You’re an INFJ living in the millennial age.

Chances are, you’re not able to afford that fancy two bedroom apartment on The Lower East Side (let’s face it, who can?)

You’re still paying off student loans; unsatisfied with your current state of employment.

If you’re an MBTI junkie, like myself, you may find yourself getting lost at odd hours of the night reading blogs with titles such as:

“top ten careers for the INFJ”

Most of the time these articles talk about jobs that involve working alone, striving for the greater good, creating a positive impact in your community. Basically any career with the creative freedom that we want.

While these jobs do sound like a dream come true, a majority of us are faced with three choices.

Food Industry / Retail / Hospitality.

This may not be permanent. But, it may be mandatory for a period.

It’s Saturday night at your busy restaurant. The new host has triple sat you. Table 105 is in desperate need of ranch, while Nancy at 109 demands to speak to your manager because her sweet potato fries seem “raw”. You slightly dissociate. Your ENTJ co-worker snaps at you for taking too long at the POS. Sometimes extraverting a little too often takes a nasty toll.

1. Cherish a break. Cherish it alone.

What are breaks? We see this a lot in the food & beverage industry. You have about six minutes to hide in the back, “sit” on a glassware rack; all while trying to inhale a plate of cold french fries. As an INFJ you need quiet moments alone to recharge. Get a glass of water. Take a deep breath. Keep your phone tucked away. Find quiet. I.E, take a special bathroom break. Step outside for a moment if you can. Stay away from loud kitchens, or yappy co-workers. This moment is all about reconnecting yourself with your inner peace.

2. Find people who value you.

It’s no surprise that working with people you enjoy is a morale booster. While it may not be on the agenda of an INFJ to fit into the social circle, or volunteer to attend out of work activities — this may make us come across as antisocial, shy, suspicious and sometimes flat out rude. Taking that extra moment to get to know your fellow teammates can sometimes unlock doors that often times would not have been opened. You may realize that you’re not the only Ni on the team. Or, you may realize how funny the extroverts can be while grabbing after shift drinks. When people care about one another — whether they have similar temperaments or not. The work day becomes a lot more tolerable — and dare I say, fun.

3. Don’t obsess over failure.

Mistakes happen. There’s no way to avoid them. You forgot to ring in that order. You don’t know how to make the complicated cocktail that your guest saw in that trendy movie. Those coupons are expired — there’s nothing you can do about it. It can be tough for an INFJ to watch our once happy guests — turn into irate animals in the blink of an eye. Realize that you have the special gift of reading people. Meaning, that you may sometimes have an upper hand compared to most of your co-workers. You may find that you are able to calm down a guest before they ask to speak to a manager, or threaten to write a nasty letter to your company. You are great at keeping stressful situations under control — it’s the aftermath that will have you up all night. Stop focusing on the “what if’s” of the situation. Remember that for every rotten moment, there will be twenty more positive ones. Thinking about ways to better yourself can be therapeutic and helpful. As long as you don’t obsess over it.

4. Don’t focus on others’ negativity.

INFJ’s are an emotional sponge. No doubt about it. This one is short and sweet.

Stay away from the workplace drama. You know the type. You overhear that some people had got in an argument last night and who’s the first person that everyone goes to talk about it to? You. Your INFJ senses are tingling — try not to engage. Of course, you want to help resolve every issue or be a shoulder to lean on for a person in distress. Conflict tears us apart. The last thing that you want is to be in the middle of an altercation that you have to face every day. It’s important to stay mutual and clear minded.

5. There’s always a bit of good.

At times, we hate our jobs. We’re tired, overworked, underpaid and often wishing that we could be somewhere else. Despite the hardships, we are able to see the joy in the services we give. Whether your extensive knowledge of the menu helped create the perfect setting for a first date or it’s helping out a single mother shop for school clothes. These small moments allow us to thrive and connect. We DO make an impact on the world, even if it may be small. It matters.

Sometimes you need a job. And, sometimes you may not always get your first choice.

Working in a fast paced, chaotic industry dominated by extroverts may leave you wanting to submerge into your bed and never get up. You can’t control other people, but you can control their experience. It won’t be easy, but you can learn so much about yourself, others around you all while conquering how to tackle uncomfortable situations.