A few weeks ago, I did a post on nine job and career paths that are great for introverts.
And while I do think those careers are well suited for introverts, the reality is introverts can be good at virtually any job. The thing that will really make or break an introvert at their job is their work environment.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at eight things introverts should take into consideration when they’re looking for a job.
Calm or independent workspace
Part of being an introvert means that you’re more easily drained by other people’s energies. You may also find that busy, loud, or bright work environments prove to be too much on your introvert sensibilities.
Because of that, introverts will likely be more productive in jobs that have a calmer, quieter work environment (such as a library) or an independent workspace (like their own office).
Open offices are very popular right now, but they aren’t great for introverts. They leave introverts exposed to other people throughout the entire workday, sucking their energy dry.
They also make introverts more prone to other workplace distractions. This can include bright overhead lighting and loud, intrusive conversations.
Choosing a job with calmer and/or independent workspaces will allow you to preserve as much of your energy as possible so you can be more productive and effective at your job.
(However, if you find yourself in an open office situation, here are some tips to help navigate that.)
Reasonable hours
Introverts legitimately need time to recharge. This is particularly true if your job involves any kind of human interaction.
As a result, introverts will likely be more successful if they have jobs that have a relatively regular, reasonable, schedule with clear time off.
Now, what’s “reasonable” is going to vary by person to person. Some introverts may be more equipped to work fewer, longer shifts (like three 12 hour nursing shifts) with lots of time off to prep and recover before and after.
While others may be more suited for a more traditional nine to five schedule, which allows evenings and weekends to recharge.
The point is, each of these schedules gives introverts time to rest and power up so they can continue to be their bests.
Ideally, introverts shouldn’t be working more than full-time hours (unless their job is very calming, enjoyable, and restorative).
Low to moderate stress level
Because introverts lose so much energy being around people, adding extreme stress to the work environment can really crush an introvert.
It’s not that introverts can’t handle high-stress jobs. They’re typically great at rising to the occasion. But this can be especially taxing on introverts in the long run.
This isn’t to say that introverts should avoid jobs with moments of high stress. That would be nearly impossible and rule out too many excellent careers. It’s just the jobs that have prolonged and ever-present stress that you might want to be wary of.
For instance, surgeons have their fair share of high-stress situations in the operating room. But that’s not all their job is. They also spend a fair amount of time consulting, studying, researching, and updating charts. And that’s to say nothing of the surgeries that go smoothly.
Boundaries
Because introverts need downtime to recharge, it’s typically really important that there be some clear boundaries between working time and off time.
This means introverts really shouldn’t be expected to check their email, make calls, or text their boss when they are not officially on the clock.
Sure, every so often, there may be some kind of emergency, but as a whole, introverts should avoid jobs that don’t give them the time they need to disconnect from work and recharge.
High Satisfaction
Most introverts are happier if they know their jobs actually have meaning.
In a lot of ways, this isn’t surprising. No matter what you do for a living, your job is taking a fair amount of your precious energy. So if you’re giving your energy away, you better feel like it’s worth it at the end of the day.
What each introvert finds satisfying is going to vary. Some may get great joy out of creating video games, while others might thoroughly enjoy delivering mail.
Both jobs serve important roles in society and involve different environments and skillsets.
The point is, introverts are typically not the types to be satisfied just working for a paycheck. So when you’re job hunting, make sure you’re applying to jobs you would actually enjoy doing, not just jobs that pay well.
Fair compensation
A lot of introverts are people pleasers, and many also look to avoid confrontation.
As a result, introverts are sometimes willing to accept a job for less money than they’re worth or do extra work for no compensation what so ever.
This is a mistake.
Your job takes up your time and energy. If you ask me, there is nothing that’s more valuable to an introvert.
So if you’re giving your time and energy away to your job, you need to make sure you’re fairly compensated for it.
If you’d like some tips on how to speak up for yourself, check out this post on how to advocate for yourself as an introvert.
Positive coworker interactions
Negative, mean, harsh, or overly competitive people can be incredibly draining. And if you’re an introvert working someplace full of these types of people, it can leave you unnecessarily fried.
This isn’t to say you will get along with every person you work with or that you should walk away from a job as soon as someone gets negative.
You won’t, and you shouldn’t.
But if you find that the work climate as a whole is sucking you dry, then you might want to think about finding another job. Even if the work is rewarding, it’s usually not worth it if the environment is killing you.
It also can’t hurt to ask if you can speak to an employee about the work environment at a job interview. This way, you’ll have some idea of the environment before you sign up. (And if an employer gives you a hard no on this, that might be a red flag.)
A communicative, supportive, and flexible supervisor
The majority of the population is extroverted. This can mean that workplaces are created and designed with extroverts in mind.
As a result, sometimes the systems and operations at a place of work aren’t always conducive to introvert success. But if you have a good supportive supervisor, this won’t be a problem.
A good communicative, supportive, and flexible supervisor is typically important no matter if your introverted or extroverted.
But since introverts’ needs aren’t always considered upfront, it’s particularly helpful if you have a supervisor who is more open to making modifications to meet your own specific needs.
This will lead to a happier, peaceful, and productive work environment, which will help you be happier and productive in you work life!
For more introvert life tips, check out the other introvert posts!
Looking for more in-depth tips on how to manage your introvert work life?
If you want to dig a little deeper into this topic, check out the Introvert Life Guide!
This guide was designed to help you build the introvert life of your dreams. And it’s full of plenty of tips and tricks to help you manage your introverted life at work.
It will also help you embrace your introverted nature and build a life to help you thrive!
Sound off: What do you look for in a work environment as an introvert? Tell us about it in the comments!