Are you a Jack of All Trades INTP?

[CloudofOlivia]

I think the main reason why I've never stuck to one thing for ages and ages is because not only am I scatter brained, but I have curiosity in everything and anything. To commit to one thing is almost like suicide to my other interests. Ultimately, this has caused me great mental, emotional, and psychological grief during my undergrad years during which I switched from a biology to an economics major(i am still dissastisfied with economics) and I am still figuring what to do in my professional life. Am I doomed no matter what venue I take?

[Melody]

probably :D

[EternalCynic]

Sadly, yes. I'm very much the same way, and because of it I don't know if I want to major in Game Design, Art, Psychology, Philosophy, or possibly even Computer Science :blink:

[Bluehaze]

Concluding there is only one thing I need to dedicate myself to--a college degree--I therefore will not be wasting my time worrying about financial circumstances in the future. If I don't [worry], I will have plenty of time to delve into any and all other aspects of interest. I figure 3-5 years are an easy commitment to guarantee the rest of my learning lifetime. In addition, since like most others here I am involved with many others areas, receiving additional degrees in other fields will not only calm my desires [for knowledge] but increase my net worth in real-world business.

[Chall T. Dow]

I'm the same way, I'm 3 years into my Physics degree and beginning to hate it. I'm considering changing but the only thing stopping me is that I don't know what I'd do if I did change.

:devil: Chall T. Dow :devil:

[SheepDog]

My older brother calls me a "serial hobbyist". I like trying new things, but once I figure them out, I tend to move on to something else. What's the fun of doing something that you already know how to do?

[INTrPosr]

When someone calls me that, I infer the follow-up of a master of none. But yes, truly a "jack of all trades".

[Sam172]

Yup, I find it amazing how people can be tied down to one thing all the time. The only problem is that I need a multitude of hobbies to keep myself occupied....

Lets just not think about what i'm going to hopefully study at uni. No doubt i'll start one course, thne change to another.....then get really bored of it after a year or so.

[Birdsnest]

Yes, I do like to learn about everything and anything. Except: Sports and History, those are the only two things I know very little about & could care less about. I love every other subject there is to learn about, and even will learn history and sports if someone makes it interesting enough. But don't make me watch golf on tv or be a spectator, that is the one thing I have no time for. I did finally discipline myself to earn and get a degree in Business Administration Accounting, because someone told me it was a good area to get into and made good money, so I have a degree in something more for "survival" and getting by and practicality than for love of the subject. I do appreciate having a job and money, and will do what it takes to get ahead. But I know & see two sides of everything. I want to know everything, even do it yourself stuff.

[Avengardh]

Yes...which is why I want to double Major in Computer Science and Website Design. If I had the choice I would go into Physics...but then again I would love to do Art.

[Arioch]

I'm a "Jack of all trades" as well. Don't think of it as a problem though, think of it as a asset. You have plenty of options. Now choose one you lazy f***

Just kidding :D

I think the secret is to choose one thing you can stand the rest of yur life... preferably something that will give you enough time to move and to allow you to do other things as a hobby.

[Crazy]

Let me see, I have a house full of stuff that I used to be interested in but now they just sit and collect dust. The only thing I don't think I will get bored of is the computer, because the internet has way too many opportunities to ever get bored. Actually, I'm surprised that I'm not bored of coming to this site yet.

[Sam172]

Actually, I'm surprised that I'm not bored of coming to this site yet.

well, it hit me a few weeks ago :blink:

[MacGuffin]

Yep. That is me. So much so it is not even funny.

I can talk fairly competently about: films, music, modern art, football, college basketball, baseball, politics, history, literature, physics, chemistry, mathematics, etc.

But do I know enough about them that I could be considered an expert? Not at all. I switched from engineering to law, now I want to be a researcher. I must be crazy.

[spirilis]

I like to think I'm a "jack of all trades," but recently I've resorted to mastering those few "trades" I find really useful or interesting.

[Sam172]

I like to think I'm a "jack of all trades," but recently I've resorted to mastering those few "trades" I find really useful or interesting.

You mean like cooking, skinning cushions and making tea?

[jimkopelli]

I try to know at least a little bit about everything. It may not be much, but it's a starting point.

[lauriep]

My bookshelves look like a library, overflowing with such a variety of topics.
I notice when something is new and interesting to me, I will jump in with two feet and not think about hardly anything else. But then once I'm bored with it, I'll move on and rarely look back.

