Your personality type is: ISTJ

Preference Clarity Categories:

(Slight, Moderate, Clear, Very Clear)
Very Clear Introversion: 21/21
People who prefer Introversion tend to focus on the inner world of ideas and imp
ressions.
Moderate Sensing: 20/26
People who prefer Sensing tend to focus on the present and on concrete informati
on gained from their senses.
Very Clear Thinking: 23/24
People who prefer Thinking tend to base their decisions primarily on logic and o
n objective analysis of cause and effect.
Very Clear Judging: 21/22
People who prefer Judging tend to like a planned and organized approach to life
and prefer to have things settled.
The Duty Fulfiller
As an ISTJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take th
ings in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode
is external, where you deal with things rationally and logically.
ISTJs are quiet and reserved individuals who are interested in security and peac
eful living. They have a strongly-felt internal sense of duty, which lends them
a serious air and the motivation to follow through on tasks. Organized and metho
dical in their approach, they can generally succeed at any task which they under
take.
ISTJs are very loyal, faithful, and dependable. They place great importance on h
onesty and integrity. They are "good citizens" who can be depended on to do the
right thing for their families and communities. While they generally take things
very seriously, they also usually have an offbeat sense of humor and can be a l
ot of fun - especially at family or work-related gatherings.
ISTJs tend to believe in laws and traditions, and expect the same from others. T
hey're not comfortable with breaking laws or going against the rules. If they ar
e able to see a good reason for stepping outside of the established mode of doin
g things, the ISTJ will support that effort. However, ISTJs more often tend to b
elieve that things should be done according to procedures and plans. If an ISTJ
has not developed their Intuitive side sufficiently, they may become overly obse
ssed with structure, and insist on doing everything "by the book".
The ISTJ is extremely dependable on following through with things which he or sh
e has promised. For this reason, they sometimes get more and more work piled on
them. Because the ISTJ has such a strong sense of duty, they may have a difficul
t time saying "no" when they are given more work than they can reasonably handle
. For this reason, the ISTJ often works long hours, and may be unwittingly taken
advantage of.
The ISTJ will work for long periods of time and put tremendous amounts of energy
into doing any task which they see as important to fulfilling a goal. However,
they will resist putting energy into things which don't make sense to them, or f
or which they can't see a practical application. They prefer to work alone, but
work well in teams when the situation demands it. They like to be accountable fo
r their actions, and enjoy being in positions of authority. The ISTJ has little

use for theory or abstract thinking, unless the practical application is clear.
ISTJs have tremendous respect for facts. They hold a tremendous store of facts w
ithin themselves, which they have gathered through their Sensing preference. The
y may have difficulty understanding a theory or idea which is different from the
ir own perspective. However, if they are shown the importance or relevance of th
e idea to someone who they respect or care about, the idea becomes a fact, which
the ISTJ will internalize and support. Once the ISTJ supports a cause or idea,
he or she will stop at no lengths to ensure that they are doing their duty of gi
ving support where support is needed.
The ISTJ is not naturally in tune with their own feelings and the feelings of ot
hers. They may have difficulty picking up on emotional needs immediately, as the
y are presented. Being perfectionists themselves, they have a tendency to take o
ther people's efforts for granted, like they take their own efforts for granted.
They need to remember to pat people on the back once in a while.
ISTJs are likely to be uncomfortable expressing affection and emotion to others.
However, their strong sense of duty and the ability to see what needs to be don
e in any situation usually allows them to overcome their natural reservations, a
nd they are usually quite supporting and caring individuals with the people that
they love. Once the ISTJ realizes the emotional needs of those who are close to
them, they put forth effort to meet those needs.
The ISTJ is extremely faithful and loyal. Traditional and family-minded, they wi
ll put forth great amounts of effort at making their homes and families running
smoothly. They are responsible parents, taking their parenting roles seriously.
They are usually good and generous providers to their families. They care deeply
about those close to them, although they usually are not comfortable with expre
ssing their love. The ISTJ is likely to express their affection through actions,
rather than through words.
ISTJs have an excellent ability to take any task and define it, organize it, pla
n it, and implement it through to completion. They are very hard workers, who do
not allow obstacles to get in the way of performing their duties. They do not u
sually give themselves enough credit for their achievements, seeing their accomp
lishments simply as the natural fulfillment of their obligations.
ISTJs usually have a great sense of space and function, and artistic appreciatio
n. Their homes are likely to be tastefully furnished and immaculately maintained
. They are acutely aware of their senses, and want to be in surroundings which f
it their need for structure, order, and beauty.
Under stress, ISTJs may fall into "catastrophe mode", where
all of the possibilities of what could go wrong. They will
r things which they should have done differently, or duties
perform. They will lose their ability to see things calmly
will depress themselves with their visions of doom.

