What's your MBTI?

Hi networkers,

Have you ever found yourself in the talking stage with someone?

You know, that odd period where you’re more than friends but less than a relationship?

Well, there’s always one thing that gets brought up in this stage, and it’s the age-old “Hey, what’s your MBTI?”

Okay, now imagine being asked that question during a job interview.

No wait, take it a step further, imagine your MBTI is the difference between you passing or failing that interview.

Well, that’s a reality in Asia. A trend has taken over the East, and it’s the Myer’s Brigg personality test.

But how did an American pseudo-science quiz take over corporate Asia?

Today we dive into this and how it’s affecting careers.

🎙️ Topic: Asia’s Obsession with MBTIs

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MBTIs are a collection of 16 personality types used to describe people. If you know about this test, then you’ve probably done it before.

Whether it was to learn about yourself or to ask on a date, discussing MBTIs is always fun.

But in places like China and Korea, this quiz has far more important uses.

Bai Shu is a recent university graduate and like other new grads, she’s looking forward to landing a full-time job.

But when Bai got a rejection letter from one of the banks she applied to, the reasoning surprised her.

She had been rejected because she had listed her MBTI as ENTJ - also known as a Commander.

The bank rejected her because ENTJs are too assertive, and their position required a more “subordinate” personality type.

Shockingly, cases like this are a common occurrence in China. Many workplaces require candidates to list their MBTIs as part of their applications.

But it doesn’t stop there, marketers are also capitalizing on this!

On China’s version of Instagram, “Little Red Book”, the hashtag MBTI has 40-50 million followers.

And on WeChat, you can find a paid version of the test which claims to give “detailed results.” for a fee of $8.26. It has had 20,000+ users since 2022.

The same craze is happening in Korea with some firms even stating in their job descriptions things like “E applicants only.”

However, Korea’s obsession goes beyond the workplace.

On top of their already strict beauty standards, many are applying the personality test for dating.

Young Koreans already have to deal with a competitive job market and toxic workplaces so they don’t have time for invested romance.

To many, MBTIs is an easy shortcut. You can instantly get a read on someone’s personality with 4 letters.

And if they’re not compatible? You move on to the next person and save time.

It’s no wonder that over half the Korean population has taken the test.

There’s no doubt that MBTIs are taken far more seriously in the East than here.

But why is that? Many believe it comes down to culture.

China & Korea embrace a collective mindset, where people fit into groups as opposed to the West’s individualism.

So despite the controversy behind the test, many East Asians use it to find a sense of belonging and purpose.

My advice to you:

MBTIs may be fun, but they don’t have solid backing.

Take the results with a grain of salt, and certainly don’t base your career (or dating) decisions on them.

See you next Tuesday 🤝

-Michael Ly

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