Educational and Career Paths

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C H A P T E R

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Educational and

Career Paths

Educational and

Career Paths

Chapter Outline

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LESSON 1:

Aptitudes and Orientations

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LESSON 2:

Career Paths

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LESSON 3:

Educational Paths

Despite what many people believe, the job search does not begin with a résumé—rather it begins with discovering who you really are, what you want, and where you wish to go.

—Carolyn R. Robbins, career development consultant and author

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Personality Types of the

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Personality is one of the things that make each person unique. Have you ever wanted to learn more about your personality and better understand how it affects your life? Many educators and professionals use a well-tested tool for this purpose. It’s called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, or MBTI®. The MBTI was developed in the 1940s. It is based on the work of a famous Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung. Although the MBTI is sometimes called a “test,” it has no right or wrong answers. All answers are equally acceptable. The purpose of the MBTI is simply to help people identify their personality preferences. As its name suggests, the MBTI can indicate what type of person you are. Millions of people have taken the MBTI, and many have used the results to make smart career choices.

In this lesson, you’ll learn about the MBTI, how to use it to determine your own personality preferences, and the connection between your personality type and good career choices.

What Are Personality Preferences?

Personality preferences are the ways you like to think and behave. They define what makes you unique. You might

compare them to handedness. You have two hands. You use them both. But most people are either right-handed or left-handed. That is, they have a natural inclination, or preference, to use one hand. They feel more comfortable using that hand. In a similar way, you have many facets to your personality. You use them all. You have a natural inclination, however, for certain ways of thinking and behaving. They’re part of what makes you “you.”

• personality types of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) • what the MBTI says

about leadership styles and work environments • career paths

based on your

MBTI personality type

Learn About . . .

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How would you describe your personality—the way you think, the way you interact with other people, the way you solve problems? What kind of a leader are you? How might an understanding of your personality type help you make a good career choice— in the Air Force, another military service, or elsewhere?

Quick Write

L E S S O N

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Aptitudes and

Orientations

Aptitudes and

Orientations

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Advantages of Knowing Your Personality Type

Knowing your personality type is helpful in many ways. For example, it can help you understand how you learn best. Some people like a lot of structure in the classroom; others learn best in a looser environment. Again, it’s not a matter of “right or wrong”—it’s just a matter of different learning styles.

The MBTI can help you understand what kind of leader you are. For example, do you like to lead by example or by force? Or do you not prefer to lead at all? Finally, as noted above, knowledge of your personality preferences can help you make good career choices.

The MBTI—Step by Step

The MBTI is based on four questions, or dimensions. For each question, you choose one of two options. To determine your personality preferences, you then combine those choices. Ready to learn more about the MBTI? Start with the four questions. As you read on, try to think which of the options best describes you.

1. Where do you prefer to direct your energy? Is your energy flow outward or inward?

If you are extraverted(E), you prefer to direct your energy to people, things, activities, or the “outer world.”

If you are introverted (I),you prefer to direct your energy to ideas, information, explanations, and imagination, or the “inner world.”

The words extraverted and introverted describe two different aspects of human nature. These two aspects are

complementary;in other words, they

support each other and round each other out. Every person has a mix of these

two energy “faces.” But at the same time, most people have a preference for either the outer or the inner world. That preference is innate, or inborn. In every human being, one of these faces takes the lead in personality development. It has a bigger role in behavior than the other face does. This preferred behavior is called instinctive;in other words,

it is unconscious and happens naturally.

• personality preferences • extraverted • introverted • complementary • instinctive • sensing • intuition • conceptual • thinking • feeling • judgment • perception • hierarchy

Vocabulary

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Knowing your personality preferences can help you understand how you learn best and the kind of careers you would prefer.

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A person with mainly extraverted characteristics might tend to:

• act first and think later

• feel deprived if cut off from

interaction with the outside world

• be open to and motivated by people and things

• have a wide variety of friends from different backgrounds.

A person with introverted characteristics would usually:

• think before acting

• periodically need some “private time” to think things through

• be motivated by internal, rather than external, factors

• prefer one-to-one communication and relationships.

2. How do you prefer to process information? To answer this question, think about how you prefer to receive data.

You prefer sensing (S)if you like dealing with facts, certainty, and clarity. You notice

sights, sounds, smells, and other sensory details. You like to categorize, organize, record, and store details. Your thinking and behavior are reality based.