they see nothing but

berate themselves fo
which they failed to
and reasonably, and

In general, the ISTJ has a tremendous amount of potential. Capable, logical, rea
sonable, and effective individuals with a deeply driven desire to promote securi
ty and peaceful living, the ISTJ has what it takes to be highly effective at ach
ieving their chosen goals - whatever they may be.
ISTJ Relationships
The ISTJ's word is as good as gold, and they honor their commitments faithfully.
They believe that to do otherwise would be nothing less than a breach of honor

and trustworthiness. Consequently, they take their vows very seriously, and once
they have said "I do", that means they are bound to the relationship until "dea
th do us apart" or otherwise. ISTJs are driven to fulfill their responsibilities
and duties, and will do so with tireless effort. They will do their best to mee
t the obligations presented by the different relationship roles which they play
during their lives, i.e. spouse, parent, offspring, etc. They may have difficult
y showing warmth, but they frequently feel it in abundance, and most develop the
ability to show it through sheer effort. If nothing else, the ISTJ holds the go
ld medal of all the personality types for Effort. They will put forth tremendous
amounts of effort to accomplish goals which are important to them. If healthy r
elationships are among these goals, you can bet that the ISTJ will do everything
that they can to foster and maintain healthy relationships.
ISTJ Strengths
Honor their commitments
Take their relationship roles very seriously
Usually able to communicate what's on their minds with precision
Good listeners
Extremely good (albeit conservative) with money
Able to take constructive criticism well
Able to tolerate conflict situations without emotional upheaval
Able to dole out punishment or criticism when called for
ISTJ Weaknesses
Tendency to believe that they're always right
Tendency to get involved in "win-lose" conversations
Not naturally in-tune with what others are feeling
Their value for structure may seem rigid to others
Not likely to give enough praise or affirmation to their loved ones
ISTJs as Lovers
"To love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to gr
ief, sorrow, and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity
of consciousness we did not know was possible before." -- Rollo May
ISTJs are committed, loyal partners, who will put forth tremendous amounts of ef
fort into making their relationships work. Once they have made a commitment to a
relationship, they will stick with it until the end. They gladly accept their d
uty towards fulfilling their role in the relationship. ISTJs are generally willi
ng and able to do anything which they have defined as a goal. So, if maintaining
a good relationship is important to the ISTJ, they are likely to have a good re
lationship. If they have not added this goal to their internal "list" of duties,
they are likely to approach the relationship in their "natural" state, which is
extremely practical, traditional, and structured.
Sexually, the ISTJ is likely to approach intimacy from a physical perspective, r
ather than as a means of expressing love and affection. They usually have a prob
lem expressing their deepest feelings, even though they may be very strongly fel
t. They will expect sex on a relatively scheduled basis, and are likely to honor
traditions regarding gender role-playing. Male ISTJs will assert their perspect
ive on their partners, while female ISTJs will tend to follow along with what th
eir male counterparts want (although they will be uncomfortable with anything ex
tremely out of the traditional norm).
ISTJs do not feel threatened by constructive criticism or conflict situations. W
hen faced with criticism, the ISTJ is likely to believe that their point of view
is correct. They have a tremendous amount of respect for Facts, and base their

