Feel like your quiet
personality makes you the office outsider? Here are six careers where a
reserved nature is an asset, not a limitation.
Does the phrase “small talk” make you
cringe? If you’re a quiet person, navigating the social niceties of the
professional world could be a real drag. You may even feel like your
personality is holding you back from getting a leg up in your current
career.
But don’t count yourself out just yet. A quiet demeanor could conceal great powers of observation or analysis.
“People who are quiet might focus on
data and things, rather than people, so there are some occupations [in
which] they might be able to do a better job,” says Laurence Shatkin, a
career expert and author of several books, including “50 Best Jobs for
Your Personality.”
Ready to let your quiet attributes do
the talking? Consider pursuing these careers where your natural
inclinations could be your greatest assets.
Career #1: Accountant
When data talks, are you usually
listening? An ability to sit quietly while poring over numbers could
serve you well as an accountant.
“Shhhh!” Factor: If you
prefer to keep quiet and focus on the details, this number-driven
occupation could play to your strengths, Shatkin says. Reviewing
financial statements, computing taxes, and reviewing accounting systems
are some of the duties required of accountants, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor.
Accountants carry out their duties in
either an office or at home, according to the Department of Labor.
Sounds like you’ll have plenty of quality time to spend with your
number-friends.
Just keep in mind that this job may
require meeting face-to-face with clients on occasion, in order to
provide recommendations or explain your findings, the Department notes.
Education Options:*
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field
- Master’s degree in accounting, or business administration with a concentration in accounting
Career #2: Graphic Designer
Would you rather express yourself
through images than words? Your skills as a visual communicator could
take center stage in a graphic design career.
“Shhhh!” Factor: Quiet people are often considered better listeners, Shatkin says, which means they may have an advantage in this creative field.
Why do graphic designers need active
listening skills? In order to “really focus on what the client is trying
to convey with the graphic,” Shatkin says.
But taking direction from clients isn’t
the only time you’ll find yourself keeping mum. As a graphic designer,
you might spend much of your time figuring out the best way to use
colors, images, text, and layouts to communicate ideas, according to the
U.S. Department of Labor.
Sounding a little lonely? Don’t worry,
graphic designers aren’t completely solitary. Being able to work in
teams is also an important quality, as graphic designers often
collaborate directly with a client or in conjunction with marketers,
programmers, or other graphic designers, the Department of Labor notes.
Education Options:*
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field
- Bachelor’s degree in another field and technical preparation in graphic design
Career #3: Software Developer
If you come up with your best ideas during quiet contemplation, a career as a software developer could deliver rewarding work.
“Shhhh!” Factor:
“Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs,”
according to the U.S. Department of Labor. While they may work in teams,
most of the day-to-day work is solo, Shatkin says.
Daily tasks might include designing
computer applications such as word processors or games, or creating the
operating systems used in consumer electronics, the Department of Labor
reports.
Still, software developers don’t work in
a vacuum. They will need to address feedback from customers about
programs they develop, says the Department.
The good news: if a customer finds a
problem with a program, it’s likely back to the quiet drawing board for
the software developer, where he or she will work independently to fix
it.
Education Options*:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field such as mathematics
Career #4: Database Administrator
Do you like to quietly and
thoroughly think over the task at hand before taking action? If so, you
may want to think over a career as a database administrator.
“Shhhh!” Factor: Talk
about the need for quiet concentration: According to the U.S. Department
of Labor, in this career “a minor error can cause major problems.”
That’s because database administrators
are responsible for organizing large amounts of data for important
processes, like credit card transactions, the Department of Labor
reports.
Of course, where there are important
databases, there are also users of those databases, which is why this
career can also require “a fair amount of collaborative work,” Shatkin
notes.
Education Options*:
- Bachelor’s degree in management information systems (MIS) or a computer-related field
- Master’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in information systems
Career #5: Writer
Do you feel most comfortable when
you’re up to your eyeballs in research and facts – with not a person in
sight? Then you might have a calling as a writer.
“Shhhh!” Factor: Quiet
people often have a great ability to concentrate on slogging through
information, Shatkin says. This kind of endurance can be a prized skill
for writers, who, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, need to
demonstrate strong research and proper citation methods to establish
credibility in their work.
Writers produce work for many different
mediums. In addition to writing for books and magazines, writers might
create content for an advertisement, website, or TV or film script,
according to the Department of Labor.
Yes, writing is often a solitary
endeavor, but a supporting cast is needed to see manuscripts through to
publication. As a writer, you would likely communicate regularly with an
editor or client, the Department notes.
Education options*:
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, journalism, or communications
Career #6: Survey Researcher
Surveys are used regularly to help
organizations test the waters of public opinion, but did you ever wonder
who designs the questions? Survey researchers – that’s who. If you’re
one for long hours of quiet contemplation, this could be the career for
you.
“Shhhh!” Factor: The
listening skills that seem to go hand-in-hand with quiet personalities
can be the key to designing surveys that deliver reliable, meaningful
results, Shatkin says.
No, surveys won’t tell you how they
should be designed, but your employers might. “Part of [survey research]
is finding out what someone needs to learn from the survey, and that
requires really listening,” Shatkin says.
As a survey researcher, you could enjoy a
good amount of silent work – like researching the survey topic,
determining the best method for accurately capturing the desired
information, or using statistical software to analyze the results,
according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Just note that you won’t be spending all
of your time on Silent Street. Survey researchers can also be
responsible for conducting surveys themselves by facilitating focus
groups or interviewing people over the phone or in-person, according to
the Department of Labor.
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