Greetings everyone,
I am new to the forums/site. I am a pretty spot-on INFJ. I think the descriptions under the "protector" label tend to fit better than the "counselor" label, but they both do. The "Infj's at work" type descriptions are extremely accurate of me, I think: so much so that I wish I had kept those things more in mind when choosing jobs. (And not listened to the voices in my head that can talk me into just about anything saying it will be ok... )
My career I am certain of: I work in a branch of rehab medicine and I found the thing I was born to do. Who I do it for, however, and in what form I have yet to find a good fit.
I need the right environment to thrive, but when I do, I really do. (And when I don't, I really don't) I'm sensitive to my physical and interpersonal environment to the point that it can ruin an otherwise good thing.
On that note, I am looking at new jobs right now--and one I think would be really good for me. It would be more as an educator than as a clinician. It would allow me to focus on a subspecialty that I absolutely love: the thing I love so much I do it in my free time and would continue o even if I won the lottery. It takes that specialty and skims off the top: I'd get the coolest stuff at a faster pace with less of the monotony. I would get to be a helper, a clinician, a teacher, a writer, a problem solver. It would place me at the top of that subspecialty and give me a certain prestige and status in our field that I am ashamed to say is very tempting and would make me feel very confident, needed and that I've really achieved something.
I wouldn't have to move cities, which might save my personal relationship.
BUT. It is a field-based position that requires 50-75% travel. I was told travel is M-W or Thurs-Fri, 3x a month or every week. The other days working from home. It would be majority on the west coast-ish, so the flights wouldn't be too long.
I've never had to travel for work before, and I've always liked the travel I've done for pleasure. I only find travel hard if I am literally on planes all day with 2 layovers and such.
My question is this: If my personality profile as an INFJ is spot on, and I do get overwhelmed easily and have not in any way achieved zen-master calm, do you think I'd be able to handle the travel? or would it wear me down physically, emotionally, and burn me out?
I can't decide.
I can easily see how it would. But I can also picture other things: like possibly feeling very self-sufficient and independent, travelling around (and not under someone's thumb in an office). It would force me out into the world and not let me get in my ruts and routines. Perhaps the 2 days of working from home might offset the travelling part? because I could be in my own totally self-controlled environment (and not at the whims of another's office).
And would it help or hurt my relationship? I am a true introvert, with some intimacy and avoidance issues. I can't tell if the 3 days out of town would make me feel intensely lonely? or if it would give me space and solitude in the evenings that would allow me to come back to my boyfriend and be close--not feeling like I go from work to him to work to him and frequently feel like I just want to be alone. Could it also be good that it gives me a situation in which to develop other friendships and relationships and allow me to be more connected in a way that I don't do when I go from the office to home and back again? I love love LOVE going to industry conferences and such, and in some ways, this job would be a little piece of that, all the time.
I am not always good at predicting my responses to things. I tend to make decisions based on my 'ideal self'. But I'm also a chicken with a horrible fear of failure that can always find reasons not to do something like this. It is very possible that I'm so afraid I wouldn't be good enough for this position, that I would fail or that others would think me not qualified and therefore looking for reasons NOT to take it.
Both seem equally likely at this point.
So I'm asking you-who-are-probably-more-like-me-than-anyone-else-I-can-get-advice-from: what is your experience with this? have any of you every had to travel for work? What was it like? what was good/bad, etc?
I'm looking to see if I get mixed answers with what comments... or if the answer is a resounding NO IT WAS AWFUL. (that would be telling)
Thank you all for reading and for your responses!
A
I am new to the forums/site. I am a pretty spot-on INFJ. I think the descriptions under the "protector" label tend to fit better than the "counselor" label, but they both do. The "Infj's at work" type descriptions are extremely accurate of me, I think: so much so that I wish I had kept those things more in mind when choosing jobs. (And not listened to the voices in my head that can talk me into just about anything saying it will be ok... )
My career I am certain of: I work in a branch of rehab medicine and I found the thing I was born to do. Who I do it for, however, and in what form I have yet to find a good fit.
I need the right environment to thrive, but when I do, I really do. (And when I don't, I really don't) I'm sensitive to my physical and interpersonal environment to the point that it can ruin an otherwise good thing.
On that note, I am looking at new jobs right now--and one I think would be really good for me. It would be more as an educator than as a clinician. It would allow me to focus on a subspecialty that I absolutely love: the thing I love so much I do it in my free time and would continue o even if I won the lottery. It takes that specialty and skims off the top: I'd get the coolest stuff at a faster pace with less of the monotony. I would get to be a helper, a clinician, a teacher, a writer, a problem solver. It would place me at the top of that subspecialty and give me a certain prestige and status in our field that I am ashamed to say is very tempting and would make me feel very confident, needed and that I've really achieved something.
I wouldn't have to move cities, which might save my personal relationship.
BUT. It is a field-based position that requires 50-75% travel. I was told travel is M-W or Thurs-Fri, 3x a month or every week. The other days working from home. It would be majority on the west coast-ish, so the flights wouldn't be too long.
I've never had to travel for work before, and I've always liked the travel I've done for pleasure. I only find travel hard if I am literally on planes all day with 2 layovers and such.
My question is this: If my personality profile as an INFJ is spot on, and I do get overwhelmed easily and have not in any way achieved zen-master calm, do you think I'd be able to handle the travel? or would it wear me down physically, emotionally, and burn me out?
I can't decide.
I can easily see how it would. But I can also picture other things: like possibly feeling very self-sufficient and independent, travelling around (and not under someone's thumb in an office). It would force me out into the world and not let me get in my ruts and routines. Perhaps the 2 days of working from home might offset the travelling part? because I could be in my own totally self-controlled environment (and not at the whims of another's office).
And would it help or hurt my relationship? I am a true introvert, with some intimacy and avoidance issues. I can't tell if the 3 days out of town would make me feel intensely lonely? or if it would give me space and solitude in the evenings that would allow me to come back to my boyfriend and be close--not feeling like I go from work to him to work to him and frequently feel like I just want to be alone. Could it also be good that it gives me a situation in which to develop other friendships and relationships and allow me to be more connected in a way that I don't do when I go from the office to home and back again? I love love LOVE going to industry conferences and such, and in some ways, this job would be a little piece of that, all the time.
I am not always good at predicting my responses to things. I tend to make decisions based on my 'ideal self'. But I'm also a chicken with a horrible fear of failure that can always find reasons not to do something like this. It is very possible that I'm so afraid I wouldn't be good enough for this position, that I would fail or that others would think me not qualified and therefore looking for reasons NOT to take it.
Both seem equally likely at this point.
So I'm asking you-who-are-probably-more-like-me-than-anyone-else-I-can-get-advice-from: what is your experience with this? have any of you every had to travel for work? What was it like? what was good/bad, etc?
I'm looking to see if I get mixed answers with what comments... or if the answer is a resounding NO IT WAS AWFUL. (that would be telling)
Thank you all for reading and for your responses!
A
