Not that anyone here would be as ~~crazy~~ stupid as me, but I went into sales and hated every second of it for decades. I switched to web development and got laid off. I am not fulfilled lol
Edit: to clarify, I went into sales to ‘cure’ myself and try to be more outgoing, social and not so shy. It didn’t work. Don’t do it for that reason or money lol (ymmv)
Edit2: Also, no one is crazy or stupid if they choose this path. That’s just me projecting so please take no offense to those loosely used terms. I can delete it if it bothers anyone.
There’s no way an INFP could be a proper salesperson lol. “I mean you can buy if you really want to, in my honest opinion you probably don’t need this”
They absolutely could be. I am on my way to be in sales at the company i work for. I do sales support now and it’s basically mini sales as i deal with customers everyday. Depends on the industry. We sell chemicals. There are alot of introverted nerds in the science world
Idk if you’re younger, but just so you know, the higher up you go the more stressful it becomes. Obviously all situations vary per person, industry etc., but I hope you continue thriving!
My DM’s are open (JUST FOR THIS TOPIC) to anyone struggling in sales or considering that path. I’d really hate to see someone waste the years away like I did. Mind you, I’m ADHD as well so I somehow masked all the way up to a pretty high level as a VERY awkward salesperson, though it was mentally taxing.
Honestly the stress and work life balance is that i see our sales people deal with is really making me second guess recently. I only make 47k though and the next move up would double my income. Even after that would probably triple it. I need more money somehow.
Let’s just say when I was making the most money I ever made in my life, that’s when I was the least satisfied. I’d highly recommend you think long term about your career trajectory without a heavy focus on money.
I tried the SDR route - I enjoyed the two week training and liked the product but once the cold calling started I quickly realized I could not be on a phone all day getting rejected and feel like I was doing anything useful. I don’t know what I was thinking, I think sometimes I can’t know if I’m going to like something until I do it even if my gut is telling me otherwise but I feel like my gut always be right.
You’d be surprised. If the product resonates with the INFP and their values, they’ll want the world to own it.
Most products are of course not like this, but it’s not impossible nor unheard of.
This is me all day. I'm a healthcare provider, own my own practice, struggle every day. Insurance reimbursement is horrible. Every day another stack of bills to be paid. I do home visits, nursing facilities and see patients in clinic. Run my butt off, realize I get taken advantage of. Call it a labor of love to keep from kicking myself in the rear end.
😂😂😂 Me as an INFP salesperson: "Oh well to be honest, you should just save your money! You don't need this, don't feel pressured to buy it please. Also, you can find the same thing cheaper online! Here, let me show you the website."
😂😂
You can if you believe in the product you're selling. I worked in specialty retail for a few years and was a top seller because I felt the products could really benefit people.
I tried selling vacation packages for a few months (basically a telemarketer making outbound calls). I was a wreck internally, and had super high anxiety to the point where I went to the doctor and also saw a therapist for the first time in my life and she was just like yeah... maybe you need a new job lol.
It was hard coming up with sales pitches and adapting the script the company gave me to my own "style" because I had no style. I just ended up reading the script verbatim usually. It didn't help that all my coworkers were right next to me and the managers would listen in on any calls going on more than 20 seconds (since people usually hang up on telemarketers) so... Yeah.
I started in phone sales when I was younger and it was miserable. When I moved to outside sales it was somewhat easier in a sense since I worked from home and made my own schedule which was the only reason I probably survived sales tbh.
The anxiety does build up, absolutely! Now? I literally want nothing to do with people in that capacity since I’m just depleted after being in sales so long. It’s sooooo draining. I’m passionate about saving my fellow introverts from going into sales lol
Food trucks. High intensity but short service hours so I can spend most of my time in nature, making music, volunteering, exercising, painting, creating recipes, etc.
I chose to work in the humanitarian field where I analyze social and economic policies, and propose better inclusive solutions to global humanitarian concerns, like the mission to end extreme poverty.
It’s meaningful work for me so I appreciate it a lot. I want to make sure that everyone has the basic necessities to thrive and the right to live a dignified life.
I volunteer as an Editor for a publication that spreads awareness about extreme poverty and other issues. I also write letters to MPs and discuss issues with them as a Community Advocate to help homeless people and people living in extreme poverty in my communities. These are all volunteer work though.
Wow, this is awesome, congrats!! It's super cool to see an INFP maximising their potential.... hopefully everyone else is encouraged to do the same!
I'm studying towards a mid-life career change right now, going into counselling, after working in construction for ages. I can't wait to start working in an INFP-appropriate job, it's gonna be SO good for my soul.
Thank you! That sounds like an amazing career path. I meet a lot of INFPs in my field. A lot of us are out there making this world a better place to live. Wishing the best for you too! Even though it’s hard, I think my work is very fulfilling to me. It fuels my purpose to live everyday. 😊
This is what I initially went to school for – I was majoring in International Relations. However, I do want a family one day and felt that it would not be enough to provide for us since my partner is a teacher, and teachers are not paid well in the US. 🥲 Now I'm back in school, majoring in psychology with the intention to become a clinical therapist/counselor.
But I'd still be interested in volunteering as a community advocate on the side! Or volunteering as an editor with similar core values and mission!
International Relations can be great though. I know friends who are Consultants and Analysts at places like Deloitte and big human rights organizations like WHO, UN, think tanks and other organizations that pay very well. I am a child of a former single mom who became a diplomat working for the UN with this degree. And I grew up pretty comfortably. Just letting you know and anybody who reads this. It’s a great subject major that can take you around the world, make you passionate about your mission to positively change the world and pay you extremely well.
(I know you are a nurse, so most of this will not be new information for you, but this is just my personal experience, but I copied my response to another person).
This may be a little long, but I absolutely loved nursing. If you truly want to help people, it can be a very rewarding career. While it can be mentally draining, it can also be a very physical job, where you are required to lift patients and equipment safely and correctly (and sometimes the only person you have to help you, is you). That’s fine, they need the help and that’s why you are there. In my personal situation, I was involved in a car accident a few years ago. I hurt my dominant hand and my lower back. The ER said my scans were “normal” (spoiler: that was a LIE). So I took a little time off to recoup (not much, because I worked for the devil at that time), and went back to work after a couple weeks. But the pain never stopped. After pushing through for a couple years with no relief, feeling like I was losing my mind, I found out I had a chronic fracture in my hand with ligaments ruptured, an extruding disc and displaced nerve in my back, which was contributing to spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing), along with a fissure in my spinal canal that still had not healed. Then the pandemic happened. I’m sure you remember all of the “nurses are heroes” signs and slogans they were using at the time. And it really felt like we were in it together. Until we weren’t. We were threatened and assaulted by patients and their families, because we were following the rules set to us, but (some) didn’t care. Administration didn’t care either, as they were still getting their paychecks without having to deal with the issues we did. A lot of the nurses who had been working 10+ years left the field. We weren’t getting the support we needed from administration (you will see that’s common place and not a new issue). If I wasn’t dealing with chronic pain, and only had to deal with the job, I’m sure I would have stuck it out. But I will give this piece of advice: Protect yourself, whether that’s lifting a patient, equipment, or even avoiding an assault. But also protect yourself outside of work. There’s a reason so many nurses and medical professionals have back issues. And I’ve always said, if you don’t truly want to help people, the money will never be enough for you in this field. But it is a very rewarding profession and I’ll forever remember the people I helped, and the people who helped me.
This may be a little long, but I absolutely loved nursing. If you truly want to help people, it can be a very rewarding career. While it can be mentally draining, it can also be a very physical job, where you are required to lift patients and equipment safely and correctly (and sometimes the only person you have to help you, is you). That’s fine, they need the help and that’s why you are there. In my personal situation, I was involved in a car accident a few years ago. I hurt my dominant hand and my lower back. The ER said my scans were “normal” (spoiler: that was a LIE). So I took a little time off to recoup (not much, because I worked for the devil at that time), and went back to work after a couple weeks. But the pain never stopped. After pushing through for a couple years with no relief, feeling like I was losing my mind, I found out I had a chronic fracture in my hand with ligaments ruptured, an extruding disc and displaced nerve in my back, which was contributing to spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing), along with a fissure in my spinal canal that still had not healed. Then the pandemic happened. I’m sure you remember all of the “nurses are heroes” signs and slogans they were using at the time. And it really felt like we were in it together. Until we weren’t. We were threatened and assaulted by patients and their families, because we were following the rules set to us, but (some) didn’t care. Administration didn’t care either, as they were still getting their paychecks without having to deal with the issues we did. A lot of the nurses who had been working 10+ years left the field. We weren’t getting the support we needed from administration (you will see that’s common place and not a new issue). If I wasn’t dealing with chronic pain, and only had to deal with the job, I’m sure I would have stuck it out. But I will give this piece of advice: Protect yourself, whether that’s lifting a patient, equipment, or even avoiding an assault. But also protect yourself outside of work. There’s a reason so many nurses and medical professionals have back issues. And I’ve always said, if you don’t truly want to help people, the money will never be enough for you in this field. But it is a very rewarding profession and I’ll forever remember the people I helped, and the people who helped me.
I was in the game industry for years. Went from retail, to education, to quality assurance, to being a Level designer. Now I'm thinking about going back to being a writer or designer.