[nobarcode]

To me, being a "master" seems too confining because it implies you know all there is to know , and we all know that is not the case. I can pretend for a moment...a moment.

Therefore, I like to be Jack.

[spirilis]

I like to think I'm a "jack of all trades," but recently I've resorted to mastering those few "trades" I find really useful or interesting.

You mean like cooking, skinning cushions and making tea?
That's it http://forums.maxima.org/images/smilies/grin_no.gif

[spirilis]

To me, being a "master" seems too confining because it implies you know all there is to know , and we all know that is not the case. I can pretend for a moment...a moment.

Therefore, I like to be Jack.
My definition of "mastering" is getting to know it well enough that I can do almost anything I need to do within that particular realm... doesn't mean I know everything about it ;)

The P's definition of "mastering" :rofl:

[candela]

You could say I like a lot of different things, or you could simplify it and say I actually just like creating things and reading theory of creating such things. I'm typically pretty good at whatever I try, too. Especially if I can add a humorous twist to it.

[xavierd]

This is just crazy! I've actually found people that I can relate to!!!

[last_caress]

Chalk up another jack of all trades.
Very good at a few things and passable at most.
My interests tend to wax and wane quickly and then resurface.

I toyed with the idea of going to school for science, physics, computers but I don't have the tolerance for repetition (math) that they require to learn those subjects in depth.
I'm more of an over all concept theorist type.
Music, art and literature rank equally with the above and that's what I studied more of.
It's so hard to choose one thing, I'm all over the place and have been accused as such by more than one person.
I guess that's why I dropped out and haven't ever been able to commit to one thing enough to get my degree, though I should for practical reasons

[Sackanaka]

I'd say I mastered a few video games. That's about it.

[India]

I'm an INTP and I'm good at a number of things.....I mean, really good so it's always been hard for me to pick one career that I absolutely like.

But one day.....my aunt said "It's good to be educated in a number of things".

From that day on I decided to pursue all of my interest according to where I'm at in life. I spent my 20's supervising others (which I hated) and I plan to spend my 30's in graphic/multimedia design.

And in my 40's I want to own my own design business.........and other things I pursue as a hobby, like music and writing. I think you should try EVERYTHING you want to try. But always finish what you start.

Hope that helps ~~ India :cheers:

[int]

My grandfather's name was Jack. He worked in a mine as a foreman for a lot of years. He wasn't much of a father, according to my father. My uncles might say otherwise.

I'm told I have his personality.

A jack-of-all trades sounds better than a jackass or a jack-off that knows nothing more than one position.

I only hope I get the opportunity to bounce around in careers. Hopefully I'll stay in control the whole time.

[Claverhouse]

...But always finish what you start.


You're an INTP ?



Claverhouse :ph34r:


:D

[CloudofOlivia]

Even if you're an INTP, it certainly does not mean we should excuse ourselves from bringing an assignment to completion. I try to read these personality tests with a grain of salt...if you take it all in religiously like the Bible, you might find yourself actually consciously choosing to not finish a task because you're an INTP...or worse...you might justify your inability to finish something by saying..."Well, I'm an INTP, so I can't help it...there's nothing that can be done." Come on folks! As a very independent type, INTPs should also be able to not try to mold themselves to exhibit strictly INTP behavior!

[Arioch]

...But always finish what you start.


You're an INTP ?



Claverhouse :ph34r:


:D

Simply good sense my dear. Wether we like it or not finishing things is more efficient and is better in the long run. We must become better then we are

[CamINTPeron]

I can relate to all of you, I started my working life as a carpenter (my father is a builder and bought me a nailbag and hammer for my 15th birthday).
When this was happening a friend of mine was picked for some ads and got me involved in some extra work in home and away,
Australia's most wanted (just as an actor playing the part) and some movies (all about 15 years ago now), I was asked to do more but my father said if I didn't show up for work my bags would be packed and at the front door, a scary proposition for a 16 yr old.

Needless to say when I finished my trade certificate I went back to study to become a project supervisor (I thought I should at least stay in construction as it is what I know) while studying I washed dishes in a restaurant and later became a chef.
I went into a partnership with two others in a restaurant which did well until one partner used some money from the till on the dog races and kept using more money to get it back. The first we knew about it was when the landlord demanded the rent. The partnership dissolved.
I went back to construction and became a contracts administrator working for a very computer illiterate company.
I started fixing their computers and set up a server network.
I am still with that company as a network administrator.
Lately I have been trying to learn how to write books.

[TPol]

Yes, it is me dredging up yet another old thread.

