Source: Yahoo
If you're shy, you probably want to steer clear of any career that requires working a lot with people, such as sales, recruiting, and training, according to Chrissy Scivicque, a Colorado-based certified career coach and founder of the career coaching and consulting company Eat Your Career. The career that's best-suited for you will depend on where you fall on the spectrum of shyness, she says. For example, some people might be comfortable with people - just not large groups of them.
We know identifying shy-friendly careers isn't exactly cut and dry. So, keep reading for a rundown on some career matches and mismatches for shy types.
Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, they do everything from paying taxes to organizing and maintaining financial records. "There's analysis, deep intense thought, and complex calculations, all which would suit a shy type," says Scivicque. Why? Well, a lot of this activity, Scivicque explains, will take place in the comfort of your own office or cubicle.
One thing to keep in mind: Per the Department of Labor, accountants do have to meet with managers and clients to explain their findings. So make sure you're comfortable with this type of interaction.
Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
How to Prepare: Most accountant positions require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, with some employers preferring those with a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting, says the Department.
Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, computer programmers spend their time fixing bugs in existing computer software and writing new programs. Some also telecommute.
"Programming as a job is technical, and the work tends to be sitting at a computer and dealing with data and information," Scivicque says. Of course, she also notes that those who really excel in this field must be able to work with clients and collaborate with other programmers on team projects.
Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
Education Options: According to the Department, most computer programmers have a bachelor's degree, although, in some cases, employers may hire candidates with associate's degree. Either way, most of these professionals have a degree in computer science or related field.
Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these techs are involved with organizing and managing patient medical records. "It's all about interacting with data rather than the patients directly," says Scivicque. And while it's true that part of your job will include working with health care professionals and physicians, that's still probably far fewer strangers in the grand scheme of things.
Click to Find the Right Health Information Technology Program.
Education Options: According to the Department of Labor, to pursue a career as a medical records and health information technician, you'll typically need a postsecondary certificate, although you may have an associate's degree. Many employers also require candidates to have professional certification.
Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the role involves researching cases and digging deep for information for lawyers. Unlike a lawyer, a paralegal has the opportunity to do legal work without the element of public speaking, says Scivicque. However, she does mention that you should be able to interact with "type-A lawyers" who may have different personalities than you.
The key to success in this career, she says, is putting in the effort to find the right firm where you feel comfortable.
Click to Find the Right Paralegal Studies Program.
Education Options: You have a few options if you want to pursue this career. One, according to the Department of Labor, is earning an associate's in paralegal studies. For those with a bachelor's in another field, another path is getting a certificate in paralegal studies.
Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these analysts spend a lot of time monitoring trends and gathering data about consumers, competitors, and market conditions.
According to Scivicque, the position of a market research analyst is probably the only job for a shy person in the marketing field. She suggests looking for a position where you are analyzing findings rather than directly conducting research or running focus groups.
Click to Find the Right Business Program.
Education Options: The Department of Labor says you typically will need a bachelor's degree in market research or a related field. However, many may have a degree in fields like statistics, math, or computer science. Others may have a background in business administration, communications, or one of the social sciences. For leadership roles or more technical positions, says the Department of Labor, employers often require master's degrees.
Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: This kind of attention might make you uncomfortable if you're on the shy side, as would a few of these other job tasks noted by the U.S. Department of Labor: representing clients before government agencies, arguing on their behalf, and presenting evidence in courts.
According to Scivicque, a career as a lawyer is probably not a good fit for the strong, silent type. "Lawyers tend to be type-A, so you have to be aggressive and assertive about your ideas and opinions and comfortable expressing and promoting them," she says.
Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, correspondents spend the better part of each day interviewing information to glean information for their stories. "You've got to make connections, find sources, and have those bond-building skills to rely on people for information as a correspondent," says Scivicque. "That could be intimidating for someone who's shy."
Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these managers interact with department heads and other staff to make decisions about contracts and advertising for different products.
"Marketing in general is a social field, but when you're talking about management, your number one role is managing people," Scivicque says. "And that's highly social, interactive work."
Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: The U.S. Department of Labor says principals are responsible for supervising teachers, disciplining students, meeting with parents, and advocating for the school. Sounds pretty social. "Being a school principal is far too people-oriented for someone shy," says Scivicque. "If you think of a school as a business, the principal is like the CEO or a high-level manager."
Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this kind of advising entails recommending how people should invest their money with the goal of making more of it.
For Scivicque, being a personal financial advisor sounds a little too people-oriented for a shy person, particularly if you're responsible for drumming up new business. "If going out and getting new clients is a big part of what you do, that could be a struggle for someone shy," she says.
These careers could be a perfect fit - or total nightmare - for your personality.
A career in the spotlight might sound glamorous to some, but not if you're the shy, quiet type. The good news is there are plenty of occupations out there that speak to the strong, silent type.If you're shy, you probably want to steer clear of any career that requires working a lot with people, such as sales, recruiting, and training, according to Chrissy Scivicque, a Colorado-based certified career coach and founder of the career coaching and consulting company Eat Your Career. The career that's best-suited for you will depend on where you fall on the spectrum of shyness, she says. For example, some people might be comfortable with people - just not large groups of them.
We know identifying shy-friendly careers isn't exactly cut and dry. So, keep reading for a rundown on some career matches and mismatches for shy types.
Good Careers for Shy People
Career #1: Accountant
Find Degree Programs If you're good at math and analytical thinking, accounting might be a good career option for you.Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, they do everything from paying taxes to organizing and maintaining financial records. "There's analysis, deep intense thought, and complex calculations, all which would suit a shy type," says Scivicque. Why? Well, a lot of this activity, Scivicque explains, will take place in the comfort of your own office or cubicle.
