Jobs for Introverts

Introverts possess a whole host of skills that are essential for any job and workplace. Like most things, we can exist across quite a spectrum, including everything from high anxiety to socially avoidant.

As my fellow introverts know well, we tend to feel most comfortable on our own or with others that we are close and connected with. Although what we need most is time alone to recharge, our interpersonal abilities are usually amazing.

We are wonderful listeners with ample empathy and understanding to go around, often resulting in superb communication. While being a social battery that knows no bounds might not be one of our main strengths, there are so many professional spaces that we can thrive and excel within.

Picking a career path based on your personality type, natural abilities, and the environment you enjoy is one of the best ways to ensure success and happiness in any chosen profession.

Finance

Working with numbers is usually a safe bet for people like us. Finance is generally a high-paying field that allows for an influx of individual tasks. There are a wide range of positions to check out under this umbrella.

An auditor is someone who reviews documents for a living. You can work internally or externally checking for errors, efficiency, or signs of fraud. Think of it like a detective whose case is hiding in the numbers, yet doesn’t ever have to interact with clients.

Analysts working in finance evaluate investment strategies to increase profit. Actuarial jobs involve determining risk factors, a familiar space for those of us who experience any kind of anxiety. Put it to good use by using statistics and financial theory to calculate impacts and outcomes.

A bookkeeper is a great entry level choice, plus who doesn’t love it when your most essential teammate is just a pile of papers? You don’t need a specific degree for this one, just a reliable and detail-oriented demeanor.

Content Creator

The beauty of freelance work is that you can work from home and don’t need a ton of previous experience to get started. Let’s be honest, isn’t this any introvert’s dream? Avoid those busy office environments that can feel constantly draining and overwhelming. You can also create your own schedule, part-time or full-time, and choose your clients. Having this kind of control and freedom over our time and space is a huge coup.

Now content creation can really encompass any number of location independent jobs, even including photography, translation, or blogging. Writing is one of the most common and can be super fulfilling for those of us introverts who love spending time in our own rich inner worlds.

Put it on the page, for yourself in a blog or ebook, or for someone else as a ghostwriter. Social media sounds counterintuitive for an introvert, but most of it’s done alone on a phone or laptop. Create posts or videos for brands and help them manage or grow their following. There is a huge demand for this type of work at the moment.

Psychologist

Okay so an intensive and interpersonal position like a therapist might seem like a leap, but hear us out! Often introverts are better equipped to navigate emotions and cope with disorders such as anxiety based on our own intimate understanding.

We also tend to develop strong observational skills in conjunction with exemplary empathy and listening abilities, basically all the quintessential psychologist qualities.

While we tend to feel exhausted by social settings, this usually refers to large groups and people we don’t feel connected to. Imagine a one-on-one session with a client about their personal well-being and mental health as the exact opposite of a party full of strangers having small talk.

You will need serious qualifications for this career path, generally a high-level degree such as a master’s. However, once completed you can design your practice to work from home, and odds are it will be a high-paying position.

Data Specialist

Working in a data-based job is great for any of our introverts hoping to score an entry level position. If making sense of complex spreadsheets by yourself all day sounds enjoyable, sign right up!

Work from home and avoid any personal contact using just the basic computer skills you already possess. In terms of data, you can be an analyzer, scientist, architect, or engineer.

Find the facet that best suits your skill set, such as gathering and organizing, creating frameworks, programming, synthesizing and marketing, or optimizing. Often a background with experience in math, science, or the economy helps score a high-paying job within the field.

These careers take the essence of human actions and identities and boil them all down to formulas and statistics on a screen, and really what’s more introverted than that?

Editor

If you have a way with words or aesthetics, as we introverts tend to do, think about becoming an editor. Sometimes creating the actual content can sound like too much, in which refining can be a lovely little niche for those of us who prefer to work solo.

You can edit in both film and writing, and work from home. These can be excellent part-time positions, and you can usually pick how often you want to work and when.

If you prefer the stability of working for a company employer, plenty of publishers and brands hire in-house editors as well, though you’ll likely need a relevant degree. A focused, detail-oriented mindset is ideal for any editor position.

