I am an INTP who has been working as a software developer for more than 20 years. If you are considering going into software development as a career, think again. Almost all software development roles are in highly structured, process-oriented, hierarchical environments - the kind of environment that INTPs hate! You won't be appreciated by your "peers". In fact, you will be resented because you think at too high of a level. It used to be the case that most software development jobs had some abstract thinking component, but that's just not the case anymore. Most software development jobs are all about solving the same old problems over and over again and sticking to an arbitrary timeline while following a bunch of rules created by people who want to control you. The only environment where this isn't the case is at a startup, but be prepared to move on as soon as the startup grows beyond a small team. I got into software development while working at a human factors lab where I was deeveloping systems to test, measure and improve human behavior. I stayed in software development because you can make a lot of money doing it. But you will probably be misearble if you end up working for a large company with lots of rules and processes. You might make it working only for startups, but you have to have an exit plan, because sooner or later your employer's need for process and structure will overtake you.
Matt M. (not verified)says...
I am an INTP who has been working as a software developer for more than 20 years. If you are considering going into software development as a career, think again. Almost all software development roles are in highly structured, process-oriented, hierarchical environments - the kind of environment that INTPs hate! You won't be appreciated by your "peers". In fact, you will be resented because you think at too high of a level. It used to be the case that most software development jobs had some abstract thinking component, but that's just not the case anymore. Most software development jobs are all about solving the same old problems over and over again and sticking to an arbitrary timeline while following a bunch of rules created by people who want to control you. The only environment where this isn't the case is at a startup, but be prepared to move on as soon as the startup grows beyond a small team. I got into software development while working at a human factors lab where I was deeveloping systems to test, measure and improve human behavior. I stayed in software development because you can make a lot of money doing it. But you will probably be misearble if you end up working for a large company with lots of rules and processes. You might make it working only for startups, but you have to have an exit plan, because sooner or later your employer's need for process and structure will overtake you.