For most of us, getting a job is a necessity of life.
Sure, we can tolerate working. Yes, we can learn to enjoy putting our minds, hands, and hearts to work. But a serious problem arises when we find ourselves in jobs that are either (a) unfulfilling (b) too stressful, or (c) totally not suited to our personality type.
If you’re a quiet and introverted type, you’ll know already that our world is full of extrovert-friendly jobs. But what about the behind-the-scenes, non-people-centric vocations?
Is it possible to find a meaningful job as an introvert that fills us with energy instead of depleting us?
Is it possible to find our life purpose while holding down a job?
Yes, thankfully it is possible! Just because you’re a quiet person, doesn’t mean you have to give in to the false standards of success and happiness that our society bombards us with. Finding a truly fulfilling vocation takes a little more digging and unconventional thinking – but it is possible.
So let’s get started …
How to Find a Meaningful Job as an Introvert
Here’s the thing: most of us spend two-thirds of our days at work. In fact, many of us spend more time thinking about work-life (aka. drama) than thinking about our friends or loved ones.
To find a meaningful job is not just some fanciful luxury, it is a necessity.
When we find ourselves in jobs we hate, particularly as empathic and introverted people, it’s almost like a little part of our soul dies each day. I know that may sound absurd, but it’s true.
When we aren’t using our life force energy (what some refer to as the Soul) in a way that fulfills us, we feel deep in our bones that something is wrong. We have no creative outlet, no vision, no motivation, and no purpose when we’re in a job that is ill-fitted to us – and it takes its toll on our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
Finding a meaningful job, while greatly coveted by most people, can only be achieved by the boldest of souls. You have to be willing to break free of the herd, be a lone wolf, and walk your own path to find a meaningful job – a path with heart.
This often involves questioning what you’ve been taught, challenging the preconceived ideas you have, and often deconstructing old beliefs about what “success” and “happiness” means.
There are many jobs for introverts out there, but how do you know which one is the right for you? First, you need to examine your mindset and do a little bit of self-exploration. Here are some tips:
1. Forget “respectable” – listen to your gut instinct
Janitor, garbage collector, truckie – doctor, lawyer, teacher …
“White-collar” jobs vs. “blue-collar” jobs …
they’re all superficial labels created by the mind. All jobs serve a purpose. Don’t base your career choice on what you think others will think about you. Choose an employment path you think would suit you best, not based on people’s opinions of what is and isn’t “respectable.” Listen to your gut instincts.
Remember: your worth is not gained from a title, a job, or from others. Your worth is intrinsic. You are intrinsically worthy. Don’t fall for the respectability ploy.
Unfortunately, many parents pressure their children to pursue “respectable” degrees as a result of society’s influence. In the end, children end up submitting to their parents to please them – but end up regretting it later.
Isn’t it a sad reality that everyone is trying to be who others want them to be. But who is listening to their true desires? Who is following their authentic life path? To refuse to conform to our parents, friends, and society’s expectations requires courage and grit. If you want to find a meaningful job as an introvert, you need to go against the grain.
2. Observe your strengths and weaknesses (and be realistic)
Arty, earthy, mathematically inclined … you must focus on your interests and skills when you consider a career. Are you good with your hands? Do you prefer intellectual, theory-based work? Sites such as careerpath.com can assist you.
Don’t forget to consider what you would least like in a job as well. What are you absolutely unwilling to tolerate or commit to? What are your weaknesses? What are your hot buttons and anxiety triggers?
When it comes to finding a meaningful job as an introvert, don’t forget to be realistic. It’s unlikely that you will find the perfect job (there’s no such thing!). There’s always bad in the good and good in the bad. For example, if there’s too much good in your job, you will grow complacent and take your work for granted (let’s face it!). On the other hand, the challenges, trials, and negativity you experience all help you to appreciate the good and fully experience any joy that comes in your work. The key is to find a job that has a fair balance of good and bad, comfortable and uncomfortable.
3. Develop more self-awareness by taking a personality test
How well do you know yourself? It’s crucial to introspect and develop more self-awareness to make intelligent decisions about your career.