opinions on known facts and logic. Consequently, they have a hard time seeing th
e viability of viewpoints which don't match their own. When the ISTJ gets involv
ed in a disagreement over a point, they usually begin to attempt to recruit the
other person over to their own point of view, fully believing that they are righ
t, and that the other individual simply needs to understand the facts of the sit
uation. In such situations, the ISTJ may or may not be right, but their confiden
ce in their own "rightness" can shake the confidence of others involved. This ha
bit can quickly turn conversations into "win-lose" situations, and can present a
special problem in intimate relationships. While they may inadvertantly shake t
he confidence of their colleagues with their "I'm right" approach, the same beha
vior may cause serious issues within their intimate relationships. The ISTJ's co
nstant assertion of "rightness" may send a message to their mates that they do n
ot value their opinions. If the ISTJ has a mate with a strong Feeling preference
, they may inadvertantly wreak havoc with their self-esteem, since Feeling indiv
iduals are extremely sensitive to conflict and criticism, and are especially vul
nerable in their intimate relationships.
Since ISTJs make decisions using the Thinking function (rather than Feeling), th
ey are not naturally likely to consider their mates feelings and emotions in dai
ly living. This may be a problem if their mates have the Feeling preference, sin
ce Feeling individuals usually expect a lot of positive affirmation, which the I
STJ does not naturally communicate to them. The ISTJ needs to remember that othe
rs may need to hear that they are loved and valued, even if the ISTJ doesn't nee
d to hear this themself.
ISTJs are generally very capable and efficient at most things which they endeavo
r. Consequently, their mates are likely to hold a good amount of respect for the
m. Daily concerns are likely to be well-provided for by the ISTJ. If other conce
rns, such as emotional needs, are pointed out to the ISTJ as important issues fo
r their mates, the ISTJ will rise to the occasion and add the task of addressing
these needs to the internal "list" of duties. Since the ISTJ is so willing to w
ork hard at issues, and so tireless at performing tasks which they feel should b
e done, the ISTJ generally makes a wonderful, caring mate who is willing and abl
e to promote a healthy, lasting relationship which is also a partnership.
Although two well-developed individuals of any type can enjoy a healthy relation
ship, the ISTJ's natural partner is the ESFP, or the ESTP. ISTJ's dominant funct
ion of Introverted Sensing is best matched with a partner whose personality is d
ominated by Extraverted Sensing. How did we arrive at this?
ISTJs as Parents
"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth...
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable." -- Kahlil Gibran
ISTJs are faithful and devoted parents who can be counted on to put forth their
very best efforts towards raising their children in positive, comfortable, secur
e homes, and to promote their growth in such a way that they will become secure
adults who know their place in life within our society. Such is the greatest goa
l of an ISTJ parent toward their child.
Along the path towards this goal, the ISTJ expects that their children honor the
ir traditional familial roles. As parents, they demand respect and authority fro
m their children. They willingly accept their parental role of provider and guar
dian. Once the ISTJ becomes a parent, it becomes a "given" that they will perfor
m all of the duties associated with parenthood, and they will do so without grud
ge or burden. However, they expect that their children give them their due respe
ct in return, and will have little patience with disrespectful behavior.

When it comes to giving punishment or discipline, the ISTJ will be able to do so

when necessary without too much internal trauma. They see it as their duty to t
each their children when they've done wrong, and so will administer the punishme
nt in the name of the greater cause of doing their duty towards their children.
Not to imply that the ISTJ will enjoy disciplining their children, they simply w
ill put their duties before their personal feelings.
The ISTJ is likely to have a problem giving a lot of positive affirmation and su
pport to their children. Having very high expectations for their own behavior an
d the behavior of others, the ISTJ often forgets to give praise when praise is d
ue. All children need positive support as they find their place in the world, an
d this is especially true for children with the Feeling preference, who benefit
tremendously from positive affirmation, and suffer (sometimes tremendously) in i
ts void. The ISTJ who recognizes sensitivity in their child should take special
care to give them positive support and affirmation.
The ISTJ will create a consistent, secure environment for their children, with d
efinite roles and boundaries. Although this may at times create division between
the parent and child (especially during rebellious adolescence), it will genera
lly promote the child's growth into a secure adult. ISTJ parents will be remembe
red and honored by their children for being good people who always tried their b
est, and for putting the needs of their children above their own.
ISTJs as Friends
Although friendships do not rank highest in the ISTJ's list of important relatio
nships (whose duties and obligation to the Family rank above all else), they do
have value these relationships and put effort into enhancing and maintaining the
m. The ISTJ is likely to choose to be around people who have similar interests a
nd perspectives to their own, and are likely to not have much patience with peop
le who are very different from themselves.
Although their usual mode of being is very serious-minded, ISTJs like to have fu
n and let loose. They like being with Extraverts who are optimistic and fun-mind
ed, although the E's enthusiasm may eventually get on the ISTJ's nerves. ISTJs c
an get along with most other types, but they especially form solid connections w
ith other Sensing Judgers. The ISTJ's respect for laws and traditions may make t
hem unable to relate well to Sensing Perceiving types, although they admire thei
r carefree ability to live for the moment. And conversely, the Sensing Perceivin
g types may see the ISTJ's need for structure as too conservative or scheduled f
or their tastes. ISTJs seem to get along well with Intuitives, although they can
not really relate to some of the Intuitives perspectives.

