Sometimes introverts feel like they’re all alone. I know I do!
Here you’ll find a link to a personality test for introversion, a brief description of introverted personality traits, and four ways to find a career that matches your low-key personality…
“You’ll find introverts in all walks of life,” says Shoya Zichy, co-author of Career Match. “However, you’ll find that more of them seek professions such as biologists, engineers, computer programmers, economists, and writers. These occupations require that people spend more time alone rather than working in teams.”
Since you spend 40 hours a week at work, finding a career that suits your introverted personality is crucial to your health, happiness, and well-being!
If you can’t think of a job you’d like, read 200 Best Jobs for Introverts.
And, check out these tips for introverts…
What Is an Introvert?
People with introverted personality traits:
- Get energy from “down time”
- Listen more than they speak
- Prefer to speak with one or two people at a time (instead of several people, or a big group)
- Are more detail oriented
- Need more personal space
- Are usually reserved
- Wait to be approached in social situations
- Are reflective and appear calm
- Think before speaking or acting
- Know a lot about a few topics
- Enjoy working alone or with one person
Source: Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead by Nancy Ancowitz.
Job Search Tips for Introverted Personality Types
1. Figure out how introverted you are. Most people have both introverted and extroverted personality traits. And, most people tend to be a little more one than the others…which is why taking a test for introverted personality traits is helpful!
For instance, if you’re highly introverted, then you might want to focus on a job or career that allows you to be alone most of the time, focus on details, and avoid groups or energetic social situations. If you’re only moderately or just slightly introverted, then a more social job might work well.
2. Get comfortable with your personality. Many shy, quiet people think they’re socially inept, weird, or antisocial! Introverts don’t always realize that they’re simply drained by groups of people and that they process their thoughts differently than extroverts.
The more you know about introverted personality traits – and the more comfortable you are with yourself – the easier it’ll be to settle into a career (and a life) you like. And, dealing with workplace stress and office politics will be easier if you have a little self-awareness and insight into how you tick.
3. Be persistent about finding a career that suits your shy, quiet personality. This may seem like an obvious tip, but so many introverts are stuck in jobs that don’t suit their personality types! Maybe they became discouraged during their initial career search and gave up too quickly, or they let a family member or friend railroad them into the wrong type of work. Maybe their supervisor or sheer luck kept giving them job promotions, or they couldn’t afford to quit and look for different work.
Whatever the reason, it’s smarter to stay focused on finding the best career that matches your personality traits – no matter how long it takes – than to give up before achieving your professional goals.
4. Research specific companies and occupations – don’t just look for a job. In the list of jobs for introverts at the beginning of this article, Zichy mentioned writing as a career. While it’s true that many writing jobs allow for independence, a quiet work space, and attention to detail, it depends on where you work!
For example, if you’re a reporter for a big city daily newspaper, you’re not likely to have your own office and lots of quiet time (at least not at the beginning of your writing career!). Finding a career for your personality isn’t just about deciding that writing is a good job for you as an introvert. You need to take it a step further, and research the actual company you’re thinking of working for, the work or office environment you’ll be in, and the specific job you’ll be doing.
“I hope that you’re doing what you love for a living,” writes Nancy Ancowitz in Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead. “If not, I encourage you to take steps in that direction – or at least find a way to include activities that you enjoy during your personal time.”
If you’re self-employed, read Tips from the Dragons’ Den – How to Attract Business Investors.
What do you think – does this help you figure out what type of career is best for your personality? Comments welcome below…
Thanks for your comment – it’s never too late to speak your mind
One of the worst things about knowing you’re in the wrong job is not being able to quit it. The economy is a scary place, and quitting your job may be one of the most difficult things you’ll do. But, finding a career or job that suits your personality traits is so important.
Is it worth the risk – quitting a job in the hopes of finding a job that suits your introverted, quiet, or other personality traits? I think so….but everyone has decide for themselves.
