Written by Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh
Any time you make a career change, you may find
it difficult to explain how the knowledge, skills, and abilities you acquired in
your previous role(s) apply to a new job or field. This can be particularly challenging
when you are moving from the military to a career in the civilian world. Even
though your role in the service may be comparable to a job in business, you may
struggle to describe how your military skills will transfer. Terms and titles
are often dissimilar even if capabilities are much alike.
How can the MBTI® tool help? It
offers service members a language in which to frame their approach to work and
describe what sorts of environments bring out their best. You can search type
descriptions and other materials on personality preferences to uncover key
words and phrases that will help you paint a picture of the value you would
bring to an organization, customer, or project.
For example, if you have a
preference for Judging, let others
know that you can contribute your best when you are able to devise routines, plan
milestones and goals, and provide organization and structure. Explain that you
value schedules, order, and decisiveness at work.
If, on the other hand, you
have a preference for Perceiving, let
others know that you can contribute your best when you are able to respond to
new information, flex to meet changing demands, and handle unexpected
opportunities as they arise. Explain that you value freedom, adaptability, and
openness at work.
Describing who you are and
the special talents you offer can be tricky. Knowing about your personality
type provides a language to help bridge the gap between service and civilian
life. Realizing that what you can contribute flows from your personal style can
also help you overcome the service person’s natural tendency toward modesty and
understatement. Remember, you are not bragging; you are simply helping
potential employers determine fit by describing your style.
You can learn more on the topic of psychological
type and reintegration in our booklet Introduction to
Type® and Reintegration.
Elizabeth and
Katherine Hirsh are coauthors of several publications, including Introduction
to Type® and Teams, MBTI®
Teambuilding Program: Leader’s Resource Guide, Introduction
to Type® and Decision Making, and the MBTI®
Decision-Making Style Report.
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