ISTJ Personal Growth

What does Success mean to an ISTJ?
People with the ISTJ personality type are serious, methodical, analytical, and h
ard-working. They store knowledge gained from their experiences, and use this kn
owledge to tackle new problems and ideas. They will work a problem through to it
s identified conclusion. They work towards defined goals; their analytical objec
tivity gives them the tendency to make goal-oriented decisions that are not wayl
aid by the concerns of individuals. They're uncomfortable with ideas that are co
mpletely new to them, or that are totally theoretical in nature. Since they have
no direct experience with the new concept, they have no tools for knowing how t
o deal with it or what to think about it. They need to get the framework for a n

ew concept before they're able to deal with it. An experienced ISTJ is usually a
very capable person, and makes an excellent manager. ISTJs have great value for
the "tried and true" approach, and are reluctant to adopt new systems until dir
ect experience proves the validity of the new system. They internalize and value
the rules and structure of the society in which they live, and disapprove of be
haviors that go against these rules. ISTJs highly value the cornerstone institut
ions of society such as Family, Work, and Church. Their hard-working, dedicated
nature is especially well-suited for holding up such institutions. An ISTJ's fee
ling of success depends upon being able to use their experience for the benefit
of an institution, and also upon the level of structure and lack of chaos in the
ir life, and in the health and welfare of their family or other social structure
.
Allowing Your ISTJ Strengths to Flourish
As an ISTJ, you have gifts that are specific to your personality type that aren'
t natural strengths for other types. By recognizing your special gifts and encou
raging their growth and development, you will more readily see your place in the
world, and be more content with your role.
Nearly all ISTJs will recognize the following characteristics in themselves. The
y should embrace and nourish these strengths:
Their desire to execute known systems against concrete facts makes them happy to
chunk through large amounts of routine work.
With their respect for rules and order, they value honesty and integrity and see
k to live with these ideals.
An ISTJ has a "stick to it" attitude. They're not afraid of hard work, and will
put forth a great deal of effort towards something that they are interested in.
This persistence will help the ISTJ to achieve any identified goal.
The ISTJ's value for social structure makes them more interested in being social
than is true for many Introverts.
ISTJs who have developed their Extraverted Thinking will complement their intere
st in their inner world of concrete data with an interest in the welfare of the
rest of the world, especially with regards to upholding social systems and tradi
tions. These ISTJs enjoy these very special gifts:
They will move beyond an expectation that others should follow rules into a dedi
cation and willingness to work hard to uphold standards themselves.
They show a dedication to maintaining personal relationships that lends them a r
espect for individual differences.
They will use their inner store of facts for the benefit of an institution or so
ciety in general, rather than to satisfy their own interests.
The more they develop their Extraverted Thinking, the better they will become at
strategizing. They will be able to brainstorm multiple possible solutions to pr
oblems.
ISTJs are often uncomfortable with decisions based on values rather than on obje
ctive criteria, but the more they develop their Extraverted Thinking, the more l
ikely they will become able to use Introverted Feeling as a positive force rathe
r than strictly a negative one. This will allow them to understand a value judge
ment that is based on personal perspective rather than social obligation.
Potential Problem Areas
With any gift of strength, there is an associated weakness. Without "bad", there
would be no "good". Without "difficult", there would be no "easy". We value our
strengths, but we often curse and ignore our weaknesses. To grow as a person an
d get what we want out of life, we must not only capitalize upon our strengths,

