I was asked this question the other day and, unfortunately, I forgot. The INFP refers to the Myers Briggs personality type – introversion, intuition, feeling and perception. The most commonly used personality assessment in the human resource industry, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on psychological types developed by Carl Gustav Jung. Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers developed the personality assessment tool to help women preparing for the job market during World War II.

Today, many of us first encounter Myers Briggs on online dating sites – “Hey, I’m an ESTJ (Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judgment). What type are you?” At some stage in your job search, you are likely to be asked your Myers Briggs or other personality type indicator. Two other popular personality assessments are DISC and the Kolbe A Index.

If you get your personality type wrong, it could cost you a job opportunity. The human resources industry spends billions of dollars on personality testing each year. Employers know exactly what types they are looking for and for which positions. They consider it a good indication of your aptitude for the job. Facing higher attrition rates, psychological testing is an important tool to combat staff turnover.

More commonly, the company will test you rather than ask you for your personality type. Nonetheless, you should seriously consider partaking in comprehensive pre-employment testing before the interview stage. It is an invaluable tool that can help you determine your career direction, skills and suitability for a profession. Many employment agencies offer workshops. The major personality assessment tests are offered online and take about 30 minutes.