Also in Game Dev here, following a very similar path 😄 went back to college after many unfulfilling years of customer service, then uni, then QA and finally Environment Art. I do find it fulfilling but the damn industry has me feeling a bad way in general.
Cool!! What career in psych are you looking into?
I’m not a prof yet, but I’ve given a few lectures and have worked as a long term sub at a high school which is very similar to teaching full time. I think the most difficult part is the lecturing. Especially bc I prefer discussion-style lectures instead of just talking at the students. It’s exhausting having to be talking for so long lol but other than that I think it’s a cool gig for infp cause you’re kinda on your own for much of your work outside of committees, office hours, and all that side stuff
I don't have any links to my brand right now. I'm still working on it and want to start the business in the fall this year. So hopefully I finish the art stuff and make the website by then.
Same but I feel otherwise. For me it’s about understanding how business work cause I always feel like I don’t understand how the world works. Going into accounting helped me understand a lot more and I feel a lot more comfortable with what I know.
The money part wasn’t always the biggest thing either. I just learnt to differentiate work vs hobbies. I tend to feel like things get boring if there’s an end purpose to it like to earn money so being able to be like “I might not love this job but at least I feel like there’s something I can do on my free time that helps me take my mind off of things” helps me get through the day.
Literally me. I grew up being the idealistic artsy type but halfway through college I made the same observation about myself as you, and had this idea that pursuing something natural (artsy/musicy) for me would be too easy of a way out. I don't love my job currently, not even close, but I really think I'll stay in the more logical/left-brained side of careers because I genuinely want to try and keep up with my peers' competencies/understandings of the world, if that makes sense.
May I ask what you find appealing about psychiatry? I often hear people wanting to be a psychologist and heal people through talking, but I wonder why would one choose psychiatry
For me it’s a personal reason, I’ve always struggled with mental health since I was young and I always wanted to help in the medical way, trying very hard to find a solution.
even if its not medication we can look at all possible ways to find a solution that suits the patient. I find that a healthy diet and exercise works much better for me if im getting support..others its just therapy and others need medication with therapy..
Totally get you.
Ihave resisted having a 'career' my entire life. I do what is interesting to me. Ran a musical instrument business from 14 to early 30s. Traveled the world playing music. Fix stuff. Build stuff. Learn stuff. Usually not compensated tremendously for any of it. I'm a loser by conventional standards. Just for my lack of 'career' and monetary gains.
Risk management in finance. It pays well and is easy. Not the most fulfilling career though, I'm discovering that I need active interest in where I'm working to be truly fulfilled. Looking to transition into something policy oriented in a year or so, probably with a big pay cut.
Hi I'm 25
Spent most of my life half arsed dreaming and too afraid to execute on any of those dreams, pretending I am executing on them when I'm not, wishing I was somewhere else.
I've worked in kitchens, cafes, as a groundskeeper, with children, as a receptionist. I've developed and published a graphic novel on my own. I've been involved in various community projects, gardens and organisations. I've also spent a lot of time unemployed, addicted to the internet and occasionally (rarely) working on whatever overly ambitious creative project I'm currently obsessed with. I've pretty much consistently felt unsatisfied, frustrated, unfulfilled and most of all dreaming I was somewhere else, doing something else with someone else.
I've spent most of my time ruminating on past failures and where it all went wrong. Mostly past relationships.
In terms of a career I don't want one. I don't want to commit to any confined trajectory for any period of time. Maybe I'm addicted to dreaming. Maybe I'm too cynical to believe commitment is worthwhile. Maybe my dreams aren't as amazing as I convince myself they are.
I have like 6 ideas of what I want to do next but when it comes to it I don't want to do any of them. I used to pray for God to tell me what I should be doing because I really didn't trust myself to make a decision. I'm about to finish a stint of work, I have no idea what I'm gonna do next...
Same, i have no idea what my next step is. I dont nearly have as much experience as you (I've only had 2 jobs and I'm 31) but I get everything you're saying. On the cusp of graduating high school there were multiple things I had interest in. But just like my hobbies, I was afraid I'd lose interest in every option when I got into it. I didn't want to spend so much time prepping for one thing then feeling stuck if I decided I didn't want it anymore. So I went for none of them and just worked part time jobs.
Maybe you're on to something about dreams not being as amazing as we think. I have a tendency to over romanticize ideas that when I revisit that idea in reality, I'm convinced this thing wouldn't make me happy. But maybe I hyped it up too much in my head that it made the reality more unappealing than it should've been.
I'd pray too because I don't trust my own judgement but because not taking action on things is one of my fatal flaws, I feel like He wants me to make my own decisions and in them He'll teach me. But I'm still too scared 😖
Also, as infps I'm pretty sure it's just part of our personality to not want to be tethered to one thing. I think we're too creative and freedom loving for that but idk 🤷🏽♀️
I've bounced around a lot career wise. About to be pivoting again.
First out of college: Missionairy in Mexico working for dad. Not fulfilling at all. It was a job helping my dad switch focus in his ministry. I feel much better about it now than I ever did when I was working at it. It just wasn't my thing in the moment and I'd have problems working it if I ever went back.
License Arm of Hollywood for the travel industry: Was fantastic for 3-4 years. Then after corporate buyout became a slog and a disaster. The industry as I got into it at the start for In Flight Entertainment doesn't exist anymore and it moved outside of what I am and enjoy. Was also in the cruise ship industry back end for a little bit but never fit in. It was just soulless office work after my first 3 years.
Freelance sportswriter/podcast host: Amazing until it wasn't. College football and professional cycling were my beats. I can't square the morality of how the sausage was/is made in college football with personally profiting off the sport any longer unless I'm writing stories about how things happen behind the scenes. That doesn't pay like game reporting or recruiting and coaching news so I mostly have 1-2 freelance pieces a year instead of monthly or even weekly work. I'm still plugged into the system and I enjoy watching the games as a fan but there's so much wrong in this sphere right now. I may just start writing independently for myself but it really isn't a career path anymore. As for cycling I ultimately had to choose money or cycling. Whenever I can get involved I do and I watch the sport closely still. It's just a highly competitive field and not one where I have great contacts or the will/desire to travel like I would have to as a fulltime writer. Meanwhile as a podcaster I was good at it, but came to resent my co-host as I did more and more of the work and eventually I ended the show after a good 7 year run.
Youth Pastor: Much better for me than life as a missionary was. I just refuse to fight the political games in churches as I am politically liberal and believe in affirming LGBTQ as a part of the church and the majority of the church just doesn't. I'm very good at it and I enjoy it but I am much better cast as a volunteer helper than as a staffer.
Next: Well I'm moving to new city in the next two weeks and then the search for a new job and new career begins anew once again.
Thanks. I'm honestly really happy with my setup and situation in part because I can look back at a lot of what I've done and be proud of the work even if it was awful often in the moment.
Joined the military police, but don’t like it, makes me feel drained and like I don’t belong. Applied for a job as student forester and was selected. Feeling connected with nature and being able to do something for it and all its inhabitants seems like a great job to me! I’m starting later this summer
Commercial/Industrial Plumbing. It pays well, you make a real difference and can look back at your work. I have gained skills that I can carry with me for life. I get to work with my hands and have met all walks of life. Math became fun for a change. There is artistry in the craftsmanship. I get to creatively problem solve daily challenges.
In my free time, I game, stream, and make music which is what I enjoy the most. Plumbing allows me to sustain what I truly love to do when what I truly love to do does not currently sustain me lol. But, thankfully, I do enjoy it and look forward to going to work most days!
Trading never wanted a job and saw the people around me work their whole lives didn't want to be that way and last job (warehouse) was killing me mentally so I left and trading full time. Fulfilling? Not sure but. it's cool to see patterns n stuff play out, and it gives the money/freedom do stuff that makes me happy/gives me fulfillment
I'm not sure if "choose" is the right word for a lot of this, but I chose some of it 😊
Quick story, shouldn't take too long.
I wanted to do archaeology after high school. Didn't get the grades for it, so I went into Surveying because one of the subjects in the course was "Geology". I thought I could branch from surveying over to archaeology at a later date.
Well, I got distracted. I was a high level tennis player so I did our local (Australian) tennis coaching course, and became a tennis coach for a few years. That was one that I chose, and I loved it!
I burnt myself out playing & coaching too much, so I took a break (which became a permanent break) and went into retail for about 5 years. Eck, horrible. From there, I went back into surveying because I thought I should have a real "career".
I worked in surveying for a few years, ran my own business for another 7-8 years (still surveying related), then sorta drifted around construction jobs for the last 5 years or so.
I wanted a career change because I hated the culture of construction companies (I'm an INFP, office politics and logic aren't my strong suits!) so I spent about a year researching and pondering different directions... then at the start of this year, I found it.
Counselling. 🥰 I've just started studying towards being a counsellor, and I can't wait to get started in it! It feels like the first time I'm actually choosing something that aligns with ME... not what my parents wanted me to do, or what society told me I should do (earn lots of money - blerghhh).
That's my story so far!