Start of the thread:
I think the main reason why I've never stuck to one thing for ages and ages is because not only am I scatter brained, but I have curiosity in everything and anything. To commit to one thing is almost like suicide to my other interests. Ultimately, this has caused me great mental, emotional, and psychological grief during my undergrad years during which I switched from a biology to an economics major(i am still dissastisfied with economics) and I am still figuring what to do in my professional life. Am I doomed no matter what venue I take?

This is particularly relevant in my life right now, as I assume it is off & on for all INTPs. I am curious whether the grief/doom expressed here and that others of us feel over this sometimes comes more from within or from other people's reactions to it.

I switched majors 3 times in college and still didn't get anything beyond an AA because I quit in order to pursue a job. Had cool jobs of different sorts since then. Have hobbies and pursuits too numerous to list. Didn't think a thing about all this until some "J" people came along and focused on the idea that I'd changed around so much without "settling" on something. All happened within a 2 year window. Normally, I don't let what people say get to me, so I didn't think anything of that until I learned the MBTI stuff and read what it said about INTPs "never finishing anything and never mastering anything." Suddenly, looking back on my life, it was like, "Sheesh....how much of a difference HAVE I made in this world? What HAVE I really 'mastered?' And, if I don't 'master' something, does that mean my life (at its end) will be for naught?" What a scary thought!

But, I look at it again and realize I was perfectly content and happy and making small differences in people's lives here and there throughout my life up until this point. It was only once I looked at my life from the perspective of a non-INTP that I felt like I had accomplished squat. In reality, I'm dang awesome at several things, good enough at several others, and passing-grade on a few others. I suspect many of us are.

Get my drift? Thoughts?

[iponjs]

Amen to that TPol!

I find the anticipation and research of anything much more gratifying that the actual doing it. Luckily, my current job has about 8 million topics for me to delve into. I throw a few pearls of wisdom and insight towards my coworkers and they incorporate them into their lessons. I'm happy and so are they (well, as long as they don't expect follow-through from me).

[Ascending]

I saw this trend some time ago, and really I would like to be better then average at something; so I picked the most important thing I could think of.

Come to think, I believe I'm currently participating in my longest endevor yet. It's been about 2 years of active pursuance with heavly increased activity of late. The very reason my alarm clock is set at 5:30am.

I've been trying to master myself.

[Sally]

what, like in a Tibetan monk kinda way?

[Crazy]

This is very interesting, because I just had a discussion with someone about this very same topic, which is to say, the topic of hobbies. I came to the realization that I have become disinterested in many different hobbies that I had, but because of events in the past few years, I haven't picked up any new ones. I've become stagnant, and it has hurt me in ways I hadn't imagined.

I think my big hobby had become playing with my son, and arguing/making up with my wife, so, when they both were removed from me, I came up with nothing. I didn't have anything left to pour myself into.

Don't let this happen to you. It will kill your inner self.

[misutii]

Simply good sense my dear. Wether we like it or not finishing things is more efficient and is better in the long run. We must become better then we are

or spiral downward in a disillusion of self-destruction

[Geek Engineer]

Yes, I get into a bunch of different things, and rarely do I finish most of them. I have been known to at least finish some things maybe because of the little bit of J in me. I get into everything from building fish tanks, trying to invent and or experiment with all sorts of ideas, to building up my off-roading Jeep.

At my work I admitt I have been lucky. In my line of work that I have found is nice in the fact that there are lots of different challenging problems to deal with at least in the past. I am not sure if that is changing here lately.. I hope things will get back to normal soon or else I am conserned that I might get tired of it to the point of wanting to quit. I figure that if I go some place else it won't be any better.

[Dunearhp]

Don't let this happen to you. It will kill your inner self.

I wholeheartedly agree.

I recently realised that for the last couple of years I had completely abandoned my hobbies because I was "too busy". The result has been a slow decline in the quality of my work, and my general wellbeing. I have resloved to pick up some new hobbies and learn some new things. I have managed to make a good start.

I can't afford to stagnate. It seems like my drive arises from my activity, not the other way round.

[Miss Anthropic]

You are doomed. Just get the degree and call it good. You will then change your mind and career a bazillion times. I never thought I'd see so much of myself in so many people.

[jjt]

yes, I can design and build furniture, paint and sell art, change your diet and change your life, buy a good investment property, be a nurse, sort you out for a wheelchair or design a you a piece of equipment if you're disabled. Run a mail order business, renovate a house or teach ergonomics. Design and sew an outfit, macrame, crotchet and knit. Sculpt or do photography, make a pair of leather sandals, put website content together, deliver a self development seminar ...

