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ISFJ Life

ISFJ children are conscientious, diligent, and rarely a behavior problem to their parents or teachers. They like to know what is expected, and then they will dutifully and quietly follow through. In some respects, ISFJs behave like "perfect children" because they try to please their parents, teachers, and those in authority. They work to meet others' requirements if they are in keeping with the ISFJs' value system, even if this involves a sacrifice on their part. One ISFJ recalls with pride a perfect attendance record from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Because her mother held to the same value, she went to school even when she felt somewhat ill.

Security and routine are very important to ISFJ children. For some ISFJs, this means knowing exactly who is going to be there after school to take charge or who will be invited to play games with them. This need for security and order also applies in school. ISFJ children like to know exactly what they are supposed to do in school and like to feel certain that they have the skills before being called upon. ISFJs need gentle nudging to move beyond their comfort level. One ISFJ child was in a special reading class, in part because she did not let her teachers know that she could read. Only after standardized testing did those involved realize that the ISFJ was doing work far below her ability, according to the tests. When analyzing the situation, her parents and teacher determined that she was very comfortable in the lower reading group because she felt certain about what was going on; she had one-to-one instruction with lots of warm attention, and she was not distracted by misbehaving students.

ISFJ children often want to practice their skills individually before showing them to others. This is especially true if they will be evaluated on these skills, because they want to be sure they know what they are doing before they demonstrate their skills to the world.

ISFJs may worry a lot about any number of things. This is apparent even in young children. One ISFJ would come home after school crying because she was worried that she would not be able to do all her school work. While there was ample time in school to complete the work, it was only on Fridays, when all her work was done, that she was able to breathe a sigh of relief. ISFJ children are particularly introspective in the face of adversity. Because of their inward focus, it simply does not occur to them to share their problems with others. One ISFJ student was despondent over his school work. His mother noticed his despondency and decided, on her own, to talk to her son's teacher. She found out that her son was given extra assignments and asked his teacher why this was the case. His teacher responded that she had noticed that the boy wanted to be kept busy and seemed willing to do more. It was only later, when the mother talked with her son, that she discovered he felt extremely overworked but could not bring himself to tell the teacher. He felt a need to please his teacher, whom he admired and whose judgment he valued. His conflict resulted because he trusted his teacher's evaluation of his ability, in the process discounting his own feelings. He wanted to maintain the special relationship he felt with his teacher.

ISFJs usually have a few close friends whom they are likely to keep as close friends for a lifetime. They often belong to at least one social group. They avoid center stage and contribute will, ingly in quiet, practical, behind,the,scenes ways. When comfortable, ISFJs can radiate their feelings and thoughtful values outward to others. They are often accepted for their kindness and quiet friendliness. They typically select a few special friends and nurture these friendships over long periods of time.

ISFJs shy away from disharmony and try to maintain cooper, ation at all costs. They may be more cautious and conservative than many of their peers. One ISFJ teen, facing peer pressure to drink alcohol, could not simply say "no thanks" and face being ostracized, even though he had a strong value about abstinence. Instead, he told his friends he was allergic to alcohol and would break into hives with a mere swallow of it. He avoided drinking, remained true to his values of not drinking, and maintained his place in his group. ISFJs can often come up with good excuses for what they do.

As young adults, ISFJs set goals with a variety of time frames, ranging from daily goals to long,range ones. If ISFJs have goals of summer vacation trips, they begin to save their money months in advance, gather accurate information on costs, and make lists of what to take. Few details are left unattended to. Because their focus is on the actual and the real, they know their plans can change. They accept this as "life," even though they would prefer to have things work out. They try to have things in order each day so they will not have to worry too much about tomorrow.

In their careers, ISFJs are often likely to take what comes along; for example, they may accept the first job offer, rather than continue to look for something else and remain in a state of flux. Once in a job, they generally try to make the most of it, since the known is preferable to the unknown. If the ISFJ is not in a job that provides intrinsic satisfaction, he or she feels uncomfortable yet may be slow in looking for anything else. ISFJs are loyal employees who diligently work at whatever tasks are given to them.

One ISFJ was assigned a position as a trainer for career development, even though she had no previous experience in that field. During her first year, she became physically ill before each class because she was uncomfortable in front of a group of people and because she wanted to be sure the information she was presenting was correct. In spite of this, she carried through. After five years, she is still in this job; she now feels confident that she can answer almost every question asked of her. She feels good about helping others with their careers.