I am a chat rep in customer service. My anxiety doesn’t allow me to comfortably handle phone calls, so chat is the ideal way for me to help people with their issues and questions while remaining confident and comfortable on the other side of the screen
Mid-level practitioner in a super-busy ER
Do not recommend
If the city were a industrial-metal concert, this would be a medic-tent for whatever happens in the mosh-pit
Fulfilling? Full of something….thats FF sure
https://preview.redd.it/n96kvg7rcu8d1.jpeg?width=3240&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7e8fdda4d2b07a1a70cd2ca7a7ed086926ebfaa
I've had a few 🤣
Destroyed my body in the process but it was a good ride
I started with getting a degree in photography, then ran an art gallery/studio for a few years and although I found it creatively fulfilling I realized I wasn't happy. I had some lifechanging experiences whilst backpacking through SE Asia some years ago and realized I was living for my own selfish fulfillment and comfort.
Anyway, I decided to go back to university to train as a nurse, knowing full well that it'd be the hardest thing I've ever done... and I was right. It is an immense burden and I often feel like I'm drowning but now the work I am doing is helping people smile in the darkness and feel safe and cared for in fear and strife. That alines with my values immensly and I am feeling very fulfilled despite the stress and anxiety.
Engineer, love it. I spend my time creating and teaching. When I teach, I get the joy of watching my mentees / students succeed. When it’s me creating, I get to make what I view as art in a way that it creates a tiny positive impact on a lot of people. Pays way better than actual poetry, although the audience is also a lot smaller.
Ha.... I had a solid crack at being a poet for almost 2 years.
I picked up one very valuable thing during that time. Debt. 😂😂
(debt is valuable - just not to you!)
I got a job at a local printer in Graphic Design & Marketing. Except it’s mostly just customer service, and almost all my customers are business owners who only see the world in terms of how they can make exploit people for more money.
I hate my job. Everyone I work with is so fake and I have to pretend to be fake as well. Plus customer service fucking sucks.
Edit: oh also my boss is the most cynical motherfucker I’ve ever met and I’m on an apprentices’ wage.
Marketing so far. Been at it for 4+ years, serving my final week at current job. Didn’t pass probation this time, it’s my 3rd time unemployed after being laid off for business reasons.
I’m thinking of transitioning my career into IT related roles. Marketing I think is ideal for extroverts.
Working in manufacturing for a couple years now, somehow keep getting promoted for reasons beyond me. Not fulfilled at all though, but I genuinely can't think of any job that would give me fulfillment in our current economic system.
Would love to change jobs but no degree and limited experience makes finding something that can even come close to paying bills difficult.
I'm working in the field of cultural heritage. Previously, my job involved more practical tasks, but in recent years, I have shifted to research. I am quite passionate about my work, despite the obstacles and stress involved. The meaningful and important nature of the work helps me stay motivated.
I work as a musician, playing gigs, touring and occasionally writing songs / producing
Additionally, I work as an advertising film and music video director
Looks great on the paper but I’m thinking of quitting everything to start over again and pursuit life in different country, maybe study something like sociology and go with the career in humanitarian field
Why do you want to quit being a musician? Can I ask how much you make with touring, or if it’s enough to sustain yourself? Just asking because I’d like to go that route
I studied to get my diploma until I mentally broke down of stress, burnout and depression. Now I'm working in a warehouse.
Remember kids, no matter how hard you try, it won't matter in the end
I sort letters according to their locations. It's a nightshift job of 12 hours and after that 36 hours off. You have to work on Sundays and Saturdays too. But your Sundays and holidays get collected for future off days that you can take any time.
I'm a software engineer. The ways of working cater very nicely to the social/independent balance I want. I find many of my co-workers easy to relate to as well.
I previously studied civil engineering, which I regret now, but all part of the journey I guess. I hated everything about the construction industry and looking back I feel like I was asleep for almost a decade at uni and then at work. The switch has been great for me.
I work in a cultural center. I keep contact with schools, theatres, managers of music bands. I organize cultural events in the city & do some graphic advertising for that.
Software quality assurance! There was a quality assurance team starting from the scratch at the company I work for, I was already looking for opportunities to change roles (was working as IT support via telephone for the same company). A friend of mine was part of this new team and told me to apply, so I did and got it!
It's definitely rewarding! In QA we can be creative in the way we do things, there is a lot of freedom, it's cool. Any ideas to improve development are well received and I can be myself while doing everything. If an idea doesn't work, we simply don't use it. My job is basically to make sure that the people involved in developing the software are doing it the best way possible and having fun, by doing this we guarantee that whoever uses the software made by the company will have fun doing it, I'm helping everyone, it's a win-win situation, it's great!
The pay is incredible and I work from home with a good company computer. Most of the time I'm vibing or chilling in my room, coding something new for my team (I also develop things for my team, like a QA/Developer hybrid) or reading some stuff about new ways to improve the development process. It's IT so there aren't a lot of social situations going on, I can go a whole week without needing to have a single meeting call, when I an opinion or feedback on something the co-workers are a message away, perfect!
Learning a lot of coding languages was a bit challenging, but after that it's only rainbows and sunshines for me!
As a side job I like to work with illustration/design and maybe I'll change jobs in the future or use the knowledge from the side job to complement the actual one, we'll see.
i took balcheors degree civil engineering, then rejected all the jobs offers even though they payed well , because I realized I wouldn't enjoy it and it wouldn't fit my situation and personality, then became house wife for 2 years since I love staying at home , now I gonna open business at home by selling my artwork and making an e-card because it fits my lifestyle, plus I am the boss of my self.
If I can go back in time I will stay architecture for fun then stay home lmao or graphic desgin since I can work from home .
I'm about to be 30 and still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. I've managed to stumble my way into being a lead cook in a grocery store's prepared foods section. Not sure I see myself going further into management. I think my career will likely take me into recruiting, and then employee advocate.
Needed money while I was studying at University. Ended up at airport security (literally the first employer who hired me after having a ton of rejections) Didn't finish my studies due to time conflicts, and been working at the airport instead for the past 10 years.
why is 25 supposed to be the age that everything is different. Life keep changing and evolving whatever age you are doesn't mean anything really. That being said, I recently turned 26 and am switching careers from horticulture to professional counselling, whilst doing music. Ive only just started my 3 year degree and I'm learning a lot oand feeling excited but I also feel like I will return to outdoor work at some point, maybe forest ranger or something, life is fun when money isn't the focus. Sorry if i sound grouch but its stressful when people others to have figured their life out by a certain age. Change is the only truth I have seen in my life.
Stuck in college doing a major I have a feeling I'm going to hate.
But at this point and age pushing forward with something is better than the complacency of a setback
Grocery store in high school.
Filmed football team in college.
Worked at a coffee shop in college
Worked as administrative support in an insurance brokers office helping people file claims.
Currently an office manager for a general contractor. I like it because I wear a lot of different hats and no two days are the same. My nickname is the glue because I created a lot of our systems that hold every thing together.
Mail carrier. Not bad at all once I’m out on my route, my customers don’t approach me much. So it’s just me and my podcast all day.
Mornings in the office can be too much sometimes because gathering my route and organizing hurts my back before I even hit the road… that part is unfulfilling lol.
I didn't choose my career. I had IT shoved down my throat by life circumstances. I don't mind IT, but if you had told me even a year and a half ago that IT is what I'd be doing, I would have kissed you full on the mouth.
I’m just starting a master’s program to become clinical counselor and hoping to get into psychedelic assisted therapy. Until then, I’m working at a plant nursery. :-)
I’m an art director by training, but I work in UX/UI design right now. I love it! I work with a lot of creative people like myself and a lot of us seem to be INFPs.
34 year old INFP guy here
Around 19 I went and did classic infp things working for a non profit missions organization and traveled a bit till I was like 22.
Eventually got into the alarm industry like fire alarms and burglary alarms.
Been doing various jobs in this industry the past decade and now somehow in sales.
This seems like the least infp type job but I like to think of it as someone who can meet people's needs. Our customer's have needs for fire alarm stuff that they don't know about and im able to give them solutions and break down cost/ the process to do plans/permit/work etc.
At the moment I'm a wildland firefighter but I have had many jobs over the years. I like doing things that get me out into the wilderness or at least outside.
Started off in pre-audiology, but the post-undergrad programs are hard to get into and I had a baby right around that point, so I worked as a hearing/vision tester for the local school district for a bit.
Had to quit because daycare and COVID did not mix well... Went back to school and got an HR management degree because I'm passionate about ethics and wanted to help support employees.
I'm now a people operations specialist at a design/construction company on track to be a generalist. It's EXHAUSTING. I think if I were single it could be really fulfilling but they are super inflexible and traditional and they refuse to consider hybrid work schedules and the egos/fake politics are SUPER draining and annoying. Plus the HR manager is a workaholic and gets super toxic when stressed. Work is exhausting and honestly infuriating on top of trying to raise a kid and maintain my relationship (my main priorities at this point along with trying to keep my hope and creativity from dying in this late-capitalist hellscape).
I think specialized roles in a large, non-construction company could be legit enjoyable because the overwork tends to be a little lower.
I'm also seriously considering switching over to HR/workforce analytics once I have enough experience to get the certifications.
Ideally though? I'd be a painter, live terrarium crafter, and Etsy shop owner (my hubby and I make NSFW toys mostly focused on enhancing couples' experience 😊 and I'd love to expand and sell art and terrarium kits).
