Solo Act Career Options
Not a people person? See how you could find on-the-job happiness with one of these career options.
By Chelsea Lin
If you're an introvert trying to navigate the professional world, we have good news.
There are many career options for introverts, says Debra Davenport, founder and president of Identity IQ, a career-counseling firm.
These careers, according to Davenport, allow one to “find autonomy, longer periods of solitude and the opportunity to work quietly without distraction.”
Want to pursue a career that lets you embrace your solitary nature?
Check out these hot career options for people who work best as a solo act.
#1 - Medical Records Technician
Want to work in the health care field, but don't want to work with patients? As a medical records technician, you could be responsible for organizing and managing a patient's health information (medical history, symptoms, treatments, etc.). Medical records technicians that specialize in assigning a code to a patient's diagnosis for insurance purposes are called medical coders.
Both positions require some interaction with physicians but not patients.
Education: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, an associate's degree is the usual credential possessed by entry-level medical records and health technicians.
Average salary: $35,010*
Click to Find Medical Billing and Coding Programs
#2 - Writer/Author
As a full-time or freelance writer/author, you could be creating content for anything from books to trade newsletters to websites. Working from home, setting your own hours, and completing tasks independently are some of the introvert-friendly perks associated with writing for a living. Keep in mind, though, that with those perks occasionally comes long, irregular hours and the need to self-motivate to stay on task.
Education: A bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or English is generally a preferred requirement for many employers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Average salary: $65,960*
Click to Find Communications Programs
#3 - Network Administrator
Network administrators are typically responsible for designing and maintaining a business' network of computers, a role that could involve more face-to-face time with wires and hardware as opposed to people.
Education: Depending on the position qualifications, you could be able to pursue a position in network administration with a certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree in network administration or something similarly related to technology, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Average salary: $70,930*
Click to Find Network Administration Programs
#4 - Legal Assistant
Since law is such a high profile, highly interactive practice, you may think that legal assistants are constantly surrounded by people, too. But it's actually a position where much of the work can be done individually. Legal assistants help lawyers prepare for cases, so the majority of this research-based work could be done in an office or library - a potentially perfect work environment for introverts.
Education: There are a few different routes towards a career as a legal assistant - certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees are all available in paralegal studies - though the U.S. Department of Labor says that the associate's degree route is the most common.
Average salary: $49,640*
Click to Find Paralegal Programs
#5 - Forensics Technician
If solving the puzzle of a crime scene sounds more intriguing than gruesome to you, a career in forensics may be a good fit for your solitary nature. Forensics technicians are often responsible for investigating crime scenes, gathering physical evidence and analyzing it, which means they spend a great deal of time working in labs - generally alone - and writing up their findings in reports.
Education: Most need a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Average Salary: $55,040*
Click to Find Forensics Programs
*All average salary information is from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment Statistics for May 2010.
