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by Sarah Daren | November 19, 2019

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Introverts aren’t necessarily shy or awkward. But when possible, most wish to avoid large groups, especially group settings like those that occur in many workplaces. As a result, it makes sense for introverts to choose careers that offer independent work environments in which interactions with colleagues are infrequent and limited to small groups or one-on-ones.

Although introverts might not be the most vocal and outgoing, many still want their work to make a strong impact. So here are six great careers that require minimal interaction with other people while also offering the ability to make a difference.

1. Accountant

 Who would want to just crunch numbers all day and barely talk to anyone? Introverts with an affinity for math, that’s who. Certain accounting jobs (but not all) require a large amount of unimpeded focus time, giving introverts a legitimate excuse to need to be alone. There's a secluded nature to many jobs in accounting that suits introverts. Sometimes, even accountants who oversee other accountants rarely have interactions outside of one-on-one consultations with their juniors.  

2. Content Strategist

A content strategist is another desirable job for introverts, especially creative types. The job is technically a marketing position but the farthest marketing job from the sales floor. Content strategists are the creative minds behind companies' brand images. Every great commercial on TV, every magazine ad that grabs your attention, and every jingle that gets stuck in your head began as an idea in a content strategist’s brain.

3. Editor

The title “editor” is quite broad, but all the jobs that fall under the editor umbrella are great for introverts. For example, copyediting is the process of reviewing text, which can be done from anywhere a computer can be used, and thus requires no human interaction. In addition to editing text, editors might also work with images, videos, and audio files. And most editing work of all kinds can be done remotely—in the privacy and quiet of your own home office.

4. SEO Specialist

SEO stands for search engine optimization. In short, an SEO specialist is an analytics-based writer. Both sides of an SEO specialist’s job are ideal for an introvert, since the research is all computer-based, and the writing portion of the job can also be done from the specialist’s bedroom or even the middle of the woods. Relaying the analytics to colleagues who need it can also be done almost exclusively via email, making human interactions few and far between.

5. Business Analyst

This is another job that doesn’t require much more than a computer and some time to focus. Business analysts gather information such as market analyses, human resource reports, and quality metrics, then use this data to report to executives and ensure that economics within a given business are streamlined and profits are maximized. Introverts and data collection go together well, and any job requiring more research than discussion would be a nice fit. If you’re an introvert looking to take that next step in business analytics, consider an online business analytics degree that you can pursue from the comfort of your home.

6. Social Media Specialist

Social media specialists wear a lot of metaphorical hats, but most of these hats are worn in a secluded workspace, so introverts shouldn't be put off by the word “social” in this job title. Social media services like Facebook and Instagram use algorithms to determine which users should be shown which advertisements. And social media specialists spend a lot of their time analyzing this data and determining what to include in the content of a given brand’s social media campaign. A popular hashtag can be the difference between 10 people seeing a post and 10,000 (or more) seeing it. There could be some face time required for a social media specialist to gather content (photos, videos, etc.), but most can be snapped in a minute and taken home to edit and beautify in the comfort of an introvert’s home office.

A Final Note

There are many jobs in the digital world that can keep an introvert happy in the workplace, and human resources departments should make this a priority (and many are) as a recent study on introverts proved that introverts tend to over-perform under pressure, whereas more extroverted employees are quicker to fold when the pressure mounts at “crunch time” in the workplace.

In addition, introverts tend to be very good mediators in the workplace. They tend to keep to themselves and thus have a respected opinion from all side of an issue. It’s also no secret that most businesses have downtime, and where employees who need human contact tend to make this downtime a social hour, introverts tend to keep themselves busy by trying to think of ways to increase business—and prevent more down time from happening so they can avoid another dreaded social hour!

Any of the above careers are ideal for an introvert, and there are many more like them, but no matter the job, remember that there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert. In fact, there's a lot right with it as far as maintaining a successful business is concerned.

Sarah Daren has been a consultant for startups in multiple industries, including health and wellness, wearable technology, nursing, and education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life, including her position as a yoga instructor and raising her two children. When she's not watching the New York Yankees play, Sarah enjoys practicing yoga and reading a good book on the beach. 

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