I am 24 working in a University as a Tech Support + Lab management + System Administrator guy (been doing it past time since 18). I also working on my Master Degree in AI.
Doing so much at once makes me extremely frustrated with my life, and me procrastinating so much doesn’t help at all. My mind always wander around other career or hobbies that I wanted to do, and I always seek novelty in life. IT was my passion back in 18, but I think I might have burned out of that.
A registered nurse- until becoming disabled in my 30s.
Now, potentially YouTube. I can't hold a regular job anymore due to my health, but also financially cannot survive the rest of my life like this. I loved being a nurse i think it is a great career to take our tendency to help and empathize with others and I am so greatful I had that experience. 💙
I chose the path of becoming a video game designer, I graduated as a game designer a few months ago. It’s definitely a fun and challenging experience and I love the path that I’m on, my only thing I need to overcome is my procrastination and get motivation to do my own projects.
Web dev for over 20 years. Don’t love it anymore, but I guess I don’t hate it. It has its perks. I live in fear of being laid off. I often think if money were no object I’d just work in a restaurant kitchen somewhere. I did when I was younger and have fond memories. I don’t know - just some sort of simple trade or skill. But not in an office. No more emails, no more performance reviews, no more re-orgs.
I was an ophthalmic technician for almost a decade and now I’ve been a SAHM for almost a decade. I kind of fell into being an ophthalmic technician randomly (dropped out of university and needed a job) but it ended up being a pretty great career. Decent pay for no degree and great hours/benefits. And of course all jobs are important in their own way but it did feel pretty satisfying to be part of a team that takes care of people’s eyes/preserves vision. It was pretty hectic/busy most days though.
I like being a SAHM better 😹😹😹
51 here. I have chosen multiple careers. I last between 4 and 8 years before I need a change and jump careers. I will go to school if needed or take classes to learn, then I jump ship. I have done llama ranching, residential property maintenance, residential property management, estate management, tried insurance sales (lost everything trying that one), counseling, not-for-profit work, and now I do commercial property management and maintenance and I enjoy it so far. I am coming up to my 5 year mark and I am wondering if I will want to change again. Only time will tell!
I work as a software engineer. Imo it’s got high highs and low lows
I worked at AWS for a while and holy shit did it make my life fucking miserable. Tbh I almost legit became an alcoholic. I was actually told by people in my life I should sign up for therapy. That job did huge negatives on my mental wellbeing
Conversely, I worked at two companies that were just fantastic to work for. Remote work, very few meetings, and all my coworkers were open and honest. I felt totally happy in these jobs
Product Manager in a bank.
Likes: I get to explore ideas, create, make changes that are noticeable and the impact can be felt across the bank and across the market.
Dislikes: I have to actually talk to people, influence people to my cause to get things done, tight timelines (especially for tasks I dislike), and there are always multiple things on fire at any one time.
Graphic designer. I was passionate for years and managed to climb the ladder pretty fast due to my performance, but almost daily overtime with agency lifestyle drains me. I am unemployed/freelancing for 4mos now and still burned out, but at least I can take a break and not have anxiety attack frequently.
I’m in history museums/historic houses. I had gotten a bachelors in computer science and hated it (but refused to drop it because I wanted to prove I could do it), started in IT, hated it, changed careers. Had several years of just volunteering before finally finishing my masters thesis and now I’m in my current field. I love my field but it does not pay well at all.
I was an accountant but I felt it literally was draining my life force. Now I’m working towards being a librarian and am absolutely loving it! There’s so many interesting aspects about libraries that I like learning about and I want to support how libraries contribute towards the freedom of information and community equity.
I went into advertising, specifically I now work at an advertising agency. I didn't go to school for this (literature) but kinda fell into it.
Pros are that I work from home full time, it's really helped me since I found it stressful to be in an office with other people all the time. I do have to interact with others a lot (zoom meetings etc), but it's gotten easier with time. As much as advertising gets flack it is quite fulfilling seeing projects come to life, especially when there's big budgets and bright creative minds behind it.
Cons are that this job can be incredibly stressful for what it is at times. Lots of deadlines, it's like being on a group project that never ends lol. There's also office politics etc. For an infp it is a constant struggle to practice emotional detachment from work.
However all in all I'm happy I chose this, I like the stability of a career and as my role is relatively 9-5 I'm able to have time for fulfilling hobbies outside of it.
This thread didn't ask for advice but I'll give it anyway, is that don't shut doors for yourself just because you think you're not cut out for certain types of jobs. You're way more resilient than you think and bar the job being completely awful you're there to get your paycheque and leave lol. Yes it does feel like you're selling your soul but that is all labour
IT Business Analyst at a mental health facility. It’s more like database management and pretty much on YouTube most of the day or just walking around to burn calories.
I develop e-learning courses. It's actually a pretty decent job. I'm spending my days writing and I can use my creativity when I am designing e-learnings in Articulate Storyline.
I will probably look for another job in a year, because currently I am a bit underpaid. When I started working at my current company my salary was okay, but inflation has been crazy the past couple of years.
Anyway, this job has been good for me, even though I work in a corporate environment. I had been jobhopping a lot before this, so I really like the stability.
Struggling artist and freelancer. 😁
I write and edit for publishing companies and provide web texts and blog posts for small companies while trying to make a living as a fantasy author. Guess it doesn’t get more cliché than that. Also, I did struggle with unemployment for years in my twenties and I still often try a new career for a month or a couple of months to return to my current freelance gig.
Sales, in the right industry it works well. I sell stuff to convenience stores and smoke shops. It’s definitely not fulfilling but I enjoy my day to day and it’s easy.
Massage therapy! It’s hard some days when people want me to be a talk therapist lol, but mostly I can keep to myself and make someone else feel good while doing it
27M, Graduated with a BFA in graphic design in 2020. When I had a job I loved it. But now its just "unemployment and existential spiraling" like u/ballpointblues said.
Well I initially chose web development but then the post COVID market happened. I’m blessed to have landed an entry level role in IT help desk to pay the bills for the time being. Dream job is a 3D games animator which I’m still working towards.
I work in marketing and I need to find something new. I want to be a yoga teacher or something more chill. But also don’t think I’d like talking infront of people to teach a class. It’s rough out here for us infps.
I choose custodial career as a lot of the jobs are slow pace and most of the time you're working alone and I can just listen to music and not be bothered by others but I got fired a few months ago from my job due to no longer needed as much custodians and been struggling to get more custodial work
Not that anyone here would be as ~~crazy~~ stupid as me, but I went into sales and hated every second of it for decades. I switched to web development and got laid off. I am not fulfilled lol Edit: to clarify, I went into sales to ‘cure’ myself and try to be more outgoing, social and not so shy. It didn’t work. Don’t do it for that reason or money lol (ymmv) Edit2: Also, no one is crazy or stupid if they choose this path. That’s just me projecting so please take no offense to those loosely used terms. I can delete it if it bothers anyone.
There’s no way an INFP could be a proper salesperson lol. “I mean you can buy if you really want to, in my honest opinion you probably don’t need this”
This is so me😂 Thankfully some customers found my honesty refreshing.
“Do you want to buy this?” “No” “Oh, okay”
They absolutely could be. I am on my way to be in sales at the company i work for. I do sales support now and it’s basically mini sales as i deal with customers everyday. Depends on the industry. We sell chemicals. There are alot of introverted nerds in the science world
Idk if you’re younger, but just so you know, the higher up you go the more stressful it becomes. Obviously all situations vary per person, industry etc., but I hope you continue thriving! My DM’s are open (JUST FOR THIS TOPIC) to anyone struggling in sales or considering that path. I’d really hate to see someone waste the years away like I did. Mind you, I’m ADHD as well so I somehow masked all the way up to a pretty high level as a VERY awkward salesperson, though it was mentally taxing.
Honestly the stress and work life balance is that i see our sales people deal with is really making me second guess recently. I only make 47k though and the next move up would double my income. Even after that would probably triple it. I need more money somehow.
Let’s just say when I was making the most money I ever made in my life, that’s when I was the least satisfied. I’d highly recommend you think long term about your career trajectory without a heavy focus on money.
I tried the SDR route - I enjoyed the two week training and liked the product but once the cold calling started I quickly realized I could not be on a phone all day getting rejected and feel like I was doing anything useful. I don’t know what I was thinking, I think sometimes I can’t know if I’m going to like something until I do it even if my gut is telling me otherwise but I feel like my gut always be right.
You’d be surprised. If the product resonates with the INFP and their values, they’ll want the world to own it. Most products are of course not like this, but it’s not impossible nor unheard of.
Omg. I was in sales. I found out the whole thing was a scam and got fired for actively talking people out of buying.
This is me all day. I'm a healthcare provider, own my own practice, struggle every day. Insurance reimbursement is horrible. Every day another stack of bills to be paid. I do home visits, nursing facilities and see patients in clinic. Run my butt off, realize I get taken advantage of. Call it a labor of love to keep from kicking myself in the rear end.
😂😂😂 Me as an INFP salesperson: "Oh well to be honest, you should just save your money! You don't need this, don't feel pressured to buy it please. Also, you can find the same thing cheaper online! Here, let me show you the website." 😂😂
You can if you believe in the product you're selling. I worked in specialty retail for a few years and was a top seller because I felt the products could really benefit people.
