Maybe I should interior decorate.

May 4, 2009 4:23 PM

Help an ISFJ brother out.

I'm a guy 20-going on 21, fresh out of college, and looking for guidance. I'm a Myers-Briggs personality type ISFJ , which I feel fits me well (but, of course, I would not limit myself to these career types).

I'd been seriously considering secondary school teaching in the Bay Area, but after taking in the various outcry in response to previous posters (myself and bullox), I'm more than a little discouraged -- especially since my degree is in the humanities (poli.sci and philosophy), and I'd have to teach subjects as such. Still, I'm madly in love with the Bay Area, and would like to settle there.

So, in addition to what's listed on the aforementioned website, what other careers should I consider and look into?

Of course, bonus points if it requires a college degree and/or pays better -- and further bonus points if you yourself are an ISFJ (or something similar.)

All the best.

posted by the NATURAL to work & money (5 answers total)

Ahh, yes. Grammar errors... FML.
posted by the NATURAL at 4:26 PM on May 4, 2009

I'm cheating because it's on the list, but why not nursing? It pays well, you can do it anywhere, and the demand is not going to cease any time soon. There are so many different types of nursing available to you, even if you're the type who can't handle blood. My dad was a nurse, working in psychiatric hospitals and youth detention centers, and it suited him well. If I had to bet money on his personality type, I'd go with ISFJ. I myself am an INTJ, so I just get to do MIS work for nursing call centers. So it goes.

The only things that aren't on the list that come to mind are occupational therapy and speech therapy.
posted by smalls at 4:58 PM on May 4, 2009

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other about nursing, except I will point out that it seems that right now in SF, Oakland, Palo Alto area, there is not an RN shortage, and it is somewhat difficult to find work. That may change by the time you graduate however. Perhaps bay area RNs can chime in, if this truly is something you want to pursue.
posted by anitanita at 6:55 PM on May 4, 2009

I really don't know about the Bay area, but some of the most successful ISFJs I have known have worked as administrative assistants of some sort. They used their highly organized and efficient strengths together with loyalty to their boss and became indispensable. I guess you have to find a field you can do this within, but if your interest is in education, maybe you can find a place despite the financial cutbacks in that industry.

I would think that your particular interests and strengths would be well applied in many different kinds of industry though. Who do you know that has an "in" with someone who needs a disciplined but thoughtful assistant?
posted by rintj at 9:50 PM on May 4, 2009

Nursing is an excellent idea--there's a glut of MAs (one year of study) and a huge deficit of RNs (two years of study) right now. Additionally, the medical industry (at least in the Portland area, not too far from SF) seems to expect RNs to matriculate into management positions. In my mind, if you feel like the work suits you, you'll get a pretty excellent return on your investment of two years.

My mother, who's been an RN nurse manager for god knows how many years and is nearing retirement, makes around 80k, so, at least financially, the end game of RN'ing also seems pretty good to me.
posted by olaguera at 10:42 PM on May 4, 2009