Oh yes and that doesn't include the hobbies I've forgotten about or had as a kid.

Am I doomed, no, it's the way I am. Since discovering MBTI, I've stopped beating up on myself. Often these days I make myself finish things and keep really up to date with finances because I hate the disapointment in myself when I dont finish and I hate having my finances in a mess.

Will I move on to another career, probably yes, but not yet.

The thing I hate most is I move on before I make a ton of money, and start again all the time. :blink:

[crofbe]

There's just way too many things to do.

[MacGuffin]

Yep. That is me. So much so it is not even funny.

I can talk fairly competently about: films, music, modern art, football, college basketball, baseball, politics, history, literature, physics, chemistry, mathematics, etc.

But do I know enough about them that I could be considered an expert? Not at all. I switched from engineering to law, now I want to be a researcher. I must be crazy.
I'd like to add that while I know about many things, actually doing them is still largely theoretical.

[2hype]

I'm the same way. And I actually can do quite a few things as well, but I'm not an expert in anything. There is no way to keep up with everything I am interested in. And though I always tell myself to pick a couple of things to focus my time and energy on, and let the rest go- It never happens.

[MaroonBells]

I never called it a "jack of all traits", more a "renaissance man", like Da Vinci.

In high school I had all core science topics (math, physics, chemistry). Then I got BSc in Agricultural Engineering with a strong Business focus. Worked in Malaysia. Then tried to set up my own company, failed. Then got a MA in Political Science and Sociology. Got a job as management trainee and worked in Holland, UK and US. Took a Finance job and did very well. Now I changed to a Project Manager role in new product development. In the meantime I look for new opportunities to set up my own company.

Never satisfied, always looking...

[Wilde Mutton]

Being an expert means, in my opinion, concentrating on details which are bound to change/become obsolete anyway. There is nothing relevant and constant about the knowledge that an expert has but a "jack" doesn´t unless those details which the expert masters somehow help him find the "bigger picture". Consequently settling on any one area of study would constitute a pledge of loyalty which I feel I cannot give; one would have to view things from the point of view of that area of study, or become an unorthodox expert and search for alternative ways of thinking and subsequently rebel against the limitations of the area, making some grounbreakingly philosophical discoveries. The one area that could possible hold my interest for myself to become an "expert" would thus be philosophy, since I feel that´s what it all boils down to. Philosophy might be famous for the acclaim that it tends to deal with everything a bit, like a "jack" among the sciences, but whether or not such a reputation is deserved everything seems also to be based on such fundamental questions as are dabbled with in the area of philosophy.

And no, you´re not doomed. Society is.

[Ascending]

what, like in a Tibetan monk kinda way?Funny you should mention that.

[Sally]

Funny you should mention that.

Oh, cool. For real? Just meditation, or, say, sitting still and increasing your body temperature through will alone?

I've been thinking about meditation. I think i'm afraid to leave my mind to its own devices for extended periods of time. If I could achieve mental silence maybe...

[Chukamuk]

Actually, I fancy "Chuck of all trades". Jack don't know squat.

[kuranes]

I remember the first time I heard the word "polymath". "Yes, that's what I'm trying to be!" I said to myself, and immediately remembered how terrible I am at Math. Things are so complex now that there aren't any modern Leonardos I guess.
K

[Ascending]

Not Tibetan or monk per say... :)
But for some reason I kept thinking tibetan monk in my head. :D

[smash0gre]

yes

[vulcan]

My older brother calls me a "serial hobbyist". I like trying new things, but once I figure them out, I tend to move on to something else. What's the fun of doing something that you already know how to do?

holy shit, this is my behavior exactly, and one reason that I thought I was an istp, always moving on to other things.

[EL84]

This me also. I find it financially painful. I read a book a while ago called "Refuse To Choose" - Barbara Sher, which was pretty condescending and simplistic, but she has come with the idea of a class of people she calls "Scanners" that exhibit this trait. Two ideas (of course there were others) I took away from the book were:

1: You'll never find your niche. Your niche is to always be looking for something new, picking things up, dropping things, working new things out. Don't worry about it.

2: The Good Enough Job. As it's impossible to get a totally satisfying career, get something good enough that gives you time/money to do other stuff. Or do several jobs instead of one.


Scanner's forum:
http://www.barbarasher.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=30
Income sources:
http://www.barbarasher.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=16
I've only given it a cursory glance.