but also face our weaknesses and deal with them. That means taking a hard look a
t our personality type's potential problem areas.
Most of the weaker characteristics that are found in ISTJs are due to their domi
nant Introverted Sensing function controlling the personality to the point that
all other functions are being used to defend Sensing demands, rather than for th
eir more balanced purposes. In such cases, an ISTJ may show some or all of the f
ollowing weaknesses in varying degrees:
Excessive love of food and drink
Lack of interest in other people, or in relating to them
Occasional inappropriate emotional displays
General selfish "look after oneself" tendencies
Uses judgement to dismiss other's opinions and perspectives, before really under
standing them
May judge others rather than themselves
May look at external ideas and people with the primary purpose of finding fault
May become slave to their routine and "by the book" ways of doing things, to the
point that any deviation is completely unacceptable
May have difficulty communicating their thoughts and feelings to anyone
Explanation of Problems
Nearly all of the problematic characteristics described above can be attributed
in various degrees to the common ISTJ problem of Introverted Sensing overtaking
the ISTJ's personality to the point that all other functions become slaves to In
troverted Sensing. A more "whole" personality needs to have a good balance betwe
en its dominant and auxiliary functions. For an ISTJ, the dominant Introverted S
ensing needs to be well-supported by the auxiliary Extraverted Thinking function
. If Extraverted Thinking exists only to support the desires of Introverted Sens
ing, than neither function is being used to its potential.
Introverted Sensing is a personality function that constantly gathers data and s
tores it in a sort of informational database to be accessed at will in the futur
e. As the dominant player in a personality, it has the effect of constantly bomb
arding the psyche with facts to store. As something new is perceived, it is adde
d to the vast warehouse of Introverted Sensing data. Introverted Sensing does no
t in itself analyze this data for meaning or connection--it just takes it in as
information. In order to sort through and make use of this information, a judgin
g function must be applied. It is the judging function that does the analysis an
d ordering of the data.
When Introverted Sensing is too dominant, or Extraverted Thinking is not develop
ed sufficiently, we see the ISTJ using Extraverted Thinking to order the individ
ual's world in such a way that Introverted Sensing can reign without interferenc
e. This may include dismissing the importance of relationships, or pushing away
anything that threatens the ISTJ's highly introverted way of life. In this manne
r, Extraverted Thinking is used against the external world, rather than against
the ISTJ's internal data. It is a defensive shield, rather than a useful filter.
The better, more "whole" use of Extraverted Thinking for the ISTJ would be to us
e it to order and evaluate its own rich store of data, and therefore generate us
eful solutions to problems and efficient systems. Like all types, most ISTJs wil
l show some signs of this kind of weakness. This does not mean that they're hope
lessly flawed. The real problems occur when an ISTJ personality has become so im
balanced that its owner is extremely selfish and unable to consider the importan
ce or validity of anyone else's perspective.
Solutions

To grow as an individual, the ISTJ needs to focus on applying their judgement ag

ainst information that they have gathered, rather than against single facts or i
deas coming from others. Before judging, put all new data into the context of ex
isting facts. Working with all of the facts at your disposal will greatly improv
e your ability to judge effectively, and will reduce the likelihood that you wil
l become offensively reactionary and isolationist.
An ISTJ who is concerned with personal growth will pay close attention to the su
bject of ther judgments, and their motivations for making judgments. Are they ju
dging something external to themself, or are they judging something within the c
ontext of their stored knowledge? Is the motivation for judging something to be
able to understand its usefulness in the world, or to dismiss it? Too often, an
ISTJ will judge something without properly understanding it, and with the intent
ion of dismissing it. Seek first to understand, then to judge.
Living Happily in our World as an ISTJ
People of all personality types sometimes experience problems dealing with speci
fic aspects of civilization and human interaction. For the ISTJ, problems are ge
nerally associated with being unable to tolerate behaviors that go outside perce
ived norms, and with not putting forth effort to meet others' emotional needs. T
hese problems stem from building up the importance of the ISTJ's inner world and
diminishing the importance of the external world. ISTJs who recognize that thei
r knowledge and experience can be enriched by the synergy of other people's know
ledge and experience will find that they can be committed to their internal worl
ds and still have satisfying relationships with others. The key to accomplishing
this is development of their highest extraverted function, Extraverted Thinking
.
An ISTJ who uses Extraverted Thinking to find fault externally rather than inter
nally may become so strongly opinionated that they form rigid and unreasonable e
xpectations of others. Their hyper-vigilant judgments about the rationality and
competence of others may be a very effective way of keeping themselves at an emo
tional distance from others. This will preserve the sanctity of the ISTJ's inner
world and lifestyle, but will reduce a lot of valuable input, arrest the develo
pment of their social character, and stagnate the development of the ISTJ's rich
store of experiential data. In extreme cases the ISTJ may find him or herself q
uite alone and lonely.
More commonly, the ISTJ will run into trouble when they try to order and structu
re the outer world, rather than their inner world. Trying to structure people in
to a predefined, acceptable system is problematic. The personality types who val
ue the unique individual will be offended by the apparent lack of respect for th
eir person, and people with personality types who follow social values will want
to be honoring their own system, rather then being forced to follow yours. Many
people experience being controlled or manipulated as a form of suppression, and
resist it. Eventually, they may harbor serious resentment against the suppresso
r.
Specific suggestions:
Take care to listen to someone's idea entirely before you pass judgment on i
t. Ask questions if necessary. Do whatever it takes to make sure that you unders
tand the idea. Try not to begin judging anything until you understand the detail
s.
Try to identify the personality type of everyone you encounter frequently in
your life. Remember that Intuitives often have a wandering style of expression.
Try to exhibit tolerance for this.
Before you being talking to another person, pause for a moment and look at t

