Have you ever accepted a job that looked great on paper, but you ended up hating it? Sometimes what seems to be the perfect job turns out to be fundamentally unsuitable for some mysterious reason. You have the right mix of skills, experience, education, but something just isn’t clicking. Instead, your new job is causing stress, sleepless nights, irritability, lack of energy, and even depression in extreme cases. Why does this happen? The answer could lie in whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert.
Because achieving success in a job role requires more than just the right experience, skills, and education, introversion and extroversion can take a pivotal role. Depending on where you lie on this personality spectrum can make a drastic impact on your satisfaction of your job. This is especially true of work from home jobs that require a different personality skillset than traditional office positions.
What Are Extroverts? What Are Introverts?
The most well-known and researched personality traits are extroversion and introversion. Extroverts are more outgoing, talkative, and energetic than their introverted counterparts, who are more solitary and reserved. While typically thought of as being on either end of a continuum, most people are a mixture of both. How heavily you favor one — or where they emerge as predominant in your life — can drastically affect your job satisfaction.
So, what are you? An introvert or extrovert? A little of both? An introvert at home and an extrovert at work? To help you harness the career potential of your personality read on for associated traits and career recommendations for each.
Traits of Introverts
In relation to jobseekers, identifying the typical characteristics of introversion is essential. Generally speaking, introversion is the tendency to look inwards, both mentally and socially. This tendency translates into a variety of personality characteristics that are commonly described as introverted. These include:
- Comfort with silence. Introverts rarely feel the need to fill a gap in the conversation. They tend to say nothing if they don’t have anything to say.
- Good listener. Because they don’t feel the need to talk all the time, they often find themselves listening to others. They will often gain insights into the personalities and motivations of others just by listening.
- Thinking before speaking. Introverts take time before responding so they can give the best response possible. Providing contemplative responses means they are likely to be focused, accurate, and appropriate.
- Observant. The extra time introverts have because they are not talking is usually spent observing others. This is especially useful to gain feedback on group dynamics during meetings.
- Comfort with solitude. Introverts can spend a lot of time in solitude without feeling uncomfortable. This trait is especially useful in remote work situations.
- Work well independently. Collaboration and team membership are not usually important to introverts who are skilled at completing tasks without supervision.
- Motivated by intrinsic rewards. This is especially important because it means an introvert is unlikely to find top wages or sales commissions as a highly motivating factor in job satisfaction.
Types of Careers Introverts Might Consider
To optimize your career potential as an introvert, identify work cultures that will help you thrive and avoid those you deem problematic. The temptation to ignore your introverted tendencies for the sake of a “good opportunity,” is natural. But neglecting these aspects will only end with regret.
So, consider careers that allow you the flexibility you need to maintain your independence and afford you plenty of alone time. Obviously, remote and work from home jobs for introverts are perfect for meeting this particular need. You can also explore career paths that encourage individual resourcefulness and achievement as much as experience or hard skills. This doesn’t mean you should shun all human contact; just remember that working in an open-plan space surrounded by team members may not be the best environment for you.
Another important consideration is selecting a career direction that provides the intrinsic rewards that fulfill your personal and professional hunger. You may want to seek a cause-oriented career as a fundraiser or one in public service. Alternatively, you may also find a creative career path intriguing, such as graphic design or software development. The key is correctly identifying what makes you happy and fits your definition of success.
Lastly, don’t feel that work from home jobs for introverts can’t lead to a management position. Some of the best leaders are introverts. This is due to several reasons, but one of the most important is that introverts tend to avoid the spotlight and are more likely to highlight the work of their staff members. In addition, good listening skills mean employees feel heard and supported.
Top 5 Work from Home Jobs for Introverts
If you identify as an introvert, below are five of the best remote jobs for introverts along with some key information and a link to current openings in the hand-vetted Virtual Vocations jobs database. (All job statistics are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
1. Statistician
Many work from home jobs for introverts involve working with data. If you’re a math wiz and love analyzing data and applying mathematical and statistical techniques to help solve problems, this could be the career for you.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $92,030 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 33%
- Common Job Titles: Remote Statistician, Remote Senior Biostatistician
2. Information Security Analyst
Technically-inclined introverts may enjoy the satisfaction of protecting an organization’s computer networks and systems.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $99,730 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 31%
- Common Job Titles: Remote Technology Compliance Information Security Analyst, Senior Telecommute Information Security Analyst
3. Speech Language Pathologist
These are good work from home jobs for introverts because they frequently use video conferencing to assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
- Minimum Education: Master’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $79,120 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 25%
- Common Job Titles: Remote School Speech Language Pathologist, Telecommute Speech Language Pathologist
4. Technical Writer
If you have a talent for communicating complex information, you may be successful in writing instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $72,850 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 7%
- Common Job Titles: Virtual Technical Writer, Remote Scientific Technical Writer
5. Graphic Designer
Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to inspire, inform, and drive the behavior of intended audiences.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Vocational Certificate
- Median Pay (2019): $52,110 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 -2029): -4%
- Common Job Titles: Remote Marketing Graphic Designer, Remote B2B Graphic Designer
Traits of Extroverts
Understanding the typical traits of extroverts can help you focus your search when you’re looking for work from home jobs for extroverts. If you are an extrovert, chances are you tend to focus on what is going on outside of yourself. This tendency results in a range of character traits that include the following:
- Enjoyment of novel experiences. Extroverts like to meet new people, check out new places, and discover new situations. They like to be on the front lines of change and innovation.
