David,

 

I recently read your article called INTJ JOB SEARCH .  I am a 27 year old male INTJ.  I have always struggled with making a decision on what to major in (while in college) and what career path I should take (post college).

 

I recently noticed the following pattern in my life that has often lead to frustration: I find a job or subject that interests me and after I get into it and learn a certain amount about it, I get bored and want to move on to something else.  I am also blessed/cursed in that I am smart, healthy, and educated enough to pursue just about anything as a career.

 

Until my second year in college, football was the driving passion in my life.  Until that point, my life's goal was to be a college football player.  Since achieving and being successful at this goal, I have been somewhat obsessed with coming up with a plan for the rest of my life.  Also, in college I discovered that there is a great deal to learn about the world, and my curiosity in my studies and potential careers forced football to the backburner.

 

Since college I have worked in finance and investing although my major was government. I am unhappy with my current path, and I am currently struggling with a decision on whether to go to law school or become a high school teacher and football coach (two very different fields to say the least).  I am confident that the path I would take in law would satisfy my curiosity, systems thinking, need to work on significant and rewarding problems, and my need to work with others at a similar intellectual level.  However, I think being a football coach would be more fun.  My problem with teaching and coaching is that I am worried that I will again become bored with football, and that I will not have the patience to work with high schoolers and teach high school level material.

 

Any advice you could provide here would be much appreciated.  I have been accepted to a good law school and am scheduled to begin classes in a month.  I am very frustated as I have been very focused on this and other career decision since college, and I and my friends and family are getting sick of me worrying about it.  Thanks for your time.

"B"

 

HERE'S DAVID'S ANSWER:

 

Hi "B",

 

I am probably the wrong guy to ask about careers, because I tend to get bored pretty easily and like the challenge of working for myself.  Other than a 5 year stint working as a civil engineer for the Dept. of Transportation, I have always been self-employed.

 

This isn't all that unusual for IN types.  Although I am an INFJ, I function fairly similar to an INTJ because I am very technically-oriented and educated.  Many of us Introverted Intuitives are good at a lot of different things and making career choices can be difficult.

 

My guess is that you would make an excellent lawyer.  You would love the intellectual challenges and be stimulated by the action.  INTJ's tend to make great lawyers because they are logical thinkers and natural leaders that brim with self-confidence.  Being a lawyer is a lot like being self-employed, even if you work at a large firm. 

 

Of course, football would be more fun.  Unfortunately, INTJ types usually put FUN on the back burner in order to accomplish their personal goals.  Your real driving force appears to be the love of learning.  Again, this is pretty normal for an INTJ.  It is probably your greatest stength but also your major source of frustration.  Once you immerse yourself (and I am sure that your totally immerse yourself), you are limited only by the circumstances around you. Finance and investing is interesting and a little exciting at first, but both lack the depth that you really need to stay motivated.  Law, on the other hand, would be a great field because the opportunity for learning is almost limitless.

 

I hope this helps.  Please feel free to contact me anytime.  I will be forwarding a copy of this to Nancy Fenn.  She is my very good friend and mentor.  We use discussions such as this to help others and to learn more ourselves.  I will ask her to contact you for permission to reprint this.

David

David DeVaughn is an INFJ that got tired of fighting the corporate world and is now an entrepreneur living in Travers City, Michigan.