Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger Summary

Do What You Are is a career guide that uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to help readers identify their personality type and align it with fulfilling careers. It provides actionable strategies for leveraging innate strengths, navigating workplace challenges, and finding roles that match natural preferences. Real-life examples and self-assessment tools make it practical for career changers or those seeking greater job satisfaction.

This book is ideal for career-driven individuals seeking clarity, students exploring career paths, or professionals feeling unfulfilled in their current roles. It’s especially valuable for those interested in personality psychology, MBTI enthusiasts, and HR professionals aiming to improve employee-job alignment through tailored advice.

Yes, its timeless framework for aligning personality with career choices remains relevant. With updates addressing remote work trends and evolving job markets, the book offers fresh insights into adapting MBTI principles to modern workplaces, making it a practical resource despite being rooted in established psychology.

The book breaks down the 16 MBTI personality types into four key dimensions: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. Each type’s ideal careers, communication styles, and workplace challenges are analyzed, helping readers identify roles that suit their natural tendencies.

Key strategies include self-assessment quizzes to determine MBTI type, identifying careers that align with innate strengths, and adapting communication styles to workplace dynamics. The book also advises on navigating job transitions and negotiating roles that prioritize personal fulfillment.

Critics argue the MBTI model oversimplifies personality and lacks robust scientific validation. Some note it may exclude non-traditional career paths or undervalue skills developed through experience. However, supporters praise its practical approach to self-awareness and career clarity.

While both focus on career satisfaction, Do What You Are emphasizes personality-aligned roles via MBTI, whereas What Color Is Your Parachute? prioritizes skill-based strategies and job-search tactics. Tieger’s book is ideal for those seeking psychological insights; Bolles’ guide suits hands-on planners.

Notable quotes include:

• “Your personality type is your roadmap to success.”
• “The right career doesn’t just use your strengths—it energizes them.”
  These emphasize self-awareness as the key to unlocking professional fulfillment.

The book provides frameworks for reassessing strengths, identifying transferable skills, and pivoting to roles that better match evolving priorities. Case studies illustrate successful transitions, offering tangible steps for overcoming inertia or fear of change.

The 2025 edition includes updated advice on applying MBTI principles to freelance, remote, or hybrid roles. It highlights how introverts might thrive in independent work and how judgers can structure flexible schedules effectively.

Recommended pairings include StrengthsFinder 2.0 for skill-based analysis and The Pathfinder for tactical career planning. For deeper MBTI exploration, Gifts Differing by Isabel Briggs Myers offers historical context.

With 40+ years in personality psychology, Tieger pioneered MBTI applications in career counseling and jury consulting. His practical experience, combined with co-authoring five MBTI-focused books, ensures nuanced, actionable advice.