INTP in college [maybe ENTP, still learning function theory] going into job interviews and I understand what to do but want to know what your experience is, if any, with interviewing INTPs? Mistakes or suggestions? Advice? Anything? Thank you for your blog, I'm sure you hear it a million days per day but it is a great help to us all to share your experiences
I’ve interviewed more people than I can remember, I’ll do them all quickly:
Common interview mistakes by MBTI type
Mistake: They’re uncomfortable talking about themselves and their accomplishments which makes it difficult to gauge and understand their qualifications.
Advice: List out your roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments ahead of time and memorize them like the back of your hand. No one knows you better than you– this is critical information that needs to be cemented in your memory prior to the interview.
Mistake: Prone to lack of eye contact.
Advice: It’s okay to look away when you’re thinking, but look at the person when you respond.
Mistake: Prone to rambling and an excess of: “Uhhhhh”, “Umm”, “Hmmm.”
Advice: Pause when you’re about to hit a speed bump, recite the sentence in your mind before it leaves your mouth so you can finish it with one fluid delivery.
(INTP) Mistake: Prone to misunderstanding questions and answering them with completely off-target and off-topic incorrect responses.
Advice: Ask clarifying questions (”If I’m understanding you correctly, you’re asking for ___?”) before diving into an answer and going on a wild mind adventure.
Mistake: Prone to talking over other people, prone to rambling. They talk too much, too quickly, and for too long.
Advice: Less is more. Talking over people gives the impression that you’re a bad listener which is an automatic red flag for coaching and mentoring. People also know when you’re bullshitting because the interviewer is usually a seasoned professional in the field and you can’t talk your way out of a technical interview with a question you don’t know the answer to. Work the logic sequentially so even if you end up at the wrong answer, your steps are organized and coherent. This communicates to the interviewer that you did your best with the information you currently have.
(ENTP) Mistake:Prone to misunderstanding questions and answering them with completely off-target and off-topic incorrect responses.
Advice: Ask clarifying questions (”If I’m understanding you correctly, you’re asking for ___?”) before diving into an answer and going on a wild mind adventure.
(ESTP) Mistake:Prone to answering questions without thinking them through, usually immediately starts speaking right after (and sometimes before) the other person finishes.
Mistake: They’re either one of two polar opposites: “I REALLY WANT THIS JOB, THIS IS MY DREAM, MY FIRST CHOICE, I MUST HAVE IT” or “I don’t really want to be here but I gave up on my dreams/true passions and I need a paycheck so here I am.” And it’s dead obvious to everyone in the room.
Advice: Apply to a job you actually want. If the interview is already painful and agonizing, just wait until you have to actually do this for a living.
Mistake: They’re prone to being late to the interview. ENFPs will be really late while ESFPs will make it in time, but barely, and usually arriving disheveled looking like they just outran a stampede.
Mistake:They come in with the kind of intensity and focus that makes you wonder if they’re here for a job or to bludgeon the other candidates to death. Likely both.
Advice: Relax, before you have a stroke. The aura of aggression is off-putting because they’re assessing you as someone who could be a nightmare colleague in the future; pushy, impatient, demanding, etc.
Mistake:They have a perpetual “get on with it already” impatient look/attitude when it comes to events or discussions unrelated to work such as culture, corporate responsibility, and social events.
Advice: Always remember that there’s someone just as smart as you who is also likable. Intelligence is important, but your competition has intelligence + attitude and they will beat you out.
Mistake:Prone to being overzealous by contacting the recruiting and hiring manager too many times post-interview because they’re impatient and want to know if they got the job.
Advice: One thank you email suffices. After that– don’t call us, we’ll call you.
Mistake: They’re prone to blanking (freezing) if posed a random question they didn’t prepare for. Generally, very bad at improvising.
Advice: Ask clarifying questions to buy time and get additional context, work through the question sequentially step by step and the answer will reveal itself as you work through the problem.
Mistake: They have a perpetual “get on with it already” impatient look/attitude when it comes to events or discussions unrelated to work such as culture, corporate responsibility, and social events.
Advice: Always remember that there’s someone just as smart as you who is also likable. Intelligence is important, but your competition has intelligence + attitude and they will beat you out.
Mistake: Their body language is often stiff and smiles look forced.
Advice: Think of soft, fluffy puppies whenever you look at the interviewer(s).
Mistake: Prone to ass-kissing. They’re skilled at scanning the room to identify the most important or powerful person, latching on to them, and starting the sugar train of brown nosing.
Advice: Treat everyone equally regardless of position, rank, or role. Remember that the secretary of the Senior Partner, even though she’s “only” a secretary, still has the ear of the Senior Partner.
Mistake:Prone to being overzealous by contacting the recruiting and hiring manager too many times post-interview because they’re impatient and want to know if they got the job.
Advice: One thank you email suffices. After that– don’t call us, we’ll call you.
Mistake:Prone to negotiating– and even begging– for a second chance if they don’t get the job.
Advice: Chalk this up as a lesson learned, take your new professional connections and move on with dignity.
Mistake: They’re uncomfortable talking about themselves and their accomplishments which makes it difficult to gauge and understand their qualifications. Unlike IxTPs, IxFJs are more concerned with coming off as arrogant and obnoxious so they respond in ways that downplay their contributions. This is a mistake.
Advice: List out your roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments ahead of time and memorize them like the back of your hand. Cite objective impacts of your work, focus on your actions instead of yourself to alleviate the anxiety from appearing egotistic.
Mistake: If it’s a group interview, typically the quietest person in the group who doesn’t speak up enough to be noticed. This is unfortunate because they tend to contribute a lot to the solution but louder people take credit.
Advice: Speak up. Simple enough.
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