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Find a Job You Really Want In
You may think that there are no good career choices if you’re an introvert with anxiety. Being introverted makes working with others more stressful and draining, but that stress can be mitigated with the right career choice.
Being an introvert can lead to anxiety in a lot of jobs as they require regular social interaction. That being said, there are a variety of different job choices that can help with reducing anxiety and the drain that social interaction puts on introverts.
Key Takeaways:
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There are many great jobs for introverts with anxiety, including being a data entry specialist, a computer programmer, a landscaper, or a delivery driver.
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Being introverted or having social anxiety does not prevent you from obtaining meaningful work.
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When looking for a job consider what the environment, deadlines, clientele, coworkers, and schedule will look like.
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Common challenges at work for introverts with anxiety include reduced productivity and working on teams.
10 best jobs for introverts with anxiety
Introverts with anxiety tend to do better in solitary jobs with set expectations. While that’s not the only type of job that’ll work for you — it’ll depend on the nature of your anxiety — it’s a good archetype to look for. Here are 10 jobs that are ideal for introverts with anxiety.
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Average Yearly Salary: $32,000
If you’re interested in a job where you can work unbothered at a desk all day, data entry might be the field for you. Many find the repetitive nature of these jobs soothing, as you’ll know exactly what you’re supposed to do and how to do it. Plus it’s relatively easy to find a remote position in this field, making it even more desirable for introverts with anxiety.
While this job isn’t exciting, it also isn’t stressful. You’ll typically know exactly what is expected of you, feel like you accomplished something, and be able to forget about work as soon as you clock out.
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Average Yearly Salary: $53,000
Libraries are known for their peaceful environments, making them a great setting for introverts with anxiety who don’t thrive in chaos and noise. You’ll also spend the majority of your time with books, rather than with people.
While librarians will have to interact with others, either to check out books or to help them find something, the interaction will be limited to a particular task. As libraries require that noise be kept to a minimum, the interaction should be short and peaceful.
Librarians typically need a degree of some kind, but even if you don’t have one, you might be able to still find a job helping out in a library or bookstore. These establishments need employees to sort and shelve books and help customers find what they’re looking for, which can also be great tasks for introverts who deal with anxiety.
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Average Yearly Salary: $67,000
Being a programmer is a largely solitary profession. The majority of your duties will involve writing new software to solve problems. So if you like computers and enjoy learning programming languages, then this career may be the perfect fit for you.
Many of these roles are remote, allowing you to get paid to sit behind a computer in sweatpants all day. Even if you work in an office, programmers are generally seen as gurus and left to their own devices.
Programmers create software programs and websites. If that doesn’t sound appealing, programming experts are also in high demand in cybersecurity. Many programmers are freelancers, which provides even greater flexibility, making this field popular with many introverts with anxiety.
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Average Yearly Salary: $44,000
Entertainment, medical, and legal companies need transcriptionists to convert spoken content into easily readable written content. Transcriptionists usually work alone, and many work from home.
These positions are often a good fit for introverts with anxiety as they not only provide peaceful solitude, but the work is also very clearly laid out and is low-stress. Transcriptionists can just be done once it’s time to log off for the day and not think about work again until the next morning.
Another benefit is that many of these jobs are flexible since all companies want the final product turned in on time — they don’t care how or when you do it.
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Average Yearly Salary: $32,000
Spending time outdoors with nature is an excellent balm for anxiety. Working as a professional gardener allows you to spend most of your workday outdoors. Physical labor also is another way to quiet your thoughts, and gardeners need to be physically fit and active to do their jobs well.
As a gardener, you may also be able to flex your creative muscles. It’s necessary to be able to lay out an attractive outdoor space, as well as select the right types of plants for it.
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Average Yearly Salary: $37,000
Amazon, UPS, and FedEx all need drivers to deliver packages. There are also other delivery companies such as DoorDash and Uber Eats that are always looking for more drivers. As a delivery driver, you can be the one to take those items where they need to go and enjoy a workday spent on the road by yourself.
You’ll probably have to stick to a tight schedule, but you won’t spend much time interacting with people, and you won’t have to bring work home in the evenings, making delivery driving a low-stress job overall.
There are many delivery driver jobs that allow you to work part-time or set your own hours as well, making it a flexible job option.
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Average Yearly Salary: $27,000
Being a janitor is a job that is physically tiring and follows a routine. Cleaning commercial properties is an excellent occupational choice for introverts with anxiety, as it’s usually a solitary task that doesn’t require a lot of social interaction.
Many companies have janitors perform most of their tasks after employees have gone home. This likely means you’ll have to work some odd hours, but you may find this a worthwhile trade for being able to work in relative solitude. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing your work pay off immediately.
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Average Yearly Salary: $49,000
Being a graphic designer requires a degree or at least some form of formal training, but it’s an excellent career for introverts with anxiety. There are many remote job opportunities in this field, but even if you work in an office you can usually spend most of your day working independently.
While some interaction with your clients is necessary in order to know what they want the end product to look like, you’re generally going to be working independently. Like all jobs, you’ll have to talk to your boss now and again as well, but so long as you meet and get your work done, it’s unlikely to be frequent.
If you want more freedom in the role, graphic designers can also freelance. That’ll allow you to set your own schedule and even work from home.