hat person. Take in that person's attitude and feelings at that moment. Be aware
of the person with whom you are speaking.
Ten Rules to Live By to Achieve ISTJ Success
Feed Your Strengths! Do things that allow your excellent organizational and
logical abilities to flourish. Explore the worlds of business management, accoun
ting, and medicine.
Face Your Weaknesses! See your weaknesses for what they are, and seek to ove
rcome them. Especially, strive to use your judgment against your internal store
of knowledge, rather than as a means of disregarding other people's ideas.
Talk Through Your Thoughts. You need to step through your vast amount of inf
ormation in order to put things into perspective. Give yourself appropriate time
to do this, and take advantage of discussing ideas with others. Some find that
externalizing your thoughts is a valuable exercise, as is expressing your ideas
clearly in writing.
Take in Everything. Don't dismiss ideas prematurely because you don't respec
t the person generating the ideas, or because you think you already know it all.
After all, everybody has something to offer, and nobody knows everything. As St
even Covey says, "Seek first to understand, and then to be understood."
Quench Your Desire to Control Others. Remember that most people do not want
to be controlled. Again, turn your controlling tendencies inwardly rather than o
utwardly. You can only really control yourself.
Be Aware of Others. Take time to notice where others are coming from. What i
s their personality type? How are they currently feeling?
Be Accountable for Yourself. Don't blame the problems in your life on other
people. Look inwardly for solutions.
Be Gentle in Your Expectations, and judge yourself at least as harshly as yo
u judge others.
Assume the Best. Don't distress yourself and others by dwelling on the dark
side of everything. Just as there is a positive charge for every negative charge
, there is a light side to every dark side. Remember that positive situations ar
e created by positive attitudes, and vice versa. Expect the best, and the best w
ill come forward.
There is Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself. Sometimes it's necessary to take a
risk to initiate change. Don't be afraid to do so when that time comes. In most
cases, the obstacles and burdens standing in the way of your goal are not reall
y there--they just exist in your perspective. Change your perspective--change yo
ur life.

Careers for ISTJ Personality Types

Whether you're a young adult trying to find your place in the world, or a not-so
-young adult trying to find out if you're moving along the right path, it's impo
rtant to understand yourself and the personality traits that will impact your li
keliness to succeed or fail at various careers. It's equally important to unders
tand what is really important to you. When armed with an understanding of your s
trengths and weaknesses, and an awareness of what you truly value, you are in an
excellent position to pick a career that you will find rewarding.

ISTJs generally have the following traits:

Value tradition, security, and peaceful living

Will work long and hard to fulfill duties
Can be depended on to follow through on tasks
Loyal and faithful
Stable, practical and down-to-earth
Family-minded
Dislike doing things that don't make sense to them
Dislike abstract theory, unless they see the practical application
Natural leaders
Prefer to work alone, but work well in teams when necessary
Extremely observant, they take in facts via their senses and store them inte
rnally
Vast, rich inner store of facts that they rely on to understand problems tha
t they encounter in their lives
Profound respect for facts and concrete information
Make decisions objectively, applying logic and rational thinking
Dislike change, unless they are shown it's benefit in a concrete way
Have strong opinions about the way things should be done
Appreciate structured, orderly environments
Have very high standards for their own behavior and the behavior of others
Not naturally in-tune with other people's feelings
Able to accomplish almost anything if they put their minds to it
Community minded "good citizens"

