18 of the best jobs for introverts

“Finding a truly satisfying career may be difficult for many introverts,” says Mahesh Kumar, a spokesperson for the Transcription Certification Institute. Most careers require interaction with others – coworkers, vendors, the public – but, says Kumar, “there are a lot of jobs that not only pay well and allow you to work from home but also give you the freedom to not constantly talk to people or deal with the public directly.”

Amma Marfo, Digital Content Lead of Swoot, agrees. “Contrary to popular opinion, no skill, ability, trait, or career path is outside the real possibility of competency for introverts or extroverts,” she says. “Being in a supportive environment and having supportive supervisors, coworkers, and educators can help either type stretch their skills toward things that may not come naturally. This is something we should all aspire to do.”

Introverts, Marfo says, really blossom in roles where they have time to consider and refine their thoughts before communicating. And there are many great jobs for introverts if you consider their strengths. “Roles that have heavy amounts of writing, or even crafting posts for and monitoring social media (such as the one I presently hold with podcast company Swoot), can be great for this. Given the time to let their thoughts develop organically, and the space to share them without interruption, [introverts] can truly shine.”

Leesa Schipani, a partner at KardasLarson Human Resources Consulting, lists just a few famous (and surprising) self-described introverts who prove that you don’t need to be outgoing to accomplish big things: Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Meryl Streep, and J.K. Rowling.

Here are some of the best jobs for introverts. See which ones interest you.

“I’m a content writer, and I’ve found it’s a perfect fit for my introverted personality,” says writer Alex Lancaster. “I began my career as a freelance writer and then moved into copywriting at a marketing agency. While I did have to occasionally present my work to clients, the day-to-day offered a lot of downtime for me to quietly work on my own. In my current position, I’m an in-house content writer for a software company. This means that I don’t need to interact with clients at all, and presentations are rare. I’m able to build strong relationships with my small team.”

“Working as a programmer/developer is a great job for introverts,” says Ben Taylor, serial solopreneur and founder of HomeWorkingClub.com, an advice portal for aspiring freelancers. “This kind of work is a naturally quiet and solitary pursuit, and there are lots of opportunities out there, on both an employed and freelance basis.”

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“This is a very in-demand skill, so learning graphic design is good for either a side business or a full-time job,” says Caitlin Proctor, Marketing Manager at zipjob.com. “It allows introverts to be creative without being put on the spot.”

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“I currently work for Harvard Business School Online and previously worked for a number of consumer technology companies, including Gazelle and TripAdvisor, and all three organisations are/were staffed with a majority of introverts,” says Michele C. Reynolds. “In this technology-dependent world, it’s a friendlier environment for introverts. Many colleagues use headphones at their desks, so it’s very much like being alone much of the day.”

This may seem odd, but Jeanna Valenti, publicist at Lightbox PR, believes that public-relations consulting is a good job for introverts. “All of my time, attention, and energy are focused on getting my clients media coverage, so I am able to be the behind-the-scenes person who is inwardly focused,” she explains. “It’s a good balance, since most of my clients are extroverts out in the world.”

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Dietitians and nutritionists work behind the scenes in hospitals, schools, and health-care facilities, often on a one-on-one basis or with a small group of colleagues, which is an ideal setting for someone who is introverted but still enjoys social interaction. “Dietitians and nutritionists can also be self-employed and work from home,” says Kumar.

In addition, dietitians have pretty good job security; at least, it’s not one of the jobs that might disappear in the next 25 years.

Nick Heritage of Heritage Armory says he was having trouble finding a job that fit his introverted personality. “My solution was starting my own online store,” he explains. “I deal with people as needed for the success of my business from a comfortable distance by e-mail or phone. It’s worked out well, and I’m much happier.”

“Transcription jobs are ideal for introverts, as they are extremely flexible as far as the time frame and the amount of work you do are concerned,” says Kumar. “You do not require any client communication, just need to provide accurate transcripts on time.”

Data-entry work doesn’t require any face-to-face communication. Plus, you have the freedom to make money from home with basic computer skills, according to Kumar.