In many group situations, extroverted team members stand out with their outgoing and expressive behavior. Extroverts bring many strengths to the workplace, and if they’re confident, they can hold the attention of many hiring managers. However, introverts bring their own strengths — including creativity, empathy, and active listening skills — to any workplace, and these skills can help bring balance and innovation to professional teams.
Introverts may not draw as much attention as extroverts often do, but they can use their skills and personality to help build effective teams and a fulfilling professional environment. If you’re an introvert, you’ll benefit from taking the time to find employers and careers that best suit your personality and skills.
1. Identify your strengths
Introverts often have strong self-reflection skills, and introverts’ preference for quiet environments leads to a great deal of time for deep thought and contemplation. You can use this time to prepare for job interviews by reflecting on and identifying your strengths and skills.
Take the time to identify hard and soft skills that would benefit your team in a professional space. Many job postings list the skills employers are looking for. Once you’ve identified your strengths, focus your job search on positions seeking applicants like you.
Job interviews may be daunting for some introverts who struggle with small talk and conversations, but preparing your talking points in advance and knowing how your skill set matches the employer’s expectations can help you to feel more confident.
2. Emphasize your strengths
When creating your resume and preparing your talking points for job interviews, be sure to emphasize your strengths. Common professional strengths among introverts include:
- Active listening;
- Empathy;
- Calm reactions to pressure.
These strengths are a welcome addition to any workplace. Draw attention to your work experiences that exhibit these strengths and, when possible, show your strengths in the interview itself.
3. Develop your skills
Professional development is vital for long-term career growth. There are several introvert-friendly ways you can develop your skills, including:
- Webinars and virtual workshops;
- Reading;
- One-on-one meetings with mentors.
In addition, you can develop your skills through hands-on experience. If you’re attempting to break into a new field, internships and entry-level positions can help you to cultivate the necessary skills for your dream career. Taking these steps can help you to improve your skills and build long-lasting professional connections that will assist you in your job search.
4. Learn how to market yourself
To successfully move through the job market, applicants must learn how to market themselves to employers. For some, this involves a great deal of networking, group events, and interacting with professionals on a variety of social media platforms.
However, you don’t have to market yourself this way and, if you’re very introverted, you may not enjoy it. Instead, target your energy towards one or two specific platforms, learn to acknowledge when you’re nearing burnout, and use your own specific strengths to build deep professional connections.
5. Focus on quality rather than quantity for professional connections
When navigating the job market, it can be disheartening to hear extroverted people discussing the vast number of professional connections they’re making online and in person. However, professional connections should be about quality, not quantity.
Introverted individuals should focus on investing time and energy into building quality connections with a few mentors and professionals in their desired field. These connections can be built through one-on-one meetings with supervisors, teachers, and mentors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek advice from experienced professionals, and connect with former classmates and coworkers who may be able to help you in your job search.
6. Choose introvert-friendly jobs
Choosing an introvert-friendly job in your preferred location is a great way to excel professionally and avoid burnout. When choosing an introvert-friendly job, consider careers focused on data, research, and creativity as opposed to social tasks and client interactions. Nearly every career involves some social interactions, but choosing a position that involves less social interaction can help you enjoy your work and make the most of your time in the office.
7. Choose introvert-friendly employers
There are many introvert-friendly employers in the current market. For example, if you would like to limit your social interaction, prioritize remote and hybrid positions.
You can also choose introvert-friendly employers in fields that aren’t necessarily known for being introvert-friendly, such as hospitality. Working as a waiter or waitress, running the front desk at a hotel, and bartending are all extrovert-friendly positions that most people associate with the hospitality industry. However, there are many professionals who work back-of-house, playing a vital role in the success of hotels and restaurants without interacting with customers on a regular basis.
This concept applies to many different industries. Don’t overlook a career path or specific company because you assume every person in that industry is extroverted.
8. Find people to vouch for your work
The quality professional connections you’ve built throughout your education and career can provide you with a key tool in finding employment: recommendations.
Reach out to people who can vouch for your work and communicate with potential employers they may know. If you know the person well, you can reach out via phone or email. If you don’t have their contact information, then reach out on platforms such as LinkedIn. Recommendation letters from reputable professionals in your field can also help bring attention to your application.
9. Be able to provide clear examples of your good work
Some introverts struggle during conversations, but your good work can speak for itself. Make sure to provide clear examples of your past work that exhibits your skills and proficiency.
As an introverted person, you can use your work to draw attention from the right employers. When providing work examples, choose samples that exhibit the specific skills you’ll need in your new role if hired. You can include summaries of the success of past projects, excerpts of relevant work, and links to any press coverage of projects you worked on. Your work samples should be stored digitally for easy sharing with potential employers.
10. Have a highly professional appearance
When meeting people or going in for an interview, all that’s left to do is make a good first impression. Luckily, you can do this without saying a word.
When you arrive at a networking event or job interview, a highly professional appearance can help draw the attention of hiring managers. Wear clean, professional clothing such as a button-down shirt and suit jacket, and bring other important items, such as business cards and clearly formatted work samples.
These visual details, combined with your trustworthiness and clear communication, can help you put your best foot forward as you move into the next phase of your career.
Introverts may not always strive to draw attention, but you can still have an excellent career without doing so. By clearly communicating your strengths and building quality connections, you can stand out in a challenging job market.
