Career Advice for the Young Introvert - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Career Advice for the Young Introvert - Introvert Whisperer Career Advice for the Young Introvert Guest Author September 28, 2015 Career Development, Self-Promotion 2 responses Being nervous when entering a new job or the workforce, in general, is normal, and totally fine. If you don’t quite know where you’re going yet, here are a few things to know. Actions speak louder than words. We’ve all heard this once, twice, a thousand times, but it holds truth. Your actions will always speak louder than your words, so make them count. When it comes to your career, what you do is more important than what you say, since following through with a plan will build more trust than consistently saying you’ll do something. You do not have to constantly ask questions, or give updates on where you are. While it may be a good habit to get into, when your work is getting done without being asked, your reputation will build itself. Basically, to make a lasting impression you don’t have to speak above the crowd. Silence does not equal compliance.   Simple enough, but silence can sometimes be mistaken for a ‘yes’ in the workplace, and it’s important to make sure your opinion and voice are heard. Being able to have a voice in your workplace gives employees the ability to help fix conflict and make the work environment more inviting. It also gives the opportunity for feedback, which is important for self-growth. When you feel like you’re being unheard or ignored, your work or motivation can be negatively impacted. To succeed in your career, you’ll have to be able to explain your point of view and let others know, and you owe it to yourself to make sure you’re clear on what you want or why your idea is a good one. You’re not a stereotype of the creepy.   What I mean is, don’t let the idea that you’re antisocial keep you from a social job. While working from home seems like an introverts dream, you do not have to adhere to that stereotype, and you don’t have to let anyone box you in like that. Being shy and quiet are related to both introverts and ‘creepy’ people, not all suffer from social anxiety or shyness. In fact, some of the best jobs for introverts include Critical Care Nurses, Criminologists, and Interpreters and Translators. Introverts have characteristics of being observant, collected, and decisive, making it easy for us to thrive in social environments just as well as our extroverted counterparts. Being ‘shy’ can be used to your advantage.   So you’re quiet. So you don’t actively engage seek out conversation. So what? Being shy is said to make people more approachable, or easier to talk to because you don’t come off as threatening. If you’re shy, you’re also more likely to think before you act, clearly forming your ideas and plans before setting anything in motion. This gives people a form of stability and makes you more desirable because it builds that trust. Shy people also know how to problem solve on their own. Not saying this trait is exclusive to shy people, it’s a trait a lot of great workers have, but if we’re rolling with the stereotype, shy introverts internalize. Internalizing isn’t always the best practice, but shyer people tend to develop an easier ability to overcome obstacles; especially if you’ve fought against your own shyness.  Remember your own values. It’s a hard world, and a lot of the times you will have your values and morals put to the test. So, the last piece of advice I have is to remember where you stand. Advancing your career is obviously important, especially if you’ve set high standards, but don’t compromise yourself for a job. Wanting to adjust to being the right fit for is also normal, but losing grasp on what’s important to you isn’t worth the negative consequences that can follow. What do you prioritize in your career? Have you set a standard for yourself yet, or are you going to wait until you decide what you want? Keeping in mind your values and planning a course of action from there is the surest way to check yourself before you wreck what you’ve built up. Everything is subjective and case-by-case because personalities are fluid. Though I don’t know you personally, I hope you can take away something helpful from these five pieces of advice. Guest Author: Sacha