No, we don’t mean having ‘introvert’ as your job title. Although come to think of it, that would render the rest of the article redundant, right? Editor, I’m clocking off!….
Still here actually. No, we mean that it’s eminently possible to still have a successful career in any profession even though you’re perhaps not the loudest, most confident person in the room.
But as any introverts will attest, their approach to the job search and networking is sometimes committed with trepidation, with interviews causing a particular panic. That shouldn’t mean introverts are any less useful to an organisation.
In fact, they’re indispensable players. Introverts are often skilled listeners, as well as being thoughtful and analytical. And by not seeking the limelight, craving plaudits and a regular ego massage, they’re often the most productive workers, too.
Rest assured, there are ways to build your career into a huge success story without getting overwhelmed. Start slow, take things in your stride with easy jobs for introverts at first, and slowly transition to the more challenging ones as you learn to adjust and thrive in a new environment.
But there’s more to it than that. Let’s get into it; our 5 IDEAL steps to building a successful career as an introvert.
KNOW YOURSELF
Introverts tend to possess a strong sense of self-awareness, which puts them at a significant advantage when job hunting. As an introvert, you can draw on one of your strengths – a strong understanding of who you really are – in telling a story about your career and yourself. That, in turn, will surely help you in selling yourself as the perfect fit and give you leverage when negotiating an offer, since you are bringing value to the table with clarity.
Introverts should know their personal brands – what they’re known for, what they’re good at – and express it in a way that gets valued later in the negotiation. Indeed, this approach benefits hugely from that sense of being ‘genuine’.
PREPARE
An extrovert’s confidence can sometimes be misplaced. Or at the very least, opportunities may be taken for granted. Introverts, on the other hand, approach tasks with the seriousness it deserves. So, harness that energy by preparing diligently for any opportunity which arises.
The tendency for introverts to really take the time to learn more about a company and prepare for a conversation in advance gives them an advantage over their competitors, particularly in the interview process.
For one, you’re going to wow your potential employers with your knowledge of their industry and intricacies of the business. More importantly, you get an excellent chance to think through how to provide an answer to common interview questions and convincingly explain how some of your specific experiences will relate to the role you’re trying to fill.
WALK THE WALK
We hate to get all pseudo-psychologist on you, but non verbal communication is hugely important in an interview. And since the typical introvert tends to speak less, the necessity for a confident straight posture, a head held high, and maintained (but not creepy) eye contact is even more pressing.
More important than impressing others though, is the fact that standing tall is related to self-assurance and self-respect. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy, then; adopt good practice when it comes to non-verbal communication, and you’ll begin to feel more confident in return.
TALK THE TALK
You think this is a game, huh? This, my friend, is most certainly not a drill. A rehearsal. A warm up. This right here, is the real thing.
Experts have always emphasised that to make a serious, long-lasting impression, it’s not what you say, but rather, how you say it. Really think about the flow of your words and their cadence, avoid speaking too fast, and pay close attention to the tone of your voice. Stress the important points, pause before and after them, and exercise restraint on function words, such as articles, conjunctions and prepositions.
That’s not to say that what you say isn’t important too. Most introverts may find that being the centre of attention is, frankly, terrifying. But practice makes perfect. Introverts can learn – master, even – excellent conversational skills by joining professional public speaking organisations which will nurture this valuable life skill.
Always try to view a chance to speak in public as a challenge and not as something to be feared and avoided. You should embrace any speaking opportunity to prepare yourself for those times when you’ll really need such a skill to shine.
PLAY THE GAME
What we mean here is that you should be flexible. While such advice may feel like you’re going straight against your very nature, a little social chameleon-ism brings great benefits. In fact, it helps in protecting your well-being in the workplace as it gives you the chance to develop healthy relationships with others. This doesn’t mean compromising the essence of who you are; playing the game merely involves showing the different parts of your personality to different individuals so that you can better relate to each of them. We all do this anyway, right? Make a virtue of it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Being an introvert in this world isn’t always easy. It’s even more challenging to strive for a successful professional career in an environment so skewed to the boisterous, obnoxious and overbearing.
The silver lining here is that the world isn’t static. In fact, public opinions have now begun to shift. Introverts often perform better in more progressive, forward thinking work environments. And the more engaged and valued a worker is, the better they perform.