ISTJs have one character trait that puts them at a definite advantage in terms o
f career success - Perserverance. An ISTJ can do almost anything that they have
decided to do. However, there are areas in which they will function more happily
and naturally. An ISTJ will do best in a career in which they can use their exc
ellent organizational skills and their powers of concentration to create order a
nd structure. ISTJs seem to fit extremely well into the Management and Executive
layer of the corporate business world.
The following list of professions is built on our impression of careers that wou
ld be especially suitable for an ISTJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rathe
r than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the career
s listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is am
ong those listed.
Possible Careers Paths for ISTJ:
Business Executive
Administrator
Manager
Accountant
Financial Officer
Police Officer
Detective
Judge
Attorney
Medical Doctor
Dentist
Computer Programmer
Systems Analyst
Military Leader

Portrait of an ESFP - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving

(Extraverted Sensing with Introverted Feeling)
The Performer
As an ESFP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take th
ings in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode
is internal, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, o
r how they fit with your personal value system.
ESFPs live in the world of people possibilties. They love people and new experie
nces. They are lively and fun, and enjoy being the center of attention. They liv
e in the here-and-now, and relish excitement and drama in their lives.
ESFPs have very strong inter-personal skills, and may find themselves in the rol
e of the peacemaker frequently. Since they make decisions by using their persona
l values, they are usually very sympathetic and concerned for other people's wel
l-being. They're usually quite generous and warm. They are very observant about
other people, and seem to sense what is wrong with someone before others might,
responding warmly with a solution to a practical need. They might not be the bes
t advice-givers in the world, because they dislike theory and future-planning, b
ut they are great for giving practical care.
ESFP is definitely a spontaneous, optimistic individual. They love to have fun.
If the ESFP has not developed their Thinking side by giving consideration to rat
ional thought processing, they tend to become over-indulgent, and place more imp
ortance on immediate sensation and gratification than on their duties and obliga
tions. They may also avoid looking at long-term consequences of their actions.
For the ESFP, the entire world is a stage. They love to be the center of attenti
on and perform for people. They're constantly putting on a show for others to en
tertain them and make them happy. They enjoy stimulating other people's senses,
and are extremely good at it. They would love nothing more than for life to be a
continual party, in which they play the role of the fun-loving host.
ESFPs love people, and everybody loves an ESFP. One of their greatest gifts is t
heir general acceptance of everyone. They are upbeat and enthusiastic, and genui
nely like almost everybody. An ESFP is unfailingly warm and generous with their
friends, and they generally treat everyone as a friend. However, once crosesed,
an ESFP is likely to make a very strong and stubborn judgment against the person
who crossed them. They are capable of deep dislike in such a situation.
The ESFP under a great deal of stress gets overwhelmed with negatives thoughts a
nd possibilities. As an optimistic individual who lives in the world of possibil
ities, negative possibilities do not sit well with them. In an effort to combat
these thoughts, they're likely to come up with simple, global statements to expl
ain away the problem. These simplistic explanations may or may not truly get to
the nature of the issue, but they serve the ESFP well by allowing them to get ov
er it.
ESFPs are likely to be very practical, although they hate structure and routine.
They like to "go with the flow", trusting in their ability to improvise in any
situation presented to them. They learn best with "hands-on" experience, rather
than by studying a book. They're uncomfortable with theory. If an ESFP hasn't de
veloped their intuitive side, they may tend to avoid situations which involve a

