goes against my natural "big picture" tendency. Don't know if you had the same problem... I guess it's a discipline that has to be learned...

 

[Architect]

but for me, programming doesn't have enough of that Fe and I think that's why

Inferior siren call. Beware.

There's a difference between experiencing emotions and expressing them. We should do the former and be parsimonious of the latter.

 

[Inquisitor]

Good one.

 

[kiddollars]

I've done everything from your list, aside from science and I have to tell I find it to be some of the most directly rewarding things I've done in my life.

All that said, If possible I wouldn't want to capitalize it or make a career of what I enjoy doing for the sake of it. Some of my favourite modes of employment include artists/writers who create content and people donating for their continued effort, the so called mecenate. That way neither side is forced to change or adjust to what is being created and done.

Also how being INTP is any relevant to these activities being desirable. Is it so important to classify something as ideal or INTP?

I'm not so sure I am INTP but I still tend to agree with what you have listed, I don't see a real correlation to be made with this and something informative about people though. These seem to be popularly employed tools for a variety of creative individuals. Therefore creative tools for creative individuals are "ideal", seems obvious enough.

Yes, I am an INTP and a writer (just posted another thread about this). My latest book is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VKLHA9W (came out today).

It's an ideal profession for INTPs and we can actually make a lot of money doing it (although expect to make a LOT of enemies along the way too and get the occasional threat thrown in with that!)

 

[nearfantastica]

I've always been decent at writing and was often told in my childhood to become an author. The only problem is that I'm too neurotic (meaning I'll never be happy with what I write and will forever trash what I have or edit and re-edit^10) and don't believe I have anything worthwhile to put into a story. Unfortunately, other fields in writing never appealed to me very much. (Add to that the questionable job prospects...)

Lately, I've been entertaining animation - which also strikes me as fairly suitable for an INTP. You can create whatever that brain of yours can dream up! Not only that, but there's the more technical, problem solving side and then the artsy/design one. I think it strikes a good balance.

 

[Jennywocky]

I've always been decent at writing and was often told in my childhood to become an author. The only problem is that I'm too neurotic (meaning I'll never be happy with what I write and will forever trash what I have or edit and re-edit^10) and don't believe I have anything worthwhile to put into a story. Unfortunately, other fields in writing never appealed to me very much. (Add to that the questionable job prospects...)

It's so cliche on some level it leaves me a bit ill, but on my photography calendar that I flipped to April this week, the quote for the month is, "Use what talent you possess, the woods would be silent if no birds sang but those who sang best."

Yes, it sounds trite, but it made me think about how often I allow myself to amount to nothing just because I think I won't be in the very upper eschelons of those who practice it. It doesn't mean I'm not good. I've got to stop giving a shit about the outcome and focus more on the process -- do I like doing what I'm doing? Am I enjoying it?

When I focus more on the experience of doing it versus evaluating my outcome, I tend to produce a lot more. Is something I wrote perfect? maybe not, but when I was doing it, did I feel more alive than when I do much else in life? It's a kind of hard zone to get into and stay in though.

 

[StevenM]

I've got my true self back to full completion, after a few years of being mentally unhinged and drugged. My free time is now being crammed with neat ideas turning into successful projects of various sorts. This time around, I'm using this fruitful energy to look into converting my projects into another side-source of income.

Nothing feels more exhilarating when you make money from what you do in your 'play-time'. There's something to it when you make all the decisions and choices, when it's up to you only to plan and design the whole structure of a future career.

 

[Ex-User (11125)]

made me think about how often I allow myself to amount to nothing just because I think I won't be in the very upper eschelons of those who practice it.

this is kind of the bane of my existence.
I don't understand how perfectionism and carelessness/inattentiveness can coexist in me...its such a weird and destructive combination

 

[Architect]

this is kind of the bane of my existence.
I don't understand how perfectionism and carelessness/inattentiveness can coexist in me...its such a weird and destructive combination

There's different kinds of perfectionism.

I work with an ISTJ, talk about perfectionism! This guy took me to task recently over a bit of code I wrote years ago. At the time I was writing enormous amounts, and this little bit was unoptimized, but it didn't matter as due to the design which was more than fast enough by orders of magnitude. But he was revisiting it for other reasons and wrote me some couple page treatises on how I hadn't optimized that little bit. But it doesn't matter one whit! Especially because of the design I architected made it performance proof.

Here you see the classical difference between the two types, and two styles of perfectionism. I had a perfected design such that performance considerations in the details of the code were irrelevant - so I ignored them. The ISTJ couldn't see the larger context (especially the human context of how I felt about getting a multi-page document on this stupid little thing, I was pissed) and was just focused on how those few lines were unoptimized.*

Clear example of Si-Te versus Ti-Ne, beautiful illustration. I perfected the design, and he perfected the details (which didn't matter anyhow because of my architecture )

* He still doesn't see it. He wrote such a detailed treatise (which came off as a court case) because he wanted to prove it wasn't just opinion. "It's just logical" he said, to an INTP! He couldn't see that anybody else would find that incredibly abrasive and insulting, but he honestly meant it to be helpful. Fortunately I have a deep understanding of MBTI, but I still couldn't help getting upset, which made me more mad.