The 8 Best Jobs for Introverts

According to Psychology Today, if you're an introvert, here are a few potential truths about you -- your best thinking occurs when you're alone, you can be an exceptional leader (particularly if your team is self-driven), and you enjoy having time to yourself.

Additionally, psychologist Carl Jung described an introvert as someone who attains energy alone, in minimally stimulating environments -- versus extraverts, who attain energy in large group settings.

Sound familiar?

Of course, people can, and often do, have a mixture of both extraversion and introversion. For instance, an extrovert might prefer exercising alone at home, while an introvert might prefer loud group workout classes.

However, if you typically derive energy from your alone time, and if you often think best by yourself, it's likely that you'll excel at certain jobs more naturally than others.

To ensure you choose a career in which your natural strengths are both valued and encouraged, take a look at our list of the eight best jobs for introverts.

1. Blogger

Imagine this -- for long hours of the day, you're asked to sit alone, research various topics, and write about them. Typically, your schedule is up to you. As long as you finish your blog posts by a certain deadline, it doesn't matter where or when you write them.

If you're an introvert, this likely sounds very appealing to you. You have ample opportunity to think by yourself, and craft content alone with little interruption.

I may be biased, but being a blogger lends itself well to an introvert's desired lifestyle. If you're particularly fond of your alone time, you can even seek out remote blogging positions.

Additionally, if you're an introvert, you might enjoy the ability to express yourself creatively through blogging. Since social situations might give you anxiety, it makes sense to choose writing as an outlet to express yourself genuinely and thoughtfully.

2. Editor

Similar to a blogger, a content editor is also afforded plenty of solitude to read and re-work other writer's pieces and prepare them for publication. If you have been a writer for a while and desire a career change, or if you feel your unique experiences have prepared you well for the role of an editor, you might enjoy this more than writing itself.

Additionally, an editor is in charge of the editorial calendar and needs to have strong organizational skills, as well as a good internal understanding of a company's reader persona.

For instance, when contributors pitch ideas that go against your brand, it will serve you well if you are able to focus on internal thoughts and feelings, rather than external pressures to publish a piece.

While you're expected to communicate often with both internal and external contributors, it's usually done over email, allowing you the time and space to express yourself thoughtfully.

3. Graphic Designer

If you're particularly adept at digital artwork, you might enjoy a career as a graphic designer. You're expected to work alone on new design projects for hours at a time, and in general, the work is independent. You might work with a client or team on the creative vision of a project, but you'll nonetheless have plenty of alone time at your computer as well.

Additionally, designing artwork online might provide you with the opportunity to express yourself in a unique way, which could appeal to you if you tend to avoid expressing yourself in large groups. 

4. Market Research Analyst

A market research analyst is required to send out surveys, host focus groups, and analyze data with the goal of understanding market trends -- among other things, they are asked whether a product will do well in a certain market, how much someone will pay for a product, and what types of products a company should produce for the future.

A market analyst needs to have strong math and analytical skills, and an ability to self-motivate and find creative solutions to problems largely independently. While you might occasionally need to present your findings to company executives, you'll typically work on your own to collect and analyze data regarding market conditions.

5. Web Copywriter

A web copywriter is often required to write more technically, and less creatively, than a blogger. However, you're given the freedom to adopt various voices and tones, depending on the client with whom you're working. For instance, one week you might write the homepage for an Interior Design company, and the next, you might be required to write the About Us page for a Tech startup.

Typically, a copywriter is required to sit with clients to discuss project guidelines, but is then given the freedom to carry out those tasks independently.

6. SEO Analyst

As content marketing continues to grow, an SEO analyst is becoming a widely sought out position. Among other things, an SEO analyst is required to perform keyword research and provide recommendations for websites, web pages, and content development to ensure the business is meeting SEO goals and appearing on search engines.

An SEO analyst is often required to work independently when gathering insights regarding popular keywords that align well with business objectives, and keeping track of online trends. Additionally, an SEO analyst can typically collaborate with team members online rather than in-person to convey her suggestions.

7. Social Media Manager

Psychologist Hans Eysenck observed that introversion fosters creativity by “concentrating the mind on the tasks in hand, and preventing the dissipation of energy on social ... matters unrelated to work.”

While it might initially sound like a social job (ha), a Social Media Manager can actually be an ideal occupation for an introvert. Ultimately, the role requires someone to communicate with an audience primarily behind a computer screen, with little face-to-face interaction.

Additionally, a Social Media Manager needs to think creatively to cultivate content for various social platforms -- and, as Hans Eysenck observed, those with introverted tendencies are often able to provide themselves with the time and solitude necessary to be most innovative.

8. Film and Video Editor

While an introvert probably does not enjoy being in front of the camera, they might derive a good deal of happiness from being behind it.

A film editor's job is to assemble shots into a logical sequence and manipulate various components to ensure images, music, dialogue, and pacing work together to create a unified video. Ultimately, a film editor needs to have the patience, creativity, and organization skills to methodically assemble a jumble of noise and images -- undoubtedly, ideal for someone who derives energy from working alone.