Sample copies of
The Career & Life Planning Profiles

First published in 1986, and revised in 1993, The Career & Life Planning Profiles have been used by thousands of career professionals to help tens of thousands of clients make more satisfying career decisions, and conduct more successful job searches. Now incorporated into The Personality Type Tool Kit, and sold as reproducible masters, The Career & Life Planning Profiles have been designed to help counselors provide the most meaningful and useful Type feedback to their clients. The Tool Kit also includes a 67 page manual - the same comprehensive training course taught by the authors to thousands of career counselors, outplacement consultants, and Human Resources professionals.

To give you an appreciation for their content and format, we provide samples of complete Career & Life Planning Profiles for two opposite types - ENTP and ISFJ. For more information on Profiles and The Personality Type Tool Kit, click here.

ENTP
Extravert, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving
Approximately 4-6% of the American population.

Potential Strengths
ENTPs are exciting and enthusiastic, friendly, outgoing and talkative people. They can be clever and amusing, constantly scanning for the new and unusual around them. They notice possibilities everywhere and are resourceful in making what they imagine to become a reality. Impulsive and versatile, ENTPs love surprises and are adaptable to change. They are creative problem solvers and can be especially good at using their interpersonal charm and wit to turn impasses into opportunities.

Logical thinkers, ENTPs are easily able to weigh the cause and effect of various choices and critique several options at once. They often enjoy debating issues, with equal passion for either side! Spontaneous and easy going, they look for fun in everything they do and bring zest and originality to every project.

Potential Weaknesses
While ENTPs are motivated by creative endeavors, they are quickly bored by anything repetitive or routine. Once they have mastered a subject or solved all the creative problems, they frequently lose interest and may leave projects half finished. They tend to ignore the details when they are not interesting and can resist taking a more traditional route simply because it has been done before. In their desire to take full advantage of every opportunity that intrigues them, they can be less than dependable with commitments.

Even though ENTPs need people to stay inspired, they are easily distracted by them. They can find themselves neglecting their responsibilities in lieu of anything fun. They need to take the time to focus fully on their projects, rather than relying on their ability to improvise. Even though ENTPs can be very charming and entertaining, they run the risk of saying just what people want to hear, and being perceived as ingenuine.

As An ENTP, I Am Good At...
• Communicating with enthusiasm and inspiring others to buy my ideas
• Seeing unique ways of solving problems and using creativity
• Public speaking and leading meetings
• Working with a diverse group of people on a variety of tasks
• Detecting flaws in logic and debating issues with conviction

I Need To Watch My Tendency To...
• Start many more projects that I can realistically finish
• Overlook essential facts and details
• Talk over other people when I anticipate what they will say
• Be irresponsible with deadlines and commitments
• Make promises I can not keep

What I Need In A Career For It To Be Satisfying
1. The opportunity to work on a variety of creative challenges that let me try new and different approaches.
2. A casual yet exciting atmosphere where rules and restrictions are kept to a minimum.
3. Plenty of opportunities to meet influential people and constantly increase my own level of personal power.
4. To be recognized, evaluated, and compensated for my creativity, expertise, and competence.
5. A support staff to whom I can delegate much of the follow through or the detail management of my work.

Recommendations For The Job Search

A. Using My Strengths, I Excel When I:
1. Create career opportunities for myself; design my own job
2. Impress interviewers with my confidence and competence
3. See possibilities and anticipate employers' needs
4. Use my large and varied network of contacts to meet new people
5. Demonstrate my ability to improvise and think on my feet
6. Consider and analyze several options at once

B. Avoiding My Weaknesses, I Need To:
1. Develop and stick to a plan of action and resist the urge to "play"
2. Concentrate on the realities of a job option, not just its possibilities
3. Be sure to listen fully to others and not assume I know what they are going to say
4. Make decisions and rule out less desirable options along the way
5. Be realistic about how long the job search may take and not settle for the first intriguing option that comes along

ISFJ
Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Judging
Approximately 7-10% of the American population.

Potential Strengths
Quiet and serious, ISFJs are hard working and conscientious people. They tend to be down to earth and realistic, with great patience for detail. Painstakingly accurate, they have good memories for facts and details, especially those that have some personal reference. ISFJs want clear directions and explicit expectations. They have good common sense and tend to make conservative, thoughtful, and sensible decisions.

ISFJs are patient, loyal, and caring people, interested in the concerns and feelings of others. Because they are quiet and modest people, they prefer to share their strong feelings and deep convictions only with those they know well. They are protective, loyal, and devoted friends and take great pride and satisfaction from the accomplishments of their friends and family. ISFJs have a strong work ethic and take all their commitments seriously.

Potential Weaknesses
Because ISFJs live so completely in the here and now, they sometimes don't "see the forest for the trees". They may not see options and possibilities that either don't exist at the present time, or are untested. They may feel overwhelmed when learning new and technical skills because they want to complete everything they do with meticulous care. They may avoid asking for help, not wanting to trouble anyone else.

Not especially objective, they can make illogical decisions based exclusively on their personal feelings. Because ISFJs are so concerned about others, they tend to put the needs of others above their own. This can result in them becoming overworked or over extended. They need to practice developing their assertiveness so they are not taken advantage of by less considerate people.

As An ISFJ, I Am Good At...
• Working hard, doing whatever is needed until the job is finished
• Respecting the chain of command and following necessary rules and procedures
• Helping others by explaining tasks with patience and clarity
• Working with routines or repeated, sequential tasks
• Carefully and thoroughly dealing with details and documenting activities

I Need To Watch My Tendency To...
• Avoid dealing with conflict and not asserting my needs
• Resist trying new or unconventional methods
• Get mired in the details of my work and not see the big picture
• Become overwhelmed when several projects need my attention at once
• Become discouraged if I don't feel appreciated or needed

What I need In A Career For It To Be Satisfying
1. The opportunity to work steadily on one project at a time, without a lot of interruptions or changes in plan.
2. Work that requires accuracy and attention to detail, organization, and adherence to standard operating procedures.
3. Work that lets me use a personal approach to helping others, preferably on a one-on-one basis.
4. An environment that is structured and stable, where I know what is expected of me and I am rewarded for my hard work and contribution.
5. Work that is of a practical nature and is service-oriented, so I can see that I am helping others in real and tangible ways.

Recommendations For The Job Search

A. Using My Strengths, I Excel When I:
1. Carefully think through my goals and objectives before beginning
2. Research fully all job options and keep careful track of my progress
3. Present myself as a capable and responsible candidate
4. Document my past work experiences; demonstrate my skills
5. Establish warm and genuine rapport with interviewers
6. Network in a targeted and focused way with people I know

B. Avoiding My Weaknesses, I Need To:
1. Be willing to look beyond the moment and what is already known
2. Be assertive in setting up interviews and asking for jobs
3. Generate enthusiasm and a high energy level
4. Stay objective and not take rejection personally
5. Stay open to new options and be flexible during negotiations
6. Develop a career plan that considers future as well as present goals