INTP? Well, as is typical of this type, you are your own worst critic. It’s important to recognize this trait because it’s also what allows your special strengths to exist. When you get yourself down, just remind yourself, “There I go again.”
INTPs are wonderful problem solvers because they consider a wide range of possibilities. So many that it can be hard to take action on just one. And that’s where you likely get hung up, i.e. picking one and moving forward.
INTPs are successful in a wide range of fields - writers, artists, computer programmers, social scientists, career counselors, lawyers . . . Every company needs any one of these skills in a wide variety of applications. That’s what makes it hard to pin down Job X as where you should apply.
The biggest employer in the country is the federal government. They have a wide variety of interesting jobs. They pay well, provide health care, and have a pension system. You might start by investigating what opportunities are available there. You don’t have to work for them for life.
Another often overlooked source jobs for people with your skill is the non-profit sector. It’s usually filled with interesting, highly educated people who are high minded and committed to lofty goals. As an example, a friend of mine obtained his PhD in English Literature but like you, he didn’t want to teach or work in academia. His entry level job was with a newspaper but that led him to PR and development (fund raising) work with major institutions (colleges) including BU, Tulane, MIT, and Harvard. He quit Harvard before he was 40 (No one quits Harvard.) and started his own consulting firm, working with a wide variety of institutions in their fund raising and development campaigns, writing materials/literature for distribution to potential contributors, doing lay out and design for promotional materials, planning campaign strategies. Clients have included any institutions from major public libraries and museums, to colleges and private prep schools. Similar work is done with major research hospitals and think tanks.
As I mentioned earlier, your personality type is hard wired for problem solving. It’s something you’re good at. So, be your own consultant who has yourself for a client. How would you solve his (yourself) problem of finding a way to start his (your) career. It’s a Jedi mind game. I wouldn’t rule out working with an actual career counselor. You already have the results of some of their more expensive services (Myers-Briggs, interest inventory). What you need is someone with whom you can talk this through, develop a plan, and then consult when you stumble or hit bumps in the road.
Best of luck.
