Careers for Introverts

While both introverts and extroverts can find success in any role, if you have an introverted personality you may be attracted to certain types of work.

When  choosing a career, it’s important to take your personality traits into  consideration. What makes one person tick, may not work for others. While extroverts thrive in customer-facing roles like sales development, account management, and project management, introverts may prefer positions with more independent work time.

Read on to learn about the careers best-suited to introverts. But first, let’s examine the characteristics of introverts and extroverts.

Introverts vs Extroverts

Introverts enjoy their own company the best and thrive when left to their own devices in quiet spaces. They usually avoid large social gatherings as they find them draining. In contrast, extroverts crave attention and love to make their presence known. They like to talk, express themselves, and attend frequent social gatherings. It's estimated that 47 percent of the population in the United States qualify as introverts. Contrary to popular belief, introverts are not all soft-spoken, painfully shy, or socially inept.

Most introverts prefer the peace and quiet of being left alone rather than engaging in general chit-chat. Every person has a different thought process and reacts differently to external stimuli and motivating factors. Most introverts have no problem adapting to their environment and workplace. They prefer working independently and being self-reliant.

Highly Productive Introverts

A  few decades ago, “introvert” was a personality trait to be avoided by  hiring managers. Most ads would often brazenly state that only  “extroverts” were welcome to apply, while the quieter ones were usually  ignored. But over the years, times have changed and employers have changed their stance.  Recruiters have realized that it’s the introverts  who are more productive in the long run, as they aren’t constantly  running around looking for social interaction like extroverts. That being said, some introverts do come across obstructions that other personality types don’t have to deal with. Extroverts are fueled by social interactions and friendships at work or a good paycheck. Introverts tend to focus harder on the job at hand and want to work in a more meaningful role. If an introvert isn't enjoying the job then they’re more likely to start resenting the work.  

Types of Jobs Suited to Introverts

While on the lookout for jobs, an introvert must seek the following in a prospective workplace:

• Look for roles that depend more on one-on-one interactions, rather than having to face large groups at once.
• Seek out companies that can offer quieter workspaces and avoid ones that are noisy and open.
• Look for roles that involve independent work rather than depending on a collaborative effort.
• Look for roles that don’t swamp you, but allow you enough space to work on one thing at a time.  

Top Careers Perfect for Introverts

If you’re an introvert, the following careers should be perfect for you:

1. Software Engineering

Computer programming, software development, and software engineering are booming industries well-suited to introverts.  Depending on your area of specialty, you could be involved in app development, website design, or embedded software systems. You’ll need technical knowledge of languages like C++, Java, PHP, Python, JavaScript, and HTML. Most  large-scale software projects involve teams working together. However,  the time spent in meetings is usually kept to a minimum. You’ll perform  most of your collaboration work through digital systems like GitHub. This will allow you to sit alone and undisturbed while you work writing code. On average, a software engineer in the US earns around $105,000 annually. To kickstart your coding career, enroll in our software development bootcamp. This online course will teach you career-ready programming skills in both front-end and back-end technologies. Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, along with PHP, SQL, and database design. We’ll help you land a full-stack developer position at a top tech company.

2. Computer System Administration

In this role, you’ll be responsible for the installation and configuration LAN (Local Area Networks) and WAN (Wide Area Networks). You’ll also need to maintain computer systems to ensure all business functions keep running flawlessly. This kind of work will mostly take place behind-the-scenes and involve minimal interaction. You’ll be left alone to carry out your technical duties, dealing with servers, networks, hardware devices, and internet connection security. You’ll be expected to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, hardware, and software systems. A computer system administrator in the US can earn up to $87,000 annually.

3. Website Administration

In today’s connected world, companies understand the importance of a strong digital presence. The  internet is growing exponentially as more and more websites are being  created on a daily basis. It’s the job of a website administrator to manage these websites. Your core duties will include maintaining site infrastructure, configuring access for different  users, setting up email servers, connecting back-end components, monitoring website performance, updating web pages, moderating content, and providing technical support. On average, a website administrator in the US takes home a salary of $80,000.

4. App Development

The  smartphone revolution is showing no signs of slowing. People now rely  on their smart devices for a range of everyday activities. From booking a  cab to ordering groceries, it’s now hard to imagine a world without  apps. Working as an app developer you’ll spend most of your time writing code. You’ll be involved in designing creative interface prototypes, testing app performance, updating and maintaining apps, and integrating features into the systems you develop. You'll also be expected to troubleshoot and debug apps when necessary and write handbooks or technical documents for end-users.  As an app developer, you can expect to earn anywhere between $60,000 to $100,000, depending on your level of experience. If you’re interested in this exciting field, read our blog post on how to become an app developer for further information.

5. Social Media Marketing

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are three of the world’s biggest social media platforms. With billions of users each, they can be used as powerful marketing tools. Social media marketing involves leveraging social platforms to connect with customers and boost brand awareness. The role is perfect for creative individuals that enjoy thinking outside the box to develop effective campaigns. You’ll need to craft stand-out content to capture the attention of customers and deliver your message. Despite the role requiring customer communication, much of the interaction will be carried out digitally, where introverts can thrive. A social media manager in the US can earn around $55,000 annually.

6. Data Engineering

Companies are collecting more data than ever before. From direct customer  information like names and addresses to indirect metrics like browsing  history and previous purchases. All this data needs to be analyzed and assessed for businesses to draw meaningful conclusions. Data engineers are responsible for collecting and managing huge amounts of information. If you enjoy working independently and number crunching big data, this role is perfect for you. You’ll need to learn data wrangling techniques to build, transfer, and implement data systems and help make data-driven decisions. Your role could involve AI (Artificial Intelligence) analytics and ML (Machine Learning) as you attempt to break down large datasets. You can expect to earn up to $113,000 as a data engineer. To get started in this rewarding and lucrative field, sign-up for our online data engineering bootcamp. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to fast-track your big data career.

7. Technical Writing

As a technical writer, you'll be expected to write highly technical manuals, non-fiction articles, and documents that are clearly articulated and logically organized. You’ll need to be a master of grammar and vocabulary to ensure you communicate your points effectively. The role is well-suited to people with an introverted personality. You can work independently from home or in a quiet section of the office. The work doesn’t require a great deal of social interaction, presentations, or meetings with colleagues. On average, a technical writer in the US can earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on your specific role and level of experience.

8. Graphic Design

This career is perfect for introverts with an eye for design and an artistic flair. Initially, you may have to work in an agency but as you gain experience you could always freelance from the comfort of your own home or studio. You'll spend most of your time honing your craft in a quiet space. Graphic design entails integrating client proposals into design ideas, developing graphics, layouts, and concepts, deciding the size of illustrative material, suggesting improvements, and crafting prototypes. You can work on projects from advertising firms, broadcasting companies, print agencies, software developers, or web designers. A graphic designer in the US can earn around $50,000 to $80,000.

Find A Career Where You Can Thrive

If you’re an introvert who loves getting into a worthwhile project with minimal distractions, there are plenty of career opportunities out there for you. Take a look at our tech careers blog for further inspiration. You can also check out our range of online courses perfect for home study.