4 Hot Careers for ISTJs
Two words describe the ISTJ: organized and orderly. ISTJs take a tidy approach to life and find meaning in the expression of their strong sense of duty. They prefer security and tradition over the unknown and the theoretical. Hot careers for ISTJs give these hardworking, detail-oriented people opportunities to demonstrate their dependability and put into action their strong work ethics.
Dentist
If you're an ISTJ who is drawn to a health-related helping profession, you might want to look into becoming a dentist. As a dentist, you would diagnose and treat people's dental problems. Dentists fill cavities, repair broken teeth, and must sometimes pull teeth. They give advice on proper dental care, emphasizing the importance of regular brushing and flossing. Most dentists work in private practice and perform general dentistry, but some choose to specialize in oral surgery, orthodontics, oral pathology or other areas.
To become a licensed dentist, you'll need to graduate from a dental school that's accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Dental schools are competitive, so you'll want to take plenty of undergraduate coursework in the sciences, such as biology and chemistry.
Actuary
Do you love math? If so, then you might find a career as an actuary quite rewarding. Actuaries are professionals who analyze statistics in order to quantify financial risk. Many actuaries work for insurance companies where they assess risk of death, disability or other catastrophes, then come up with plans and programs to mitigate the impact of risks. Other actuaries work for banks, corporations or the government.
If you'd like to become an actuary, you'll need to earn a Bachelor's degree in actuarial science, statistics, mathematics or a related field, and you should take as much coursework in finance, statistics and economics as you can. You'll need to become professionally certified, which entails the passing of multiple examinations. Both the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) sponsor programs that result in licensure and full actuary status.
Electrician
An analytical, dependable ISTJ might enjoy a career as an electrician. Many electricians work in the construction industry, though a number of electricians work for themselves. Electricians install and maintain wiring, fuses, and all other necessary electrical equipment for homes, businesses and factories. They're also involved in the regular inspection and upgrading of electrical components. Electricians must adhere to both national and state building codes in doing their jobs.
To become an electrician, you will need to enroll in an apprenticeship program. Such programs require either a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and combine on-the-job experience with classroom time. These apprenticeship programs typically take four years to complete. In most states, electricians must be licensed, but requirements vary from state to state.
Auditor
If you're an ISTJ who thrives on details, then you might want to consider a career as an auditor. Think of an auditor as a type of accountant. You can become either an external auditor or an internal auditor. External auditors are either self-employed or work with accounting firms. Also called independent auditors, external auditors contract with companies to review their financial records and practices. Internal auditors do similar work, except they work within one organization to evaluate controls and make sure that no mismanagement is taking place.
If you're interested in becoming an auditor, you'll need to earn a Bachelor's degree in accounting, economics or finance. Both your employment and advancement prospects would be enhanced if you earned a Master's degree. Most companies will require you to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). As a CPA, you'll be licensed by the Board of Accountancy of the state where you work. To qualify as a CPA, you must pass the examination that is designed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
ISTJs are methodical, logical people who enjoy creating order from details. They crave plenty of structure in their job environments, but they also want to be consistently challenged on a day-to-day basis to set the highest standards for themselves in the performance of their duties. Hot careers for ISTJs are those that let the Inspector work on tasks and solve problems step by step, while always improving her skills.