[fripping]

oh, you mean like a loser? yes, i'm one of those.

[Jennywocky]

This me also. I find it financially painful. I read a book a while ago called "Refuse To Choose" - Barbara Sher, which was pretty condescending and simplistic, but she has come with the idea of a class of people she calls "Scanners" that exhibit this trait.

Yes, I have her book Wishcraft and she mentions them as well.


1: You'll never find your niche. Your niche is to always be looking for something new, picking things up, dropping things, working new things out. Don't worry about it.

2: The Good Enough Job. As it's impossible to get a totally satisfying career, get something good enough that gives you time/money to do other stuff. Or do several jobs instead of one.

I consider this pretty decent advice and rather exposes our preconception going into things (i.e., that we are supposed to find the "perfect job" that we can do all our lives).

Instead of beating ourselves up for our disinterest in something over time and our ability to become decently skilled at many different things, why not take advantage of it, enjoy it, and find a way to capitalize on it?

I think a diagnostic-sort job would help as well, if a jack of all trades wants to get some stability. For example, an ER technician, or an non-dealer auto mechanic, or a network technician, or something else where there's a new influx of problems introduced daily, and each problem is a chance to explore and learn something else, as well as apply past knowledge in creative ways to resolve the issue. So even if it's the same "field," it's very much a bootstrap, "apply what you know" sort of occupation and thus each day is a little different.

[Dirty-American-Devil]

I tend to concur with Fortunato. I had a real problem in the pass picking a career, simply because I got bored of whatever it was I was learning/ doing at the time within a 6-12 month period. I have found contracting, and dividing my career in two professions is the best fit for me. Both have endless learning potential which is a plus, and its hard to get bored of them because contracts or projects take 60 days to 3 months. Haven't got a year long contract yet (though I'm not worried about it). Hardest part is keeping track of two sets of references, resumes, and portfolios.

I get a lot of beef from family, as they think I can't make up my mind, but for the first time in 25 years, since the dawn of my creation, I have actually made up my mind.

Far as hobbies, though there are still many things I want to pick up, and things that I have picked up, that I want to pick up again.

[EL84]

...I think a diagnostic-sort job would help as well, if a jack of all trades wants to get some stability. For example, an ER technician, or an non-dealer auto mechanic, or a network technician, or something else where there's a new influx of problems introduced daily, and each problem is a chance to explore and learn something else, as well as apply past knowledge in creative ways to resolve the issue...

Yeah I agree. My last four jobs have been exactly this kind of thing.

I also think the smaller the company the better. I've worked for big companies and my experiences were that they treated employees like children (many employees behaved like children), they are unethical, they pay less, and the job has less variety.

Working for a small company, I have morning tea with the director every day - I'm not just a payroll number, and he knows what's going on. I get paid more, I get to do all kinds of different activities - I might be prototyping a new device, debugging code, repairing an old device, installing equipment, posting letters, buying stock, all kinds of stuff. In a big company, I might only get to do one of those activities, all day, every day. The head of the company is not insulated from customers, so the customers get treated more ethically too.

I think cars are really good too. There's so much technology in cars from the last twenty years or so, I suspect traditional trade school for mechanics hasn't kept up so well with that aspect of it, but even if not a job, as a hobby it's brilliant. You might get interested in suspension, all spring rates, damper rates, bushings, then you get bored of that, move on to gas flow and turbo sizes, exhausts, intercoolers, etc. then making interfaces to interrogate/reprogram your ECU, then get interested in upholstery, or braking, or whatever. And you can find models/theories to apply/work with every step of the way (well maybe not upholstery).

Even something like a fitter/turner these days is a pretty intellectually demanding job, and there's a lot of variety there. Make some custom industrial kitchen equipment one day, repair a bulldozer the next.

I know I'm relating it mostly to employment, but there it is.

I would also recommend finishing a degree of some sort if you possibly can, maybe with as many cross credits or papers from other faculties as you can fit in there. University may be a load of shit, but unfortunately the stupid piece of paper opens a lot of doors, especially if you want to get working visas overseas etc.

[Maartinho]

I find journalism a good line or work for jack-of-trade INTP's. Especially if you do it on a freelance basis.

I get to write articles about all sorts of stuff; science, finance, lifestyle, psychology, politics. Once you've quickly understood the main points in whatever complex subject matter, you're ready to write to your article. After that, no need to linger on it. Perfect.

