You don’t have to be antisocial to be better suited to jobs that require little (if any) social interaction. If you’re an introvert, social interaction drains you of energy more quickly. And for any full-time job, you need all the energy you can get. If that got your attention, read on to learn about the 21 best jobs for people who hate people (figuratively speaking).
Jobs that Don’t Require Human Interaction
Where do you find jobs that don’t deal with people? And by that, I mean jobs that don’t require human interaction every… freaking… minute of your shift. Let’s be honest, jobs like that take a toll. It changes the way you see people. It erodes your patience and goodwill toward customers and people in general. If you’re an introvert, you know just how exhausting it can be to deal with even one unpleasant person per day. And it’s not about being weak or thin-skinned. It’s about where you get your energy. Some of us (extroverts) are actually energized by being around people — while some of us (introverts) restore our energy through solitude. Neither of us are freaks of nature. The world needs both. So, it’s no surprise that some jobs lend themselves better to introverts (with their native strengths), while others appeal more to extroverts and their more sociable nature. That said, we hope our list of jobs for people who hate people leads you to something that will help you hate them a lot less.
21 Jobs for People Who Hate People
Introverts, rejoice (separately, in your own homes)! Turns out, there are plenty of jobs out there with no customer interaction. And if you enjoy helping people but would rather deal with them one at a time, some of the jobs in this list are ideal for that.
1. Accountant or Auditor
If you enjoy working with numbers and keeping your personal finances organized and in good standing, you might enjoy doing the same for an employer or your clients. And if you take particular delight in solving mysteries with a paper trail, consider work as an auditor to help your employer or clients recover funds or expose fraud or embezzlement.
2. Animal care worker
If you love working with animals (maybe more than with people), consider one of the following animal care or service jobs:
3. B2B Sales Representative
Sales can be much more manageable for introverts when it’s focused on selling to other businesses (B2B) rather than to customers (B2C). While you might recoil from the idea of hours of face-time with the latter, you might have no trouble making targeted phone calls or emails to businesses likely to be interested in your product or service (or your client’s).
4. Behavioral Therapist or Mental Health Counselor
If mental health is a defining priority for you, and you’re looking for a job where most, if not all, your social contact with clients is one-on-one, consider a career as a behavioral therapist or mental health counselor. This one takes a college degree, too, but if you’re planning on college anyway, a four-year degree in Psychology can open doors to a variety of interesting and fulfilling jobs.
5. Computer Programmer or Web Developer
If you enjoy tinkering with computer code to create interactive website or time-saving apps, consider a career as a computer programmer or web developer (frontend, backend, or full-stack). And if you’d rather create mobile apps (for iOS or Android), there are plenty of opportunities for creative and detail-oriented app developers.
6. Content Manager
As a content manager, you would oversee your company’s content creation and strategy development. Among your duties, you’d coordinate the editorial calendar, manage content publishing, and ensure all content aligns with the company’s brand and business goals. In your role as manager, you would also oversee any content writers and content strategists hired or contracted by the organization.
7. Drafter
If you enjoy drawing and have a penchant for precision in design, why not pursue a career in civil, architectural, or mechanical drafting? Imagine yourself quietly drafting a design for a new community center. Or maybe you’ll be the one drafting the plan for a new overpass in your area — or a new machine for a local business.
8. Editor
Much depends on the approach you want to take as an editor — and on the type of editing work available to you. You might start as a proofreader and then move on to sentence-level and paragraph-level editing as a copy editor and content editor. You might even hone your skills as a developmental or structural editor for fiction writers and become a well-known and well-paid resource among self-publishing authors.
9. Engineer
Granted, this one takes at least a Bachelor’s degree to get your foot in the door, but once you’ve got that, engineers are very much in demand (always) whether you want to focus on electronics, software, machines, or civil engineering projects. Job security is typically not a problem, as long as you keep your skills and knowledge up to date. Good thing introverts (as a rule) love to keep their minds busy. Your List Of The Best Careers For ENFP Personality Types How To Change Careers After 40 Even If You Feel Imprisoned By Your Circumstances 14 Of The Best Jobs for People With Anxiety
10. Freelancer or Creative Consultant
If working for yourself as a freelancer or creative consultant appeals to you, there are plenty of books, blogs, videos, and online courses that can help you get started. Here are some freelancing or consulting options to consider:
11. Graphic Designer
If you love creating beautiful things with your computer, consider graphic design. You’ll get even farther if you’re also interested in marketing and enjoy creating materials that help your clients communicate their brand and attract their target audience. If you love designing book covers, you can also earn a respectable income as a professional book cover designer — working either as a consultant or with a publishing company.