One of the easiest ways to expand your self-understanding is by taking online personality tests. Even if you can’t be bothered to finish them, they will provide you with useful insights. They may also help you consider other dimensions of job-seeking that you hadn’t considered before. These following tests may help:
- Open Colleges’ Career Quiz
- iPERSONIC
- HumanMetrics
- SimilarMinds
- Careerone.com.au
- PersonalityType.com
- Typologycentral.com
- Fingerprint for success
- Alternatively, we have many free tests for you to take (I recommend this free personality test)
4. Think, how much is too much?
Money. It’s the main reason why people bother getting jobs. But how many things do you actually need?
The old truism says that money is the root of all kinds of evil. You don’t have to look very far to see the thefts, manslaughters, adulteries, perjuries, and other atrocities that stem from the desire to obtain money.
Your life is limited – don’t waste your time in a job that demands too much from you. It may pay well, but what for? Ask yourself what is important: fancy houses and cars, the latest iPhone or TV, big houses and mortgages … or something else that doesn’t depend on the external world? Happiness, enjoying time with your loved ones, savoring the present moment, learning new skills, and walking a spiritual path are all inner riches you can easily access without excessive money.
So ask yourself, how much money is too much? You need to think about this question carefully. Many people work themselves silly for their entire lives, never really stopping to realize that (1) they don’t have to, (2) overworking decreases their overall quality of life and wellbeing, and (3) they don’t need that much money to live on anyway.
Financial security is important, yes. But be pragmatic and realistic. Calculate how much money you’ll truly need to adequately support yourself and your loved ones, without the soul-draining excess. While you’re at it, check out the supremely interesting philosophy of minimalism for inspiration. Less is more, when all is said and done.
Inner Child Journal:
Go on a journey through the mountains and caves of your heart. Befriend, heal, and nurture the broken child within. Go to the root of your pain and transform old patterns. This is intense and powerful work!
5. Toss a coin (literally)
Eventually, you’ll stumble across a few intriguing job options – but how do you choose between them? My solution is simple: toss a coin. But why do something so seemingly flippant? The answer is that tossing a coin helps to reveal what you really want unconsciously. If you find yourself hesitating over the side the coin landed on after you flipped it, this is a good indication that you either need to (a) rethink both options or (b) choose the other option, as deep down you know it’s a better choice. Note: before you flip a coin, remember to make sure you give a thorough think about both of your options. You don’t want to make hasty, impatient decisions and use the coin as an excuse to “get it over and done with.”
6. Deathbed meditation
To some, this may sound macabre. But if you truly want to find a meaningful job as an introvert, think back on your life from the perspective of your deathbed. What would you be most proud to have committed to? (This is also a great way to personally answer the eternal question, ‘what is the meaning of life?’) Whatever your mind and heart focus on is your answer, your path. It may seem intimidating and unreachable, but by setting small, actionable steps, you can get there.
30+ Jobs for Introverts
Now that we’ve examined how to find a meaningful job as an introvert, let’s look at some suggestions. Take these purely as inspiration. If you have any other ideas about jobs for introverts, please comment below to help make this list more comprehensive:
- Actuary
- Animal groomer
- Animal trainer
- Animal walker
- Archivist
- Artist
- Astronomer
- Auditor
- Biochemist
- Blogger
- Boat/ferry operator
- Bus Driver
- Cleaner
- Data Entry Officer
- Editor
- Factory worker
- Farmhand
- Freelance writer
- Gardener
- Geological engineer
- Geneticist
- Government librarian/library assistant
- Greenhouse tender
- Landscaper
- Mail poster (Postie/Mailman)
- Mathmetician
- Medical laboratory technician
- Mortician
- Musician
- Online counselor
- Pilot
- Records manager/officer
- Software Developer
- Statistician
- Truck driver
- Vlogger (youtube creator)
- Web Programmer
- Writer
- Zoologist
***
Finding a meaningful job as an introvert is unique for everyone. What your heart and soul feel drawn towards may not be what society deems as “successful” or “acceptable.” Ignore those f*ckers. Walk your own path! Listen to your destiny! You have a right to listen to your calling and follow it, even if that means moving one millimeter at a time. Eventually, with commitment and dedication, you will get there.
