something has caught my attention ever since i went to a 3-day course sponsored by my company.. well this course included a "professional" personality test.. well simply because it is paid for unlike those free ones that we get from online sites. i've came across this test multiple times before even back in uni time when i took psy modules but i think this is the first time i had more insight info about it.
this is none other than the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and it's really a famous tool used all over the world due to it's in-depth analysis and years of proven research. just google it and you'll find lots of info all over.
anyway this post is meant to share some of the explanation and interpretation about my type result for a better understanding of ME. and i'm putting it out b'cos it personally proved very accurately about who i am and knowledge abt this will help in understanding and dealing with others around us.
My type is ENTP - to find out more about what each of the letter means please refer to google.ENTP - The Visionaries ENTPs generally have the following traits:
- Project-oriented
- Enjoy generating ideas and theories
- Creative and ingenius
- Bright and capable
- Flexible and Diverse
- Excellent communication skills
- Enjoy debating issues with other people
- Excellent people skills
- Natural leaders, but do not like to control people
- Resist being controlled by people
- Lively and energetic; able to motivate others
- Highly value knowledge and competence
- Logical, rational thinkers
- Able to grasp difficult concepts and theories
- Enjoy solving difficult problems
- Dislike confining schedules and environments
- Dislike routine, detailed tasks
ENTPs are fortunate in that they have a wide range of capabilities. They are generally good at anything which has captured their interest. ENTPs are likely to be successful in many different careers. Since they have a lot of options open to them, ENTPs will do well to choose professions which allow them a lot of personal freedom where they can use their creativity to generate new ideas and solve problems. They will not be completely happy in positions which are regimented or confining.
to find out more about other types please refer to this: http://www.personalitypage.com/careers.html
one very important thing to take note is that there is no single type which is better than the other. every type is unique in their own ways and each have their own strengths and blind spots.
if possible give this test a try (can find some free ones out there online) and it could help u understand yourself better :)
Here's the article that i wrote and submitted for "What's After SPM?"
First and foremost, you should congratulate yourself for having completed your SPM! Go crazy, party around, have some fun, and soon reality strikes, welcome to the real world and this will be the very first time (first of the many more to come) you have to make a major decision and plan for your near future. Uncertainties, choices, ignorance, financial issues, and etc is everything that is so common at this point of time so don’t worry if you have any of the above symptoms.
Well basically there’re mainly 5 choices after SPM: -
1. STPM – back to wearing school uniform and normal school hours. Boring?
2. A’ Levels – more fun and freedom but need more $$$
3. Diploma courses in whatever field that you’re interested – if you’re so sure you know where you’re going to, good for you. Live your dreams!
4. Advance to UTM – almost same as no.3 just that this is a cheaper choice but they only have engineering courses
5. Stop studying – do whatever you want, maybe start a business or goyang kaki. (Note: only pick this choice if you are – super rich? got some REAL talent/skills? or insane)
I’m giving only a short description for the above because I believe many others would’ve been talking about it or you can even search a few thousand pages of it with a single click on Google. However, please note that my accompanying comments for the above are just my opinions and it’s not necessary correct as I did not walk through all those path. Who did? I guess that’s the main purpose of this book – to compile 100 stories, from 100 different people, who would’ve walked very different paths, all over the world!
I can’t tell you what the correct path is (nobody can), it’s for you to decide, so just let me talk my walk. During my time, I came out fresh from SPM only knowing of 2 choices – STPM and UTM. It doesn’t help that I only had ‘TMnut’ and it’s dial-up! Google didn’t even exist back then! Imagine how different we are. Ignorant and lost, didn’t know what to do but heard from many people saying that Actuarial Science is such a good career with lots of $$$. So I blindly went on to study Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) at Institut Perkim-Goon (IPG) under a scholarship by The Star newspaper. I have thank them for giving me this opportunity but also I’m sorry for pulling out in the end.
Well everything was going fine and it seems a rather easy life but things change when a parcel containing letters from Singapore arrived at my door one day. It was about the Asean scholarship. Actually this was the second time I’ve received this – first time was right after SPM ended and they asked me to go KL to take their test. Well I didn’t and just kept the letter without letting my parents know. But this time round, my parents knew about it so I had no choice but to go and also because this time the test is held in Penang. Honestly, I expected nothing from this because I bet there were others who’re much better than me that deserve this.
I guess I was wrong after a few weeks when their offer letter came. Many others would’ve been happy with this news, but I wasn’t. In fact, this came as a bomb that threw me out of balance and made me think if I should really go further. I only had 1 week to reply and this was a very difficult decision to make. It was a choice between my current simple life, or a new path filled with uncertainties in a new unfamiliar place. I chose the later and it was all my very own decision. It was not easy making this decision because I never really had the courage to go far, but this time round I told myself that it’s time I made a change.
It was definitely an uncertain path going to an unfamiliar place, alone. Things got worse when I was informed that we were the 2nd intake which means that we are supposed to join the current class which has started since 5 months ago!! I had thoughts of turning back at this point but one advice that made me stay: “You’ve come so far, why turn back now?” It was easy to say but it sure wasn’t easy to stay – trying to catch up with 5 months of lost time within the 1 month of holiday during June. Tasted failure? This was just the beginning of my many during Junior College (JC). Today, I may still say that JC was still the toughest time of my life but without doubt I can also tell you that it was definitely my most memorable time. Like the saying goes, “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”.
Honestly, I didn’t do well for my A’ levels, mainly because I’ve had a bit too much of freedom and wasn’t able to manage it well. My first experience staying in a hostel together with my other schoolmates and peers, far away from home without the guidance of my parents has definitely brought both good and bad effects. On the bright side, I’ve really had a lot of fun and good times together with the others because we’re all together in the same boat and we only have each other to depend on, so this has created a strong bond of friendship among us. However, the amount of freedom has caused me to have a lack of discipline and lack of control over my actions which resulted in my poor results. In fact, I’ve never really had a taste of pro gaming until I came to Singapore and it’s really addictive.
Due to my lower grades, eventually I was unable to get a scholarship for my university studies so I had to take up a loan to further my studies in NTU and also be dependant on my parents for the allowance. Although sometimes I look back and feel bad for ending up this way, but I’ve learned that it’s more important for me to learn from my mistakes and make it better in my uni life. University was definitely a more balanced life for me with a good proportion of both having fun and serious work. And so here I am, graduated and working to start repaying my loans and also support my family.
All in all, there’s no rush in making this decision and it’s more important to make a well informed and wise choice rather than a hurried choice which you may regret in the long run. The most important thing I want to share with you is that anything is possible, and you’ll never know unless you try. The noblest of intention is still worth less than a small action taken. The greatest mistake is to let your fears hold you back and especially to those of you who have a dream or passion, I just need you to ask yourself: “10 years down the road, will you look back to this date, having regrets for not trying?” A wise saying goes, “more often than not, we have regret over things not done rather than those we did”. With this, I wish you all the best!!