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Average Yearly Salary: $66,000
Many writers work from home as freelancers, crafting articles, web pages copy, or novels. Writing is a solitary task that requires creativity, allowing you freedom in terms of your process. It does require some interaction during the editing process, but the role is largely independent.
Writing is also a great creative outlet, which is therapeutic in and of itself. You’ll likely have to meet deadlines, but often a writer’s work schedule has some flexibility, especially if you are a freelancer.
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Average Yearly Salary: $64,000
Designing webpages is a creative task that is largely done alone. You’ll need to be able to lay out websites in an ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing way, but the majority of that process is something that’ll be done individually.
You will be required to interact with the client in order to know what they’re looking for in terms of their website, but beyond that, it’ll mostly be on you to create the webpage layout.
What to look for in a job as an introvert with anxiety
Being an introvert with anxiety shouldn’t rule your career choices entirely, but it’s good to be aware of what types of situations exacerbate your anxiety and compensate for it. If you find yourself in a career that frequently puts you in situations that make you anxious, it can harm your job satisfaction and productivity.
Selecting an occupation that doesn’t add to your anxiety can help your work to feel fulfilling rather than draining. And if you actually enjoy what you do — or at least take pride in it — then you’ll be happier, more productive, and do better work.
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Environment
As you begin considering what type of job you want, ask yourself what type of physical environment you thrive in.
Do you find the most peace in a quiet room? Are you at your best when you’re outside in nature? Would your dream job involve sitting behind a computer screen in your pajamas all day without having to talk to a soul? Or would it involve working nearby other people without interacting with them much?
Knowing these things about yourself can help you choose a position that fits your personality and needs, and it may even help you think outside the box about jobs you might want to look into.
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Deadlines
If you know for a fact that hard deadlines raise your blood pressure, it’s probably best that you avoid a job that revolves around them. On the other hand, if having a set schedule of due dates helps you stay on track, a job that involves at least some deadlines may help you do your best work.
Whichever way you lean, even if it’s somewhere in the middle, take note of it before you begin your job hunt. Look closely at job descriptions for phrases that indicate a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, talk to someone who works in the field, and ask questions about this in your interview.
It’s important to put in the extra effort on the front end to ensure that you’re entering an occupation you can thrive in.
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Clientele/Coworkers
Some jobs involve working more closely with people than others, and some involve working with disgruntled people more often than others. In addition, some occupations are more competitive, often attracting competitive employees, and the same goes for careers and employees that are more laid-back.
Different people find each of these situations exhilarating or exhausting, so consider what you’d enjoy.
Many introverts with anxiety find they do better when not working directly with customers who tend to be demanding or with competitive or dramatic coworkers.
While you can’t guarantee what your customers or colleagues will be like in any role, some fields tend to be less stressful in this area than others, so pay attention to this as you look for jobs.
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Schedule
When possible, look for a job that will allow you to have a good work-life balance. The definition of a good work-life balance is different for everyone, so ask yourself what you need to manage your anxiety and recharge your social battery.
For example, if you rely on getting eight hours of sleep a night to function, a job that requires you to be at work at 6:00 a.m. might not be the best option for you. Or, if you need to have enough daylight hours off so that you can make sure you get outside each day, look for a job that has a schedule that would accommodate that.
Ask questions about company culture and schedule in your job interview. As long as you don’t ask questions that make you seem lazy, like, “How early can I leave?” or “How late can I come in?” interviewers will be happy to answer your questions.
The challenges of working as an introvert with anxiety
As an introvert, you recharge by spending time alone. The jobs listed above provide many opportunities to recharge while at work by granting you solitude. This is especially important if your introversion causes anxiety when you have to deal with too many people.
It’s quite common for introverts to experience social anxiety. If that’s something that you struggle with know that you’re not alone. You will likely deal with challenges that many other introverts with anxiety do, such as:
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Inflexibility. Introverts with anxiety have certain environmental needs that prevent them from taking on more extroverted professions such as sales or customer service.
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Reduced productivity. When you end up in a role that doesn’t suit you as an introvert, it requires more of your energy and exacerbates your anxiety. Due to the fact that so much of your energy is expended just getting by, your productivity drops.
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Teamwork struggles. Many professions require employees to work together on projects. Introverts can work very well on teams, however, they need to have the opportunity to work alone, too, so that they can recharge. Make sure to look for a job that’ll give you time to work individually.
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Missed opportunities. Introverts with anxiety can have their symptoms interfere with their work or job search, which leads to missed opportunities for professional growth.
These challenges are legitimate, however they are not impossible to solve. Many successful introverts manage their symptoms so that these challenges are mitigated. There are many strategies to cope with this situation. If you are an introvert with anxiety and need help learning how to deal with your situation, consider talking to a mental health professional.
- By Condition
- Best Jobs For Single Parents
- Best Jobs For People With Adhd
- Best Jobs For Introverts With Anxiety
- Best Jobs For Autistic Adults
- Best Jobs For People With Depression
- Best Jobs For Women Over 50
- Best Jobs For Artists
- Best Jobs For People With Bipolar Disorder
- Best Jobs For New Moms
- Best Remote Companies To Work For
Author
Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.
