INFJ Personality Type Guide

Personality Type

To get detailed insights about your personality, you can take a free personality test at the end of this article. The test uses the latest advancements in artificial intelligence to give you deep insights into your personality.

This comprehensive INFJ personality guide will give you detailed information about the INFJ personality and the careers that suit this personality type. Once you take our free AI-powered personality test, you will discover more about your psychology and find out which career is right for you. 




Why You Need to Know Your Personality Type 

Firstly, it’s important to understand that personality typing is not designed to pigeonhole a person or to say that one personality is better than the other. Each personality has its unique characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. An empowering personal development tool, personality typing will help you to:   

  • Understand your thoughts, feelings, and motivations 
  • Identify your strengths and weaknesses 
  • Make smarter education and career choices   
  • Be confident in a job interview  
  • Network successfully  
  • Be happy in your workspace 
  • Maintain healthy relationships 
  • Live your best life 

 

Introduction to Personality Typology  

INFJs
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

The road to modern personality typology was first paved by Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. Based on Jung’s work, psychologists Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Briggs created the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI identifies 16 different personalities, and it’s one of the most popular methods of personality typing today.  

To further explain how people differ in the way they use their cognitive functions, Myers and Briggs use the following preferences for their self-evaluation personality assessment. 

  1. Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E). Where you get your energy from. Do you draw your energy from your inner world or the external world and people? 
  2. Sensing (S) or Intuition (N). How you receive information. Do you prefer to use your senses to receive information from your surroundings, or use your intuition to interpret and add your meaning? 
  3. Thinking (T) or Feeling (F). How you make decisions. Do you take a logical approach, or do you prefer to look at people and circumstances before deciding? 
  4. Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). How you interact with the outside world. Do you prefer to have things decided and organized or do you like to remain open to new information and options? 

The letters that are assigned to each of the above preferences make up a four-letter code for each of the 16 personality types. This simple coding system shows you how each of the four preferences interacts, and which one you tend to use first.  

How you use these preferences can change over time and some of these preferences may be used more often than others.  

For example, an INFJ person is described as an introverted person who uses intuition, feeling, and judging preferences. 

 

INFJs are introverts 

As an introvert, INFJs draw their energy from their internal world, and they prefer a solitary life.  

These types of people are sometimes described by others as being quiet, aloof, and even shy, but INFJs still do enjoy social interactions. They tend to avoid socializing in large groups because they prefer to channel all their energies to one or two people and they will need time alone to recharge their energy levels.  

 

Overview of the INFJ Personality and Characteristics 

INFJ Personality Type
Photo by Dương Nhân from Pexels

The INFJ personality is not only the rarest personality type, making up only 1 to 3% of the U.S. population, but it is one of the more unusual MBTI personalities. INFJs have contradictory characteristics which make them a bit of a mystery to others and maybe even to themselves.  

INFJs prefer their own company, but they also like to make deep connections with people. They are perfectionists but also laid-back and easy-going. Even though they make decisions based on their feelings, they also like to be organized. 

The INFJ personality type is also referred to as the “Idealist”, “Advocate”, and “Counselor”, as types of people who have strong moral principles, are committed to their values of honesty, fairness, and respect, and are people-focused. 

Because of their strong ethical nature, the Idealist holds a dim view of people who don’t live according to the same moral code. However, despite their utopian worldview that everyone should share the same beliefs as they do, INFJs are never aggressive about their beliefs. Peace and harmony are their heart’s desires. 

INFJs excel in the roles of Advocate and Counselor because they like to help and support others and they have a special way of getting people to open up. They will listen intently to their counselee and then carefully weigh up all the information, before sharing their wise counsel.  

Creative and practical, INFJs are clever problem-solvers. The more complex the problem, the better, and an INFJ will never shy away from the difficult issues of life. In their mind, problems are not obstacles but useful tools that can bring out personal or global transformation.  

100% committed to their goals, INFJs don’t just sit around talking about their plans, they do what they say, and you can rely on them to put their words into action. Although INFJs seek to fulfill their dreams, they also pursue the greater good.  