- Cultivation of social connections. Perfect for professional networking, extroverts like to reach out and cultivate new relationships.
- Quick-witted and conversational. In a conversation, extroverts like to jump in and make their point. Sometimes without waiting for the other person to stop talking.
- Comfortable in large social gatherings. While introverts are okay in small groups, most extroverts don’t discriminate and enjoy small gatherings as well as large crowds.
- Happy being the center of attention. Extroverts aren’t shy and are usually happy to emerge and bask in the attention of an audience.
- Motivated by extrinsic rewards. With their attention firmly focused outward, that is where extroverts seek their rewards. They prefer accomplishments to be recognized with promotions, bonuses, and awards.
Types of Careers Extroverts Might Consider
To optimize your career path as an extrovert, you will want to take into account the amount of social interaction you require and what rewards motivate you best. You may want to avoid fields that would make you feel stifled or isolated as this would quickly lead to boredom and restlessness. Finding work from home jobs for extroverts can be a challenge due to the lack of a communal office. However, the right job and some simple lifestyle strategies can make remote work a very satisfying job choice.
Being outgoing and comfortable in groups is highly regarded and a valuable commodity in the world of business. In addition, most companies are set up to reward the results of extroverted behavior and also tend to deliver rewards that appeal to the extrovert personality, i.e. bonuses.
Extroverts will generally perform better in careers that require a good amount of social engagement. Work from home jobs for extroverts will frequently involve contributing to a team or addressing large groups. Pick the level of engagement that works best for you. Sales, account management, team leader are all viable options.
Another aspect of extroversion to remember when choosing careers is the love of novel experiences. Try not to choose a career that involves a lot of task repetition, limited advancement opportunities, or is overly risk-averse. Businesses that push the envelope are more appealing and hold your interest longer. High-tech start-ups and emerging business models might be the perfect way to ignite your passion.
Top 5 Work from Home Jobs for Extroverts
If you identify as an extrovert, below are five of the best remote jobs for extroverts along with some key information and a link to current openings in the hand-vetted Virtual Vocations jobs database.
1. Nurse Practitioner
If you love helping people and are interested in health care these can be perfect work from home jobs for extroverts. The market for remote nurse practitioners is booming.
- Minimum Education: Master’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $115,800 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2019): 45%
- Common Job Titles: Family Nurse Practitioner, Telehealth Nurse Practitioner
2. Healthcare Manager
If you’re interested in the medical industry but are more intrigued by the business or service aspects, give healthcare management a try.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $100,980 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 32%
- Common Job Titles: Virtual Healthcare Data Manager, Remote Healthcare Network Manager
3. Sales Engineer
Any kind of sales position can be a good work from home job for an extrovert, but sales engineers hit the double whammy. Typically, these individuals sell novel technical and scientific products to clients, providing an avenue for social interaction.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $103,900 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 6%
- Common Job Titles: Remote E-Commerce Sales Engineer, Remote AI Solutions Sales Engineer
4. Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
Many extroverts excel in communication, so a career in planning campaigns, events, and programs to generate interest in products or services is a perfect fit.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Median Pay (2019): $135,900 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): 6%
- Common Job Titles: Remote Marketing Strategist, Remote Advertising Campaign Manager
5. Customer Service Representative
If you enjoy talking with a variety of people and solving their problems, then a career in customer service is a good choice.
- Minimum Education: High School Diploma
- Median Pay (2019): $34,710 per year
- Growth Rate (2019 – 2029): -2%
- Common Job Titles: Remote Financial Customer Service Representative, Virtual Customer Service Representative
Are You an Introvert or Extrovert? Embrace Your Personality Eitherway
Regardless of whether you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert, the opportunity to succeed in the remote workplace is ubiquitous. With jobs that cater to the nature of both types of personalities, you’re never more than one application away from a job you’re sure to love. Don’t see either trait as a hindrance; your work ethic, skillset, and experience will propel you regardless of your inward view of yourself.
What do you think is the best work from home job for introverts? How about extroverts? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!
Join Virtual Vocations
Joining Virtual Vocations grants you access to our hand-picked remote jobs database. Learn how our service works, browse job leads by location and career category, or search hundreds of hand-screened remote jobs to find legitimate work-at-home job leads that match your skills and background. Register for free or contact us for more information on our service guarantee.
Check out our menu of Career Services provided by our team of certified professionals, including resume and career coaching services for remote jobseekers. Resume assessments and writing, LinkedIn profile enhancement, and cover letter writing are available to maximize the success of your remote job applications. Discounts on all services available to subscription members, become one now.
