The Best Jobs for Introverts

photo: nateOne

Ah! You’re reading this thinking that I’m going to give you a list of jobs that are just perfect for introverts. Jobs that you’ll love! You’re thinking that this blog post will keep you from all the pitfalls of stupid jobs where you have to put up with people and noise and dwelling in cubicles where your neighbor insists on listening to the radio or snapping her gum or popping over the cube wall (such as it is) to tell you about the date he had last night.

Or maybe you’re thinking I’m going to tell you which careers allow you complete autonomy, unlimited peace, no phone interruptions, and no one calling meetings where nothing gets accomplished except the wasting away of another hour or three of your precious life.

Well I’m sorry – I can’t give you a list like that. Articles and blog posts that promise to tell you exactly which jobs are just right for introverts are blowing sunshine up your skirt, baby. There are no perfect careers for introverts. Nor are there perfect jobs for extroverts.

Unless you’re going to take a really Zen attitude and remember that everything is perfect just because it is, you’re not going to find a perfect job for your introverted self. That’s the bad news. And by the way, if I’ve just mixed Zen and the perfection of something simply because it exists incorrectly, I trust you’ll let me know (my apologies if that’s the case).

Anyway, don’t get all bummed out and curse my name or your introverted personality just yet. Here’s what you have to do to find the right job for you, keeping in mind that you’re not just an introvert – you’re a whole bunch of things – which means that your introversion can’t be the only deciding factor when you are exploring options for your perfect career path.

• Take stock of your talents, strengths and interests.
• Think about what excites you, moves you, makes you feel like you’ve done something.
• Think about what you really dislike. For example, I can’t stand the thought of cashiering or being a bank teller for instance – all those customers in one long succession – awful. I also dislike blood and guts – I’d make a lousy physician, nurse, or EMT among other things.
• Make a list of what your core values are – these are the values that guide your life (note – core values can change with time and experience, and not everyone know what theirs are – you might have to do some exploring here).
• Ask yourself what you want to accomplish with your career choice (wealth, status, helping others, creating something, stability, using your analytical skills, bettering your community, entertaining others, etc).
• Find out what you’re willing to do or would need to do to find yourself in the best career possible for you.
• Consider your introverted personality – what are your daily needs for rest and rejuvenation.
• Ask yourself just how far you can get out of your comfort zone on a regular basis in order to achieve something.
• Research, research, research. Take the career tests, read What Color is My Parachute, ask people who work in the areas you’re interested in lots of questions.

This is how you find your perfect career path. Keep in mind again, that seriously, there are always going to be things you don’t especially love about your job – the people who find the truly perfect career that they just L-O-V-E through and through are rare. On the other hand, many people do find jobs that for the most part, are rewarding and pleasant.

Now, if you’re still wishing for a list of jobs that might work well for introverts, I’m still not going there. I have tiptoed around that before and I’m not even going to do that this time. You’re an introvert – this most likely means that you should find a career path that gives you breaks from working with scads of people that come at you in an ongoing parade. However, many introverts do great in jobs where they work one to one with others. You will probably prefer a job that offers a quieter work environment and one that offers a measure of independence and autonomy. Jobs that give you a chance to remove yourself from the hustle and bustle on a regular basis to get a breather would probably work better. But one size doesn’t fit all – even though we’re introverts, we’re not all the same.

Bottom line? You have to figure this out for yourself. You have to take stock of all the aspects of your personality, your likes and dislikes, and your values. And you’re going to have to do some research and even some experimenting. This isn’t what people want to hear, because there is always the chance that even with thorough thinking, exploring and research, one could end up in a bad job. Believe me, I know. Besides writing, I have a job too – and it’s one that isn’t all that well suited to my personality (the saving grace is that I work in a tiny office that is extremely quiet, so at least my nerves aren’t being jangled by noise and a cast of thousands every day).

You’re the only one who can tell you which job is right for your introverted self. Good luck!

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If you have questions or comments you can find me at livingintroverted at gmail.com.

Thanks for reading!