Hi guys
HWD,
As with all tests there is an element of inacuracy in the results. I forget exactly what it is for the Myers Briggs TI tests, but its is somewhere less than 5% I think.
As for you getting an ESTJ on one occassion and then an ISTJ on another that shows (test inacuracy removed) that you must not be answering the questions completely consistently or you are literally right on the cusp of Extrovert/ Introvert.
The 'E' and 'I' are perhaps the best known traits of any which Jung professed in his 'type' theories and I am sure most people know the difference between an extrovert and an introvert. Being decribed as one and then the other does throw up a little confusion, so perhaps have a go at a few more tests and be brutal in forcing yourself to make choices based on your gut instict, especially where it asks you which you prefer of two things that you dislike! Reverse it and ask which do you dislike least if forced to make a choice. Get the idea? It is only through being completely honest and consistent in your answers that you can hope to get a consistant result regarding your profile.
For the benefit of others, there are no 'right' and 'wrong' answers in these profiles, only preferences, so don't try second guessing and putting what you think is what an airline would like to hear. You are just altering your actual profile and perhaps into something less desirable.
As for which profile the airline(s) want, well it's not usually as simple as that. Many years ago when it was the stiff upper lipped 'leader of men' who ruled the cockpit, his (intentionally used there!) profile would be 'classic' ESTJ, to an extreme. That is the classic 'stable extrovert' that we used to hear so much about.
I am not saying that an ESTJ is now not the 'right' type of person, indeed, many many pilots are ESTJs as the job still attracts that type of individual. Companies however, do not only employ one 'type', think about it; everyone the same. How would they get on together!? What they do is employ individuals who pocess a set of desirable traits, which can appear in many of the Myers Briggs personality types. So you can see, the use of these tests is just as 'grey' as the sitting of them!!!!!! That's why they employ HR 'people people' who study this kind of stuff and set the agenda based on what the recruiter(s) want.
The thing to remember is that these tests are only used as tools in an attempt to get a more complete picture of the individual. That is exactly what an interview is attempting to do, as are verbal and numerical reasoning tests, group exercises and so on. They are nothing to fear as long as you are not some crazed lunatic who has a special 'friend' who you keep talking to!!!!!!!! Just be yourself, do practice a bit more though, just to try and get some consistency built into your answers; I am not saying learn answers here, just to get more familiar with making what can appear difficult choices for you. This will help you to be more ruthless in making choices rather than wanting to 'sit on the fence' because you feel you are neither one nor t'other.
Hope this helps.
PP