by Brita Long
Updated April 24, 2023
Making up only 1-3% of the population, the INFJ personality type on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is arguably one of the rarest personality types.
They are often deeply creative, strong-willed, empathetic, and sensitive individuals who are passionate about making the world a better place. They would often do anything for their inner circle, but they can take a long time to open up to new people.
If you’re an INFJ, then this article is for you!
If you are not an INFJ, keep reading! It can be helpful to know about different personality types—especially as you build your team.
We explore the personality type as defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator plus careers and career paths that might be a good fit for an INFJ and some of the most interesting INFJ career matches.
What is an INFJ Like?
An INFJ, sometimes also called the Advocate or the Sage, is someone with the Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging personality traits. According to 16personalities.com, “they tend to approach life with deep thoughtfulness and imagination. Their inner vision, personal values, and a quiet, principled version of humanism guide them in all things.” A few examples of famous INFJs are Nelson Mandela, Carrie Fisher, Taylor Swift, Marie Kondo, Mother Teresa, and the character Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
INFJs are typically assertive, independent, and socially engaged. They tend to have a relaxed, even temperament in daily life, and stress doesn’t often rattle them. INFJs are less concerned about worst-case scenarios. Even though this personality type can come across as quiet or reserved, they are often dedicated and principled workers who are diligent with work.
They tend to be confident during times of turmoil, maintaining a more positive attitude. INFJs can also be high achievers. In leadership roles, INFJs tend to lead with sensitivity and can be good at helping their team feel appreciated in the workplace.
A few examples of famous INFJs are Nelson Mandela, Carrie Fisher, Taylor Swift, Marie Kondo, Mother Teresa, and the character Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Top INFJ Careers
Many INFJs may find themselves drawn to career paths such as business and law, education, graphic design, healthcare, psychology or psychiatry, sciences, and writing.
Let’s explore this list of career ideas for INFJ personalities.
Business & Law
The business world can be very competitive, but often an INFJ has what it takes to stand out from the crowd. They can have strong negotiation skills, combined with naturally intuitive insight into their clients’ wants and needs. They are good at understanding how to connect with people, making them excellent negotiators and mediators. This field can be one of the highest-paying INFJ careers.
Education
INFJs are well-suited for education careers, so that field may be one of the best INFJ career matches. They often have a deep understanding of human nature which helps INFJs create engaging lessons. They are also often warm, nurturing individuals who truly enjoy seeing their students succeed.
Graphic Design
Graphic design is often a career suited to an INFJ because they have a strong eye for design and aesthetic beauty, combined with the ability to see the big picture and understand how its pieces fit together. They enjoy seeing their designs come to life, which is why this field may be gratifying for INFJs.
Healthcare
Healthcare careers are often a good fit because INFJs combine their creativity with a strong desire to help others and make the world a better place. They work well as part of a team and enjoy working independently when necessary. Their natural intuition helps them connect with people on an emotional level.
Mental Healthcare
Psychology, psychiatry, or other mental health careers can be excellent career choices for INFJs because they have an innate understanding of human nature and how people think. They often enjoy helping others become their best selves by encouraging them to overcome emotional struggles and lead happier lives.
Science
INFJs combine creativity with a strong desire to understand how things work. They enjoy understanding and mastering complex systems which can make them great scientists and researchers.
Writing
INFJs’ attention to detail can help them create content that interests readers or increases productivity for their team. INFJs are often also great at communicating complex ideas in a clear and concise manner which makes technical writing a perfect fit for some INFJs.
Psychology, psychiatry, or other mental health careers can be excellent career choices for INFJs because they have an innate understanding of human nature and how people think.
Jobs for INFJs to Avoid
For one or more reasons, these jobs are sometimes ones to avoid for the INFJ personality type. They can include:
- Accounting & Finance
- Engineering Technician
- Military & Police
- Sales
Please note, these are just general notes. Some INFJs make amazing salespeople because it gives them a chance to connect with people. This list is not extensive, and there are always exceptions since every person is unique.
