Best Career Paths For ISTP Personality Types

What job best suits your personality type? If this is something you’re considering, then learning more about your personality type is the first step. You’re not the first person to have considered this, and there’s actually quite a lot of science behind it.

One of the most popular ways to discover your personality type and to learn more about what makes you who you are is by taking a personality test. Sure, there are a lot of them out there, but most of them are just for fun and don’t have any real meaning behind them.

If you’re looking to take a personality test that’s backed by science and research, then The Myers Briggs Type Indicator® personality inventory is a good place to start.

This personality test is based on the work of psychoanalyst Carl Jung, who theorized that personality is made of cognitive function, and it’s the order of these functions that determine your personality type.

When you’re done with the test, you’ll be assigned four letters. These letters and the order they’re in are important and give you more information on your innate personality, which can help you select a career.

Top Careers for ISTP Personality Types

If you see the personality characteristics of an ISTP and believe that you might be one, then you might be looking for some good career options, ones that will play up your strengths and help you thrive and do your best. The following careers are suited for people with ISTP traits. It doesn’t mean that you’re a sure fit, but it can help you find your professional spot.

Carpenter

Average Yearly Salary: $41,000

Carpenters who are ISTPs tend to do exceptionally well in their field. They are great at looking at a situation and knowing exactly how to build the structures that are required. Those who love details make excellent and highly sought-after finish carpenters. They can instantly remedy those situations that always come up in the middle of a project where quick thinking and acting can save the day.

Because ISTP types also tend to have a little daredevil inside them, they can do well with the heights that are sometimes required for this profession. Walking along a 2×4 high in the air seems like nothing to them, and they’re not going to worry about falling.

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Scientist

Average Yearly Salary: $97,000

Scientists, in just about any field, are tasked with taking a lot of information and finding solutions. They often work alone or in small teams to compile data and compare results. This is the type of environment that is very appealing to many ISTP people. They love solving problems and tend to be excellent at it.

Because ISTPs work best in their own heads, the idea of a solitary work existence or working with a small, dedicated team appeals to them. They know they’ll do well, and in many situations, the others on their team have a similar predisposition, so they tend to do well together.

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Emergency Room Physician

Average Yearly Salary: $209,000

ER physicians need to take the information at hand and very quickly come up with a logical and accurate solution. Or at least a short-term solution that will give them more time to find the long-term cure. This is a seriously high-stress job, and it requires some logical thinking done quickly and under fire. These are situations where the right ISTP can excel.

ISTPs love adrenaline-fueled situations, which an ER room certainly can be. They tend to be a little out of touch with other people’s feelings and their own, which actually can be a benefit when you’re dealing with life and death, and you don’t want to get distracted by emotion.

They’re also great problem solvers, so the minute a patient rolls through their door, they’re already looking for a way to fix whatever is going wrong.

The only downfall to an ISTP in this profession can be the stress. They’re not always great and dealing with and managing stress. If this job provides too much of it and they don’t have an outlet, they might not fare well.

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Electrical Engineer

Average Yearly Salary: $74,000

ISTP personalities are often excellent electrical engineers (and almost all engineers). Electrical engineering requires detailed knowledge of anything that involves electricity. There is a broad range of fields that fall under that umbrella term, so specialization is often required.

But as a whole, this field lets the ISTP learn all they can about their particular industry and then apply that knowledge to solve problems.

The one downside is that electrical engineers need to be able to see the big picture in many situations, which isn’t typically an ISTP strength, but it can be learned and worked around.

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Technician

Average Yearly Salary: $36,000

Technicians are similar to engineers in that they understand the details of machinery, but they tend to be more focused and specialize in one specific industry. They can be airplane technicians, elevator technicians, HVAC technicians, etc.

The great thing about picking a career as a technician for an ISTP is that they get to select a field that interests them and one where they want to learn more and know everything. Then, they get to collect the data and fill their head with all of the facts that they need to have so as to provide solutions. They also don’t typically have to work with others so they can thrive in their own little sphere.

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Property Manager

Average Yearly Salary: $43,000

A different sort of career for an ISTP is that of a property manager. This does require dealing with others, but not as much as you might think. Instead, you’re tasked with solving problems that have to do with the rentals or the property.

It means you have a list of people you trust and rely on to fix problems, and you might have to do some of the fixings yourself. But this won’t bother you because this is your specialty.

Even if you do have to deal with people, you won’t have to deal with deep emotions or much stress. Since you love problem-solving, the emergencies that come up on the property are typically going to be new challenges that you enjoy solving. And the emotions you’ll deal with are ones that will be remedied when you do your job.

An ISTP thrives on these situations and being the one needed to solve the problems, which means they’ll get the job done. This can mean that they’re the sort of person a property owner really wants to look for. They’re more than dependable and reliable — they’re innovators and always work for the best outcome.

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Health Inspector

Average Yearly Salary: $50,137

Any type of inspector job requires an analytical and detail-oriented mind – exactly what an ISTP brings to the table. Health inspector can be an especially fun job for this personality type because they have a lot of rules and regulations to memorize, and they can always be changing. This is something that can frustrate other personality types but not the ISTP.

ISTPs also tend to be very thorough and detailed in their work which means it can take time. They don’t mind, and the people relying on health inspectors to do a good job and make sure everything is up to code don’t care how long it takes. This gives them the time they need to do the job right. It’s also a very solitary position, all the better for the ISTP.

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Paralegal

Average Yearly Salary: $46,000

Paralegals are basically assistants to lawyers. They’re not simply secretaries or errand runners. They need to have legal experience, be well versed in the law and know how to access data related to the cases they’re involved in. Many attorneys couldn’t do what they do without a team of paralegals behind them gathering the data, pulling together facts, even submitting documents.