For video content, a client or company will provide you with raw material, as well as direction-based goals, for you to then take and create their vision. This can be quite a high-paying endeavor for not too much time invested, as long as you know the necessary software programs and enjoy some tedious tasks.

Developer

When people think of remote work, often an introverted developer springs to mind, and in this case, they’re not wrong! We love how easy it is to work from home in this field, allowing for a nice break from any social, or more severe anxieties, we may experience.

For such a high-paying position, there’s minimal interaction with clients or employers. It involves in-depth knowledge of computer languages used to both build and test software programs.

Any type of work with information technology, or IT, is a classic choice for our types, which value autonomy and independence. Check out a wide range of titles and tasks that exist in this space, such as front-end, back-end, or full-stack.

If you get your kicks creating new programs for consumers or commercial use and don’t mind staring at a screen all day, this is a great gig for decreasing external stress. With an ever growing demand for developers around the world, you can enjoy some extra job security and lots of leeways to find your niche.

Research Scientist

The realm of research gives lots of room to play with finding that perfect position. First, you need an interest and understanding of science, and most likely a degree that reflects this in some capacity. It’s usually a high paying field, though harder to work from home or pick a part time job.

You can be employed by an array of sects, like the government, educational organizations, or conservation groups. So many different industries now need researchers, it may even be an easy transition from a field you’re already in.

The nature of Digital Nomad introverts makes the idea of working more closely with the earth and less with other people a no-brainer. Try applying for park ranger positions if you’re experienced in the great outdoors, and love some scenic seclusion.

Throw on a lab coat and get to pipetting for a calm and quiet atmosphere that will leave you to your true love, procedural biology. Contrary to popular belief not all research is conducted by academics, some studies need entry level efforts out in the field too.

Animal Care

The idea of being exhausted by interactions with others often means spending time around animals has the opposite effect! Animal care can include anything from walking dogs to being a veterinarian to rehabilitating wildlife.

You will likely need some experience or a degree to get your foot in the door here, but what a dream job it is for a lot of us. Decide what species interest you most, like birds or marine life, and start to carve out a space for yourself in that industry.

You can start as an entry level employee, like at a pet day care, and work your way up to expert trainer with just some on the job learning. Sure people will still be around in the form of clients, bosses, or coworkers, but much of your day will revolve around taking care of some super sweet creatures that need your help for the best little life possible.

Animal care usually involves working outside and getting your hands dirty, so be prepared for some very rewarding yet messy days ahead.

Artist

Working as an artist sounds a lot like something parents warned against as a made up fantasy gig, which can of course induce its own kind of anxiety, but nowadays it boasts a whole breadth of cool (and super possible) careers.

For one, graphic designers have become more necessary than ever. It’s easy to work from home and the more programs you know the more likely you are to score a high paying spot. Learn the basics like Canva and offer your freelance services to clients, or go in-depth on Adobe and bag a full time spot at any number of brands.

The beauty of being an artist, besides the actual art, is that it’s just you and your own creativity making magic happen. You can even work in fashion or flower design. If there are pieces you love to make, like pottery, painting, or jewelry, get yourself set up on Etsy and Vango and start selling, who knows where it could lead.

Illustrate, animate, curate, as long as you can create there’s endless opportunities for introverted artists in many marketplaces today.

Jobs for Introverts Conclusion

The takeaway here is that there are a plethora of high paying jobs that take individual anxiety into account and still offer work from home or part time positions for any interest or skill set.

For introverts, it can be important to consider jobs where interaction doesn’t determine success. Think about what makes you feel energized and fulfilled, instead of drained, and why, and let that lead your journey into any of these fantastic fields.

Loving your job isn’t some antiquated myth, but does rely on so many more factors than most realize. Consider the schedule, the environment, the expectations of you in the role, along with the more obvious factors like pay grade and subject matter.

Personal skills can be just as pertinent in most jobs as a more formal education. Pick a path that lends itself to your natural abilities and we promise you’ll find the walk that much easier.