Tell me, after reading this list of jobs for introverts, which one appeals to you the most? Also, feel free to leave your own recommendations below.
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This is a good one for a introvert. Marijuana grower. In the states where medicinal MJ is legal all states have different rules but I know in Michigan, Colorado for sure when you get your card your allowed to have six plants at a time and when you harvest those plants you can sell your harvest to the dispensary’s it’s a little bit of an investment mainly buying the lights would be the most expensive. I calculated with six plants at a time I could make around $35,000 to $40,000 yearly. Again you would have to find out the rules of the state you live in. It is a BOOMING business very much in demand! The dispensary’s need to get it from somewhere and the government don’t grow it!!! Like I said all states are different and more states will be joining in soon! You’ll have to do some research and make sure you follow ALL the rules.
Stopped reading after “Buss Driver” people everywhere with crazy demands. Literally worst job for introverts.
I lost my favorite job in a greenhouse due to the bad economy in 2009, and the job I accepted was supposed to be away from the front desk, secondary phone and out of sight, but the person doing the extrovert’s job walked out and I’ve had that job ever since my first day! I’d already done front desk and the constant interruptions from phone and visitors and the open workplace setting is chaos for me. The boss is clueless as to why I’m so uncomfortable. I know there are others but introverts don’t talk much, lol.
I have gone on job interviews and completely explained to them that I am there to work, not talk with my neighbor, I can’t stand having to say “good morning” 50 times every morning, and that I need to work alone in my own little area with no one else around. What do they do? Stick me at a table with 5 people surrounding me all talking about anything and everything that does not have to do with the work at hand!!
Please stop listing any software development type jobs as good for introverts. With the ascendance of Agile and pair programming and open plan offices, it has become one of the noisiest and most stressful environments to work in, plus you get treated like a child. We do not even have dividers between desks anymore, meeting rooms don’t have walls anymore so you can hear every.little.thing. We are not even allowed desks with drawers but must put our stuff in lockers so we don’t get distracted while working (but the noise is not regarded as a distraction). If you want a job where you can work in peace and are treated with respect, don’t go into software development. No other professional would ever be treated like this.
True that. I got into that business only to regret it now.
It’s not just software, it’s every single sector you can think of (UK at least). I was informed by a recruitment agency that ‘most offices these days are open plan’. The level of noise in my job beggars belief. Most of it has nothing to do with work, just people gossiping for up to half an hour at a time. Employers cut costs by minimising space and lumping workers into open spaces, while management races to grab the private cubicle offices. They literally don’t care about the neurodiversity of their employees. Seen it.
I didn’t see translator on the list. Wouldn’t that be a good choice for an introvert who is compatible with languages? And does a library assistant job require a degree in a specific field of study?
Being a translator is not a loner’s job. I took my college courses of French – Chinese translation for fours years and i did some small translation jobs at the meantime. You need to deal with people ALL DAY LONG, if not translating, then building personal rapport with them and their clients, and explaining to them whatever they want to know about your culture. Besides, employers often hate introverts. If they see signs of being an introvert in the interview, they will not consider hiring you. You’ll have to fake your personality just to get a job. I did just that several times before I completely burnt out. people will soon realize you are not you said to be and you’ll not feel comfortable faking someone you’re clearly not.
Are you talking about being a translator or an interpreter. When I said translator, I meant dealing with the written language not the spoken language just to clarify. Also, interviews are not the problem. At least for me. The problem is having a job in customer service where you have to split your attention between seven people at a time with no break all day long.
Oh then I have misunderstood you, my mistake. I don’t think you can deal with seven people at the same time even if you were an extrovert. It sounds to require experience more than people skills, if the contact with customers only occurs via telephone or internet. After all, You don’t have to build real relationships with them. You clearly don’t have a problem dealing with people at a regular basis, why not considering a position which demands less interaction with customers? There should be such positions in every profession, there seems to be no need to start a completely new career. It’s just my opinion, though. What I find exhausting about working with people is the relationships I have to build and maintain with them, but that may be different for you.