You have a preference for intuition(N) if you prefer to deal with ideas, look into the unknown, generate possibilities, or anticipate what isn’t obvious. (The letter N is used

for “intuition” because the letter I has already been used for “introverted.”). You seek to understand, interpret, and form patterns of information. You concentrate on the big picture rather than on details. You tend to be imaginative and you like being

conceptual, or focused on concepts and ideas rather than things. You trust your insights.

Every person needs and uses both kinds of perceiving. But each person also instinctively favors one kind over the other.

A person with sensing characteristics might, for example:

• pay more attention to the present than to the future

• use common sense to create practical solutions

• be able to recall facts and events in detail

• make decisions on the basis of experience

• like clear and concrete information; dislike having to guess.

Extraverted people are motivated by people and things. Introverted people are motivated by internal factors.

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By contrast, a person with intuitive characteristics might:

• spend more time than most people thinking about the future

• be imaginative and like to create new possibilities

• find it easy to see patterns and connections

• make decisions on the basis of theoretical understanding

• be comfortable with uncertainty and with having to guess.

3. How do you prefer to make decisions?

You decide things on the basis of thinking(T)if you prefer to make decisions on the basis of logic, using an analytic and detached approach. You tend to see things in terms

of black and white, or true and false. You usually rely on rules and accepted procedures. You decide things on the basis of feeling(F) if you prefer to make decisions on the basis of values and your own personal beliefs. You might see the world in shades of gray

rather than black and white. You rely on your own ideas, rather than someone else’s standards, to make decisions.

People who make decisions on the basis of thinking might:

• search for facts and use logic when they must make a decision

• notice tasks and work to be accomplished

• find it easy to provide an objective analysis

• accept conflict as a natural part of life.

People who make decisions on the basis of feeling might:

• rely on personal feelings rather than on rules

• be sensitive to people’s needs and reactions

• be consensus builders; try to find common ground

• be upset by conflict.

4. How do you prefer to organize your life?

You have judgment(J)characteristics if you prefer your life to be planned, stable,

and organized. You prefer to approach the world with a plan. You try to organize

your surroundings and be prepared. You like to make decisions and reach closure. You have perception(P)characteristics if you prefer to be flexible and to take the outside

world as it comes. You tend to “go with the flow”; you’re open-minded. You welcome

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ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

MBTI Personality Types

People who prefer judgment might:

• plan as many details as possible before acting

• be task oriented; prefer to complete one part of a project before moving on

• use targets, dates, and routines to manage their lives.

People who prefer perception might:

• be comfortable acting without a plan or planning “on the go”

• like to do many things at once; to mix work and play

• work best when deadlines are close

• avoid making commitments that interfere with flexibility, freedom, and variety.

What the MBTI Says About Leadership

Styles and Work Environments

When you put together the eight personality types just described in various

combinations, you get 16 MBTI codes. These 16 combinations are often presented in the form of the following list:

For example, INTJ indicates that you prefer Introversion, iNtuition, Thinking, and Judging. Remember, this indicates

preferences only. An INTJ also uses Extraversion, Sensing,

Feeling, and Perception. Those functions are less instinctive, however, than the preferred functions are.

Now it’s time to connect the MBTI to reality. Table 2.1 contains some general descriptions of the leadership styles and work environments that each of the 16 personality types favors. Which combination describes you best? Which describes you least?

The best way to learn your four-letter type is to take the 93-question MBTI test from a certified administrator. Many counselors and psychologists are certified to administer and evaluate the test.

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TA B L E 2 . 1

Personality Types, Leadership Styles,

and Preferred Work Environments

PERSONALITY

TYPE LEADERSHIP STYLE PREFERRED WORK ENVIRONMENT

ISTJ

• uses experience and knowledge of the facts to make decisions • reliable, stable, and consistent • respects tradition and hierarchy,

or established levels of authority • rewards workers

who follow the rules • pays attention to the

immediate and practical needs of the organization.

ISTP

• leads through actions and example

• prefers a team approach • responds quickly to problems • manages loosely;

offers minimal supervision • acts on the basis of principles

rather than details.