INFJ Strengths in the Workplace
INFJs often work well in teams and can enjoy working independently when necessary. INFJs are often patient and understand others who may have a different perspective than themselves. They can be great listeners which helps them connect with people emotionally.
They also usually prefer small groups or even one-on-one relationships over large crowds. This makes them excellent mentors and teachers because they often prefer to connect one-on-one. This can help them understand how best to support individuals at different stages in their journey towards growth and self-discovery.
INFJ strengths in the workplace can also include that strong ability to connect with people and form deep, meaningful relationships. They are also often great at encouraging others and helping them reach new heights of success through encouragement and support.
INFJs have an innate understanding of human nature. This character trait can also make them good managers. They know how to motivate employees by appealing to their emotional side rather than just pushing them towards a goal for monetary gain or praise from peers or supervisors—if that is their language of appreciation.
INFJ strengths in the workplace can also include that strong ability to connect with people and form deep, meaningful relationships. They are also often great at encouraging others and helping them reach new heights of success through encouragement and support.
INFJ Weaknesses in the Workplace
Some INFJs can struggle with high expectations and perfectionism. They may have difficulty receiving criticism withdraw when they need to recharge their social battery or see conflict on the horizon.
Their desire for harmony and cooperation means INFJs may avoid conflict. This quality could stop them from speaking up to keep peace within a team environment or work relationship. Deep down, this can be draining and may even create stress and anxiety because they care deeply about everything that goes on around them and want everyone to get along without judgment.
Their desire for harmony and cooperation means INFJs may avoid conflict.
INFJs Working on a Team
What are some tips for INFJs when working on a team?
Many INFJs thrive in small teams with less likelihood of conflict and people being competitive with each other. They might prefer to work independently and enjoy the chance to brainstorm ideas with others who have a different perspective or way of thinking about things than themselves. This can help them see new possibilities or solutions they may not have considered before.
They often dislike office politics, so managers shouldn’t put their employees in situations where they must play political games to get ahead. This type of behavior may cause stress within a sensitive personality type making them want to withdraw—and not bring their best selves or their contributions forward.
Some INFJs can be overwhelmed by too much stress and anxiety, so they may need to take breaks throughout the day when more extroverted behaviors are required. Some INFJ personalities do well when there is a clear list of tasks that must be completed, along with open communication from leadership on progress on projects.
This type often needs room to take time away to unwind, recharge, and reconnect with what brings them joy outside of work.
INFJs as Leaders
What qualities does the INFJ personality type have as a leader?
They’re often able to see the big picture and understand people emotionally, which means that they learn what motivates people, how best to communicate with them, and how best to connect personally to get the best out of their team. They also possess excellent organizational skills and a strong sense of ethics and morality, making them trustworthy as leaders within any company.
This type can be a visionary establishing long-term goals for themselves and their team while being flexible enough along the way when it comes to changing priorities.
They prefer to connect on a deeper level and can see things like office politics as petty. This personality type will avoid playing games—making decisions based on ethics over those based on personal gain.
INFJ Career Data
INFJs are the rarest personality type in the workforce since they make up only about 1-3% of the population. ISFJ (13.8%) and ESFJ (12%) are the most common personality types, according to 16personalities.com.
INFJs often have excellent communication skills and want everyone to feel heard and respected, making them managers who know how to motivate teams towards common goals. They enjoy personal growth and generally enjoy helping others.
Their introverted nature allows them to be excellent listeners. Careers for INFJs in counseling, therapy, or psychology are good choices to consider because of this natural trait. They tend towards introversion, so career paths involving writing and research can suit this personality type particularly well.
Lastly, due to their creativity and ability to think outside the box, INFJs are excellent storytellers which means they could do well in the entertainment industry.
INFJs are often creative, compassionate, and giving. When you put them in positions to succeed, they often will because of their innate talents and enduring personality. They will often win people over with their emotional intelligence, superb communication skills, and ability to connect.
If you’re not an INFJ, check out our posts about these personality types:
If you’re an INFJ and are ready to explore the job market, head over to the Insight Global job board and we’ll help you find the perfect job for you!
by Erin Ellison 
by Anna Morelock