Yes I would prefer a job with little interaction with people face to face, but that has proven to be a difficulty to obtain. If it was easy, I wouldn’t be here. I am an extreme introvert, but I have the skill set of mirroring an extrovert’s personality and charm. I wanted out of customer service so bad that I tried to get a job in housekeeping for months. Other jobs compatible for an introvert require higher education and expertise or extreme creativity. Customer service jobs are the easiest to get and the worse to have. I deal with psychos all day long or people trying to use me as their psychologist for the day.
That’s true! Customer service is a shitty job for sure. Every time I call them I wonder how on earth they hold their breath while people vent their frustration over something that’s not their fault whatsoever. However, I don’t think it’s just us introverts who find it difficult to deal with. What you’ve got is more impressive than you think – You can successfully mirror an extrovert’s personality, which I have been failing to do for many years, you should be more assertive and confident about your capabilities. It’s not the problem itself which frustrates us, it’s the feeling of being inadequate to solve it. If you’re stuck on this job then you have to make this a less stressful experience by desensitizing yourself. More experience would also help as the human brain is constantly learning to cope with new tasks and situations and it takes time. In the meantime try to get a better job or better education, but let me remind you that there’s no job in the world where you can escape human stupidity all together. As I’ve read in the comments, even a mortician has to serve as an occasional therapist. Imagine that. It’s just one thing in life we all have to deal with, introvert or not.
Thank you for your words. They were very comforting. And your are right about what you said. I’ll keep this job until I can get something more compatible with me, where I don’t have to act on such a high level. It is really exhausting. I’ll have less anxiety and stress dealing with people if it’s not in droves. Or customers asking ridiculous things of me like watching their new born while they go to the bathroom. Oo
It’s my pleasure. It never costs to much to be compassionate. If you can try some of that on your customers, it may work wonders! Another trick I used to do was viewing annoying people as little twigs in the river, as you travel upstream, they’d bump into you but you know they don’t mean to, as they are heading their way and you’re heading yours. I’d just let them go without dwelling on the uneasiness of the encounter. If you can’t do this either, then treat it as an opportunity to learn. Hold or comfort the baby despite it, and next time you’re left with a crying baby you’d be more calm. Of course it takes time. And however stressful you feel right now, you’re not alone. Just like you did with your extrovert’s charm, you’ll get better and better and everything will get easier, given enough time. Best wishes!
Freelance translator – yes I have retrained to do this but would caution that you are going head to head with many freelance translators globally. You also need to keep up your people skills in order to build up networks and stay competitive. Kind of defeats the object. I should have done this 20 years ago before the insane explosion of globalism that has decimated true, professional translation work.
I am a loner in many many ways. I spend most of my time alone. I am happy when I’m home with my music, books and a cup of coffee in my hands. I am most happy in rainy days where everything is serene and peaceful. To me it’s heaven here on earth.After I went to med school, everything changed. I need to talk to people, engage to small talks more frequently, attend to parties and be part of a very big organization full of people. My world revolves on meeting new faces and be part of their lives.Thus, my world revolves on people and crowds. Outside my home is a very busy life, an exhausting one. But whenever I close my door, my home welcomed me with its comforting silence and I am happy once again. I usually grab my blanket and meditate while waiting for my coffee or sometimes place my feet onto a basin of warm water with magnesium salts. I then realized, this is my life now, wearing heels and talk to people.Too bad my alone life has narrowed down to couple of hours.
I took the test on SimilarMinds. The results were very negative. If anyone had been through what I’ve been through he/she would probably score similarly.
Thanks for this site though. And this article. :)
One trade that might be of interest to some, who are mechanically inclined is that of tool and die/machinist. the trade has taken a beating, but the demand is returning as old tradesman are retiring. Generally over interaction is discouraged. A guy that plugs his earbuds in and talks very little is considered a good worker.
The big draw back is in entering the field, which often requires doing very tedious jobs for a few years until you earn some respect. Additionally work is often in smaller shops where the owner may be a bigot, misogynist, and or super religious. You are expected to agree.
Tool and die repair conversations with co workers are technical. Managers generally just want to know how long and how much. Fabrication machinists/tool makers are left alone except for modifications and dimensions. Maybe some jockeying for machine access. Production machining is entry level and very boring, can be fast paced, but may lead to set up and programming jobs. Polishers are considered the odd balls of the whole lot. They are expected to be eccentrics. It takes a a certain kind of personality that can rub on one spot for two days.