ESTP

• takes charge in crises • persuasive

• direct and assertive

• chooses the most convenient route

• seeks action and immediate results.

ESTJ

• seeks leadership directly and takes charge quickly

• applies and adapts past experiences to solve problems • able to quickly analyze an issue

and get to the core of a situation • makes decisions quickly

• respects tradition and hierarchy.

continued on next page • contains hard-working people

focused on facts and results • provides security

• rewards those who work at a steady pace

• structured, orderly • task-oriented

• allows privacy and few interruptions.

• contains action-oriented people focused on the immediate situation • flexible; not governed by rules • provides many new and urgent

problems to solve

• provides hands-on experience • action-oriented

• fosters independence.

• contains lively, results-oriented people who value firsthand experience • not bureaucratic, or rigidly devoted to

the details of administrative procedure • allows times for fun

• provides flexibility • technically oriented • physically attractive.

• contains hard-working people focused on getting a task done correctly • task oriented

• organized and structured • stable and predictable • focused on efficiency

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TA B L E 2 . 1

c o n t i n u e d

Personality Types, Leadership Styles,

PERSONALITY

ISFJ

• may be reluctant to accept leadership, but will step in when asked

• expects everyone to comply with organizational needs, structure, and hierarchy • uses personal influence

behind the scenes • follows procedures and

manages conscientiously • thinks things through; strives

for practical results.

ISFP

• prefers a team approach • uses personal loyalty

to motivate others

• more apt to praise than to criticize • adapts to change

• persuades by tapping into others’ good intentions.

ESFP

• leads by promoting goodwill and teamwork

• manages crises well

• eases tense situations by bringing together conflicting factions • focuses on immediate problems • facilitates interactions

among people.

ESFJ

• leads through personal attention to others

• gains people’s trust through relationship-building • keeps people well informed • sets an example of hard work

and follow-through

• upholds organizational traditions.

• contains conscientious people working on well-structured tasks • secure

• calm, quiet, efficient • allows for privacy • service-oriented.

• contains cooperative, courteous people • allows for private space • flexible

• aesthetically appealing • people-oriented.

• contains adaptable, easygoing people focused on present realities • lively, action-oriented

• harmonious • attractive.

• contains conscientious, cooperative, sensitive people

• focused on helping others • goal-oriented people and systems • organized

• friendly

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TA B L E 2 . 1

c o n t i n u e d

PERSONALITY

INFJ

• leads through a vision of what is best for others and the organization • earns cooperation rather than

demands it

• chooses a quiet yet persistent course of action

• inspires others with their ideals.

INFP

• tries to make things easier for everyone

• tends to lead in nontraditional ways • works independently

toward a vision

• more likely to praise than to critique others

• encourages others to act on their ideals.

ENFP

• leads with energy and enthusiasm • likes to be in charge

of the start-up phase • communicates and often

becomes a spokesperson for values relating to people

• works to include and support others • pays attention to what motivates

others.

ENFJ

• leads through personal enthusiasm • takes a direct role in managing

people and tasks

• responsive to followersí needs • challenges the organization

to make actions consistent with its values

• inspires change.

continued on next page

• contains people focused on ideals that make a difference to human welfare

• provides opportunities for creativity • harmonious, quiet

• has a personal feel

• allows time and space for reflection • well organized.

• contains pleasant, committed people focused on values of importance to others • cooperative atmosphere • allows privacy and flexibility • unbureaucratic

• allows time and space for reflection.

• contains imaginative people • focused on human possibilities • colorful, unconstrained, lively • thinks that participation is important • offers variety and challenge

• idea-oriented.

• contains individuals focused on changing things for the betterment of others • people-oriented • supportive and social • has a spirit of harmony • encourages self-expression • settled, orderly.

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TA B L E 2 . 1

c o n t i n u e d

Personality Types, Leadership Styles,

PERSONALITY

INTJ

• drives self and others to attain organizational goals

• acts strongly and forcefully in the field of ideas

• can be tough-minded • conceptualizes, designs,

and builds new models • willing to reorganize

a whole system when necessary.

INTP

• leads through conceptual analysis of problems

• applies logical thinking to tasks • seeks personal independence • likes to lead people

who are independent

• relates to others on the basis of expertise rather than position • interacts at an intellectual

rather than an emotional level.