They are often described as the “big picture” people, so they can miss out on the little things that are happening around them. An INFJ needs to remember to focus on the present as well as the future. 

INFJs can also become discouraged when their altruistic efforts don’t bring about the results they hoped for and may become angry, frustrated, and depressed. However, despite setbacks, they will persist and try to stay positive anyway.

 

Cognitive Functions 

Intuition 

Intuition is very important for INFJs as they rely on this powerful gift to receive information from their surroundings and to determine future outcomes. They interpret and add meaning to the stored sensory data from their insightful impressions and perceived patterns that have been picked from the external world. 

Some INFJs would explain their intuition as having a ‘hunch’ or a ‘gut feeling’ about a certain situation or person and the strange thing is, they are often right about their ‘hunches’. 

If their intuition tells them that a certain person may not be genuine or has suspect motives, an INFJ may warn you to stay away from that person. They may even stop supporting a cause because of their psychic-like perceptions. 

Once they have formed their opinions, they will stubbornly stick to them which can make them seem rigid and unyielding. However, despite this stubbornness, INFJs are great future forecasters, and their intuitiveness will benefit employers and society.  

Feeling 

As feeling people, INFJs prefer to make decisions based on their emotions as well as their values, beliefs, and ideals. They like to please others so their decisions may be subjective to other people’s feelings. 

Even though they are motivated by their heart, INFJs do not “wear their hearts on their sleeves”. They are well-grounded people who are aware of the harsh realities of life, and they don’t back down easily from challenges. 

 

Judging 

Although they are easy-going, an organized life is important for INFJs. Their judging preference helps them to maintain the order and stability that is necessary for them to function in a rapidly changing world.  

They like to have a plan rather than be completely flexible and spontaneous. Once everything is sorted and decided, an INFJ will feel at ease with the world. 

INFJs maintain an ordered life by making careful judgments about situations and people and following a systematic way of thinking. They will often have a particular routine, schedule day-to-day activities, and use a list to keep them on track. Once they have met their deadlines and responsibilities, they can relax.




In the workplace 

INFJs are especially known for their strong principles, so they tend to seek out careers that allow them to stay true to their values. They are also very imaginative and like to combine their creative gifts and values to make positive changes in the workplace. 

Extremely hardworking, INFJs can be relied upon to get a task done. Dedicated self-improvers, INFJs like to better themselves and they encourage others to do the same.  

They are perfectionists who consistently produce quality results. Being a perfectionist is a good thing, but INFJs can get disillusioned when life doesn’t meet their high expectations. They can also suffer from burnout from overworking themselves.  

Co-workers find INFJs easy to get on with due to their down-to-earth, caring nature and refreshing positivity. Even though they work well in a team, INFJs are reserved, and it can take a while to get to know them. They like to work at their speed within a quiet workspace but are happy to collaborate with the team when needed. 

INFJs tend not to pursue a leadership role, but they make good leaders as they are empathetic, provide unique insights, and envision a future full of possibilities. However, they can struggle in a leadership position when difficult decisions need to be made. INFJs need to be reminded that you can’t please everyone all the time.  

Despite their relaxed nature, INFJs may struggle to adhere to strict rules. They also don’t like to be controlled as they value their freedom. 

 

In relationships 

It’s a blessing to know an INFJ. This type of person has highly tuned emotional sensitivity and a remarkable ability to understand people. Developing a long-lasting relationship is their highest priority, so an INFJ will be a supportive friend and a loyal life partner. 

Intensely private people, INFJs don’t like to be vulnerable, reveal their feelings, or ask for help. They prefer to help others with their issues rather than burden them with their problems. This personal secrecy can cause others to misunderstand them or even view them as people who have no problems at all. INFJs need to know that it’s ok to open up, especially with the big issues in life, and not to be afraid to ask for help. 

An INFJ needs to be accepted and appreciated by others and they can get hurt easily when they are rejected. They tend to flourish best in relationships with people they can share their core values such as sincerity, honesty, and integrity.

