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How can an INFP personality type better prepare for an interview? - The Healer

Written by: Charlotte Rogers
Published on: 7 Apr 2021

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Interviews can be difficult situations to be in no matter what your personality type means. However, being able to understand yourself just that little bit better can help you prepare in different ways and help you realise what you can be doing to help improve yourself and your interview technique. This week’s article is all about INFP type, otherwise known as The Healer. So, keep reading to find out more about this personality type!

INFP’s are always very concerned with their own personal growth and that of the people around them. They are always looking to improve and explore new ideas, so this article might just help you. INFP stands for Introversion, iNtuition, Feeling, and Perceiving. This could mean that you flourish personally and professionally in your own company. It doesn’t mean that you don’t work well in a team, but you can be very creative on your own when you need to be. You make decisions based on the way you feel instead of looking at the facts and you may prefer to be more spontaneous than have a strict planned schedule. For some, this may be perceived as being a little bit unorganised and bad with time, but it just works for you.

INFP’s are sensitive characters but are very caring and compassionate towards other people. You want to ensure that the people in your life are well looked after and happy. Hence why INFP types are referred to as ‘the healer’. This personality type often leads to the person being a very creative individual. You may spend your time exploring new ideas and encourage the people around you to do the same. A great trait to have when working in a group dynamic. You are enthusiastic towards others and want them to achieve their greatest potential, you really do try and motivate people. What more could an employer want?

Strengths of an INFP type

Your strengths directly link to your values and what makes you who you are.

Integrity – Intellectual and moral integrity are equally as important to an INFP type. You are such an honest person and you thrive in this. Employers want someone that they can trust with the role and you are this person. You work hard to be creative and stretch reality, but in a good way. There is a deeper meaning behind the work for you and being as creative as possible is what makes you such a good candidate for these kind of job roles.

Compromise – You go out of your way to ensure that everyone is given a fair hearing. You allow people to talk about their opinions and don’t get in the way of their own thoughts and feelings, even if you disagree with them. This is great for personal scenarios, but also when working in a team, it’s great to have that person that can see everyone deserves an opinion. You are often the mediator of the group.

Dedicated – Almost every single employer wants someone that is going to be dedicated to the job and the organisation. You work hard to ensure that the people around them know that you are there to help when you are needed. As well as this, you are highly motivated, and this strength needs to be yelled from the rooftops when you are in interviews. You are a very valuable candidate.


Potential weaknesses of an INFP type

Although your strengths are very strong characteristics, everyone has something that they know hold them back a little when they are in interview type situations. Understanding your weaknesses and knowing that you can learn from and develop your skills, will help you greatly.

You can be overly sensitive – Being sensitive can be a good thing. You are open to other people’s opinions and understanding of their emotions. However, not everyone is a creative type like you and some people like things done according to facts rather than a creative gamble. You can be a bit sensitive when people don’t agree with your way of doing things and this can be easily reflected in interviews. What you may think is passion being reflected in your answers, could be seen as someone who doesn’t like to change or try new things to an interviewer. Try and understand things from other people’s point of view.

Impractical – Being creative is a great personality trait to have and it can help you in countless parts of life. However, there comes a time and a place for things like this. You often want things to be creative, yet perfect. Despite it being highly unlikely that you will never encounter any problems with your work. “Sticking to your morals is admirable, but in the real world it may be impossible to accomplish anything unless the INFP can find a way to give and take a little and find practical, if imperfect, solutions to problems.” Being able to solve problems is a very basic skill to employers and it is worth working on more practical approaches to problems in the workplace.

How you can improve on yourself

You need to be yourself unapologetically. Your strengths are what make you who you are, and you should use these to help develop yourself and improve on any weaknesses you may feel like you have. Interviews can be difficult situations for everyone and being able to prepare as best you can, including an analysis of your behaviour and why you do the things you do, you can allow yourself to improve on interview type situations.

Employers want to be able to see that the candidate they are hiring is going to think practically and get the job done. Where being creative is a huge positive, you should focus on being practical in the work environment. The interviewer wants to hear that you will get the job done and you will work towards their goals and their strategies.

There is room for improvement for everyone. You are a creative, independent person and you work extremely well with others. But sometimes, there is no room for compromise. A good development idea for INFP types is to learn the difference between compromise and concession.

At work, INFP types are not typically driven by money or status, preferring work that aligns with their personal values and allows them to help others. Shout this from the roof tops, you are a great team player and you need to shout about your strengths much more regularly. What better place than a job interview? An ideal job for an INFP personality type allows them to express their individuality in the way they work and when placed in leadership positions, INFPs motivate others through encouragement and positive vision. Give yourself the recognition you deserve! Talk positively about yourself and don’t hold back!

Our next personality type article will be all about the ‘ENTP’ type other wise known as ‘The Visionary’.