A paralegal gets to look at a problem and find ways to solve it. This can be tedious, require hours upon hours of hard work, and it’s often a solitary job. But again, this is where an ISTP thrives, and the thrill of winning a case or being a big part of one can quench their desire for adventure and adrenaline.

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Building Inspector

Average Yearly Salary: $48,000

Building inspectors are similar to health inspectors, but they’re also a little bit like carpenters. This is the perfect mix of occupations for some ISTPs out there. This job lets them inspect the little details, see where things are up to code (codes which they need to know in great detail) and where things might be lacking.

They’re alone, solving problems most of the time, and they never have to worry about emotions coming into the mix – at least on their end. If things go wrong, then a client could be mad at the builder, but the inspector is just doing their job to ensure safety all around.

Anyone who is looking to hire a building inspector would be well advised to turn their attention to someone with ISTP personality characteristics. They’ll be able to deal with the job and the massive amounts of information quite well.

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Occupational Therapist

Average Yearly Salary: $72,000

Yes, it’s true that an occupational therapist has to be pretty good with people, and this is not a strong suit for many ISTP people. But occupational therapists love to fix problems and help people resume function to the highest degree possible. This part of the job is right up the alley of the ISTP personality. It totally jives with their drive to solve things.

If an ISTP is more interested in people than machines and can manage emotions, they might find this career incredibly rewarding. They are often called upon to come up with inventive ways to help a sick or injured person adapt to their current situation so they can resume their previous lifestyle.

This requires a lot of trial and error, and this is where ISTPs learn the most. It’s a challenging job that’s full of great rewards.

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What Is an ISTP?

According to the Myers Briggs test, an ISTP personality is one of their 16 categories, with each letter representing a personality trait. ISTP stands for:

Introverted
Sensing
Thinking
Perceiving

These four personality traits have a level of prominence in the individual, starting at the left and moving to the right, or if you’re looking above, from the top down.

Introverted people spend a lot of time thinking and dealing with information in their heads. They’re not likely to bring up topics with others, especially those outside of their comfort zone.

They are seen as quiet, but they can be outgoing with friends. They tend to be very logical because they enjoy thinking through subjects and are usually very practical rather than emotional.
Sensing people are great at taking things as they come. They don’t worry and don’t celebrate too early. This means they’re often good at handling big situations or dramatic events because they tackle it one step at a time. This ability can be a downfall in that it makes them shy away from making long-term commitments or thinking about the big picture.
Thinking is a tertiary function for them, so it comes lower on the personality list. This function is pretty instinctive and an unconscious one for them, meaning that they quickly take in information and categorize it into practical insight or actions.

They don’t know they’re doing it. It’s a natural thing for them, but it leads to emotion, gut feelings, and bursts of inspiration when pieces fit together.
Perceiving is a personality trait that stays hidden until the individual is under stress, then they can have reactions to stress that seem out of place or overboard. They also seem to stuff down their own feelings until it becomes too much and respond in a cumulative fashion.

Strengths and Weaknesses of ISTP People

People who fall into the ISTP category love to work toward results. They want to understand problems and come up with the solution and find great joy in them. ISTPs can also be thrill-seekers and risk-takers because they enjoy that quick excitement and adrenaline and are not wired to worry about the consequences.

ISTPs are often seen as quiet and easygoing but hard to really get to know, and they don’t often step up to take charge or be a leader. They’re much better around their small social or family groups. ISTPs can seem insensitive as they distance themselves from emotion. And then, that builds up and can lead to outbursts or a big release of emotion.

Some strengths that you might find in an ISTP include:

Logical
Learn best through experience
Problem solvers
Realistic and practical
Enjoys new experiences

Some weaknesses that ISTPs tend to possess are:

Hard to get to know
Seem emotionally distant
Commitment-phobic
Easily bored
Doesn’t look at the big picture

Careers ISTP Personality Types May Want to Avoid

Right out the gate, we know that ISTPs don’t typically like to work with others, so they’re not great at dealing with customers on a regular basis. They aren’t really in touch with emotions, theirs and others, so that can be an issue. So what type of job(s) fall into those categories and should be ones that an ISTP avoids? The following are a few examples of careers that might not be a long-term, solid fit for ISTPs.

Social Worker. This job comes with all sorts of emotions. Social workers have to deal with families that are being split up, people who have been abused, abusers, drug addicts, and people with handicaps who are simply trying to make it by. It’s emotionally taxing in indescribable ways, and that’s constantly changing. These emotions aren’t just for the client; they’re also there for the social worker too.
Cold-Call Sales. Imagine having to pick up a phone constantly and try to make a sale. For some people, that’s as easy as it gets, while for ISTPs, that sounds like a nightmare. Even if they have a bit of desire to turn the product they’re selling into a solution for the person on the other end of the phone, the idea of having small talk with people all day long will instantly rub them wrong.
Reporter. Diving into the world of reporting means being able to talk to people all the time. In fact, it’s not just about talking to them; it’s about digging deep and getting them to confide in you. This takes some personality skills that an ISTP just wasn’t born with. It’s not their forte, and they are apt to find this job just too difficult.
Actor. There are ISTPs who do well in acting careers, but most actors discover that they need to tap into their emotions or even pull emotions from others to create a visceral experience that translates well for the audience. ISTPs tend to be too analytical to make this career work for them.
Urban Planner. While ISTPs make great construction workers, carpenters, finish carpenters, and even building inspectors, they tend not to do well as urban planners.

This job isn’t just about one building and then moving on to the next. Urban planners need to be able to see the big picture of what it is today and what it can be in the future. Their long-range abilities are what make them successful, which is why this isn’t a career that’s suited for an ISTP.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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