Journalism is also an independent job... you do need to talk to people a lot, but only to extract information from them. Which is usually fun, because they will knowledgeable or powerful people with interesting things to say, or you wouldn't picked them for an interview in the first place.

[machination]

A stroke of luck landed me with a very angry, incompetent and misogynist math teacher. Once I'd narrowed it down to the social sciences and realized graphic design wasn't as challenging as it seemed when I first got into it, I decided sociology was broad and fuzzy enough to do my BA in. I'm two years in now and don't allow myself to even glance at something else -- I know I'd be tempted to switch in an instant, and I can't afford to. The more I learn in my field the harder it will be to leave it, I'm hoping.

When you realize you love math, art, and the social sciences equally, you just have to suck it up and delegate at least one of the three into a subservient hobby. I feel as if I've wasted enough time jumping from field to field already.

[aventine]

Yep some of the things you guys and gals have been mentioning are very familiar to me as well. Only that I come from a rather more structured family and instead of "switching" around in college I have simply picked up several majors... law, political science, and economics. Although starting off with only law and political science, economics satisfied my mathematical logic cravings since 7th form calculus. The underlying theme in those subjects is that it's pretty much all theory (yummy!), and in many instances it's approaching similar issues using different theoretical perspectives which I really enjoy.

Aside from that I went through the artsy fartsy stage in high school - did classes like printmaking, art history, photography, design etc. and actually worked part time for a graphic design firm for a few years during that period. Then just before it was time to apply for universities I realised how I hated dealing with clients in the design industry as they always know better than you apparently, so I didn't pursue that any further. At least it appears as a lawyer your clients tend to respect your knowledge/skills a bit more.

I also play 5 instruments, and having a large collection of them (piano, keyboards, drumkit, guitars, violins, some other strange instruments of asian and african origin), but have lately been getting the urge to learn the accordion...

AND I AM A MASTER OF NONE OF THOSE THINGS. I would like to get a PhD in something though, will that qualify me as a master of at least SOMETHING? :(

Oh one more thing, I read here someone switched from engineering to law... I know a girl who's doing engineering AND law at the same time. Very marketable set of qualifications for patent work I hear!

[rhinosaur]

All INTPs are Jacks of all trades. That comes from our desire to know how stuff works.

AICMFP

[rhinosaur]

I find journalism a good line or work for jack-of-trade INTP's. Especially if you do it on a freelance basis.

I get to write articles about all sorts of stuff; science, finance, lifestyle, psychology, politics. Once you've quickly understood the main points in whatever complex subject matter, you're ready to write to your article. After that, no need to linger on it. Perfect.

Journalism is also an independent job... you do need to talk to people a lot, but only to extract information from them. Which is usually fun, because they will knowledgeable or powerful people with interesting things to say, or you wouldn't picked them for an interview in the first place.

This has a lot of appeal to me. I've thought about starting a science blog as a hobby. In addition to what you mentioned, I also think web design is fun, and reading journals will keep me sharp.

[Maturin]

I must admit that sometimes I feel "doomed" by the nature of not being able to stick with anything for too long... in my business career, I've found it means that I get bored and change before the promotion opportunities have been exhausted... so my peers are climbing faster than me, which is frustrating (if only because they get to do jobs that involve less drudgery, and have more freedom).

Still trying to find the right career that allows me to get off this roller coaster... otherwise I'll drive myself and everybody around me nuts. My belief is that life is too short not to love your job... just need to find something that suits.

Documenting my career/job changes for a meeting with a former prof this week... discovered that its not just that I get bored... its that I need to feel a strong emotional connection, and a belief in the utility of what I'm doing. Anybody else have this?

[Maartinho]

Still trying to find the right career that allows me to get off this roller coaster... otherwise I'll drive myself and everybody around me nuts. My belief is that life is too short not to love your job... just need to find something that suits.

From what I hear consultancy should suit restless INTP's. Your firm will just send you out to client businesses on short problem solving missions. The problems are usually pretty complex and clients usually pay hundreds of dollars per hour of your service. So you are obliged to work fast.

From what I hear, a science major with lots of maths ec gives you a good shot at a position. I have a two of my friends, definitive INTPs, with majors in astrophysics and computer science, who got jobs at large firms (Accenture and Atos Origin) with very little effort. The job market may be different in the US as opposed to here (Netherlands) though.

You have to bear with some management goble-de-gook and empty suits, of course. Another option is journalism as I mentioned. That doesn't pay as well though and the good positions are real scarce.

