“How would you like to get your best idea implemented today?” Those are golden words to an ISTJ personality. Orderly and organized, traditional and loyal, realistic and responsible—these are all key traits of an ISTJ, one of the 16 personality types defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). In short, they can get things done.
ISTJ stands for:
- Introverted
- Sensing
- Thinking
- Judging
ISTJ personality types are often known as “The Inspector” or “The Logistician.” They enjoy working with things and developing projects from beginning to end. This can make ISTJs great candidates for careers such as engineering, design, law enforcement, and architecture.
This article will explore nine ISTJ careers that are perfect for the ISTJ personality type.
What is an ISTJ Like?
ISTJs are responsible, reliable, and down-to-earth individuals who enjoy order and discipline in their lives. They have a strong sense of duty and like to plan everything out in advance. ISTJs are analytical thinkers who prefer to deal with facts rather than emotions. They are excellent planners and organizers, which is why they can be drawn to law enforcement, accounting, and engineering careers.
ISTJs are perfectionists who like to be in control of everything around them. They can be stubborn at times and can be resistant to change. However, ISTJs are also dependable and hardworking individuals who make great employees.
ISTJ-A
Assertive ISTJs (ISTJ-As) have strong auditory processing preferences. They easily remember verbal instructions, and they also work better if they can also communicate verbally with others. Therefore, they often excel in careers that involve communication, such as public relations or sales.
ISTJ-A individuals are more flexible than their more turbulent cousins, the ISTJ-Ts. They’re still good planners, but they don’t always need to have everything planned out in advance.
Working with people is fulfilling for them, especially when their work involves helping others solve problems or overcome difficulties. Consequently, ISTJ-A personalities tend to learn towards careers that involve teaching, medicine, or counseling.
ISTJ-T
ISTJ-T individuals are ISTJs who have strong tactile processing preferences. They tend to be good at hands-on tasks such as construction or carpentry.
They tend to be more rigid than ISTJ-As as they prefer to do things in a specific way and often resist change. ISTJ-Ts also tend to be more detail-oriented than ISTJ-As, and they may enjoy working with numbers or analyzing data.
They are dependable individuals who make great employees. They follow directions and can be counted on to complete tasks.
Top ISTJ Careers
ISTJ personality types are loyal and hardworking individuals who use their past experiences as a way of learning. ISTJs love the security that comes with working in one job for long periods of time, meaning they will be long-term, loyal employees.
Here are the nine of the best ISTJ career choices for ISTJ personalities:
- Accountant
- Agriculture Technician
- Chemical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Developer
- Electrical Engineer
- Financial Analyst
- Mechanical Engineer
- Medical Assistant
Accountant
An accountant is someone who keeps track of financial transactions and prepares financial reports. They may work for a company or be self-employed. Accountants need to be able to accurately keep track of complex information and follow specific procedures. ISTJ personalities are very good at keeping track of details, following directions, and working with numbers, making accounting a great fit.
Agriculture Technician
An agriculture technician helps agricultural companies produce more food by performing tests on soil, water quality, livestock health, etc.
ISTJ personalities are very good at working with their hands. They also enjoy being outside and planning things out. All of these traits are needed to be an agriculture technician!
Chemical Engineer
Chemical engineers typically work in laboratories designing, developing, and testing products. They may also be responsible for manufacturing processes. This is a great career for ISTJs who are very analytical and who enjoy following directions.
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain public works projects such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, and more. They split their time between designing plans in an office and working outdoors to oversee projects. Since ISTJs thrive on building structures, organizing projects, being detail-oriented, and being reliable, this could be a great career path.
Developer
Developers write code that creates software or websites. They may also be responsible for maintaining and updating existing software. This takes a lot of focus and analytical skills. This is another career path great for detail-oriented ISTJs.
Electrical Engineer
Electrical engineers design, test, and build electrical systems such as power grids, batteries, motors, and generators. They may also work on electronic equipment such as cell phones and computers. ISTJ personalities are good at understanding complex systems and solutions.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts help companies make financial decisions by assessing the risks and rewards of investments. ISTJs are very logical and detail-oriented. Therefore, being a financial analyst would be another ISTJ career to consider.
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineers are responsible for the design and construction of large machinery. They must follow detailed instructions from their supervisors to complete these projects and to work efficiently within teams.
Mechanical engineering is another excellent choice due to the need to establish clear communication and directions and manage all the complicated logistics that are part of this position.
Medical Assistant
Medical assistants take care of patients in clinics and doctors’ offices by taking blood pressure, recording patient information, preparing patients for exams, and so forth. ISTJ personalities are great at taking care of details, and they enjoy working with people one-on-one. Additionally, this is a career worth looking into because ISTJs are good at following directions and working with emerging technologies.
Related: Introverts in the Workplace: Strategies to Succeed
Jobs for ISTJs to Avoid
ISTJs often need to improve their communication skills. ISTJs are more comfortable with discussing facts and data, so they may struggle in situations where emotions come into play.
ISTJ personalities can sometimes get frustrated when things don’t go exactly as planned. They tend to avoid jobs that require a lot of change.
Some jobs ISTJ’s may want to avoid include:
- Journalist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Receptionist
- Sales Representative
These jobs all involve quick thinking, reacting to constant change, and communicating effectively with multiple people. While an ISTJ can develop these skills, they usually don’t come naturally.
ISTJ Strengths and Weaknesses in the Workplace
ISTJs tend to be reliable, efficient, organized, and great at solving problems. ISTJs are also good listeners who pay attention to the needs of their team members or customers.
However, they can be stubborn and slow to change their minds, which can be frustrating in positions that require creative collaboration.
ISTJs work well following an organized leader because they like to take care of details and follow directions. However, they struggle with multi-tasking and working in an unstructured environment. Keep this in mind if you’re managing an ISTJ.
ISTJs also make excellent leaders themselves. They can quickly analyze facts to create a plan for the team. Their attention to detail helps them oversee their team’s progress.
Find a Career That’s Right for You
Are you an analytical and detail-oriented ISTJ looking for your next career? Visit Insight Global’s job board to find a new opportunity!
If you’re not an ISTJ, find the best resources about career paths for your personality type!