ISFJ

For a while now, I'm been contemplating my next professional step in life. Quitting my job as a Medical Technologist to be a stay-at-home mom has been such a wonderful thing, but as my kids get older I know I'll eventually get back into the work force. Not that I'm in any hurry or anything, but I do miss the money, the adult company, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with a job well done. Being a good mom, after all doesn't really pay the bills, and doesn't come with any sick leave or vacation time.

Soooo, I have tried on several different "hats" along the way, selling stuff on eBay, etsy, and craft shows, volunteering as a cub scout leader, a drama club leader, classroom aid, etc... I've read books, explored Internet sites, and recently I checked out a book from the library about career choices. The most recent thing I stumbled across was the Myers Briggs personality test. For those of you not knowledgeable about it, it breaks down personality types into 16 different types, based on 4 "type preferences: (Introversion vs Extroversion) (Sensing vs iNtuition) (Thinking vs Feeling) (Judging vs Perceiving). I took this test and got the answer "ISFJ". Reading about this personality type has been very interesting! And guess what... one of the top vocations for ISFJ's is medical technology. Seems as though I did my homework well many years ago when I decided to pursue this career. I took the same test in college even further back, and haven't a clue as to what I got back then, but this time around it really pegs me well.

Among other things, research says ISFJ's have the desire to serve others and to need to be needed. Can you say "doormat"?


We're also very loyal. Chris was happy to hear this ;-). We're "methodical and accurate", with "very good memories and analytic abilities"... sounds like a "med tech" to me! Uncomfortable in supervisory roles, yes, notoriously bad at delegating, yes, and good with people in small groups and one on one, yes... Families are the center of their lives, and they have high work ethics., with a few close friends, yep, yep, yep. Good career matches are religious work (my dad would have loved that), nursing, medicine, clerical, shopkeeping and home making.

I don't know why I was surprised to find that the career I had previously picked is still a good match for me, but apparently it is. I do enjoy "med-teaching", but for a mother of young children, it was and still is almost incompatible with finding childcare. With a husband who fights fire and is on call several months out of the year, my 24/7/365 hospital schedule isn't exactly what we can do right now, but hopefully in the future I'll be able to get back to it. I guess I was hoping to figure out a job I can do at home that involves my hobbies and interests (sewing, being outdoors, blogging (LOL), photography). Maybe I still can, but for now I'm letting my hobbies be just that... hobbies... Other than the demanding schedule, the stress and hazards that come with med-teching, medical technology work is extremely satisfying, mentally challenging, well-paid, and in high demand. I almost never had to take work home with me, and working within a medical team to help patients just made me feel good! I have always loved science, and the physical nature of the job fit me too (no desks to sit behind... just the occasional microscope or computer screen).

The test and reading about ISFJ also gave me a lot of insight into why I do the things I do. I know I have to take it with a grain of salt, but all in all, it was a very enlightening exercise.

So what about you? What type are you?