Personality types and IT: what profession to choose?

Now the most popular professions in IT are the developer, tester and analyst. It’s just that they’re not for everyone. A person can unlearn one of the specialties, work for several months and one morning realize that he no longer wants to do his job.

To avoid this, you need to choose the profession that matches your character and interests. Experts Skypro explain who is better to work with, depending on the type of personality according to the MBTI. 

What is MBTI typology?

This is a testing technique based on Carl Jung’s Psychological Types. It was invented by psychologists Isabelle Briggs Myers and Katherine Briggs, which is why MBTI is also called the Myers-Briggs typology. After passing the test, you will receive a certain order of four letter meanings that describe you and refer to one of 16 personality types. For example, ESFJ, INTP or ENTJ. 

Meanings of letters in typology

1. What is your consciousness focused on:

E — extraversion,

I — introversion. 

2. How do you navigate in different situations:

S — rely on material information,

N — rely on intuition. 

3. How do you make decisions: 

T — based on logic,

F — based on emotions. 

4. How do you make decisions: 

J — clearly plan,

P — focus on the circumstances. 

Typology takes into account the main features of your personality, so based on its results, you can determine which profession suits you best. 

ESTJ: realist, leader, administrator 

Characteristic: finishes what he started. He does not leave work until he understands the task at hand. Prefers to act rather than dream. He wants others to treat his work as responsibly as he does. 

Whom to work: tester, analyst.

ENTJ: commander, entrepreneur 

Characteristic: knows how to lead a team at work and easily organizes a party or trip. Makes plans and implements them. Motivates others to achieve goals. 

Whom to work: marketer, product manager.

ISTJ: organizer, inspector 

Characteristic: performs all tasks sequentially. To achieve the goal can work for 12 hours every day. Finishes things, even if you don’t want to. 

Whom to work: web developer, tester, mobile application developer. 

ENFJ: teacher, coach 

Characteristic: leader. He sees the potential in other people, helps them develop. Often has a high authority in the environment, so he easily leads people along with him. 

Whom to work: IT recruiter, project manager. 

ESFJ: teacher, enthusiast 

Characteristic: puts the interests of others above his own. Helps to find solutions in difficult situations. He likes to communicate and can find a common language with both the developer and the director of the company. 

Whom to work: project manager, development or marketing team leader, IT recruiter. 

INTJ: analyst, inspirer 

Characteristic: tries to complete tasks perfectly, does not leave things halfway. He likes to work alone — communicates with the team only on business. Constantly analyzes his own and other people’s actions and words in order to do better next time. He tries to look at the same situation from different points of view. 

Whom to work: analyst, tester, web developer, designer, mobile developer. 

INFJ: consultant, adviser 

Characteristic: understands the feelings and motivations of other people, so he can tell more about a person than he knows about himself. Able to establish effective communication and processes in a team. To draw conclusions, collects a lot of information and studies the situation from different angles.

Whom to work: project manager, IT recruiter. 

ISFJ: performer, custodian 

Characteristic: does not like to interact with people. But if he communicates, he listens to their desires, and does not ignore them. Pays attention to small details and won’t miss a single comma. Always follows the rules. 

Whom to work: tester, project manager, designer.

ENTP: inventor, dreamer 

Characteristic: loves and knows how to manage people. Constantly looking for how to solve the problem faster and cheaper. Always trying to understand how and why tools, principles and people work. 

Whom to work: project manager, development or marketing team leader.

ESTP: fidget, realist 

Characteristic: constantly busy, you rarely see him watching TV shows. He does not like to solve problems in a standard way — he tries to find his own. Looking for adventure, often finds himself in situations in which urgent decisions need to be made, and deftly emerges victorious from them. 

Whom to work: IT recruiter, project manager, marketer. 

ENFP: mediator, champion 

Characteristic: never complain about life. Likes to communicate with people. Inspired by their achievements: he comes up with his own projects and brings them to life. He openly shares his plans. 

Whom to work: IT recruiter, project manager. 

ESFP: politician, activist 

Characteristic: comes up with his own designs or improves processes and tools that already exist. Can cheer up those around you with a joke. Never refuses to help people. 

Whom to work: project manager, IT recruiter, marketer. 

INTP: critic, analyst 

Characteristic: all the time he analyzes his own and other people’s behavior: he notices intonations, changes in facial expressions, he can immediately determine what mood the interlocutor has. Little communicates, likes to work in silence. 

Whom to work: tester, developer, analyst. 

ISTP: craftsman 

Characteristic: deeply studies the subject that interests him, therefore he understands well how to achieve his goal. He reads a lot, disassembles technology, talks to experts on the topic to understand how the world works. Quickly finds a solution in a crisis situation, and does not feel sad and does not wait for outside help.

Whom to work: marketer, project manager, designer. 

INFP: contemplative, lyricist 

Characteristic: generates many ideas, but does not always bring them to life. He puts his interests above the interests of society. May dress extravagantly, behave in a way that is not accepted in society — laugh too loudly or defend a different opinion from others.

Whom to work: marketer, designer

ISFP: inventor, composer 

Characteristic: He tries to do only what brings him pleasure. He avoids conflicts, because he is hard pressed by rude words addressed to him, and he himself always remains tactful towards others. 

Whom to work: designer, marketer.