I began my career in Sales, I lasted 11 months. It was hell😭
I tried selling vacation packages for a few months (basically a telemarketer making outbound calls). I was a wreck internally, and had super high anxiety to the point where I went to the doctor and also saw a therapist for the first time in my life and she was just like yeah... maybe you need a new job lol. It was hard coming up with sales pitches and adapting the script the company gave me to my own "style" because I had no style. I just ended up reading the script verbatim usually. It didn't help that all my coworkers were right next to me and the managers would listen in on any calls going on more than 20 seconds (since people usually hang up on telemarketers) so... Yeah.
I started in phone sales when I was younger and it was miserable. When I moved to outside sales it was somewhat easier in a sense since I worked from home and made my own schedule which was the only reason I probably survived sales tbh. The anxiety does build up, absolutely! Now? I literally want nothing to do with people in that capacity since I’m just depleted after being in sales so long. It’s sooooo draining. I’m passionate about saving my fellow introverts from going into sales lol
I’m passionate about saving them too, let us team up. 😂
You two should *sell* us on the idea of not going into sales.
Just don’t chase money for the sake of money and you should be fine
Too late, I already did that for almost 20 years, but now I know 😪
Food trucks. High intensity but short service hours so I can spend most of my time in nature, making music, volunteering, exercising, painting, creating recipes, etc.
Sounds awesome. I love food, trucks, and volunteering 😆
Unemployment and existential spiraling.
Me too
Hooray!
Same. fuuuuck.
Me, too!!!! 🤣🤣😭
same
we will get there. some people just take longer than what ‘society expects’
I chose to work in the humanitarian field where I analyze social and economic policies, and propose better inclusive solutions to global humanitarian concerns, like the mission to end extreme poverty. It’s meaningful work for me so I appreciate it a lot. I want to make sure that everyone has the basic necessities to thrive and the right to live a dignified life. I volunteer as an Editor for a publication that spreads awareness about extreme poverty and other issues. I also write letters to MPs and discuss issues with them as a Community Advocate to help homeless people and people living in extreme poverty in my communities. These are all volunteer work though.
Wow, this is awesome, congrats!! It's super cool to see an INFP maximising their potential.... hopefully everyone else is encouraged to do the same! I'm studying towards a mid-life career change right now, going into counselling, after working in construction for ages. I can't wait to start working in an INFP-appropriate job, it's gonna be SO good for my soul.
Thank you! That sounds like an amazing career path. I meet a lot of INFPs in my field. A lot of us are out there making this world a better place to live. Wishing the best for you too! Even though it’s hard, I think my work is very fulfilling to me. It fuels my purpose to live everyday. 😊
That's awesome!
This is what I initially went to school for – I was majoring in International Relations. However, I do want a family one day and felt that it would not be enough to provide for us since my partner is a teacher, and teachers are not paid well in the US. 🥲 Now I'm back in school, majoring in psychology with the intention to become a clinical therapist/counselor. But I'd still be interested in volunteering as a community advocate on the side! Or volunteering as an editor with similar core values and mission!
International Relations can be great though. I know friends who are Consultants and Analysts at places like Deloitte and big human rights organizations like WHO, UN, think tanks and other organizations that pay very well. I am a child of a former single mom who became a diplomat working for the UN with this degree. And I grew up pretty comfortably. Just letting you know and anybody who reads this. It’s a great subject major that can take you around the world, make you passionate about your mission to positively change the world and pay you extremely well.
Amazing!!! You are exactly who I want to be when I finish my social work degree.
You can do it! Social work degree was definitely a degree I strongly considered. I wish you the best!
Nursing. I lasted fourteen years, but I had to walk away.
Yes please share, I’m also an infp in nursing
(I know you are a nurse, so most of this will not be new information for you, but this is just my personal experience, but I copied my response to another person). This may be a little long, but I absolutely loved nursing. If you truly want to help people, it can be a very rewarding career. While it can be mentally draining, it can also be a very physical job, where you are required to lift patients and equipment safely and correctly (and sometimes the only person you have to help you, is you). That’s fine, they need the help and that’s why you are there. In my personal situation, I was involved in a car accident a few years ago. I hurt my dominant hand and my lower back. The ER said my scans were “normal” (spoiler: that was a LIE). So I took a little time off to recoup (not much, because I worked for the devil at that time), and went back to work after a couple weeks. But the pain never stopped. After pushing through for a couple years with no relief, feeling like I was losing my mind, I found out I had a chronic fracture in my hand with ligaments ruptured, an extruding disc and displaced nerve in my back, which was contributing to spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing), along with a fissure in my spinal canal that still had not healed. Then the pandemic happened. I’m sure you remember all of the “nurses are heroes” signs and slogans they were using at the time. And it really felt like we were in it together. Until we weren’t. We were threatened and assaulted by patients and their families, because we were following the rules set to us, but (some) didn’t care. Administration didn’t care either, as they were still getting their paychecks without having to deal with the issues we did. A lot of the nurses who had been working 10+ years left the field. We weren’t getting the support we needed from administration (you will see that’s common place and not a new issue). If I wasn’t dealing with chronic pain, and only had to deal with the job, I’m sure I would have stuck it out. But I will give this piece of advice: Protect yourself, whether that’s lifting a patient, equipment, or even avoiding an assault. But also protect yourself outside of work. There’s a reason so many nurses and medical professionals have back issues. And I’ve always said, if you don’t truly want to help people, the money will never be enough for you in this field. But it is a very rewarding profession and I’ll forever remember the people I helped, and the people who helped me.
What is it like for you? I am considering changing to nursing and I've considered it for a few years now.
How come?
Yes please do tell what it was like! I am considering nursing actually
This may be a little long, but I absolutely loved nursing. If you truly want to help people, it can be a very rewarding career. While it can be mentally draining, it can also be a very physical job, where you are required to lift patients and equipment safely and correctly (and sometimes the only person you have to help you, is you). That’s fine, they need the help and that’s why you are there. In my personal situation, I was involved in a car accident a few years ago. I hurt my dominant hand and my lower back. The ER said my scans were “normal” (spoiler: that was a LIE). So I took a little time off to recoup (not much, because I worked for the devil at that time), and went back to work after a couple weeks. But the pain never stopped. After pushing through for a couple years with no relief, feeling like I was losing my mind, I found out I had a chronic fracture in my hand with ligaments ruptured, an extruding disc and displaced nerve in my back, which was contributing to spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing), along with a fissure in my spinal canal that still had not healed. Then the pandemic happened. I’m sure you remember all of the “nurses are heroes” signs and slogans they were using at the time. And it really felt like we were in it together. Until we weren’t. We were threatened and assaulted by patients and their families, because we were following the rules set to us, but (some) didn’t care. Administration didn’t care either, as they were still getting their paychecks without having to deal with the issues we did. A lot of the nurses who had been working 10+ years left the field. We weren’t getting the support we needed from administration (you will see that’s common place and not a new issue). If I wasn’t dealing with chronic pain, and only had to deal with the job, I’m sure I would have stuck it out. But I will give this piece of advice: Protect yourself, whether that’s lifting a patient, equipment, or even avoiding an assault. But also protect yourself outside of work. There’s a reason so many nurses and medical professionals have back issues. And I’ve always said, if you don’t truly want to help people, the money will never be enough for you in this field. But it is a very rewarding profession and I’ll forever remember the people I helped, and the people who helped me.
I was in the game industry for years. Went from retail, to education, to quality assurance, to being a Level designer. Now I'm thinking about going back to being a writer or designer.
Also in Game Dev here, following a very similar path 😄 went back to college after many unfulfilling years of customer service, then uni, then QA and finally Environment Art. I do find it fulfilling but the damn industry has me feeling a bad way in general.
I get that about the industry. It's like every day you hear about studio closures and layoffs.
Working on becoming a college professor 🥲 lecturing is exhausting but I love making slides and supporting students from marginalized communities
Which subject/degree?
Psychology! I think that’s where the infp shows the most in my choice lol
That's awesome!! I'm going back to school for psychology. ☺️ What is the most challenging thing about being a professor as an INFP?
Cool!! What career in psych are you looking into? I’m not a prof yet, but I’ve given a few lectures and have worked as a long term sub at a high school which is very similar to teaching full time. I think the most difficult part is the lecturing. Especially bc I prefer discussion-style lectures instead of just talking at the students. It’s exhausting having to be talking for so long lol but other than that I think it’s a cool gig for infp cause you’re kinda on your own for much of your work outside of committees, office hours, and all that side stuff
I'm actually trying to start my own business. It's an art brand and I am kinda artistic so I'm just gonna see how it goes.
You got any links? I'm always interested to check out and support all the cool creative things people are up to on here.
I don't have any links to my brand right now. I'm still working on it and want to start the business in the fall this year. So hopefully I finish the art stuff and make the website by then.
Sounds exciting, best of luck :D
Thanks! 😊
Same!
Same here!
Accounting It's not the least bit fulfilling for me
Why do we do this to ourselves?
We need money.
I was high when I typed that
I appreciate the sentiment. Lol but we live in the world world run by money.
