So, you’ve stumbled upon this page; congratulations! This means you or someone you know took the Myers-Briggs test, and you want more information about the INFJ personality type.
Or maybe you’re trying to figure out whether you have the characteristics of this unique personality type without taking an assessment.
You may be wondering, What does INFJ mean, and why do I need to know about it?
Whatever your reasoning is for being here, you’ve come to the right place to learn about the rarest MBTI personality type that makes up less than 3% of the world’s population.
The INFJ is one of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types. You can refer to our extensive guide if you are unfamiliar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
Known as advocates or idealists, people with this MBTI personality type are known for their drive to help others realize and reach their true potential. All while giving them the nurturing hand needed to overcome personal challenges.
Naming a few famous people with INFJ personality traits might make it easier to put this description in perspective. The list includes but is not limited to Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Morgan Freeman, Mother Teresa, J.K. Rowling, and Oprah Winfrey.
All of these people dedicated a big chunk of their lives towards world betterment. Troubled by injustice, they used strong morals to influence the masses toward achieving their dreams and goals. Even though they may have a different chosen profession, many INFJ personality type celebrities are known for their humanitarian and charitable initiatives.
So, what is the INFJ personality?
If we talk objectively, introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging is what the letters in the INFJ personality type stand for.
Energized in their own space, INFJs prefer setting goals based on possibilities for a better future. They then use morals to knit situations together for the greater good while staying as creative, organized, and committed as possible.
If these traits sound familiar, but you want to know for sure, taking an INFJ personality type test will tell you exactly which of the 16 MBTI personalities you have.
Characteristics of the INFJ Personality Type
It’s one thing to know what the letters INFJ stand for, but that’s not enough to really understand what makes these people tick. Let’s look at the characteristics that people with an INFJ personality usually have in common, both the positive and negative sides.
Strengths of the INFJ Personality
INFJs focus on the bigger picture. This focus comes from their ability to idealize a perfect world. They strongly believe the key to attaining such a world is the personal efforts of everyone who is a part of it.
Prone to being good leaders, INFJs use their nurturing and considerate nature to motivate individuals towards positive actions. Their ability to communicate with the masses harmoniously allows them to foster deep social connections.
All while bringing up in people the capacity to improve the world through deeply embedded moral routes.
If we talk about famous people with an INFJ personality, we can see that Mother Teresa distinctively mirrors the traits of this particular type. She devoted her life to cultivating hope and practicing altruism to help those in need.
All while standing firm on the grounds of authentic knowledge and values.
Such people view the world as an ocean of possibilities, perceiving every little detail. They rarely take anything at face value. Instead, they choose to be insightful and principled. In short, they do all they can to know one’s true potential and what one needs to do to tap it open.
Weaknesses of the INFJ Personality
Despite being an idealist for others, INFJs tend to keep their personal affairs private. Rarely do they open up to individuals they analyze so intensely. In simpler words, they do not prefer burdening another soul with their private struggles.
At the same time, people with the INFJ personality type tend to withdraw when their morals get challenged. Their idealism makes them prone to look for perfection in their values. Their principles and need for perfection often lead to burnout as well.
How An INFJ Communicates In Different Relationships
Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of an INFJ gives a lot of insight into how one can communicate with them.
When it comes to relationships, romantic or platonic, INFJs appreciate getting their own space from time to time. They need to spend time on their own to recharge and decrease the likelihood of becoming socially overwhelmed.
At the same time, finding comfort in an INFJ’s presence is quite common. Because of their nurturing personality, they understand and comprehend human feelings well. Such ability allows them to be good listeners dedicated to solving an individual’s problems.
INFJs tend to choose friends and romantic partners based on how similar their core values are. They thrive with individuals who see life as they see it. It makes it easier for them to move through their principles while creating the change they always aim for.
Due to this need, parenting can get tricky at times. Parents with an INFJ personality tend to have high expectations from their kids. They expect youngsters to carry the same values as they do.
For some, doing this helps to instill qualities such as compassion, self-belief, and kindness in children. For others, it might create a rift between the two parties when kids start forming their own opinions through experiences.
However, in such a case, creating peace is manageable. All one must look out for is respecting each other’s core values to the best of their capabilities.
INFJ Interests And Occupations
The list of INFJ personality type celebrities given at the beginning might be enough to tell what interests an individual with this personality type. They opt for things that help them seek purpose and practice their values through creativity.
Because of this, INFJs enjoy being part of the following careers:
- Volunteer work,
- Social services,
- Nursing,
- Counseling, and
- Spiritual guidance.
Due to their outstanding communication skills, they often work amazingly well as individuals who want to serve their community through the following roles:
- Teachers,
- Lawyers,
- Healthcare professionals,
- Creative writers,
- Storytellers, and
- Artists.
All these professions help INFJs portray their true selves out into the world. However, the jobs an INFJ prefers often vary based on how they respond to stress, make decisions, and pursue growth. Turbulent INFJs may thrive in slightly different roles compared to their assertive counterparts.
You can learn much about yourself through the INFJ personality test — information that will help you choose a job you will love based on your traits. To further your career exploration, the Holland Assessment will help you further identify your work-related interests to ensure you find a job that matches your personality.
Tips for Interacting with an INFJ
Once you understand the INFJ personality type, interacting with them is easy. Here are a few tips to ensure that things go smoothly.
- Be open to their input. They need someone to listen to their big ideas
- Respect their privacy. They need some alone time to recharge
- Ask them for help. They are always willing to make things easier for others
- Do not force them to micromanage. INFJs always want to go big or go home
- Criticize constructively. They are good listeners but do not want you to cross their boundaries
- Do not take for granted. They are people pleasers, so they are often taken advantage of.
Compatibility With The INFJ Personality Type
In general, INFJs are most compatible with MBTI personality types that share the intuitive and feeling dimensions with them. These two dimensions allow them to be on the same page about looking at the bigger picture and going all in to achieve it. All while working with personal values.
According to this, personality types such as ENFP, INFP, and ENFJ go well with the INFJ personality type. The idea goes for all kinds of relationships, such as romantic, workplace, or platonic.
