ISTJ Personality Type: Learning, Career, and Work Characteristics | Exercises Communication

Myers-Briggs Type indicaTor (MBTI®)

ISTJ

(Introversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judging)

The above four letters are known as a ‘type’ and are based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®

(MBTI®). If you have not already completed an assessment to find out your type, click here to

take the MBTI ®. After completing the assessment, sign up for a workshop to learn more about

the MBTI® and receive your results.

note: The MBTI® is available to U of S students and alumni and an NSID is required to sign in and complete the assessment.

The following information has been compiled from numerous MBTI® resources. It is intended to be

an overview and shows how type can apply to many aspects of life. It is not, however, a complete

description. Please see the attached works cited list for additional information.

isTJ overview

ISTJs are generally practical, responsible, stable and often quiet and serious. They focus their energy inward and

reenergize through spending time on their own. ISTJs are typically very private and generally share their thoughts and

acquired information with close friends. They can be sociable in situations where they are familiar with their ‘role’ but

prefer private conversation to large group settings. They follow set rules and regulations and value tradition, community

involvement, and hard work. An ISTJ will likely think things through before sharing their insights and as such, their

ideas are usually well thought out. They want to be accurate and are often perfectionists. Their natural focus is on

common sense and they see the practical and realistic side to any situation. They are also often financially responsible.

ISTJs generally observe their environment through their five senses, and all observations are detailed and specific. They

usually look for realistic and practical facts, and data that can be effectively handled and systematically understood. They

prefer order and the sequential processing of information. They tend to use categorized criteria to support their objective

approach to gathering information. These categories are often used to further organize the information. An ISTJ usually

stores specific details in their memory and are subsequently accurate and precise in their comments and actions. An ISTJ

also naturally looks at the immediate situation but when required, does ‘big picture’ thinking by incorporating the facts.

The ISTJ is usually a hard worker and is orientated to completing all tasks on or before the deadline. They are motivated

by tasks that they understand and resist jobs that do not make sense to them. They are generally very reliable and expect

others to exemplify their own personal commitment to responsibility and competence. Since their focus is on work,

personal needs are considered once all obligations have been met. In their interactions with people, the ISTJ may not

consider emotions and is often more focused on the task. The ISTJ also prefers stability and does not like change. As

such, an ISTJ tends to make modifications when current procedures no longer work or when evidence supports the

possibility of improved results and greater efficiency.

isTJ ISFJ INFJ IN TJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ EN TJ

ISTJ Personality Type: Learning, Career, and Work Characteristics, Exercises of Communication