20 Best Jobs for Introverts: When Being Reserved Is An Advantage

Introversion is having its moment in the spotlight these days. It's because many of the qualities that introverts possess are highly valued by plenty of employers. And based on these qualities, you can even determine what the best jobs for introverts are. 

On the one hand, it's true that thanks to their more reserved nature, introverts can have it hard sometimes. Especially when it comes to job search, let career progression alone. 

In the professional world that values first impressions, confidence, and oftentimes aggressiveness, it can sadly hurt their chances of getting a job.

But on the other hand, while their natural character traits often lead them to be less “out there”, they also make them more diligent, focused, and harder to distract.

So, if you're an introvert, there's no reason to despair. There are jobs out there that are the perfect fit for you. 

We’ve picked the 20 best jobs for introverts — jobs that best suit your preferences and abilities.

Which type of introvert are you?

First things first. To know in which job field you'd be a star, you have to know what kind of an introvert you are. 

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an introvert is “a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone.”

But every person is different and no introvert is the same as another introvert. 

For this reason, psychologist Jonathan Cheek and his team argued for another, more precise model.

According to Cheek, there are four different types of introversion:

• Social introverts. These are the closest to the commonly held view of introversion. It’s a preference for socializing in small groups instead of large ones. Yet, introverts who fall within this category aren’t shy or socially anxious. They simply prefer situations in which they don’t have to interact with too many people at once.
• Thinking introverts. Unlike social introverts, their energy isn’t drained by social interaction. Instead, they’re simply thoughtful, self-reflective, and have rich inner lives. You could even mistake them for extroverts on the surface. Yet, they tend to get lost in an internal fantasy world and are often highly imaginative and creative.
• Anxious introverts. They seek solitude because they feel awkward and self-conscious around other people as they’re not quite confident in their own social skills. Even if they’re alone, they tend to go through past situations in their mind and scrutinize their behavior.
• Restrained introverts. They often appear laid-back and aloof. They prefer to think before they speak and sometimes seem to operate at a slightly slower pace. They’re slow to get going and need a bit of a warm-up before they spring into action.

Sounds like you? Let's now see which job might be a good fit.

20 best jobs for every type of introvert

Each of the types above finds the most fulfillment and accomplishment in different kinds of jobs. We wanted to consider these preferences when composing this list.

Below you can find the best jobs for introverts of each individual type. 

While reading it, you should keep in mind that no categorization is perfect. You might even find yourself fitting multiple types at once.

1. Social introvert jobs

If you’re a social introvert, you should pay close attention to picking the right work environment. 

While many social introverts might discover that working from home is great for them, others might miss other people. 

They should just avoid working in environments that are crowded, noisy, or don’t offer much privacy.

Most factors don’t depend as much on the career as on your individual employer. This is part of the reason why social introverts have the highest number of options to choose from.

Social introverts may want to consider a career in: 

• Skilled trades like woodworking, plumbing, or baking
• Animal training
• Computer administration
• Interpreting/translating
• Mechanic work

2. Thinking introvert jobs

If you’re a thinking introvert, you probably derive the most satisfaction from working on creative tasks during which you’re able to develop new ideas and innovations.

You should be looking for jobs that will provide you with enough stimuli to fuel these creative processes.

The best jobs for introverts of this type would be in fields like:

• Design
• Engineering
• Artistic practice
• Software development
• Copywriting/Social media management
• Video game development

3. Anxious introvert jobs

Even though anxious introverts might feel really awkward in social situations, they’re usually absolute heroes when it comes to work that requires close attention to detail.

So, the best jobs for introverts of this type involve critical work where failure is not an option or jobs that revolve around keeping people safe.

While some of these jobs can be quite stressful, none of them will expose you to anxiety-inducing social situations:

• Accounting/auditing
• Night cleaner/Watchman
• Commercial pilot
• Proofreader
• Archivist

4. Restrained introvert jobs

As a restrained introvert, you think before you speak. In fact, before you do anything at all, you think about all the possible consequences first.

This comes with a knack for observation and seeing the big picture. And while you might be slow to get going, once you do, there’s no stopping you.

Best jobs for introverts of this type demand continuous effort over long periods of time. 

Thanks to your gentle nature and good analytical skills, you might find success and accomplishments in academia or counseling:

• Science
• Humanities
• Analytics
• Counseling
• Creative writing

Find your passion 

Of course, it’s impossible to list every possible job suited for introverts of each type. Don’t let this list limit your options in any way.

In the end, the best way for an introvert — or anyone for that matter — to find a job is to find their passion first.

Once you’ve found it, you can begin to search for a work environment or position that would allow you to work at your passion in an environment that gives your privacy and allows you to work at your own pace.

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Martin Poduska in 2017.