Best ISTP Career Matches

Whether you’re deciding on a major in college or researching a career, you are likely considering factors like work environment, salary, and long-term growth potential. However, one of the most important factors is often overlooked: is this career a good fit for your personality? 

Personality tests like the Myers-Briggs Indicator help people to have a deeper understanding of themselves, their actions, and their intended career path.

The Myers-Briggs test determines your personality type based on four categories:

• Extravert (E) or Introvert (I)
• Sensing (S) or Intuitive (N)
• Feeling (F) or Thinking (T)
• Judgement (J) or Perceiving (P)

Knowing whether your personality traits fit with a career can be crucial to your success in the professional world. 

What Is the Myers-Briggs ISTP Personality Type?

The ISTP type stands for Introverted (I), Sensing (S), Thinking (T), and Perceiving (P). ISTPs are often called the ‘Virtuoso’ personality. These personality types have a goal-oriented and sometimes individualistic mindset. Some famous ‘Virtuosos’ are Amelia Earhart and Katherine Hepburn. 

They are known for being incredibly hard-working, detail-oriented problem solvers with strong curiosity about the world around them. They seek out problems and are dedicated to finding practical solutions, especially in the workplace. Although introverted, Virtuosos enjoy working with action-oriented team members that have a collective goal of finding solutions to practical problems. 

ISTP Strengths

Here is a list of ISTP’s strengths:

• Acute attention to detail
• Positive, cheerful hard-workers
• Skilled in time-management
• Flexible and spontaneous
• Rational
• Creative

ISTPs are imperative in the working world due to their curiosity, attention to detail, and flexibility in the face of any obstacle. They are also known for keeping a positive, cheerful demeanor in spite of challenges. They are also pros at managing their time, and they know how to prioritize tasks in order to work most efficiently.

ISTJs are also good at overcoming obstacles, and they aren’t afraid to take a risk. Their creativity, calm under pressure, and patience allows them to solve complex problems.

ISTP Weaknesses

Although ISTPs have many strengths, they also have some weaknesses:

• Being stubborn about opinions
• Having difficulty with emotional sensitivity
• Being emotionally withdrawn and reserved from others
• Having difficulty staying interested in one subject for too long
• Risk-taking behavior

While Virtuoso personalities can be very passionate about their work, their stubbornness can result in having a hard time listening to criticisms. They are often private and reserved people, and have a difficult time exhibiting empathy and emotional sensitivity toward others due to their introverted nature. 

ISTPs can become bored easily and want to jump from one project to the next. Their intense creativity and spontaneity can only last for short periods of time. This intense creativity can result in pushing the boundaries too far. Thus, some ISTP careers to avoid would be repetitive jobs with few opportunities for multitasking and creativity.

Although they are great at tackling obstacles head-on, Virtuosos are likely to tend towards risky behavior.

What about ISTP-A and ISTP-T?

ISTP-A stands for Assertive (S), and ISTP-T stands for Turbulent (T). These are two different types of identities under the ISTP personality type, being distinguished by their differences in emotional reactions and actions in society. 

Assertive ISTPs are more likely to be confident about their abilities. On the other hand, Turbulent ISTPs can be more insecure and afraid to commit to projects. Assertives are considered to be more laid back and less overwhelmed, however Turbulents are more ambitious in their life aspirations. 

Career Paths Loved by ISTPs

Here is a list of the best career matches for ISTPs:

• Software Developer
• Database Administrator
• Mechanical Engineer
• Economist
• Biochemist

Software Developer

Software developers are specialized in computer systems, and work to develop advancing software for customers. They are responsible for designing, testing, and creating computer programs and software to make it as simple and efficient for the user as possible. 

They direct programmers on how to code the software, develop ways to maintain the software in the future, and recommend software upgrades for users.

Software developers make an average of $105,000+ annually in the United States. Moreover, there is a 21% projected growth in this field, especially as the technology industry is rapidly expanding. 

Software development is a perfect match for ISTPs because they have such a fine attention to detail and are flexible in problem-solving. Their creativity is valuable as they enjoy creating and building new computer systems every single day, keeping them engaged. 

Database Administrator

Database administrators help customers and clients store their financial and technical data in specialized computer software. They help ensure that their data is secure and protected from unauthorized access. Database administrators develop and install databases to organize technical data. They maintain and adjust the database as needed and help secure the data for the future.

Database administrators make an average of $90,000 a year, with an expected 9% growth in the field. 

ISTPs are introverts and enjoy their independence, so this career is a great match because they would have the opportunity to work alone. However, once they are energized and ready to collaborate with others, they could work and brainstorm with other computer specialists. This career would give them a variety of hurdles requiring critical problem-solving skills, but ISTPs are always up for the challenge. Their creativity and flexibility would bring them far in this industry. 

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers work on a variety of different mechanical devices, including machines, tools, and engines. They conduct research to create, construct, and maintain these devices. They focus on problem-solving where they are often given an issue and required to design a solution that is both efficient and effective. Mechanical engineers make an average of $87,000 a year. 

Becoming a mechanical engineer would be an ISTP’s dream job because they would have the chance to use their creativity to solve practical problems. ISTPs like to use their senses and logic to tackle challenges. For this reason, mechanical engineering is a great ISTJ job, as these engineers frequently use their senses to design solutions.

Economist

Economists research trends, analyze data, and explore economic problems in society surrounding supply and demand of resources. They distribute surveys collecting data, use statistics, make predictions about the future of the market, and create solutions to solve economic dilemmas. Economists make an average of $104,000 a year, and there is an anticipated 8% growth.

ISTPs would make great economists because they would get to be creative and come up with solutions to complicated problems. Their attention to detail would be extremely important as they would need to analyze and interpret the market data. Their time management and flexibility would help them thrive as they navigate through many types of obstacles. 

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Biochemist

Biochemists are interested in the biological and chemical elements of living things. They conduct controlled experiments in laboratories where they evaluate the data and apply it to real-life situations. For example, biochemists might work towards creating new medications and vaccines for the public. Biochemists make an average of $93,000 a year and there is a 6% growth rate in the field. 

ISTPs would make fantastic biochemists because of their intense level of detail and curious nature about the world. Solving problems such as creating a new vaccine would keep them interested and challenged, as every day would present a new problem to tackle.

Countless Career Choices for ISTPs

Deciding on the right career path for you can be difficult and involves many variables. It is a major decision with many factors, but understanding your personality type can help make the choice that much easier. Your personality traits can lead you to a job where you enjoy waking up and heading to work every single day. 

ISTPs are detail-oriented, positive, organized, and creative workers that are always up for a challenge. From software development to biochemistry, there is a wide range of career options that will excite the curiosity in an ISTP personality type.