Can someone suggest something. My son is 25 years old. He has a degree in history but has been unable to get a job since leaving university 5 years ago with a 2:2. He is very quiet and introverted. He was bullied and around the same time his dad left home (he was 12 years old). We eventually moved and I met my partner who he gets on with. He hasn’t had a friend since he was 12 – he shuts people out. He works voluntarily doing ebay sales at a charity shop. He lives with us and his brother who is a sou chef and his complete opposite (but he has had his own problems – mild bipolar disorder in the past and ongoing). A typical day when not working at the charity shop: he gets up and walks the dog then he job hunts, reads, watches tv, plays computer games and helps with the chores. On odd days he will go out shopping or to the cinema. He is interested in World War 1, sci fi, fantasy type thrillers. He is academic rather than practical. He is kind and considerate and caring but finds it hard to socialise – although he is much better than he used to be. He is also unlucky in that he has an eye condition which means his vision is very reliant on one eye (he has had 2 operations to stop it worsening). We have all encouraged him every way we can think possible. He has very low self esteem. The one thing that would improve his life is a full or part time job that is paid. At this moment he is living on dwindling savings so not even recognised as unemployed or receiving any benefits/help to get a job. I am very worried about him. At this moment he doesn’t feel he has a future. Any ideas anyone please?
He sounds very similar to me. I have a very hard time socializing with people, and am terrible at making friends. I’ve worked as a cashier, and though the customers were stressful I had nice coworkers who were easy to talk to. I currently work as a intern for a electric utility company, and it has been a very stressful job. But one thing I have been able to take from it is a perspective of what these things are like. The unknown of what a job is like is very scary and I remember I couldn’t even imagine working or even getting that far. Now, seeing what job interviews are like I don’t put myself down anymore thinking I can never get though them. And I used to be really intimated by the idea of working with “professionals” who know what they are doing, to realizing that most people are just full of it and there’s nothing to be intimated about no matter what. It’s hard to be the quiet person, and go into a extroverted world because you always feel left out and like you don’t belong, and I have low self esteem because of this. I think once he works a few different places, and gets a new perspective of what the working world is like, he will see that that most people are actually quite ridiculous lol and there is nothing to be intimidated about by them. I know someone who works as a night stocker at Walmart, and she really likes her job because she says its easy and not stressful. I think it would be a good job for someone who doesn’t want to deal with a lot of customers/interactions and to get some working experience.
Another job to add to the list: Pool Maintenance. Drive a bit, add chemicals to peoples pools, skim the leaves, talk to almost no one.
The extroverts have really ^&%$ up this world, haven’t they?
Sometimes you have to look at more than the job/career and look at the environments of different companies. There are places that are socially focused, but are quiet. I went to vocational rehab once in Newark, NJ and was pleased, not by my counselor (she was an ijit), but by how quiet the office was. High-walled cubicles, no endless gossiping, no loud music or gum popping, but they deal with people 9-4.
I am I work as a preschool special education itinerant teacher in New York City. I can’t possibly tell you all the ways I HATE that job, but I cannot seem to get a job outside of teaching to save my life. I’d really like to be a full time blogger, photographer/videographer, but I can’t for the life of me think of how to make that work without a lot of dinero. Seems like everyone online willing to teach you is running a scam. I am an artistic but REALISTIC and autistic introverted highly sensitive person, so right now and for the past 20 years I’ve been trying, mostly on my own because people are usually no help, to get something I’d like to do every day. It’s not so much about being alone as much as it is about controlling the noise and space in my environment. It would be great to have a day job that pays me enough to live on and gives me enough time to actually invest time in building my own thing. I’ve started, but it’s going to be a while. I’m 44. I’ve got plenty of t-i-m-e. (sarcasm)
I’d like to add some gigs to your list. You have some pretty good jobs and I’ve looked at them all on my own. I can tell you med lab tech, bus driver, programmer and editor are not as solitary as you might think (I’ve done med tech and worked with both editors and programmers and know bus drivers need to deal with a lot of the public) but here are some jobs that may surprise you. You won’t be completely alone but you will at least work one to one and have more control over your environment. And for those who like to move around, some of these jobs may allow for travel. If you can get to work without having to go back to school, so much the better:
1. linguist
2. translator (translate writing from one language to another), because Google translate is crap
3. speech language pathologist/speech therapist
4. occupational therapist
5. doula
6. ESL/TESOL teacher (you don’t have to teach a class, you can do a one-to-one)
7. tutor (adults are better than children in my opinion, but only in this area)
8. voice over actor (you can set up your own studio). Relatedly, radio disc jockey for a small non profit station can be okay but the pay is low if there is any.
