Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator; unlocking your personality style
Are you a natural “people person” who enjoys being part of a group; or do you prefer smaller, more intimate settings which allow you to spend more one-on-one time with people?
Do you love a good “to do” list; or are you more comfortable playing things by ear, taking each moment as it comes?
Or is it more important for you to understand the logistics of an idea, rather than focusing on the possibilities?
Depending on individual circumstances you may change your approach in response to different situations, but will innately gravitate toward one style of response more than another. This is your natural “preference”.
About the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test
At the beginning of the 20th century, Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Carl Jung, developed a theory to explain the differences in human behaviour based on certain inborn tendencies. These tendencies – or preferences – could then be used to predict behavioural patterns.
Jung identified four sets of psychological functions, each made up of a pair of preferences:
Extroversion vs Introversion
How you focus your energy & attention
Outward focus
External world
Inward focus
Internal world
Sensing vs iNtuition
How you receive and digest information
Tangible facts
Experience based
Big picture thinking
Theory & abstract
Thinking vs Feeling
How you make decisions
Objective reasoning
Driven by results
Subjective reasoning
Driven by harmony
Judging vs Perceiving
How you deal with the world
Structured
Plans ahead
Unstructured
Spontaneous
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test was later developed by mother and daughter, Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers (inspired by Jung’s publication Psychological Types (1921), with help from experienced psychometricians), as way of helping people identify their personality type to better understand themselves – and others.
“The understanding of type can make your perceptions clearer, your judgements sounder, and your life closer to your heart’s desire.”
- Isabel Myers
Your type is made up of four letters (each representing your preference in Jung’s four psychological functions) and is one of 16 types in total. The way your preferences combine make you unique. You are not defined by your type, but your type will help you understand why the way you process information, and relate to the world, may be quite different to those around you – even your family.
Using the MBTI to find your best career match
No matter what your type is, it’s important to remember that no type is any better than another. Rather, each type comes with its own inherent strengths and weaknesses, and will function differently to others in different environments.
Nor should you feel restricted by your type. For instance, if you show a preference for feeling over thinking, it doesn’t mean you aren’t smart or can’t make logical decisions. However, you may find it more demanding to work in a field where objective reasoning takes precedence over subjective reasoning (such as law or science). If you are drawn to these fields, consideration may need to be given to what sectors you focus your career on, in order to maximise your natural strengths, while minimising areas of natural conflict.
This is where your qualified MBTI Career Smart practitioner can help. We assess your type, then get to know more about who you are as a person. Only then can we match the areas you’re most passionate about with the right job characteristics for long-term happiness and success.
For more information, contact Career Smart today, or download our career profile sample to see how the Myer Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory work together to give you the most accurate assessment for your future career choice.
The right career choice starts here
Understanding how to leverage your natural abilities to follow your dream career begins with your individually tailored personality assessment.
Contact Career Smart to arrange your comprehensive profile analysis and take the first step on the right career path for you.