The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) is a well-known tool used to explore personality differences based on how people mentally process the world around them. It’s particularly popular among employers for career assessments and team-building exercises. While some organizations may over-rely on it for categorizing individuals, its real value lies in helping ensure the right fit for a role—especially when certain tasks demand specific thinking styles. For instance, a highly detail-oriented job might overwhelm someone more focused on big-picture thinking.
Importantly, the MBTI doesn’t claim to reveal your true, unchangeable self. Rather, it helps individuals reflect on their preferences, which can be incredibly useful when exploring career paths that match their natural inclinations.
Background and Origins
The MBTI is the most widely used personality assessment in the world. It is rooted in the work of psychologist Carl Jung, who proposed that people have different psychological types based on how they perceive and judge the world.
Later, Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers expanded on Jung’s ideas and developed the MBTI framework. They created a model of 16 personality types built around four key preference pairs or dichotomies.
The Four Preference Pairs
1. Introversion (I) vs. Extraversion (E)
This scale relates to how people restore their energy.
- Introverts recharge by spending time alone and focusing inward.
- Extraverts are energized by interaction and external stimulation.
This is most noticeable in times of stress—do you turn inward or seek out others?
2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
This pair is about how we take in information.
- Sensors trust data gathered through the five senses and prefer practical, real-world facts.
- Intuitives look for patterns and underlying meanings, adding imagination or insight to what they perceive.
3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
This scale explores how decisions are made.
- Thinkers rely on objective reasoning and logic to make choices.
- Feelers consider personal values and the emotional impact on others when deciding.
4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
This dimension addresses how we interact with the world.
- Judging types prefer structure, planning, and control.
- Perceiving types are more adaptable, flexible, and open to changing circumstances.
A popular quote sums it up well:
“Reasonable people adapt to the world. Unreasonable people try to make the world adapt to them. Therefore, all progress depends on unreasonable people.”
MBTI and Career Guidance
Although some view MBTI as overly simplistic, many find it valuable for career exploration. It helps identify environments and roles where one is more likely to thrive. It’s not meant to box people in but to shine light on natural preferences and areas for growth.
The 16 MBTI Types
Here’s a brief description of the 16 personality types identified by the MBTI:
- ENFJ – Inspiring, empathetic leaders who build strong connections.
- ENFP – Creative, energetic, spontaneous, and people-oriented.
- ENTJ – Strategic thinkers who enjoy leadership and decisiveness.
- ENTP – Innovative, curious, and enjoy variety and intellectual challenges.
- ESFJ – Warm, responsible, and attentive to the needs of others.
- ESFP – Energetic, friendly, and live in the moment.
- ESTJ – Logical, organized, and excellent at executing plans.
- ESTP – Action-oriented, resourceful, and focused on results.
- INFJ – Deep thinkers who seek meaning and connection in ideas.
- INFP – Loyal, idealistic, and driven by inner values.
- INTJ – Independent and strategic, with a focus on long-term goals.
- INTP – Analytical, abstract thinkers who enjoy exploring concepts.
- ISFJ – Quiet, reliable, and nurturing.
- ISFP – Gentle, observant, and tuned into their environment.
- ISTJ – Practical, orderly, and highly responsible.
- ISTP – Problem-solvers who are calm and effective under pressure.
Personal Development and the Inferior Function
Each type also has an area of less-developed thinking—often referred to as the inferior function. This weaker function can limit us but also offers opportunities for growth and balance. Developing this lesser-used side can be a powerful step toward personal and professional development.