ISFJs are likely to have done some retirement planning. Since they tend to save money throughout their lives, they often have the financial resources to live comfortably in retirement. In their retirement days, ISFJs focus directly on their families and carry on family traditions and histories. The ISFJ delights in encouraging grandchildren and other family members in projects that continue the family's customs and heritage. Following a forty-year marriage and a career as a homemaker and mother, an ISFJ widow volunteered at a local senior citizens' center. The options at the senior center were many-eard playing, dancing, arts and crafts projects-but the ISFJ chose to sit at the front desk, greeting visitors and answering questions about the various programs. She also met with prospective members and encouraged them to join the center. While others filled their retirement with leisure activities, this ISFJ enjoyed serving others in a somewhat structured yet personal way.


ISFJs at Work

At work, ISFJs contribute loyal, sympathetic, consistent, and considerate service to others. They are known for their kindness and for their willingness to go to any length to help those in need. They take the practical needs of people into account when they do their work, and their strong follow,through skills allow them to carry out organizational goals. They do at least what is expected of them and oftentimes more, without attracting attention to themselves. They are painstaking and responsible with detail and routine, and feel it is important to have the right things in the right places at the right times.
Work Setting

ISFJs prefer an occupational setting that is attentive both to peoples' needs and to getting the job done. They like peers who are as conscientious, precise, and accurate as they are. They feel most comfortable if the organization provides security and if their work is clearly structured with practical service,oriented out, comes. They are calm, quiet, and efficient in their work habits. They prefer a work space that allows for privacy since they like to concentrate deeply on their work and avoid interruptions. Because interruptions make it difficult for ISFJs to recover their train of thought, they need to plan time alone in order to be most productive.

ISFJs like to have everything organized in a manner that they have decided is appropriate. They cannot work when things are out of order. Everything has its place, both at work and at home. Their offices and their homes may contain special knickknacks and mementos that have personal meaning to them. Usually these knickknacks are put in a special and definite spot. One ISFJ said she allowed herself to have "junk shelves" for those things that could not be quickly placed in the right spot. She was comfortable with the disorder of these shelves because they were a place to store things that did not fit into neat categories and because they were only in one small area of her office.

When things are in disarray, ISFJs like to reorganize them immediately and often cannot leave their work until order is restored. They become distracted by disarray, finding that before a project is started, everything must be in its place. One ISFJ found it nearly impossible to get work started on the days when his desk was cluttered and messy. When he did not have time to straighten his desk, he would find an empty desk to use down the hall in order not to be distracted by the clutter. ISFJs enjoy ordering and structuring the small things of life; they may overorganize. One ISFJ had all of her sales receipts filed for individual stores by month. She was surprised to read a book on home files management that suggested the use of broad categories such as "Receipts-19--."

ISFJs tend to organize around their values. They will often set their priorities in terms of the people who are most important to them, usually putting their family's and then their boss's or their organization's needs first. ISFJs do what is required to serve their key values. One ISFJ had a value that "cleanliness was next to godliness" and spent her weekends carefully cleaning her home. After repeated urgings from her spouse to have some fun, she agreed to spend Sunday afternoons relaxing with him.
Occupations

To perform well at work, individuals may need to use all of the eight preferences at the appropriate time and when required by the situation. Knowing this, people tend to select occupations that allow them to use the preferences that are most natural to them.

ISFJs are attracted to occupations that require dedication to others, service, attentiveness to details, and thoroughness. They would rather work with things that they can see-the tangibles that result in something worthwhile for people.

While ISFJs can and do enter all occupations, some are more appealing to them than others. According to available research, 1 some occupations (in alphabetical order) seem to be especially attractive to ISFJs: bookkeeper, clerical supervisor, curator, family practice physician, health service worker, librarian, medical technologist, nurse, preschool and elementary teacher, typist, and other occupations that allow ISFJs to provide practical and helpful service to others. These occupations are not meant to be an exhaustive list but serve to illustrate some areas that an ISFJ might enjoy. If your specific occupation or one that you are interested in is not listed here, think instead of its general characteristics and ask yourself how those fit with your type.

i think there's something seriously wrong with my throat now after 3 consecutive nights of bbq food :(