ENTP

• plans theoretical systems to address organizational needs • encourages independence in others • applies systems thinking

• uses compelling reasons to support a chosen course of action • acts as catalyst between people

and systems.

ENTJ

• takes an action-oriented approach • provides a long-range vision

to the organization • manages directly; tough

when necessary

• enjoys complex problems • takes on as much responsibility

as possible.

• contains decisive, intellectually challenging people focused on implementing long-range visions • allows privacy for reflection • efficient

• includes effective and productive people • encourages autonomy

• provides opportunities for creativity • task-focused.

• contains independent thinkers focused on solving complex problems • allows privacy

• fosters independence • flexible

• quiet

• rewards self-determination.

• contains competent, independent people working on models to solve complex problems • flexible and challenging • change-oriented • rewards risk-taking • encourages autonomy • not unbureaucratic.

• contains results-oriented, independent people focused on solving problems • efficient systems and people • challenging

• rewards decisiveness

• includes tough-minded people • structured.

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Career Paths Based on Your MBTI Personality Type

Each of the 16 personality types tends to be attracted to certain careers. Think about which of the personality types just described is closest to yours. Then consult the lists below to see what kinds of careers may be closest to your natural preferences.

The career lists in Table 2.2 are a starting point. They are far from complete. Use them to help you begin to think about career choices. Many people have found such lists helpful. You can take the information about leadership styles and working environments found in Table 2.1 and combine it with the careers listed in Table 2.2 to create a more complete picture of the types of career and work environment you are most likely to prefer. For example, if you are an ESTJ and prefer a work environment that is task oriented, organized and structured, and stable and predictable (Table 2.1), you can look up ESTJ on Table 2.2. There you will find that jobs in the military or the aerospace industry that you might like include auditor, business administrator or manager, computer analyst, electrical engineer, financial officer, judge, military leader, police officer, and detective.

But remember: There’s no guarantee that any of these careers will be appropriate for you or that your best career match is among those listed. That’s because, more than anything else, you need to understand yourself and the personality traits that will have an impact on your career. You need to know what is really important to you. The MBTI is one tool that can help you do that. Once you understand your strengths and weaknesses and are aware of what you truly value, you’ll be in an excellent position to pick a rewarding career.

Another thing to keep in mind: Once you choose a career, you may face lots of pressure from family, friends, and others to go in a different direction. For example, on the basis of your aptitudes, personality preferences and interests, you may decide on a career as an actor, but your family may want you to be a doctor. Or you may want to be an Air Force officer, and your friends think you should stay in the private sector and become a business executive.

It’s not always easy to resolve conflicts such as these. It might help to realize that most people pursue several careers over their lifetimes, and there may be a way to do both. For example, a doctor may be able to act in plays in his or her spare time, and then pursue acting as a full-time career later in life. Or an Air Force officer may retire in 20 years and become an executive for an airplane manufacturer.

See whether any of these careers match your interests. Careers that you can pursue in the military or in aerospace appear in bold italics. Note that word aerospace includes both careers in the military, particularly the Air Force, and positions with employers in the civilian sector, such as NASA, the airlines, or airplane manufacturers.

The lessons that follow this will help you explore your options in career and educational paths. Later you’ll learn about how to apply for college, how to find and apply for a job, and how to develop your career skills.

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TA B L E 2 . 2

Personality Types and Careers

ISFJ

• administrative assistant

• administrator, manager

• bookkeeper

• child-care worker/early childhood development specialist

• member of the clergy, religious worker • designer • interior designer • librarian • nurse • office manager • paralegal

• real estate agent • shopkeeper

• social worker, counselor.

ISTJ

• accountant

• financial officer

• business executive, administrator, manager

• computer programmer, systems analyst, computer specialist

• dentist • electrician • engineer • geologist • judge • lawyer • medical doctor • military leader

• police officer, detective

• stockbroker.

ESTP

• aircraft mechanic

• computer technical support

• emergency medical technician, paramedic • entrepreneur • flight attendant • marketer • computer technician network cabler

• real estate broker • sales representative.

ESFP

• artist, performer, actor • athletic coach • child-care worker • consultant • fashion designer • flight attendant • interior designer • photographer

• public relations specialist

• sales representative

• social worker, counselor

• veterinarian.