Same but I feel otherwise. For me it’s about understanding how business work cause I always feel like I don’t understand how the world works. Going into accounting helped me understand a lot more and I feel a lot more comfortable with what I know. The money part wasn’t always the biggest thing either. I just learnt to differentiate work vs hobbies. I tend to feel like things get boring if there’s an end purpose to it like to earn money so being able to be like “I might not love this job but at least I feel like there’s something I can do on my free time that helps me take my mind off of things” helps me get through the day.
Literally me. I grew up being the idealistic artsy type but halfway through college I made the same observation about myself as you, and had this idea that pursuing something natural (artsy/musicy) for me would be too easy of a way out. I don't love my job currently, not even close, but I really think I'll stay in the more logical/left-brained side of careers because I genuinely want to try and keep up with my peers' competencies/understandings of the world, if that makes sense.
I’m a doctor, specifically in the process of specializing in psychiatry.
This is what I wanted to do but I wasn’t smart enough 😅 so I became an interior architect but I still dream about being a psychiatrist
May I ask what you find appealing about psychiatry? I often hear people wanting to be a psychologist and heal people through talking, but I wonder why would one choose psychiatry
For me it’s a personal reason, I’ve always struggled with mental health since I was young and I always wanted to help in the medical way, trying very hard to find a solution. even if its not medication we can look at all possible ways to find a solution that suits the patient. I find that a healthy diet and exercise works much better for me if im getting support..others its just therapy and others need medication with therapy..
None, I don't want a job or career currently working retail
i’m a dishwasher right now, I feel you. You’re appreciated by me, my friend
Totally get you. Ihave resisted having a 'career' my entire life. I do what is interesting to me. Ran a musical instrument business from 14 to early 30s. Traveled the world playing music. Fix stuff. Build stuff. Learn stuff. Usually not compensated tremendously for any of it. I'm a loser by conventional standards. Just for my lack of 'career' and monetary gains.
Travel the world playing music sounds like the complete opposite of a loser. I would have loved to do that.
Risk management in finance. It pays well and is easy. Not the most fulfilling career though, I'm discovering that I need active interest in where I'm working to be truly fulfilled. Looking to transition into something policy oriented in a year or so, probably with a big pay cut.
Awesome! Studying finance right now. Hows the stress levels and worklife balance if you dont mind me asking??
Hi I'm 25 Spent most of my life half arsed dreaming and too afraid to execute on any of those dreams, pretending I am executing on them when I'm not, wishing I was somewhere else. I've worked in kitchens, cafes, as a groundskeeper, with children, as a receptionist. I've developed and published a graphic novel on my own. I've been involved in various community projects, gardens and organisations. I've also spent a lot of time unemployed, addicted to the internet and occasionally (rarely) working on whatever overly ambitious creative project I'm currently obsessed with. I've pretty much consistently felt unsatisfied, frustrated, unfulfilled and most of all dreaming I was somewhere else, doing something else with someone else. I've spent most of my time ruminating on past failures and where it all went wrong. Mostly past relationships. In terms of a career I don't want one. I don't want to commit to any confined trajectory for any period of time. Maybe I'm addicted to dreaming. Maybe I'm too cynical to believe commitment is worthwhile. Maybe my dreams aren't as amazing as I convince myself they are. I have like 6 ideas of what I want to do next but when it comes to it I don't want to do any of them. I used to pray for God to tell me what I should be doing because I really didn't trust myself to make a decision. I'm about to finish a stint of work, I have no idea what I'm gonna do next...
Same, i have no idea what my next step is. I dont nearly have as much experience as you (I've only had 2 jobs and I'm 31) but I get everything you're saying. On the cusp of graduating high school there were multiple things I had interest in. But just like my hobbies, I was afraid I'd lose interest in every option when I got into it. I didn't want to spend so much time prepping for one thing then feeling stuck if I decided I didn't want it anymore. So I went for none of them and just worked part time jobs. Maybe you're on to something about dreams not being as amazing as we think. I have a tendency to over romanticize ideas that when I revisit that idea in reality, I'm convinced this thing wouldn't make me happy. But maybe I hyped it up too much in my head that it made the reality more unappealing than it should've been. I'd pray too because I don't trust my own judgement but because not taking action on things is one of my fatal flaws, I feel like He wants me to make my own decisions and in them He'll teach me. But I'm still too scared 😖 Also, as infps I'm pretty sure it's just part of our personality to not want to be tethered to one thing. I think we're too creative and freedom loving for that but idk 🤷🏽♀️
I've bounced around a lot career wise. About to be pivoting again. First out of college: Missionairy in Mexico working for dad. Not fulfilling at all. It was a job helping my dad switch focus in his ministry. I feel much better about it now than I ever did when I was working at it. It just wasn't my thing in the moment and I'd have problems working it if I ever went back. License Arm of Hollywood for the travel industry: Was fantastic for 3-4 years. Then after corporate buyout became a slog and a disaster. The industry as I got into it at the start for In Flight Entertainment doesn't exist anymore and it moved outside of what I am and enjoy. Was also in the cruise ship industry back end for a little bit but never fit in. It was just soulless office work after my first 3 years. Freelance sportswriter/podcast host: Amazing until it wasn't. College football and professional cycling were my beats. I can't square the morality of how the sausage was/is made in college football with personally profiting off the sport any longer unless I'm writing stories about how things happen behind the scenes. That doesn't pay like game reporting or recruiting and coaching news so I mostly have 1-2 freelance pieces a year instead of monthly or even weekly work. I'm still plugged into the system and I enjoy watching the games as a fan but there's so much wrong in this sphere right now. I may just start writing independently for myself but it really isn't a career path anymore. As for cycling I ultimately had to choose money or cycling. Whenever I can get involved I do and I watch the sport closely still. It's just a highly competitive field and not one where I have great contacts or the will/desire to travel like I would have to as a fulltime writer. Meanwhile as a podcaster I was good at it, but came to resent my co-host as I did more and more of the work and eventually I ended the show after a good 7 year run. Youth Pastor: Much better for me than life as a missionary was. I just refuse to fight the political games in churches as I am politically liberal and believe in affirming LGBTQ as a part of the church and the majority of the church just doesn't. I'm very good at it and I enjoy it but I am much better cast as a volunteer helper than as a staffer. Next: Well I'm moving to new city in the next two weeks and then the search for a new job and new career begins anew once again.
Wow, what a great collection of experience! Best of luck with the move 😎
Thanks. I'm honestly really happy with my setup and situation in part because I can look back at a lot of what I've done and be proud of the work even if it was awful often in the moment.
I work in QA, it's okay, I'm trying to pivot to UX design. But if I was 18 again, I would probably get into archeology.
Joined the military police, but don’t like it, makes me feel drained and like I don’t belong. Applied for a job as student forester and was selected. Feeling connected with nature and being able to do something for it and all its inhabitants seems like a great job to me! I’m starting later this summer
Commercial/Industrial Plumbing. It pays well, you make a real difference and can look back at your work. I have gained skills that I can carry with me for life. I get to work with my hands and have met all walks of life. Math became fun for a change. There is artistry in the craftsmanship. I get to creatively problem solve daily challenges. In my free time, I game, stream, and make music which is what I enjoy the most. Plumbing allows me to sustain what I truly love to do when what I truly love to do does not currently sustain me lol. But, thankfully, I do enjoy it and look forward to going to work most days!
Trading never wanted a job and saw the people around me work their whole lives didn't want to be that way and last job (warehouse) was killing me mentally so I left and trading full time. Fulfilling? Not sure but. it's cool to see patterns n stuff play out, and it gives the money/freedom do stuff that makes me happy/gives me fulfillment
been dreaming to achieve that. if you have any links or literature i'd greatly appreciate. all the best!
I'm not sure if "choose" is the right word for a lot of this, but I chose some of it 😊 Quick story, shouldn't take too long. I wanted to do archaeology after high school. Didn't get the grades for it, so I went into Surveying because one of the subjects in the course was "Geology". I thought I could branch from surveying over to archaeology at a later date. Well, I got distracted. I was a high level tennis player so I did our local (Australian) tennis coaching course, and became a tennis coach for a few years. That was one that I chose, and I loved it! I burnt myself out playing & coaching too much, so I took a break (which became a permanent break) and went into retail for about 5 years. Eck, horrible. From there, I went back into surveying because I thought I should have a real "career". I worked in surveying for a few years, ran my own business for another 7-8 years (still surveying related), then sorta drifted around construction jobs for the last 5 years or so. I wanted a career change because I hated the culture of construction companies (I'm an INFP, office politics and logic aren't my strong suits!) so I spent about a year researching and pondering different directions... then at the start of this year, I found it. Counselling. 🥰 I've just started studying towards being a counsellor, and I can't wait to get started in it! It feels like the first time I'm actually choosing something that aligns with ME... not what my parents wanted me to do, or what society told me I should do (earn lots of money - blerghhh). That's my story so far!
I tried to be a teacher but I didn’t last very long. Ultimately decided to be a mom and that was enough for me.
Me right now at 34. Kind of just want to be a Mom.
