Empowering career search and enrichment

Managing the Transition Home – Post 5

Written by Katherine and Elizabeth Hirsh

In previous posts we’ve looked at the impact of particular preferences (for example, Extraversion  and Introversion) on your reintegration journey. In the next few posts we’d like to introduce another way of working with MBTI® personality type, what we call a “Lens.” Like a pair of glasses, a Type Lens can help you see yourself and others more clearly. It can focus your attention on specific similarities and differences in the way people experience reintegration.

Let’s begin by exploring the Functions Lens, named thusly because it is based on the second and third letters in the four-letter type code—S or N and T or F—which are called the Functions. The Functions Lens highlights four ways of seeing the world: through Sensing and Thinking (ST), through Sensing and Feeling (SF), through Intuition and Feeling (NF), and through Intuition and Thinking (NT). 

Because the Functions Lens is based on just two of your letters rather than your whole type, each of the four different pairings has something in common with two of the other pairings: ST and SF share Sensing, NT and NF share Intuition, ST and NT share Thinking, and SF and NF share Feeling. Given they share a Function in common, there are some similarities in how individuals from each of these groupings approach reintegration. In contrast, differences between the reintegration approaches of individuals from groupings that do not have any letters in common—STs and NFs, and SFs and NTs—may be easier to spot.

How can an awareness of the Functions Lens help you? The Functions Lens highlights what tends to capture your attention, where you typically expend effort, and what you may fail to consider without a gentle reminder. Armed with this knowledge about your personal style, you can enlist others to help you get the information you need during reintegration, including support in exploring those areas that for you tend to fade into the background. 

People with preferences for ST tend to be present focused and data driven. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

People with preferences for SF tend to be present focused and people oriented. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

People with preferences for NF tend to be future focused and people oriented. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

People with preferences for NT tend to be future focused and data driven. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

Having a sense of your personal style and your needs during reintegration can make your life more manageable as you transition from warrior to worker. You can ask for the information you need to feel confident about your reintegration choices—details or the big picture, data or people—and also request help in areas that come less naturally to you. You may even recognize where you and your colleagues, friends, or family members might misunderstand one another due to your different ways of approaching things. Switching gears from service to civilian life can be tough—let knowledge of your MBTI type make it a little easier!

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.

(Managing Your Transition Home – Part 3) 

Written by Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh

Being in the military means adopting and living by important values such as camaraderie, teamwork, loyalty, and order. These are ideals that you honored during your service and continue to hold in high regard. Now, as you reenter civilian life, it’s time to discover what you value personally. Knowing about your Myers-Briggs^® personality type can help you identify your values so that you can find work environments that honor who you are and what really matters to you.

One way to zero in on your values is to consider your approach to evaluating options, which is reflected in whether you prefer Thinking or Feeling. Understanding this aspect of yourself can help you find career opportunities best suited to you.

For example, when comparing potential employers or career options, people who prefer Thinking and Feeling tend to look at different criteria. If you prefer Thinking, you might ask yourself:

“Do people in this company value objectivity, critical analysis, and data? Would pursuing this career path offer me more positives than negatives?”

Alternatively, if you prefer Feeling, you might ask yourself:

“Do people in this company value warmth, appreciation, and relationships? Does pursuing this career path feel right to me?”

Reentering the civilian job market, or entering it for the very first time after serving, offers you a unique opportunity to get in touch with your core values. Use your Myers-Briggs results to help you choose work environments that mirror and reward your personal style. Whether you lead with the head (Thinking) or the heart (Feeling), your specific approach is needed to make the world run—so get out there and contribute as only you can.

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.

Managing Your Transition Home – Part 2

Written by Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh

In high-stakes conflict situations, cooperation and single-minded adherence to command are vital. You need to know that you can count on those around you to follow the script. Going your own way is a last, rather than a first, resort. When pursuing a job or career development, however, there is no one-size-fits-all prescription. You need to find an approach that works for you. Knowing about your Myers-Briggs^® personality type can help. Type theory recognizes that there are many different personal styles and thus many different ways of being effective.

One example of these style differences involves your preferred mode of taking in information—Sensing or Intuition. Understanding this and starting with the information most meaningful to you should help you narrow your search for a new job or career development opportunity.

What does it look like when people with these two different styles are investigating career options or job openings? In reading an online posting, for example, those who prefer Sensing are more likely to focus on the facts, specifics, and details contained in the posting. They want to learn about the daily realities of the job, its essential demands, and how well it fits their particular experience and skill set. Those who prefer Intuition are more likely to be interested in the possibilities, options, and themes suggested by the posting. They want to learn about how the job could offer opportunities to use their imagination, explore cutting-edge ideas, or innovate.

Searching for a new job or career after service can feel overwhelming. Using the Myers-Briggs assessment to help you systematically approach opportunities can bring a sense of order and clarity to the process. Knowing your preference for Sensing or Intuition can help you target your search to better suit your needs, interests, and skills.

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. 

Written by Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh

Returning soldiers often feel different from colleagues or fellow job seekers from the civilian world. Many wonder how they will find work that will give them the sense of adventure, excitement, meaning, and purpose that they had while serving. You might find yourself asking, “What now?” or “Is this all there is?” Although completely natural for a warrior, these questions can be troubling for you as you seek a satisfying new mission. Taking the Myers-Briggs® (MBTI®) assessment to gain more information about your personal style can help you answer these types of questions—and is a good first step on the road to a more fulfilling career.

How might learning about your Myers-Briggs type assist you in making a career change or enriching the job you already have? One approach is to use knowledge of your MBTI preferences to help you narrow your job or career search to those work environments that might be a good fit based on your personal style.

If, for example, you prefer Extraversion, when you go on an informational interview or check out options at a college, job fair, or career center you could ask:

“Do people in this field value strong communication skills, teamwork, and a willingness to take action?”

Alternatively, if you prefer Introversion you could ask:

“Do people in this field value autonomy, self-motivation, and a willingness to consider ideas and concepts in-depth?”

Reintegration back into civilian life is a perfect time to reexamine what’s important to you. Use your MBTI results to help you reflect on your needs and which work environments or fields of study may suit you. Make it your new mission to put your personal style to work in your transition home.

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 authors 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.