A career as an artist might be attractive to some people of the ESFP and the INFJ

personality types.

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TA B L E 2 . 2

c o n t i n u e d

INFJ

• alternative health-care practitioner (for example, a chiropractor or reflexologist) • artist

• child-care worker, early childhood development specialist

• member of the clergy, religious worker • dentist • medical doctor • marketer • musician, artist • photographer • psychiatrist • psychologist

• teacher.

INTJ

• business administrator, manager

• corporate strategist, organization-builder • engineer • judge • lawyer • management consultant • mathematician • medical doctor • dentist • military leader • professor, teacher • scientist.

ENFP

• actor

• conference planner • consultant • counselor • engineer • entrepreneur • massage therapist • politician, diplomat • psychologist • scientist • teacher • television reporter • writer, journalist.

ENTP

• actor

• consultant • engineer • entrepreneur • lawyer • literary agent • marketer • photographer • psychologist • sales representative • scientist • systems designer.

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TA B L E 2 . 2

c o n t i n u e d

Personality Types and Careers

ISTP

• athlete • carpenter

• computer programmer, system analyst, computer specialist

• engineer • entrepreneur • firefighter • forensic pathologist • mechanic • medical technician • pilot, driver

• race car driver.

ISFP

• artist • chef

• child-care worker, early childhood development specialist • designer • forest ranger • mechanic • musician, composer • pediatrician • psychologist

• teacher • veterinarian.

ESTJ

• auditor • business administrator, manager • computer analyst • electrical engineer • financial officer • funeral director • judge • military leader

• teacher • sales representative.

ESFJ

• administrator • administrative assistant • bookkeeper, accounting • childcare worker • member of the clergy,

religious worker

• family practice physician • insurance agent

• nurse

• office manager

• retail owner

• teacher.

A career as a pilot might be attractive to some people of the ISTP type, although people of other personality types may also want a flying career.

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TA B L E 2 . 2

c o n t i n u e d

INFP

• member of the clergy, religious worker • graphic designer • journalist • musician • psychiatrist • psychologist

• teacher, professor • writer.

INTP

• computer programmer, systems analyst, computer animation, computer specialist • engineer • forensic researcher • park ranger • judge • lawyer • mathematician • photographer • scientist • strategic planner • technical writer • professor.

ENFJ

• member of the clergy, religious worker • consultant • event coordinator • facilitator • human resources representative • manager • politician, diplomat • psychologist • recruiter

• sales representative

• teacher • travel agent

• writer.

ENTJ

• business administrator, manager

• chemical engineer

• computer consultant

• corporate executive officer, organization builder

• entrepreneur

• human resources manager

• judge • lawyer • mortgage broker • sales manager • university professor or administrator. Computer-related jobs are attractive to people of many different personality types. Why do you suppose that is?

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Lesson 1 Review

Using complete sentences, answer the following questions on a sheet of paper.

1. Based on your answers to the four questions in the first section of this lesson, which of the 16 MBTI personality types do you think is closest to yours? In other words, what combination of extraverted and introverted, sensing and intuition, thinking and feeling,

and judgment and perception fits you best?

2. Reread the characteristics of the relevant leadership style that seems closest to yours and describe what kind of leader you probably are.

3. On the basis of what you’ve learned about your personality, describe the work environment in which you might do best.

4. Name three careers that fit your personality type, and explain why each might be a good option for you.

5. Think of two famous people who might fit into your personality category. Choose one person from history and one person who is living today. Write a short paragraph about each person, explaining why you think his or her personality and leadership traits are similar to yours.

6. In the workplace, some of the greatest challenges and accomplishments come when people with opposite personalities interact.What personality traits would be most different from yours? Why? How would you learn to get along with someone with a personality that is very different from yours?

7. Are there any aspects of your personality that you don’t like? If so, what can you do about it? (If you answer “nothing,” you’re wrong!)

Applying Personality Skills

8. Talk with a friend about the MBTI personality types. Compare your personality characteristics with those of your friend. Does your friend see you in the same way that you see yourself? If you and your friend worked for the same organization, do you think you’d get along well? Why or why not?

9. Consider your leadership style and that of your friend. How does your style differ from your friend’s? How is it the same? What types of careers would be suitable for each leadership style?