9. carpenter/electrician (even in theater this may be a good gig if you can get it; apprenticeships are possible). Plumber, too, but then, there’s people.
10. phone sex operator (set up your own studio and work your own hours)
11. community organization or community college instructor (no tenure related drama and your classes can be small). For example, Brokelyn offers people with an expertise the opportunity to teach a class on it in Brooklyn, NY or surrounding areas.
12. logo designer (fiverr.com has a lot of these gigs and you can post gigs starting at $5 a gig and up). You can also design t-shirts and signs, but the competition is high
in fact, being a hobbyist and selling online, like on ebay, may be a good idea, but…then there’s people.
13. Special FX designer/make up designer (if you like robots and ghoulish sort of stuff)
14. Puppeteer
15. animal lab worker (I worked in a lab with rats, mice, etc.).
16. horticulture lab assistant (not a florist or a greenhouse attendant, but someone who works with people who study flowers and trees; your city’s parks department or a non profit may have some part time jobs available)
17. Work at a printing press (Yes, they still exist. I’d love to do that, but you’ll probably need a car to get to and from work)
18. inspector
19. repair person
20. online or on-video advisor. there’s a zillion people on youtube offering advice for free, they just monetize their sites.
21. hospital orderly (transporting patients one by one)
22. radiology tech/ultrasound tech
23. house sitter
24. personal organizer (house or office)
25. food services (not a chef or short-order cook, but a maybe a confectioner, delivery or inspector or even operate your own food truck and hire someone else to handle to public while you cook)
26. exterminator
27. Dog walker, if you like dogs. Dog training if you think you’re tough. Vet assistant if you can get back to school. I’d like to work on a farm someday; farms seem to be quiet places.
28. traveling nurse
29. work at a small special needs hospital for babies or hospice. Believe it or not, it’s very quiet there.
30. Search companies that do not have a lot of press attached to them or . Low level jobs, such as mail clerk in small publishing companies or may be a good way to get something quiet.
Although I agree with you about what extroverts did the world (which I resent them for), I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t use sarcasm at all because my kinds of introverts don’t do that.
I am currently unemployed and I’ve focused my job search into ones that require less socializing. I really just want to get things done and small talk irritates me. Recently, I’ve been interviewed for an Inventory Control Admin job and I realized that the position only required talking to team members occasionally. Shy away from ads that say customer or service-oriented. Maybe look into ads that require you to specialise in a certain function – like, inventory, records keeping or even basic bookkeeping. Some of these skills don’t need extra schooling although if you wish to really develop yourself professionally, investing on education (even if it’s just an online course on Coursera where verified certificates cost around $50) will be necessary.
I have to disagree with you about a bus driver being a loner job. As someone who rides the bus a few times a week, I notice that a bus driver is constantly interacting with people. He/she answers customers’ questions, secure wheelchairs, and even administers first aid if needed. Yes, the driver is the only employee in the vehicle, but that doesn’t mean he/she is a loner.
@ skye teague, I’ve experienced a very similar thing as a brand ambassador (motivator) whereby I spent majority of day roping people in off the street rather than rotating like the rest of the team because of my looks. I appear to be a very extroverted person according to one personality test that I’ve done twice 5 years apart however I have a hard time believing that the results are conclusive enough to change my path. Btw, great article and breakdown! Many people are confused and unhappy because of opting to follow a path their peers chose at the time(ending highschool) and some never right the course but I now know how to justify my change. Merci!