[Wiki]

This is me also. I often get told by peers that I know so much about a topic that I should have become this or that, career wise. Although I like the mix of things that I am involved with.

I am sometimes concerned that I have spread myself too thin across many projects over my life and this may have prevented me from excelling at any one given thing.

Then again the more 'games' you are involved in, the odds of 'winning' increases.

Now I am more careful not to commit to projects that people approach me with and am more selective about who I will work with on what projects. I would love to help everyone achieve their dreams and play a role in making it happen but time does not permit.

Then at times I think that I am exactly where I should be right now, and there will be time for everything in its own due time. Living in the present has its own opportunities and they knock more than once if you know how to react.

[eviloatmeal]

I feel like more of a 7 of all trades... no matter how much I try I can't seem to get involved enough in a single project to actually get good at it.

I didn't read through the whole thread, but, any tips on what an INTP should do to get more focus on things?

[aventine]

I didn't read through the whole thread, but, any tips on what an INTP should do to get more focus on things?

I think the main thing that has helped me to stick to something for longer is to re-evaluate the thing I'm doing every now and then, That is, to try and look at it in a different way, or just tinkering with the goals a bit etc. This sort of makes that thing appear like a new thing that I can obsess about once again.

Often leaving it for awhile and then getting back into it helps too. But I guess you can't do that with a job... (perhaps take a sabbatical? ;))

For example, I've played the piano since I was 9 years old, and by around 14 years old I had done all the 8 grades, but was not motivated enough to pursue it any further. Just got sick of the straight classical music (had a really strict teacher). So I was a bit slack in terms of piano for a bit, but then I found jazz. Well, later I started picking up several new instruments every half year or so, but I find I go through rotations. I'd be obsessed with the guitar for a few months, but then go back to piano... next it'll be drums, and then piano again etc. etc. Then I found my passion for classical music again, and have branched out into a lot more other genres like film music. At the end of the day I still gotta do the scales and practise on the piano, but I have to change my approach every now and then. One thing which doesn't work well for INTPs is strict routine so I found that I am improving a lot more doing it my way in my own time than with a strict classical purist music teacher. I may not ever become a prodigy at it (not saying I ever had the potential in the first place or anything, lol) but it's one of the few things I've managed to stick to for a big part of my life... rather rare for me! :gm:

[eviloatmeal]

Often leaving it for awhile and then getting back into it helps too. But I guess you can't do that with a job... (perhaps take a sabbatical? ;))

For example, I've played the piano since I was 9 years old, and by around 14 years old I had done all the 8 grades, but was not motivated enough to pursue it any further. Just g...

That's what I've noticed as well with my music. I'm in a band which started out as a casual thing, but now our ENTP singer has gone all ENTP and thinks that we are rock stars and that we're gonna drop everything and do music for a living.

I noticed at one point that band practises had gone from "once a while" to "every week at this time". That is when I lost my motivation, once it became routine I found it very hard to stay enthusiastic.

Thanks a lot though, I'll try to look for ways to twist my projects to get new motivation in the future :)

[Ferrus]

I think the main reason why I've never stuck to one thing for ages and ages is because not only am I scatter brained, but I have curiosity in everything and anything.
My interests have been a little like this but my chief concern has always been the human condition, which has focused my ravening mind to history, politics and philosophy.

[dobsrvk]

i am having the problem of picking a major for undergrad, and the shady part is that i'm done with all my general ed...at first i wanted to do philosophy, then law, then psychology, then biology, then quantum physics...but i feel like all i would ever do with any of the knowledge i obtain would be to restate something that has already been said...my passion in life comes from understanding the nature of reality, but i feeel like i'm at a point where there isn't much more that will evoke the passion that has been burning inside me for philosophy, literature, and psychology over the past few years. they will always be dear to me, but i'm at a pivotal point in my educational careeer where i need to decide a major.....anyways, i hate reading loong posts, so i'll cut to the main point [sorry, lol] JOURNALISM sounds dope hahaha. someone said it earlier in the post, and now that i think about it, i'm really digging the idea. write, share my thoughts with others, build greater structures of understanding...the only problem i feel with in is that i won't be an expert in a subject, i feel like i will only know the subject superficially "/ hmmmm...maybe this is where my love for psychology, philosophy, more sciences, and literature could play in...how can you get a job as a journalist tho?????

