Best Jobs For Introverts (And For Extroverts)
If you're an introvert on the job, chances are people have called you shy, reserved or quiet -- qualities that aren't typically prized in the workplace.
It's extroverts, it seems, who hold all the cards in the world of work. Their gregariousness makes it easier for them to instantly establish relationships in which information, ideas and contacts can be shared, all of which can help speed a career along.
Introverts, however, increasingly are being recognized for their ability to contribute in what author Susan Cain calls "a loud and proud society." In her new book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking," Cain argues that introverts have been undervalued by a society that reveres braggadocio and outsized personalities.
If not for introverts such as Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Abraham Lincoln, she says, the world would be a rather different place.
But introverts needn't be genius scientists, computer wunderkinds, financial whizkids or courageous pols to leave their mark on this world. Plenty of jobs -- a few of which are noted below -- are well-suited to their desires for working alone or in small groups, and focusing on complex problems or finding nuance.
Of course, the world needs extroverts, too, so we've included a handful of choices for those who find camaraderie and collaboration to be valuable components in workplace relationships.
NOTE: The professions included here were chosen at random. There remain many more choices, regardless of whether you're defined as outgoing or introspective.
*Median annual salaries are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2010.
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David Schepp
David Schepp has spent more than a dozen years covering business news for the electronic and print media, including Dow Jones Newswires, BBC News, Gannett Co., and most recently at AOL's DailyFinance. Nearly 10 years ago, he started writing a weekly People@Work column, looking in depth at issues facing workers in today's workplace. Follow David on Twitter. Email David at david.schepp@huffingtonpost.com. Add David to your Google+ circles.
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