What are the best jobs for introverts?
Hi! Talking to people makes me wanna crawl into a hole and never leave. Are there good career options I can pursue if I want to interact with people as little as possible? Thanks.
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I recommend reading a book called "Quiet: The Power of Introverts." It will help you realize that being an introvert doesn’t limit you from any career path. All of us introverts can be extroverted when we want to—the only difference we have from extroverts is that we need time alone to recharge.
Introverts are amazing at any job. We're very collaborative; we don't need to be the center of attention. We work well with others, we listen, and we add meaning and value. So try not to limit yourself from any career. Just make sure whatever job you look at, you have time to recharge, and are not always working in a group or team.
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Introverts are amazing at any job. We're very collaborative; we don't need to be the center of attention. We work well with others, we listen, and we add meaning and value. So try not to limit yourself from any career. Just make sure whatever job you look at, you have time to recharge, and are not always working in a group or team.
My thoughts aren't necessarily career options, but I'll share some advice I have for how to be great at your career as an introvert. First of all, you want to understand the power that you have. Typically, introverts are brainstormers, which means we spend more time in our heads than we do actually talking.
The good thing about this is that when your ideas come out, they come out very fully flushed with bullet points and shadows and side streets, because introverts typically like to present the best of who we are in a way that shows that we've been thinking about it. We're typically not big on "failing forward", like a doer would be. And so this can be a strength of ours.
Additionally, sometimes introverts can be a bit quieter in meetings, which isn't a bad thing. You just want to pick the moments when you say your points to add value that way. And sometimes if you don't feel comfortable in meetings, that means being intentional and grabbing people right after the meeting, because introverts tend to be great one-on-one. So, having those one-on-one conversations before meetings or after meetings, leaning into your power, leaning into the fact that you're very, very thoughtful, I think those are all strengths for introverts.
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The good thing about this is that when your ideas come out, they come out very fully flushed with bullet points and shadows and side streets, because introverts typically like to present the best of who we are in a way that shows that we've been thinking about it. We're typically not big on "failing forward", like a doer would be. And so this can be a strength of ours.
Additionally, sometimes introverts can be a bit quieter in meetings, which isn't a bad thing. You just want to pick the moments when you say your points to add value that way. And sometimes if you don't feel comfortable in meetings, that means being intentional and grabbing people right after the meeting, because introverts tend to be great one-on-one. So, having those one-on-one conversations before meetings or after meetings, leaning into your power, leaning into the fact that you're very, very thoughtful, I think those are all strengths for introverts.
Personally, I don’t like putting people in boxes based on personality tests. I’ve seen introverts thrive in roles like sales, which are usually seen as “extroverted” jobs—because they’re passionate about the product or cause.
That said, many introverts might feel more comfortable in roles with less social stimulation, like tech, software engineering, data analysis, or operations. But more than personality type, I think environment and leadership matter most. The right manager and culture can make any job a fit.
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That said, many introverts might feel more comfortable in roles with less social stimulation, like tech, software engineering, data analysis, or operations. But more than personality type, I think environment and leadership matter most. The right manager and culture can make any job a fit.
I've worked with many self-identified introverts in the past and there are great options out there for stable, meaningful, and well-paying careers.
Consider:
Software Developer – Mostly coding, problem-solving, and debugging. Limited meetings.
Graphic Designer – Creative work with client feedback, but mostly solo.
Technical Writer – Writing manuals, guides, or documentation with occasional team input.
Actuary – Heavy on data, math, and analysis with limited communication.
Data Analyst / Data Scientist – Work with numbers, patterns, and reports—minimal meetings.
As much as you don't want a ton of interaction in your day-to-day life, remember that getting any job (and getting better more paying ones in the future) will require a higher and more tactical level of human interaction. So as you look for roles that best fit your personality, don't forget to work on those important skills needed to best advocate for yourself throughout your career.
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Consider:
Software Developer – Mostly coding, problem-solving, and debugging. Limited meetings.
Graphic Designer – Creative work with client feedback, but mostly solo.
Technical Writer – Writing manuals, guides, or documentation with occasional team input.
Actuary – Heavy on data, math, and analysis with limited communication.
Data Analyst / Data Scientist – Work with numbers, patterns, and reports—minimal meetings.
As much as you don't want a ton of interaction in your day-to-day life, remember that getting any job (and getting better more paying ones in the future) will require a higher and more tactical level of human interaction. So as you look for roles that best fit your personality, don't forget to work on those important skills needed to best advocate for yourself throughout your career.
I work as a truck driver. Most of my working hours are spent on the road and I rarely have to talk to people. I used to work in a corporate office job and it feels SO good to not have to go to a million meetings every day. I also used to work retail and that was even worse. But when you're a truck driver the road is peaceful and I can enjoy time by myself. I like that I can enjoy the scenery and listen to audiobooks or music while I drive, and then if I'm feeling lonely I can always call up a friend or my wife.
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Have you considered freelance work? You get to work pretty independently, and the only time you're talking to clients is through written messages. You can do freelance work with tons of different skills, from writing to video editing to software development and more!
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I'm an introvert and love my job as an editor! I work from home and don't have to directly interact with any of the writers I critique. I just leave comments on their articles if I have feedback or revisions for them. If there's feedback beyond little copyedits, I might send them an email or set up a quick call but those are not very common.
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I get it. Definitely stay away from social networking or costumer service, there are a lot of online jobs so you can work from home. If this doesn’t work, pretend you’re mute.
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The quiz says I'm an introvert but I actually act as an extrovert. I think there are levels to each?
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Well I did see a job application for professional crawling into a hole and never leaving for the longest amount of time. I think it’s an Olympic sport practice or something. I heard it’s a really good job for introverts. (Don’t worry bro I’m also an introvert, that’s why I’m anonymous)
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I've switched to the night shift at my grocery store job and I'm really liking it as someone who tends to be more introverted. You don't get as many customers on the graveyard shift so it's more quiet and you're mostly just straightening things up, restocking the shelves, doing some cleaning, things like that. It also means that my days are free so I can run errands while everyone else is at work! It might take a little bit of adjusting if you're not naturally a night owl, but I'd say it's worth it.
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I'm a software engineer. Sometimes I have meetings if a manager wants to talk through the details of something they want me to build, but usually those are quick chats with just a few clarifying questions. Most of my time is spent coding in blissful solitude! I also get to work from home so I don't even have to worry about being in the same building as my coworkers haha
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