You know those days when you are wandering around the library because you thought they had a book you wanted, because the computer said it was on the shelf, but when you get there, it’s not there, so you decide to just roam around the shelves, looking at book spines to find the most intriguing while you wait out the rain?
Well, a book on personalities and jobs jumped out at me and I took it home. It basically makes you take an abridged version of the Myers-Briggs personality test and matches which jobs you would excel in based on your personality. (Here’s an online version) I always wondered why I liked some jobs and loathed others (like how I loved being a party planner, but hated being an admin). Turns out, I was right after all.
Let me explain: Growing up, I always liked throwing parties, I liked being social. Which worked in high school, but not necessarily in an all-girls Catholic junior high. But I always liked being around people. Still do, I just don’t like to hang out at the bars after work. So I knew that I was an extrovert. Turns out there is a word for it: Extraversion. And thus, I am an E.
And I’ve always relied on my intuition, even when I did the opposite of it because I thought the opposite would get me farther, but let’s face it, it never does. So, even though I usually don’t listen to, what Gibbs would call, “My Gut”, I do listen. A lot. To people’s problems. And I love learning new skills–I have learned how to sew, how to crochet, how to play tennis, how to pitch a tent, how to cultivate a garden, how to weed, how to teach an old dog new tricks, etc. et. al–but once I’ve “mastered” it, I get bored. And move on. Most people call me a commitment-phobe, but now I know what to call it. Intuitives. And thus, I am an I.
Then the next test comes up: are you a thinker or are you a feeler? I am a way OVER-thinker…but that’s not what these were about. Let’s put it in terms of Star Trek/Star Trek: TNG/The Big Bang Theory: Are you a Spock/Data/Sheldon? Or are you a Kirk/Riker/Leonard? I came up the latter. And thus, I am a F.
Finally, I came upon the last test: Judgers or Perceivers. Do we really need to get into this? Let’s just say options for Judgers (which I am) include “are happiest after decisions are made”, “have a work ethic”, and “derive satisfaction from finishing projects, not the process of finishing them”. Yup, that’s me! And thus, I am a J.
So, after reading all these personalities and picking which one I am, it turns out I am an ENFJ, what the book refers to as the “Public Relations Specialists”. Common occupations include PR specialists, social workers, psychologists, holistic health practitioners, hotel and restaurant managers, special event planners, and, low-and-behold, television producers.
Seems I’m in the right job after all.
But what got me to write this blog was the last page of my personality profile which stated the following: “Using your strengths is easy. The secret to success for an ENFJ is learning to: Slow down, relinquish some control, and take things less personally.”
I closed the book, laughed, then smiled.
I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
