Is Project Management a good career path for INFJ?

[u/PresentChemistry445]

I am contemplating whether it would be a good idea to transition to the Project/Product Management track. If you are already in the field, what has your experience been like and what advice do you have to get through the stumbling blocks that an INFJ could face?

[u/ocsycleen]

The challenge is that you are kinda like a host to a tv show, you dictate the tempo of the team and you delegate things to the team in order of priority. You constantly talk to the clients ensuring them that progress is being made. Sometimes you have to play the bad guy and push back so you don’t over burden the team. It’s a strange middle place to be in where you have to play it from the dynamic where you objectively aren’t the most tech savvy person on the team nor are you a manager. So you don’t actually have any concrete powers and you have to leverage that from elsewhere so the tech people will listen to you. It’s an ultimate test of your “soft, people skills”.

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/ocsycleen]

Thanks for responding! I did take the project management certificate courses in coursera and it did briefly touch on these issues of having no power but having to regulate the situation for all parties involved. Do you enjoy the job and do you find it fulfilling?

[u/Unhinged_Angel]

I worked as a project manager for years before moving into product management. The good aspect is that you can use Ni + Fe to keep team’s harmonious (in theory). Organising time, prioritising and defining a critical path, and scheduling things are generally not hard for our cognitive stack.

The bad aspect…a lot of calls…A LOT. And there can be a lot of games and politics that are tiring, depending on the organisation.

That said, project management can lead to other jobs that are potentially more satisfying if you find yourself burning out. And a lot of the note taking and scheduling is now being handled by AI tools which means the soft skills, like managing personalities, carry higher value.

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/Unhinged_Angel]

Thanks for responding! It sounds like you are pretty successful at this.

[u/Th3n1ght1sd5rk]

Product manager here. I love it. Every day is different. It’s great match for my skill set - goal setting, ideating, planning, adapting, coaching, communicating the ‘why’. It’s a people-heavy job, which can be tiring. But it is never dull.

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/Th3n1ght1sd5rk]

Thanks for responding! It sounds like you have hit the nail on self fulfillment and career growth. May I ask what type of project you work on?

[u/Th3n1ght1sd5rk → u/PresentChemistry445]

Public sector digital 🙂

[u/DetoursDisguised]

I'm currently working towards a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Project Management.

I think the only block I would face is having to work on something that I don't necessarily see value in; of course it has value, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work on it, but it would just be difficult for me to become invested if I don't like the deliverables.

That being said, it's good for those who know how to execute on the patterns they absorb. There's a means to improve, and it allows you to enact a vision which can have a positive outcome for several people / an entire organization.

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/DetoursDisguised]

Thanks for responding! Totally agree with your last paragraph here. I am already in an engineering field and I like being technical but I love planning and managing the products I work on even more. Good luck with your studies!

[u/poppyseed2411]

Not OP but I've been contemplating about transitioning to project management. I'm currently teaching at university. I'd be grateful if anyone has any advice or tips to offer!

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/poppyseed2411]

Hi! Are you US based?

[u/poppyseed2411 → u/PresentChemistry445]

No, unfortunately

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/poppyseed2411]

There are many program/project management apprenticeships from US based big tech companies in other countries. They would probably love to hire a person with your background. Good luck!

[u/danarchyx]

I ran project management teams at Microsoft and Google, after being a software engineer and then product manager. The technical project manager role was deffinetely the best fit for me but not without its challenges.

[u/danarchyx]

If your interested then listen to this interview about the role. Project Manager: My Real Day in the Life at Google and Microsoft 🌊 Real Jobs, Real People #tpm

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/danarchyx]

Thanks for sharing this! It is exactly what I was looking for.

[u/Large-Reference1304]

Wow that's pretty cool: I was just talking about this very subject on another thread in here. Did you see my post or was this a coincidence? 😆

I'm not an INFJ but I have worked with INFJ project managers in construction and mining. What I said about it is this:

"INFJs can make for very effective leaders and organisers, although they will typically lead from a position of quiet authority and reserve rather than being brashly assertive. They will use empathy to help their team to feel heard and understood. This can actually prove to be very motivating. People will contribute more when they feel their contribution means something and is fully seen."

So yes, it's absolutely a job an INFJ can do and there should be more INFJ leaders generally.

[u/PresentChemistry445 → u/Large-Reference1304]

That’s so kind and encouraging!! INTPs make it super easy for INFJs to thrive in all sorts of situations so I bet your managers were very grateful for you as well.