Applying Myersbriggs Type Indicator In Hiring

Getting Started

This is a part from our study how to recognize people traits at the first sight. This guide is made to help HRs or Project Lead have a quick view of potential candidates and/or new teammates personality. Working with nature is more productive than working against it.

No personality type is inherently better or more desirable than another in general. This reference is applied to the tech industry only.

MBTI reveals how we tend to interact/think. It’s not that Thinkers don’t feel or Feelers don’t think, but only that they differ in the degree. The same for other preferences (I/E, S/N, P/J)

The Basic

The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) is a framework designed to identify a person’s personality type, strengths, and preference. Each type have 4 preferences among 8 available preferences.

Introverted — Extroverted

Low energy vs. High energy

I — E: How we interact

Sensing — Intuition

Abstract vs. Details, facts

S — N: How we gather information

Thinking — Feeling

Logical vs. Emotional

T — F: How we make decision

Perceiving — Judging

Open minded — Decisive

P — J: How we deal with outer world

Engineering

Sensing, Thinking and Judging A little N — Intuition is okay. (S + T + J)

• Organising
• Detailed oriented
• Deadline focused
• Curiosity and thinking based on facts/ data.

• I spend my time pursuing my goals <> I spend my time enjoying life
• I am more interested in what is real <> I am more interested in what is possible
• I work first, play later <> I play first, work later

Design

Intuition, Feeling and Judging (N + F + J)

• People-focused diplomats
• Can combine art x data
• Creativity

• I spend my time pursuing my goals <> I spend my time enjoying life
• I question traditional values <> I trust traditional values
• I work first, play later <> I play first, work later
• I enjoy experiencing new things <> I enjoy activities that are familiar

Sales — Marketing

Extraverted and Feeling (E + F)

• Sociable
• Persuasive
• Visionary

• I put others’ needs ahead of my own <> I put my needs first
• I seek attention from others <> I avoid attention from others

People Ops

Intuition and Feeling (N + F)

• Good with people
• Searching meaning of things
• Human sense

• I put others’ needs ahead of my own <> I put my needs first
• I look for ways to help others <> I look for ways to achieve my own goals

Strategy for better guess

• Background check with their social media.
• Ask their colleagues/ friends that we have acquainted with.
• Avoid over-focusing on particular, e.g. The talkative doesn’t mean extrovert
• If we don’t know their exact type, define “Which type are they least like?”
• Understand the cognitive function stack to define the type’s framework.

Search “Type name + function stack”, e.g. INFP function stack to get the information.

• Note: Don’t ever tell the candidates that we care about their MBTI. It can affect the result’s accuracy.