The Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator as an Alternative in Career Counseling

Abstract

A process is described for using the Myers‐Briggs Type indicator with career clients who are test aware and test expected or referred by colleagues.

Negative: The MBTI: Not Ready for Routine Use in Counseling

“…The manual does not claim that use of MBTI is better than other approaches which identify or work with people's types or traits, and it references no study contrasting use of the MBTI with other career counseling methods. Although Pinkney (1983) argued that the MBTI is likely to be more effective JOURNAL OF COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT / APRIL 1989 / VOL. 67 487…”

Synthesizing Results From an Interest and a Personality Inventory to Improve Career Decision Making

“…Because most approaches to career counseling initially include a self-understanding component, the MBTI seems useful for the application of psychological self-awareness to career counseling (Pinkney, 1983). The process outlined in this article might serve well to help clients move into an appropriate "introspective" mode.…”

“…She completed both instruments during one session and agreed to come back the following week for an interpretation of the results. After the initial interview with Kristie, a SCII and MBTI Profile work sheet-similar to one proposed earlier by Pinkney (1983)-was developed (see Figure 1). Some of Kristie's possible career considerations included positions such as speech therapist, assistant buyer, real estate agent, social worker, and chef.…”

Problem Solving by Career Assessment: Some Issues Clients Need to Consider

“…Some resources for this issue are Gross's (1967) discussion of' career planning from a sociological perspective, Pinkney's (1983) suggestion that clients use their college courses as &dquo;mini&dquo; career settings where likes and dislikes can be explored, and Harmon and Conroe's (1976) observations on activities and titles in career assessment. The importance of career assessment dramatically increases when clients assume that a career title is going to be the major influence of future happiness.…”