Studies show that personalities affect one’s success in their career goals – entrepreneurs have risk-taking attitudes, graphic designers are more creative as they often have to think outside the box, and IT professionals are more independent workers. It’s important to know yourself and what you want, and then to choose a role that fits according to your personality and preferences.
While it may seem that the corporate world is only suited for extroverted people, there are some amazing roles and opportunities that would be great for introverts as well. These roles allow for more independent work, focusing on deep thinking and minimizing constant social interactions with teammates.
If you’re an introvert, here are some jobs that may best suit you and your future goals:
Data Analyst
Average yearly pay: $62,000 - $98,000 (Glassdoor)
With the growing importance of data in modern businesses and startups, the role of Data Analysts has become indispensable. Particularly for introverted individuals, this profession meshes well with their strengths and often holds immense power in shaping crucial decisions. Data Analysts are experts and get really comfortable with huge amounts of data - think databases, spreadsheets, and surveys - to spot trends and patterns. It's a job that calls for a good deal of focus, a perfect fit for introverts who thrive in such environments.
How to become one: For students, consider getting a degree in relevant fields like statistics, mathematics, or computer and data science. If you’ve already graduated, there are also boot camps and certification programs you may enroll in to sharpen your data skills. A few programming languages to explore would be SQL, Python, and/or R.
Transcribers
Average yearly pay: $29,000 - $71,000 (Indeed)
As more people prefer to watch videos instead of still images, there is a big demand to turn speech into text, like subtitles for video streaming services and even captions for TikTok videos. This calls for transcribers (or transcriptionists) - people who listen carefully and type fast.
This role often can be done remotely, which would be perfect for introverts who prefer to work from home. Some other opportunities for this can be as an assistant for a court reporter for trials and hearings, legal transcriptionist for court proceedings, and media transcriber for movies and TV shows.
How to become one: No set degree is needed for transcriptionists, but attending speed-typing workshops can help. Enhancing active listening skills aids in identifying speakers and reducing errors. For specialized transcriptions, getting acquainted with industry jargon and unique accents would help.
Quality Assurance (QA) Tester
Average yearly pay: $56,000 - $88,000 (Glassdoor)
Just as there are talented individuals responsible for developing the applications on our devices, there are also dedicated professionals ensuring these apps perform flawlessly before they're launched to the public. These are the QA (Quality Assurance) testers! A QA tester's job is mostly about testing products in the early stages. They put the products through tough tests to find and fix problems before the users see them. If you love solving puzzles or identifying software bugs, this job might be a good fit for you.
How to become one: According to Coursera, those who go for QA jobs have studied computer science, computer applications, or IT, but you can also opt for certifications from Google, LinkedIn Learning, DataCamp, among others. Analytical thinking and thinking outside the box are important skills here as discovering glitches needs critical thinking and creativity.
Knowledge Management Analyst
Average yearly pay: $60,000 - $93,000 (Glassdoor)
As information becomes more accessible, it could be overwhelming to manage, plan, and make decisions, especially in the corporate world. This sets up the stage for Knowledge Management Analysts to thrive.
With a lot of independent research and analysis to optimize operations, knowledge management analysts help create a better system to learn key processes within the organization. It also presents an opportunity for a stronger sense of ownership of tasks and projects, good for introverts who prefer autonomy and accountability in the role.
How to become one: Indispensable skills like research, data management, information organization, and analytical thinking are crucial when applying for the job. The simplest path to this career is entry-level jobs in data entry, information retrieval, and administrative roles to work your way up the corporate ladder. Getting a Certified Knowledge Manager certification could also boost your chances of getting hired.
SEO Writer
Average yearly pay: $46,000 - $74,000 (Glassdoor)
SEO writers determine what shows up on search engines and are experts at getting their page on the first page of Google. This kind of independent, structured, and detail-oriented work is good for introverts who take their time researching, writing, and optimizing content.
How to become one: SEO writing follows guidelines and best practices to achieve optimal results, so it’s good to familiarize yourself with these. Participating in online courses is also recommended to understand concepts like on-page optimization, link building, and how search engines work. Topics covered by SEO articles also need to be relevant, so it’s good to keep up with trends in the industry you’re writing for.
All things considered, picking a job as an introvert will heavily depend on the skills you already have, your level of education, and how willing you are to learn new things. My recommendation is to put yourself out there and find a job that suits your needs while still achieving your career goals. Rooting for you!