If you consider yourself an introverted person, preconceived notions may have you thinking there’s not a spot for you in the world of business. It’s hard not to get caught up on common business clichés, like the suave, smooth-talking salesperson or the gregarious business manager. But the truth is not all business professionals are the outgoing type. There are a lot of career options out there for business savvy introverts such as yourself.
Start your job search with our simple list of the best business jobs for shy people. The few moments it takes to scour through these brief job descriptions might be the first step you take toward the life-changing career you’ve been seeking.
6 optimal business positions for shy people
We scoured job descriptions and daily job duties to round up six of the best business jobs for shy people like yourself. Give them a look-over—you might be surprised by the variety of options out there for introverts interested in business.
1. Private accountant
The key word here is “private.” The accounting industry is home to both private and public accountants. But for introverts like you, private would probably make the most sense. As a private accountant, you would still undergo the typical accounting duties – examining statements for accuracy and compliance, maintaining records, computing taxes—but you would be working for a sole client or company.
Unlike public accountants, who may have several clients, travel between offices and juggle several business relationships, most of your work can be done in the solace of your office space. Working in-house means you’ll generally only interact with a few colleagues and people you’ll be comfortable around.
2. Market research analyst
As a market research analyst, your title pretty well sums up your job duties. These individuals research and analyze market trends to help their company anticipate product demands, pricing, potential new markets and more. This type of thorough research will require extreme focus and long periods of time working uninterrupted.
If the financial market is your main attraction, gathering data, monitoring trends and generating reports as a market research analyst is an ideal career choice. As an added bonus, this is one career option that’s booming. Market research analyst jobs are projected to grow at the much-faster-than-average-rate of 19 percent through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is because more and more companies are employing these individuals to help them focus their strategies.
3. Social media marketer
Most introverts would probably never consider a position with the word “social” in the title, but let us explain. Marketing has taken on a whole new spin thanks to the rise of social platforms and our constantly connected world. As a social media marketer, you’ll get to build, engage and maintain a virtual audience on behalf of your company.
The best part is that all of this is done from the safety of your cubicle. You can ask questions, answer concerns and make announcements without having a face-to-face conversation. So if you’re a little shy but have a knack for engaging others, optimizing search results and wielding web tools and words, this could be the perfect position for your business and marketing skills to blossom.
4. Auditor
If you’re the kind of person who loves accuracy and prefers working behind-the-scenes, this is yet another optimal option for you. Similar to accountants, auditors check the validity of financial documents to ensure they are accurate and compliant with laws. Internal auditors work within an organization, looking for mismanagement of an organization’s funds and identifying ways to eliminate waste and fraud.
While you’ll likely have to work with a few choice members of your company, there probably won’t be a lot of small talk and client interaction. Your individual work may contribute to a team of other auditors and accountants, but most of your daily job duties can be completed solo.
5. Financial analyst
If you’re fascinated with the world of finance and don’t mind sharing your expertise with team members and supervisors, this could be a great place for you to put your skills to use. Typically, financial analysts spend a good deal of time assessing the performance of a company or client’s investments and making investment recommendations, according to the BLS.
A financial analyst career can be broken down into more specific positions, and the job duties and the level of human interaction change with each. While you will have to work alongside certain stakeholders who depend on your analyses and recommendations, the bulk of your time will be spent working alone during the research phase.
6. Benefits specialist
It’s definitely a niche position, but if you’re a research junkie who enjoys collaborating with others to meet a goal, this is a great place for your business skills to flourish. Benefits specialists work to ensure an organization has fair, compliant and competitive benefits for their employees. They research benefits like retirement plans, leave policies, wellness programs and insurance policies and stay up-to-date with laws and regulations, as stated by the BLS.
They also collaborate with insurance brokers and benefits carriers, managing how employees enroll and receive their benefits. Much of the background research and policy planning is done via email, phone or personal investigation, keeping the personal contact to a minimum.
Finding your quiet career
Don’t count out a corporate career just because you consider yourself an introvert. There are plenty of business jobs for shy people that will allow you to leverage your love of being alone.
Now that you know there are options available, it’s time to start digging a little deeper. Get one step closer to selecting your future career by exploring the training and education that will get you there. Check out our article to learn more: The Beginner’s Guide to Different Types of Business Degrees.
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