One thing to keep in mind: Per the Department of Labor, accountants do have to meet with managers and clients to explain their findings. So make sure you're comfortable with this type of interaction.
Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
How to Prepare: Most accountant positions require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, with some employers preferring those with a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting, says the Department.
Career #2: Computer Programmer
Find Degree Programs If you're a techie with a shy personality, this career could be a good fit for you.Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, computer programmers spend their time fixing bugs in existing computer software and writing new programs. Some also telecommute.
"Programming as a job is technical, and the work tends to be sitting at a computer and dealing with data and information," Scivicque says. Of course, she also notes that those who really excel in this field must be able to work with clients and collaborate with other programmers on team projects.
Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
Education Options: According to the Department, most computer programmers have a bachelor's degree, although, in some cases, employers may hire candidates with associate's degree. Either way, most of these professionals have a degree in computer science or related field.
Career #3: Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Find Degree Programs If you're interested in the field of health care but don't necessarily want to interact with patients, a behind-the-scenes role as a medical records and health information technician might be more your style.Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these techs are involved with organizing and managing patient medical records. "It's all about interacting with data rather than the patients directly," says Scivicque. And while it's true that part of your job will include working with health care professionals and physicians, that's still probably far fewer strangers in the grand scheme of things.
Click to Find the Right Health Information Technology Program.
Education Options: According to the Department of Labor, to pursue a career as a medical records and health information technician, you'll typically need a postsecondary certificate, although you may have an associate's degree. Many employers also require candidates to have professional certification.
Career #4: Paralegal
Find Degree Programs Fascinated by the legal system but know you couldn't get up and argue in front of a judge and jury? A career as a paralegal could be a nice alternative.Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the role involves researching cases and digging deep for information for lawyers. Unlike a lawyer, a paralegal has the opportunity to do legal work without the element of public speaking, says Scivicque. However, she does mention that you should be able to interact with "type-A lawyers" who may have different personalities than you.
The key to success in this career, she says, is putting in the effort to find the right firm where you feel comfortable.
Click to Find the Right Paralegal Studies Program.
Education Options: You have a few options if you want to pursue this career. One, according to the Department of Labor, is earning an associate's in paralegal studies. For those with a bachelor's in another field, another path is getting a certificate in paralegal studies.
Career #5: Market Research Analyst
Find Degree Programs Ever wondered why certain products, brands, and services succeed while others don't? Then you might be interested in pursuing a position as a market research analyst.Why It Could Be a Good Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these analysts spend a lot of time monitoring trends and gathering data about consumers, competitors, and market conditions.
According to Scivicque, the position of a market research analyst is probably the only job for a shy person in the marketing field. She suggests looking for a position where you are analyzing findings rather than directly conducting research or running focus groups.
Click to Find the Right Business Program.
Education Options: The Department of Labor says you typically will need a bachelor's degree in market research or a related field. However, many may have a degree in fields like statistics, math, or computer science. Others may have a background in business administration, communications, or one of the social sciences. For leadership roles or more technical positions, says the Department of Labor, employers often require master's degrees.
Bad Careers for Shy People
Career #1: Lawyer
You might enjoy watching lawyers question witnesses on "Law and Order," but you'd have to be pretty comfortable with getting up in front of a large group to interrogate a witness.Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: This kind of attention might make you uncomfortable if you're on the shy side, as would a few of these other job tasks noted by the U.S. Department of Labor: representing clients before government agencies, arguing on their behalf, and presenting evidence in courts.
According to Scivicque, a career as a lawyer is probably not a good fit for the strong, silent type. "Lawyers tend to be type-A, so you have to be aggressive and assertive about your ideas and opinions and comfortable expressing and promoting them," she says.
Career #2: Correspondent
You see these frontline journalists on the news in war zones, special events, and live on the scene as stories develop. Sound like the career for you? Not so fast...They spend the better part of each day interviewing people and gleaning information for stories, says the U.S. Department of Labor.Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, correspondents spend the better part of each day interviewing information to glean information for their stories. "You've got to make connections, find sources, and have those bond-building skills to rely on people for information as a correspondent," says Scivicque. "That could be intimidating for someone who's shy."
Career #3: Marketing Manager
Regularly working with people is par for the course as a marketing manager, which might not be the best fit for a shy personality that likes quiet time and solitary work.Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these managers interact with department heads and other staff to make decisions about contracts and advertising for different products.
"Marketing in general is a social field, but when you're talking about management, your number one role is managing people," Scivicque says. "And that's highly social, interactive work."
Career #4: School Principal
Maybe you loved elementary school - especially silent reading time. But how would you fare at the helm of a school as the chief decision maker? Perhaps not so well if you're on the reserved side.Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: The U.S. Department of Labor says principals are responsible for supervising teachers, disciplining students, meeting with parents, and advocating for the school. Sounds pretty social. "Being a school principal is far too people-oriented for someone shy," says Scivicque. "If you think of a school as a business, the principal is like the CEO or a high-level manager."
Career #5: Personal Financial Advisor
Do you like telling people what to do and offering your opinion every chance you get? Didn't think so. As a shy person, you may be a little more reserved when it comes to making recommendations. So it may be best to steer clear of a career as a personal financial advisor.Why It Might Be a Bad Fit: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this kind of advising entails recommending how people should invest their money with the goal of making more of it.
For Scivicque, being a personal financial advisor sounds a little too people-oriented for a shy person, particularly if you're responsible for drumming up new business. "If going out and getting new clients is a big part of what you do, that could be a struggle for someone shy," she says.