12. IT Manager
If you enjoy technology and have a particular interest in computer security, as well as learning the ins and outs of every program you use, you might enjoy working as an IT Manager or IT Specialist. The IT Manager oversees the work of the IT Specialists on staff and manages the security and operation of the company’s information systems. They handle software and hardware upgrades, manage the technology budget and direct junior IT staff.
13. Landscape Designer
If you enjoy beautifying the outdoors with thoughtfully-chosen plants, stones, and other natural elements, why not consider a career as a Landscape Designer? Whatever your design style — or, to put it better, your brand as a landscape designer — you’ll help property owners ensure their outdoor spaces complement their interiors while meeting local code requirements.
14. Paralegal or Legal Assistant
If you’re looking for a career in the legal field but would rather not be the one presenting the case in the courtroom, paralegals do a lot of the lawyering work but without being in the spotlight. And because certification programs are voluntary in most states, you can find work as a paralegal or legal assistant without obtaining certification.
15. Librarian (or Librarian’s Assistant)
Most book lovers flirt with the idea of working in a library or bookshop, but if you’re genuinely interested in becoming a librarian, do your homework to learn what the job entails. Granted, libraries are supposed to be quiet places for study, research, and book browsing. But as a librarian, you’ll be the one in charge, and patrons will call upon you for a variety of reasons.
16. Marketing Specialist or Market Research Analyst
If you enjoy doing market research and finding the best way to market a company’s product or service, you might enjoy working as a Marketing Specialist or Market Research Analyst. After all, you get paid to do research (something many of us introverts love to do anyway), and if you can also write engaging marketing analysis reports to present your findings, you’ll more than double your value as a marketing expert.
17. Researcher or Research Scientist
If you love research but would rather spend your time in a science lab — preparing, executing, and documenting experiments — consider working as a Research Scientist. If you love science and enjoy working quietly to explore possibilities and gain valuable knowledge, take a closer look at the options in this field.
18. Skilled Tradesperson
There are a number of skilled trades (plumber, electrician, mechanic, etc.) that would allow you to render valuable services to your customers without having to deal with an overwhelming number of them each day. If you get paid by the hour, the incentive to leave you alone roughly corresponds to your rate. Most customers will want the work done as soon as possible, anyway.
19. Social Media Marketer (SMM) or Social Media Manager
If you love social media and have a knack for it, consider a career as a Social Media Manager for a business as part of their marketing team. You could also offer consulting services as a Social Media Marketer, helping your clients make the most of their social media presence.
20. Voice Actor
If you’ve ever lent your voice to an author for their audiobook and found you enjoyed the work, you’d probably working as a voice actor — either offering your services as a freelancer or consultant or joining a publishing company’s creative team. Aside from audiobooks, you might narrate documentary videos or podcast stories. And if you supplement your skills with video editing and audio editing know-how, you’ll be all the more valuable as a creative team member or consultant.
21. Writer / Blogger
This one should be on every list of jobs for introverts (and it probably is). Whatever writing you particularly enjoy, there are loads of opportunities in this field. Here are just a few you might focus on as an employed or freelance writer: Did you find the right job for your needs? Now that you’ve looked over our list of jobs for introverts, which ones stood out for you? Maybe you’ve tried one and are ready for something different — with about the same social energy requirements. So many of us try one job, thinking, “Hey this would be great for me because I don’t have to deal with so many people.” And then we find out we’d rather deal with more people than with some of the aspects of the job we’ve chosen. No one expects you to know the best career to pursue right out of high school. There’s a reason so many of us experience mid-life career changes. And as scary as it can be when you’re making that change, you can look forward to the new knowledge you’ll gain and the new experiences you’ll have. May your next job (however long it lasts) help you become the person you want to be.