 

INFJ Strengths and Weaknesses

INFJs Strengths
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Strengths 

  • Ethical 
  • Idealistic 
  • Highly principled 
  • Intuitive 
  • Values close, deep relationships 
  • Deep thinkers 
  • Sensitive 
  • Independent 
  • Caring 
  • Compassionate 
  • Passionate 
  • Approachable 
  • Easy-going 
  • Kind 
  • Empathetic 
  • Helpful 
  • Tolerant 
  • Peaceful 
  • Positive 
  • Decisive 
  • Altruistic 
  • Creative 
  • Imaginative 
  • Insightful 
  • Clever future forecasters 

 

Weaknesses 

  • Reserved 
  • Can be difficult to know 
  • Overly sensitive 
  • Represses emotions 
  • Has high expectations 
  • Overly perfectionistic 
  • Stubborn 
  • Sensitive to criticism 
  • Dislikes confrontation 
  • Avoids making tough decisions 
  • Overlooks small details 
  • Prone to burnout 




Careers That Will Suit INFJs 

INFJs thrive in careers that provide them with opportunities to serve others, either in a physical, mental, or spiritual capacity. Their stellar strengths, admirable moral philosophy, and altruistic characteristics make them suitable for jobs in humanitarian, environmental, or religious organizations, counseling, teaching, social work, customer service, and artistic professions.  

As they possess an incredible ability to intuitively tap into people’s emotions, feelings, and motivations, INFJs are necessary for maintaining a cohesive work environment.  

People with the INFJ personality tend to avoid competitive, volatile, results-driven jobs in marketing, finance, and investment and especially sales jobs due to the noisy, crowded environment. However, INFJs should consider careers in marketing, finance, and investment as they can use their clever future-forecasting skills not only for the business but to help customers enjoy a more successful, fulfilling life. 

 

Popular INFJ Careers 

INFJ Personality Type Guide
Image by Kiên Trịnh from Pixabay
  • Counselor 
  • Psychologist 
  • Psychiatrist 
  • Doctor 
  • Scientist 
  • Medical researcher  
  • Massage therapist 
  • Occupational therapist 
  • Physical therapist 
  • Social worker 
  • Humanitarian worker 
  • Ecologist 
  • Minister 
  • Religious worker 
  • Teacher 
  • Tutor 
  • Office manager 
  • Human resources manager 
  • Customer service officer 
  • Writer 
  • Editor 
  • Librarian 
  • Photographer
  • Artist 
  • Social media producer 

 

Conclusion 

Ethical, idealistic, authentic, compassionate, empathetic, and intuitive, INFJs make the world a brighter and happier place. They cannot save the whole world, but they can make a significant difference by reaching out and helping one person at a time.  

Yes, they do possess complex personality characteristics and project a mysterious aura due to their reserved, quiet manner, but don’t misunderstand or underestimate INFJs. These gentle, unassuming people are socially minded dynamos that can achieve extraordinary things in people’s lives, in the community, and the world.  

If you think you have INFJ characteristics or want a deeper understanding of yourself, take our free AI-powered personality test. Artificial intelligence is now so smart it will provide you with fast, accurate feedback and reveal unique insights into your personality that will change your life. 

16 Personality Types Test Using Artificial Intelligence

16 Personality Types Test Using Artificial Intelligence

0% Complete
1 of 50

How to take the test:

1-Get detailed insights about your personality from Artificial Intelligence for free.

2-Artificial Intelligence will give you results based on Myers and Briggs personality  theory. This is one of the highly respected scientific theories. 

3-Most people finish this test in 12 minutes, take your time, no need to rush.

4-Your Privacy is guaranteed. This website does not store any personal data.

Q1- Personality Test

1
When You Go Somewhere For The Day, Would You Rather

Based in Sydney, Diana has worked as a freelance writer for over 5 years. She is passionate about writing and helping people reach their full potential and to live a more successful life.