lot of theoretical thinking, or which are complex and ambiguous. For this reason
, an ESFP may have difficulty in school. On the other hand, the ESFP does extrem
ely well in situations where they're allowed to learn by interacting with others
, or in which they "learn by doing".
ESFPs have a very well-developed appreciation for aesthetic beauty, and an excel
lent sense of space and function. If they have the means, they're likely to have
to have many beautiful possessions, and an artfully furnished home. In general,
they take great pleasure in objects of aesthetic beauty. They're likely to have
a strong appreciation for the finer things in life, such as good food and good
wine.
The ESFP is a great team player. He or she is not likely to create any problems
or fuss, and is likely to create the most fun environment possible for getting t
he task done. ESFPs will do best in careers in which they are able to use their
excellent people skills, along with their abilities to meld ideas into structure
d formats. Since they are fast-paced individuals who like new experiences, they
should choose careers which offer or require a lot of diversity, as well as peop
le skills.
ESFPs usually like to feel strongly bonded with other people, and have a connect
ion with animals and small children that is not found in most other types. They'
re likely to have a strong appreciation for the beauties of nature as well.
The ESFP has a tremendous love for life, and knows how to have fun. They like to
bring others along on their fun-rides, and are typically a lot of fun to be wit
h. They're flexible, adaptable, genuinely interested in people, and usually kind
-hearted. They have a special ability to get a lot of fun out of life, but they
need to watch out for the pitfalls associated with living entirely in the moment
.
Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Extraverted Sensing
Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling
Tertiary: Extraverted Thinking
Inferior: Introverted Intuition

Portrait of an ESTP - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving

(Extraverted Sensing with Introverted Thinking)
The Doer
As an ESTP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take th
ings in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode
is internal, where you deal with things rationally and logically.
ESTPs are outgoing, straight-shooting types. Enthusiastic and excitable, ESTPs a

re "doers" who live in the world of action. Blunt, straight-forward risk-takers,

they are willing to plunge right into things and get their hands dirty. They li
ve in the here-and-now, and place little importance on introspection or theory.
The look at the facts of a situation, quickly decide what should be done, execut
e the action, and move on to the next thing.
ESTPs have an uncanny ability to perceive people's attitudes and motivations. Th
ey pick up on little cues which go completely unnoticed by most other types, suc
h as facial expressions and stance. They're typically a couple of steps ahead of
the person they're interacting with. ESTPs use this ability to get what they wa
nt out of a situation. Rules and laws are seen as guidelines for behavior, rathe
r than mandates. If the ESTP has decided that something needs to be done, then t
heir "do it and get on with it" attitude takes precendence over the rules. Howev
er, the ESTP tends to have their own strong belief in what's right and what's wr
ong, and will doggedly stick to their principles. The Rules of the Establishment
may hold little value to the ESTP, but their own integrity mandates that they w
ill not under any circumstances do something which they feel to be wrong.
ESTPs have a strong flair for drama and style. They're fast-moving, fast-talking
people who have an appreciation for the finer things in life. They may be gambl
ers or spendthrifts. They're usually very good at story telling and improvising.
They typically makes things up as they go along, rather than following a plan.
They love to have fun, and are fun people to be around. They can sometimes be hu
rtful to others without being aware of it, as they generally do not know and may
not care about the effect their words have on others. It's not that they don't
care about people, it's that their decision-making process does not involve taki
ng people's feelings into account. They make decisions based on facts and logic.
ESTP's least developed area is their intuitive side. They are impatient with the
ory, and see little use for it in their quest to "get things done". An ESTP will
occasionally have strong intuitions which are often way off-base, but sometimes
very lucid and positive. The ESTP does not trust their instincts, and is suspic
ious of other people's intuition as well.
The ESTP often has trouble in school, especially higher education which moves in
to realms where theory is more important. The ESTP gets bored with classes in wh
ich they feel they gain no useful material which can be used to get things done.
The ESTP may be brilliantly intelligent, but school will be a difficult chore f
or them.
The ESTP needs to keep moving, and so does well in careers where he or she is no
t restricted or confined. ESTPs make extremely good salespersons. They will beco
me stifled and unhappy dealing with routine chores. ESTPs have a natural abundan
ce of energy and enthusiasm, which makes them natural entrepreneurs. They get ve
ry excited about things, and have the ability to motivate others to excitement a
nd action. The can sell anyone on any idea. They are action-oriented, and make d
ecisions quickly. All-in-all, they have extraordinary talents for getting things
started. They are not usually so good at following through, and might leave tho
se tasks to others. Mastering the art of following through is something which ES
TPs should pay special attention to.
ESTPs are practical, observant, fun-loving, spontaneous risk-takers with an exce
llent ability to quickly improvise an innovative solution to a problem. They're
enthusiastic and fun to be with, and are great motivators. If an ESTP recognizes
their real talents and operates within those realms, they can accomplish truly
exciting things.
Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Extraverted Sensing

Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking

Tertiary: Extraverted Feeling
Inferior: Introverted Intuition