Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger
Developed during World War II, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a questionnaire that was designed to help women find careers most suited to them during wartime. According to the MBTI, there are four temperaments with each one having four varieties, creating sixteen personality types. Each personality type is geared toward particular occupations. Since its development, the MBTI has become a standard test in assisting people in their career searches.
Authors Paul and Barbara Tieger use the MBTI as the main tool in their book, “Do What You Are”, and the objective of the book is to help you find a new career based on who you are, rather than on what you think you should do.
The book has three parts, beginning with an introduction to the four temperaments, the sixteen personality types, and their distinct characteristics. Using the MBTI, the authors take you through a self-diagnostic series of questions to help you determine your particular temperament and personality type.
The second part of the book helps you determine the four characteristics that must be in your chosen career in order for it to be fulfilling for you. You also identify and learn how to develop your innate strengths and abilities, and to pinpoint areas that are not as strong with advice on how to minimize them.
Part three is divided according to each personality type, and includes a list of job characteristics specific to each type. In addition to helping you in your career search, “Do What You Are” also shows you how you can apply what you’ve learned about your personality to better understand yourself and improve your personal relationships.
Based on the questionnaire, my temperament appears to be an idealist, and more specifically an INFP personality type – introverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving, with one of the careers I’m most suited for being, ironically, a librarian.
I found the book and the self-test to be quite fun and insightful, and whether you are looking to enhance your career, or you simply enjoy learning about yourself, “Do What You Are” is certainly worth reading.