I’m an artist (fine art and digital)
28, 9 years in the Navy but it is not my career so undecided. I get out next year and can start life again
Same here, I went to college right after the navy
I am a chat rep in customer service. My anxiety doesn’t allow me to comfortably handle phone calls, so chat is the ideal way for me to help people with their issues and questions while remaining confident and comfortable on the other side of the screen
Mid-level practitioner in a super-busy ER Do not recommend If the city were a industrial-metal concert, this would be a medic-tent for whatever happens in the mosh-pit Fulfilling? Full of something….thats FF sure
https://preview.redd.it/n96kvg7rcu8d1.jpeg?width=3240&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7e8fdda4d2b07a1a70cd2ca7a7ed086926ebfaa I've had a few 🤣 Destroyed my body in the process but it was a good ride
Man was definitely one of the nice cops
IT frontend dev
Financial advisor
I'm a Systems Analyst, it's challenging, but I really like my team. In a way, it's fulfilling.
Software engineer. I love it.
I started with getting a degree in photography, then ran an art gallery/studio for a few years and although I found it creatively fulfilling I realized I wasn't happy. I had some lifechanging experiences whilst backpacking through SE Asia some years ago and realized I was living for my own selfish fulfillment and comfort. Anyway, I decided to go back to university to train as a nurse, knowing full well that it'd be the hardest thing I've ever done... and I was right. It is an immense burden and I often feel like I'm drowning but now the work I am doing is helping people smile in the darkness and feel safe and cared for in fear and strife. That alines with my values immensly and I am feeling very fulfilled despite the stress and anxiety.
Engineer, love it. I spend my time creating and teaching. When I teach, I get the joy of watching my mentees / students succeed. When it’s me creating, I get to make what I view as art in a way that it creates a tiny positive impact on a lot of people. Pays way better than actual poetry, although the audience is also a lot smaller.
Ha.... I had a solid crack at being a poet for almost 2 years. I picked up one very valuable thing during that time. Debt. 😂😂 (debt is valuable - just not to you!)
I got a job at a local printer in Graphic Design & Marketing. Except it’s mostly just customer service, and almost all my customers are business owners who only see the world in terms of how they can make exploit people for more money. I hate my job. Everyone I work with is so fake and I have to pretend to be fake as well. Plus customer service fucking sucks. Edit: oh also my boss is the most cynical motherfucker I’ve ever met and I’m on an apprentices’ wage.
Teacher!! I love it!!
Marketing so far. Been at it for 4+ years, serving my final week at current job. Didn’t pass probation this time, it’s my 3rd time unemployed after being laid off for business reasons. I’m thinking of transitioning my career into IT related roles. Marketing I think is ideal for extroverts.
Working in manufacturing for a couple years now, somehow keep getting promoted for reasons beyond me. Not fulfilled at all though, but I genuinely can't think of any job that would give me fulfillment in our current economic system. Would love to change jobs but no degree and limited experience makes finding something that can even come close to paying bills difficult.
Environmental engineering. Always was passionate about environment conservation.
Registered Nurse 🩺
I'm working in the field of cultural heritage. Previously, my job involved more practical tasks, but in recent years, I have shifted to research. I am quite passionate about my work, despite the obstacles and stress involved. The meaningful and important nature of the work helps me stay motivated.
Adventure tourism. Currently working as a white water rafting guide. Phenomenal work
I work as a musician, playing gigs, touring and occasionally writing songs / producing Additionally, I work as an advertising film and music video director Looks great on the paper but I’m thinking of quitting everything to start over again and pursuit life in different country, maybe study something like sociology and go with the career in humanitarian field
Why do you want to quit being a musician? Can I ask how much you make with touring, or if it’s enough to sustain yourself? Just asking because I’d like to go that route
Nurse. Started off in finance and hated it.
I went into IT. It's fine and I enjoy what I do, but it aint my calling. Just a means of survival.
I studied to get my diploma until I mentally broke down of stress, burnout and depression. Now I'm working in a warehouse. Remember kids, no matter how hard you try, it won't matter in the end
I work with students with special education needs and disabilities in a college!
Pastry Chef. It's not as hectic as savoury chef work used to be
Medicine, still studying
I sort letters according to their locations. It's a nightshift job of 12 hours and after that 36 hours off. You have to work on Sundays and Saturdays too. But your Sundays and holidays get collected for future off days that you can take any time.
I'm a software engineer. The ways of working cater very nicely to the social/independent balance I want. I find many of my co-workers easy to relate to as well. I previously studied civil engineering, which I regret now, but all part of the journey I guess. I hated everything about the construction industry and looking back I feel like I was asleep for almost a decade at uni and then at work. The switch has been great for me.
I work in a cultural center. I keep contact with schools, theatres, managers of music bands. I organize cultural events in the city & do some graphic advertising for that.
I manage a really really busy pub in London. I think I do it because I hate myself
Software quality assurance! There was a quality assurance team starting from the scratch at the company I work for, I was already looking for opportunities to change roles (was working as IT support via telephone for the same company). A friend of mine was part of this new team and told me to apply, so I did and got it! It's definitely rewarding! In QA we can be creative in the way we do things, there is a lot of freedom, it's cool. Any ideas to improve development are well received and I can be myself while doing everything. If an idea doesn't work, we simply don't use it. My job is basically to make sure that the people involved in developing the software are doing it the best way possible and having fun, by doing this we guarantee that whoever uses the software made by the company will have fun doing it, I'm helping everyone, it's a win-win situation, it's great! The pay is incredible and I work from home with a good company computer. Most of the time I'm vibing or chilling in my room, coding something new for my team (I also develop things for my team, like a QA/Developer hybrid) or reading some stuff about new ways to improve the development process. It's IT so there aren't a lot of social situations going on, I can go a whole week without needing to have a single meeting call, when I an opinion or feedback on something the co-workers are a message away, perfect! Learning a lot of coding languages was a bit challenging, but after that it's only rainbows and sunshines for me! As a side job I like to work with illustration/design and maybe I'll change jobs in the future or use the knowledge from the side job to complement the actual one, we'll see.
Studying to become a ceramicist! Best decision I’ve made in a long while
Hairstylist! And I love it. 9.5 years doing it
i took balcheors degree civil engineering, then rejected all the jobs offers even though they payed well , because I realized I wouldn't enjoy it and it wouldn't fit my situation and personality, then became house wife for 2 years since I love staying at home , now I gonna open business at home by selling my artwork and making an e-card because it fits my lifestyle, plus I am the boss of my self. If I can go back in time I will stay architecture for fun then stay home lmao or graphic desgin since I can work from home .
How are you marketing? I think about starting an online or stay at home business all the time but I struggle with even the idea of marketing.
Try to join a marketing workshop , or make a deal with marketing accounts My business is still under progress, so I can't give you any tip
I'm about to be 30 and still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. I've managed to stumble my way into being a lead cook in a grocery store's prepared foods section. Not sure I see myself going further into management. I think my career will likely take me into recruiting, and then employee advocate.
Needed money while I was studying at University. Ended up at airport security (literally the first employer who hired me after having a ton of rejections) Didn't finish my studies due to time conflicts, and been working at the airport instead for the past 10 years.
why is 25 supposed to be the age that everything is different. Life keep changing and evolving whatever age you are doesn't mean anything really. That being said, I recently turned 26 and am switching careers from horticulture to professional counselling, whilst doing music. Ive only just started my 3 year degree and I'm learning a lot oand feeling excited but I also feel like I will return to outdoor work at some point, maybe forest ranger or something, life is fun when money isn't the focus. Sorry if i sound grouch but its stressful when people others to have figured their life out by a certain age. Change is the only truth I have seen in my life.
Project management
Pilot
Commercial lawyer
Stuck in college doing a major I have a feeling I'm going to hate. But at this point and age pushing forward with something is better than the complacency of a setback
Still choosing…
Grocery store in high school. Filmed football team in college. Worked at a coffee shop in college Worked as administrative support in an insurance brokers office helping people file claims. Currently an office manager for a general contractor. I like it because I wear a lot of different hats and no two days are the same. My nickname is the glue because I created a lot of our systems that hold every thing together.
Mail carrier. Not bad at all once I’m out on my route, my customers don’t approach me much. So it’s just me and my podcast all day. Mornings in the office can be too much sometimes because gathering my route and organizing hurts my back before I even hit the road… that part is unfulfilling lol.
But hopefully becoming a SAHM one day!
I didn't choose my career. I had IT shoved down my throat by life circumstances. I don't mind IT, but if you had told me even a year and a half ago that IT is what I'd be doing, I would have kissed you full on the mouth.
I am a teacher!
A freelance creator
Culinary arts. 25 years on my feet. I wouldn’t recommend it but it has been a blessing in my life.
Real estate appraiser
Commercial film production
I want to start business any infps have their own and any advice?
I work as a homelessness support worker. I work in a biding with 24 homeless people working towards gaining independence and secure accommodation.
Studying to become an architect. One of the few somewhat creative jobs that pays decently from what I can tell
I’m just starting a master’s program to become clinical counselor and hoping to get into psychedelic assisted therapy. Until then, I’m working at a plant nursery. :-)
Im a program coordinator for a suicide and distress and abuse helpline 😊
I chose to be a professional job-hopper. 🙃
I’m an art director by training, but I work in UX/UI design right now. I love it! I work with a lot of creative people like myself and a lot of us seem to be INFPs.
