Skip the astrology, do a Myers–Briggs Type Indicator test
Skip the astrology, do a Myers–Briggs Type Indicator test
BlackTechLogy: You'll know if you can survive the job and the boss by these results
During the first two years of college, I was adamant about knowing everyone’s zodiac sign and relied on horoscope readings. It was half fun and half “field research” for building a social circle. That astrology adventure carried on with me deciding I was going to date or befriend a man of each zodiac sign. The latter project in my twenties was when I decided it was all fluff, and people’s backgrounds, family, parents and life decisions heavily influence how that person will behave. The birthday doesn’t matter.
In retrospect, I didn’t even have to do the “field” experiment; all I had to do was acknowledge my own experiences. I have a past co-worker and Girl Scout leader who were born the same month and day as me (different years). The co-worker is the most unlikable woman I’ve ever met in my entire life, and I would pick a Bermuda Triangle trip over five minutes with her. Meanwhile, I adore the Girl Scout leader, who was an essential part of my childhood. We are three human beings who couldn’t be more different if we tried — and all the same sign with the same birthdate.
My brother and I also share the same zodiac sign (different months) and have distinctly different personalities. We grew up with the same parents in the same household, but we have very little in common (outside of 1. beelining for the dance floor at any party and 2. being quick to tell you when you’ve crossed the line). He’s a social butterfly where I am an unapologetic loner. He wears his heart on his sleeve and married his high school sweetheart. I have bare minimum interest in marriage. He absolutely wanted and had children. Minus his two sons and a couple other family friends’ kids, I put my hands behind my back near 99% of babies. I’m a bookworm while he’s all about music. Fighting social justice causes and calling out discrimination is very on brand for me whereas he has a “that’s just the way it is” aura.
Recommended Read: “We know about Ophiuchus, so stop blaming your zodiac sign for everything ~ Astrology is fun but don’t avoid dating someone because of it”
And these three people are only a few examples of distinctly different personalities with the same zodiac sign. However, I feel like I’ve been running into a lot more black people who are depending on astrology in their dating life, work relationships, familial choices and even friendships. Although I found astrology fun at first, the dependence on it is getting a little concerning, specifically those who write people off or swear they know a person’s entire personality and behavioral patterns based on the day and time they were born. Life just doesn’t work like that.
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When I was diving in deep to astrology in the early 2000s, I don’t remember there being nearly as many enthusiasts as I’ve seen in the past couple of years. It’s like somebody sent out a memo during the pandemic that we all have to know each other’s signs before we know each other’s names. But it’s gone from a fun hobby to a judgmental requirement.
However, there is one type of test and description that I do believe would make people’s lives a lot easier (outside of the Love Language test) pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. While job applicants may think those workplace personality tests are tedious and wonder why they’re mandatory, I can say firsthand that it’ll save you a lot of work stress to do these kinds of tests before you accept the job.
Recommended Read: “Using the 34 CliftonStrengths to understand your marketing clients ~ WFFH: This simple tool will provide helpful character types”
In a recent “Iman Amongst Men” interview, Amber Rose was a guest on the podcast and mentioned the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator. While some regard it as “pseudoscience,” I would argue it’s much more accurate than astrology. Why? Because it relies on your actual answers to potential situations. The same goes for CliftonStrengths.
In a world where black people are avoiding going back into traditional office spaces because work-from-home jobs keep them away from microaggressions and bold racism from their bosses and co-workers, I can’t recommend these tests enough. While race and racism are reasonable factors to consider, we can bump heads with our skinfolk too, solely based off of workplace attitudes and professional traits.