Hello, I know it’s late but I’d like to contribute to the comments. I agree with Nicole that shyness (a form of fear) is not the same as introversion (personality trait/disorder (and yes, it is in the DSM-V) depending on who you ask). Introversion-Extroversion is a scale that indicates your preference according to groups of people depending on degree. Some people prefer to be alone, some people tolerate small groups, some people need to be in the middle of groups and all for a variety of reasons in a variety of circumstances. We all go back and forth on that spectrum. I am an introvert and have been trying without luck to find a suitable career my whole adult life (since I was 18). Even in college I had difficulty and not the right kind of guidance. To complicate matters, I am also Autistic (Asperger’s) and have sensory issues in my ears. Right now, I work in an office where people make a lot of clicking and popping noises (I think these people just like making noise). Why do I stay? Bad economy and I was told I’d be working from home when I started. 5 months-still not letting me work from home. I think a lot of people on this and other forums don’t need another list of unattainable careers for introverts. I think we need a list of companies that have environments that are naturally conducive to who we are as people. Or we need a way to adapt the company to fit who WE are as people; they always cater to the extroverts and tell US we have to get with the program-it’s time to push back. I seriously need a quiet environment where I control my space and who I interact with and my work has to be project oriented with deadlines. Instructions have to be visual. Directions have to be clear. The company also has to be stable which is hard in these poor economic times. But you get what I’m saying? We need to speak to the day-to-day experiences within the company culture which may be deceptively hidden when we talk in terms of career, because no career can tell you what your day to day will be like at a particular company.
I agree with all of this except the “shy” part. Shy is not the same as introverted! Shy people can be either introverts or extroverts- they are separate.
Does anyone know some good jobs for a true introvert that don’t involve a degree? Trying to save up for an apartment and college, but just got fired from my job literally for not being “outgoing” enough even though they said that I was great at everything else. So I’m sick of it, but all the jobs I can find are for extroverts. Help please?
Dear Larry,
Thanks for your comment – I love how you see the bright side of being laid off from your job! If you can see it as an opportunity to find a better career that suits your personality, then you’re halfway to success. More than halfway, I reckon.
The tricky part of finding the best career (or job) for you is being patient. It’s all about timing, and if you’re in a small city or town, it’s even more difficult. Last spring I decided I wanted to take a break from my full-time writing and blogging career, and work in the social services field for a few months. It wasn’t until YESTERDAY – five whole months later – that I got an interview! Mind you, I only applied for about 6 jobs (3 of which weren’t even jobs, just me putting out feelers).
The point is that even if you know what career suits your personality, it can be difficult to get a job! It takes time, especially if you don’t have experience in the field or if the job openings are rare.
Anyway, I hope you let me know how it goes in the security field! I’d love to hear what job you ended up with
Blessings,
Laurie
Laurie, I enjoyed taking the test. I always knew my personality. Living in a fast pased society I always needed to follow that theme. So with that said, I worked, & chose trades that demanded huge responcibilities. Auto Body & paint, Motorcycle Mechcanics, Auto mechanics. Customers demanding to know wnen are you going to be done atitudes. I’m 54 years young and feeling like a old man! I’m looking for a job with a slower pace. I was laid off my job collecting unemploment. I now have a chance to look for some type of work to suit my personality. Thats the positive outcome to my layoff. I’m looking into security work. The money as not the best, but a peace of mind is very tempting. Some may differ with me, but I need to get back to work. Any comments welcomed. Thank you for your time. Larry Lujan
Dawn ~ thanks for your thoughts on being an introvert, extrovert, or anything in between! I wish my mom was as supportive and accepting as you are. Actually, I wish EVERYONE’S mom was as supportive and accepting as you. I get tired of the idea that we all have to be alike, or we’re weird.
Annie94 ~ I don’t think introverts life in misery and shyness! They just need to understand their own personality traits, so they can find a career that suits who they are.
Here’s an article to help people with introverted personality traits find the best career:
Best Jobs for People Who Like to Be Alone…Introverts!
I hope it helps, and welcome your thoughts there or here.
Blessings,
Laurie
I’d be more than happy to get some opinions in here…and another question: what kind of job is suitable for an introvert???
Can someone EXPLAIN to me why introverted people are said not to be likely to get promotions in their jobs or to be cursed to live a life of shyness and misery???
After reading alot of comments, I have this too say, that we are all perfect just the way we are. Whether we are introvert or extrovert; learn by sight, sound or are kinesetic. You are, “you” – Perfect. It is about undersanding and acceptance. I have tried for years to keep up with the extroverts. And they don’t understand why I just want to be left alone to read, write, sit, or make my earings. That’s okay. It’s finding balance. It’s doing a bit of reasearch for better understanding. I did alot of research when they claimed my son was Bipolar. I didn’t believe that, neither did 3 counselors. He’s just more introvert than I. Yet I’m many years older than he. He hasn’t had the experiences I have had. That’s all. And the claimes came from an extrovert who apparently is unaware of these things. My mother tells me that I was as bad as he. I now believe her. That’s okay. I believe that the introvert & kinesetic need to feel sorry for them. Most of the population is “us”. We have more balance in our lives and are actually more content and happy. We like the rolling river in our lives instead of the tsunami. My life is richer, and so is yours!