Jobs for introverts

By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

Do you cringe at the thought of networking with strangers and secretly pray to come down with the flu so you can avoid such situations? Ever feel like you’re the only person who despises working in teams or breaks into a cold sweat when giving presentations? If so, you’re in good company.


Consider the following icons: Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Katherine Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, and Albert Einstein. Each of them has been labeled an introvert and chances are—if you’ve ever experienced the symptoms above—you have too.


“Although introverts make up only 25 percent of the population, they make up a majority of the gifted population. Many highly successful people are thought to be introverts—even some presidents of the United States,” says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., co-author of "200 Best Jobs for Introverts" (JIST © 2008).


But what about introverts who aren’t vying for the presidency or hoping to direct an award-winning film? What do they do?


“Introverts sometimes get very frustrated working in today’s service-based economy, with so many jobs that emphasize serving the public or working in teams. Fortunately, there are plenty of good jobs that let people work by themselves and without interruption,” says Shatkin.


He identifies the following occupations as some of the best jobs for introverts who want a career that complements their personality.