I am an introvert, so what is the right job for introverts?

Do you feel unhappy at work? Are you trying to work out what the problem is? Does the “presence” of your colleagues bother you? Do you dislike personal contact with clients? Has it ever occurred to you that this might be because you are an introvert? If you are asking yourself these and other questions, our article may help. It will tell you what kind of work suits introverts and suggest that it may be the ideal time to change jobs.

As early as 1962, the American Institute of Personality Assessment and Research discovered something interesting. The most creative people tend towards introverted behaviour. Only in recent years have experts begun to look into this issue. HR professionals are making greater use of psychological questionnaires that reveal personality type. Based on these, future employers choose the ideal working environment for each candidate.

Traits of an introvert

The well-known founder of analytical psychology, Carl Gustav Jung, wrote extensively about the fact that some of us are introverts and others extroverts. Jung pointed out that people can be divided into two groups according to how they interact with the world around them.

Signs that clearly show that you or someone around you is an introvert.

Introverts:

• have a rich inner world (which they prefer to the outer one)
• perceive reality much better (than extroverts): they notice details and examine everything carefully
• a truly admirable quality of introverts is that they think everything through properly before they speak
• have inner monologues
• make good leaders and speakers
• are very creative and find solutions to problems more easily
• tend to have fewer friends, but the friendships they share are deep and genuine
• often have no problem going out and socialising, but after a while they are drained by company and need to recharge their batteries. Alone: listening to relaxing music, reading a book, going for a walk, and so on.

“Quiet people have the loudest minds.”

Stephen Hawking

In what ways are introverts “better” than extroverts?

1. Efficiency. Introverts take their work very seriously, so they devote themselves to it fully during working hours. They don’t waste time “chit-chatting” with their colleagues.
2. Friendliness. At work, they make very good colleagues. There is never any risk of them stirring up trouble among their co-workers. What matters most to them is a friendly, pleasant working environment.
3. Thoughtfulness. Introverts rarely act rashly. Before taking any step, they think it through carefully in advance, and that includes work.
4. Creativity. Introverts are very attentive to the world around them. They can bring their creativity into every aspect of their lives, which can be a big plus for employers.
5. Better long-term memory. There is a study claiming that introverts have better long-term memory than extroverts.
6. Patience and the ability to concentrate. One of an introvert’s strengths is diligence in completing tasks. Another is the ability to concentrate deeply on a given problem or work task.

What bothers introverts?

1. Small talk. Introverts generally don’t like talking. What they like least of all is so-called “small talk”, meaning conversation that has no real substance. On the other hand, if you steer an introvert towards a topic close to their heart, you will see them transform before your eyes.
2. ‘So what’s the point?‘ When communicating with introverts, it is best to say straight away what we need or want from them. Introverts don’t like it when information is wrapped up in irrelevant details and “waffle”.
3. Unprofessional behaviour and conflict. Introverts don’t start conflicts and take absolutely no pleasure in them. Especially at work, they dislike unprofessional or even boorish behaviour from their colleagues.
4. Interrupting. What introverts really can’t stand is being interrupted. They don’t do it themselves either. They find it impolite or even rude.
5. Open-plan offices. No introvert would be comfortable working in a so-called ‘open space’, in other words an open-plan office. A call centre, for example, where everyone talks over each other, is a completely unsuitable working environment.

Ideal jobs for introverts

In this list, we bring you 10 tips for the most ideal positions for introverts. The list was created by Mr Tony Lear, the creator of the CareerCast website.

CareerCast is a job search engine for jobseekers. It works on a similar principle to the job portals you may know locally (in the Czech Republic: Jobs.cz), but it is considerably more sophisticated.

10 job options for introverts

1. Animal caretaker. Introverts don’t like contact with people, but contact with animals doesn’t bother them. On the contrary, they are often very happy in their company.
2. Archivist. A job that perfectly suits an introvert’s needs. In an archive, you can “bury yourself” among all sorts of documents. You only communicate with other people when something needs to be dealt with.
3. Industrial machinery mechanic. In this job, you won’t come into contact with many other people either. In the hall where the machines are repaired, it’s just you and the machine you are fixing.
4. Astronomer. If you become an astronomer, your only job is to observe and study the sky. Nobody else disturbs you while you work.
5. Social media manager. Many people can be very active online, and this applies to introverts too. In this role, introverts can create and manage everything in peace.
6. Film editor. If an introvert had to step in front of a camera, they would certainly struggle. However, there are also many jobs in film that don’t require contact with others. One of them is film editor. As an editor, you spend whole days in the editing room putting together the final product.
7. Accountant. This position suits an introvert who is comfortable with maths. We wouldn’t recommend accounting to people who already struggled with maths at primary school.
8. Geologist. Another suitable career for an introvert is geology. In this case, you study rocks and don’t have to deal much with the outside world.
9. Court reporter. In court, as a lawyer or judge, you certainly need to be able to handle other people. But there are also positions that an introvert can do, such as court reporter. A court reporter quietly records what is said during court hearings and doesn’t have to intervene in anything.
10. Medical records administrator. Leary’s list ends with a position very similar to that of an archivist. The only difference is the type of information involved. In medicine, this is highly sensitive data, and any introvert will make sure nothing gets lost.

An introvert definitely doesn’t want to work under pressure and with people. Particularly unsuitable positions include telephone operators or salespeople, where you often need to push your opinions and products on people. Jobs like these can cause introverts stress, and they will find it hard to succeed in such roles.

The most famous introverts

Since somewhere between 25 and 30% of the population are introverts, it is clear that some can be found among celebrities too. They are often successful in technological or analytical fields, where they can make full use of their thoughtfulness and strategic decision-making.

The most famous include, for example, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Lady Gaga, Emma Watson and Christina Aguilera. Closer to home in the Czech Republic, introverts include the billionaire Petr Kellner and Ondřej Sokol. Would you have guessed it about any of these celebrities?

A few final tips

Not all introverts are the same. Each of us is an individual person and personality. Only a small percentage of people are truly purely introverted. Most of us (unless we are distinctly extroverted) are so-called ambiverts (meaning we are somewhere between an extrovert and an introvert). When looking for work, introverts should mainly be guided by their feelings. It’s best to do work that you enjoy and feel good doing.

A drawback for some introverts is their modesty and lack of drive. Even if they do their job well, they won’t ask for a pay rise or say what bothers them. They also often lack the courage to step out of their comfort zone, but there are many motivational films about introverts.

At some point, you may find the behaviour of a colleague or friend a little strange. Try to look more deeply into your relationship, whether personal or professional, and find out whether he or she might be an introvert.