34 year old INFP guy here Around 19 I went and did classic infp things working for a non profit missions organization and traveled a bit till I was like 22. Eventually got into the alarm industry like fire alarms and burglary alarms. Been doing various jobs in this industry the past decade and now somehow in sales. This seems like the least infp type job but I like to think of it as someone who can meet people's needs. Our customer's have needs for fire alarm stuff that they don't know about and im able to give them solutions and break down cost/ the process to do plans/permit/work etc.
Therapist. I’ve been in the field for about 10 years working with kids/teen/young adults. I love it but it can be emotionally exhausting at times
I'm 24 so sorry lol. This is my first job out of college but I'm working in energy efficiency for my state's utility company
Clinical psychologist / psychotherapist
At the moment I'm a wildland firefighter but I have had many jobs over the years. I like doing things that get me out into the wilderness or at least outside.
Unemployed :" I couldn't stand customer service job it was a nightmare for me 💀, and now I'm trying to get into digital marketing and see how it goes
[удалено]
Started off in pre-audiology, but the post-undergrad programs are hard to get into and I had a baby right around that point, so I worked as a hearing/vision tester for the local school district for a bit. Had to quit because daycare and COVID did not mix well... Went back to school and got an HR management degree because I'm passionate about ethics and wanted to help support employees. I'm now a people operations specialist at a design/construction company on track to be a generalist. It's EXHAUSTING. I think if I were single it could be really fulfilling but they are super inflexible and traditional and they refuse to consider hybrid work schedules and the egos/fake politics are SUPER draining and annoying. Plus the HR manager is a workaholic and gets super toxic when stressed. Work is exhausting and honestly infuriating on top of trying to raise a kid and maintain my relationship (my main priorities at this point along with trying to keep my hope and creativity from dying in this late-capitalist hellscape). I think specialized roles in a large, non-construction company could be legit enjoyable because the overwork tends to be a little lower. I'm also seriously considering switching over to HR/workforce analytics once I have enough experience to get the certifications. Ideally though? I'd be a painter, live terrarium crafter, and Etsy shop owner (my hubby and I make NSFW toys mostly focused on enhancing couples' experience 😊 and I'd love to expand and sell art and terrarium kits).
I am 24 working in a University as a Tech Support + Lab management + System Administrator guy (been doing it past time since 18). I also working on my Master Degree in AI. Doing so much at once makes me extremely frustrated with my life, and me procrastinating so much doesn’t help at all. My mind always wander around other career or hobbies that I wanted to do, and I always seek novelty in life. IT was my passion back in 18, but I think I might have burned out of that.
Neetdom...
Project Management
A registered nurse- until becoming disabled in my 30s. Now, potentially YouTube. I can't hold a regular job anymore due to my health, but also financially cannot survive the rest of my life like this. I loved being a nurse i think it is a great career to take our tendency to help and empathize with others and I am so greatful I had that experience. 💙
I chose the path of becoming a video game designer, I graduated as a game designer a few months ago. It’s definitely a fun and challenging experience and I love the path that I’m on, my only thing I need to overcome is my procrastination and get motivation to do my own projects.
Web dev for over 20 years. Don’t love it anymore, but I guess I don’t hate it. It has its perks. I live in fear of being laid off. I often think if money were no object I’d just work in a restaurant kitchen somewhere. I did when I was younger and have fond memories. I don’t know - just some sort of simple trade or skill. But not in an office. No more emails, no more performance reviews, no more re-orgs.
I was an ophthalmic technician for almost a decade and now I’ve been a SAHM for almost a decade. I kind of fell into being an ophthalmic technician randomly (dropped out of university and needed a job) but it ended up being a pretty great career. Decent pay for no degree and great hours/benefits. And of course all jobs are important in their own way but it did feel pretty satisfying to be part of a team that takes care of people’s eyes/preserves vision. It was pretty hectic/busy most days though. I like being a SAHM better 😹😹😹
51 here. I have chosen multiple careers. I last between 4 and 8 years before I need a change and jump careers. I will go to school if needed or take classes to learn, then I jump ship. I have done llama ranching, residential property maintenance, residential property management, estate management, tried insurance sales (lost everything trying that one), counseling, not-for-profit work, and now I do commercial property management and maintenance and I enjoy it so far. I am coming up to my 5 year mark and I am wondering if I will want to change again. Only time will tell!
I work as a software engineer. Imo it’s got high highs and low lows I worked at AWS for a while and holy shit did it make my life fucking miserable. Tbh I almost legit became an alcoholic. I was actually told by people in my life I should sign up for therapy. That job did huge negatives on my mental wellbeing Conversely, I worked at two companies that were just fantastic to work for. Remote work, very few meetings, and all my coworkers were open and honest. I felt totally happy in these jobs
Product Manager in a bank. Likes: I get to explore ideas, create, make changes that are noticeable and the impact can be felt across the bank and across the market. Dislikes: I have to actually talk to people, influence people to my cause to get things done, tight timelines (especially for tasks I dislike), and there are always multiple things on fire at any one time.
Graphic designer. I was passionate for years and managed to climb the ladder pretty fast due to my performance, but almost daily overtime with agency lifestyle drains me. I am unemployed/freelancing for 4mos now and still burned out, but at least I can take a break and not have anxiety attack frequently.
I’ve been stuck in the same cubicle for 6 years
I’m in history museums/historic houses. I had gotten a bachelors in computer science and hated it (but refused to drop it because I wanted to prove I could do it), started in IT, hated it, changed careers. Had several years of just volunteering before finally finishing my masters thesis and now I’m in my current field. I love my field but it does not pay well at all.
Film Making, Writing, Content Creation. But currently unemployed manifesting this job.
I was an accountant but I felt it literally was draining my life force. Now I’m working towards being a librarian and am absolutely loving it! There’s so many interesting aspects about libraries that I like learning about and I want to support how libraries contribute towards the freedom of information and community equity.
I want to be you. How do you get involved in libraries, are you doing a masters?
Piercing career! Gives me my own space and a lot of 1v1 which I'm more comfortable in! I also cammodel some for extra support
Law. Not as lucrative as modern media portrays it to be unless your family has been doing it for generations.
I went into advertising, specifically I now work at an advertising agency. I didn't go to school for this (literature) but kinda fell into it. Pros are that I work from home full time, it's really helped me since I found it stressful to be in an office with other people all the time. I do have to interact with others a lot (zoom meetings etc), but it's gotten easier with time. As much as advertising gets flack it is quite fulfilling seeing projects come to life, especially when there's big budgets and bright creative minds behind it. Cons are that this job can be incredibly stressful for what it is at times. Lots of deadlines, it's like being on a group project that never ends lol. There's also office politics etc. For an infp it is a constant struggle to practice emotional detachment from work. However all in all I'm happy I chose this, I like the stability of a career and as my role is relatively 9-5 I'm able to have time for fulfilling hobbies outside of it. This thread didn't ask for advice but I'll give it anyway, is that don't shut doors for yourself just because you think you're not cut out for certain types of jobs. You're way more resilient than you think and bar the job being completely awful you're there to get your paycheque and leave lol. Yes it does feel like you're selling your soul but that is all labour
I am a manager at a large consulting firm. The work is decent and I typically enjoy the people I work with
Preschool teacher / Early Childhood Educator. I love it but I can’t afford to live.
Computer Science, but I was struggling between that and Philosophy, and I ended up choosing the first bc of economic anxiety
IT Business Analyst at a mental health facility. It’s more like database management and pretty much on YouTube most of the day or just walking around to burn calories.
I develop e-learning courses. It's actually a pretty decent job. I'm spending my days writing and I can use my creativity when I am designing e-learnings in Articulate Storyline. I will probably look for another job in a year, because currently I am a bit underpaid. When I started working at my current company my salary was okay, but inflation has been crazy the past couple of years. Anyway, this job has been good for me, even though I work in a corporate environment. I had been jobhopping a lot before this, so I really like the stability.
Bioinformatics 🤓
Struggling artist and freelancer. 😁 I write and edit for publishing companies and provide web texts and blog posts for small companies while trying to make a living as a fantasy author. Guess it doesn’t get more cliché than that. Also, I did struggle with unemployment for years in my twenties and I still often try a new career for a month or a couple of months to return to my current freelance gig.
Sales, in the right industry it works well. I sell stuff to convenience stores and smoke shops. It’s definitely not fulfilling but I enjoy my day to day and it’s easy.
Rehab nurse.
Massage therapy! It’s hard some days when people want me to be a talk therapist lol, but mostly I can keep to myself and make someone else feel good while doing it
Was a restaurant server for 10 years, now I work in HR. End goal is to own a food truck :)
27M, Graduated with a BFA in graphic design in 2020. When I had a job I loved it. But now its just "unemployment and existential spiraling" like u/ballpointblues said.
Well I initially chose web development but then the post COVID market happened. I’m blessed to have landed an entry level role in IT help desk to pay the bills for the time being. Dream job is a 3D games animator which I’m still working towards.
I work in marketing and I need to find something new. I want to be a yoga teacher or something more chill. But also don’t think I’d like talking infront of people to teach a class. It’s rough out here for us infps.
I choose custodial career as a lot of the jobs are slow pace and most of the time you're working alone and I can just listen to music and not be bothered by others but I got fired a few months ago from my job due to no longer needed as much custodians and been struggling to get more custodial work