[mchampagne]

I think the main reason why I've never stuck to one thing for ages and ages is because not only am I scatter brained, but I have curiosity in everything and anything. To commit to one thing is almost like suicide to my other interests. Ultimately, this has caused me great mental, emotional, and psychological grief during my undergrad years during which I switched from a biology to an economics major(i am still dissastisfied with economics) and I am still figuring what to do in my professional life. Am I doomed no matter what venue I take?

No. Just learn everything about everything. The best economists are those that study other fields.

[Ill eagle]

I'm a musician and a philosopher, but no one would trust a musicians philosophy. (and also: science, art, computers, books, and more)

[gardnerj]

Concluding there is only one thing I need to dedicate myself to--a college degree--I therefore will not be wasting my time worrying about financial circumstances in the future. If I don't [worry], I will have plenty of time to delve into any and all other aspects of interest. I figure 3-5 years are an easy commitment to guarantee the rest of my learning lifetime. In addition, since like most others here I am involved with many others areas, receiving additional degrees in other fields will not only calm my desires [for knowledge] but increase my net worth in real-world business.

yeah, that pretty much covers it.

[stuck]

I'm a musician and a philosopher,

You're a modern-day Scott Stapp.

[Spy_with the Eye_of]

You're a modern-day Scott Stapp.

ouch!

[stuck]

ouch!

Modern-day gerard way

[atom]

I'm one of those jack of all trades. I double majored in economics and environmental engineering. Econ is people, society, money, business. Environmental engineering is chemistry, biology, dirt, water, weather. Currently teaching high school math.

My solution to the depth/breadth/employability conundrum: applied math PhD. You can apply math to any other discipline that catches your interest. And apparently there is often research money for it.

[kali]

My interests have been a little like this but my chief concern has always been the human condition, which has focused my ravening mind to history, politics and philosophy.

"The human condition" is shit broad though. My tutor said the line "this text explores the issues concerning the human condition" is practically applicable to every book.

[Tiomar]

Jack of all trades, master of none, lack of discipline ...sounds like me too. Reading through this and other topics, restlessness due to boredom seems to be a typical INTP issue, which automatically leeds to the scattered, widespread CV...
e.g.:
tried all kinds of sports (Swimming, Cycling, Skiing, Tennis, Basketball, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, windsurfing, etc)

studied business management, mechanical engineering, information technology never got a degree though

had various jobs from, Barkeeper, utility man in a Rock'n'Roll/Rockabilly Musik Company, Sales and Service for mil. outdoor equipment, warehouseman, DB administrator...

interests and hobbies...countless, but I never got into the creative arts as writing, painting, acting, music, I think emotions are essential for creativity

jobwise my solution is to be in a huge company having the chance to quitely adjust my field of responsibility or to change departments...

[Captain Introvert]

Glad to know I'm not alone: I've always dabbled, and consider myself very "Reniassance," in that I excel in many things but have mastered none (unless you count reading / researching on the internet...which I don't).

I'm good at almost everything I try, but not great at any one thing in particular. My interests are varied: poetry, physics, art, music, biology, economics, politics, technology, anthropology, etc.

Whenever I get a new "toy" (netbook, gadget of some sort, etc.) I immerse myself in it for a few weeks, and upon mastery, move on to something else. I agree with earlier posters: it can be a bitch to find a line of work that accommodates these qualities / habits.

Any have any luck finding a job that lets your "jack of all trades-ness" shine through?

[square]

I think the main reason why I've never stuck to one thing for ages and ages is because not only am I scatter brained, but I have curiosity in everything and anything. To commit to one thing is almost like suicide to my other interests. Ultimately, this has caused me great mental, emotional, and psychological grief during my undergrad years during which I switched from a biology to an economics major(i am still dissastisfied with economics) and I am still figuring what to do in my professional life. Am I doomed no matter what venue I take?

I would consider myself to be a Jack of All Trades INTP but am not sure if that is why I have not succeeded at anything.

I undertake things to gain an understanding of them. I don't undertake things to realise a goal. I tried business and failed for this reason. Studying Chemical Engineering was very interesting but I never had any interest in working as a Chemical Engineer and never did.

I think I would be dissatisfied with almost every job because I have a strong need to have time alone (mentally alone) to think about things. Most jobs require me to focus on the requirements of the job so do not allow my mind to focus on my own thoughts. I have found menial jobs satisfying because they require no focus which means I am free to think about what I want while I work.

I have found 1:1 maths and science tuition to be quite tolerable, which doesn't exactly fit with my above analysis. Having to interact with groups of people makes many jobs difficult for me, which is a big part of the appeal of 1:1 tuition. That might just be my shyness and unrelated to my personality type.