What job would suit someone who is quiet, shy, patient, hard working?

[quietquiet]

I'm currently in a role that is at complete odds with my personality. It's a 'cool' job as a copywriter in London. It involves international travel, expensive meals out with clients, lots of perks, etc. I hate it. I've only been in the field for 15 months since graduating university and my mental health has plummeted from it. It just isn't the right fit.

I'm quiet and shy. Previous colleagues have expressed how patient and kind I am. I've also been told by colleagues how hard working I am, I'll always be the first to volunteer to take on extra work or stay late if needed. On the other hand I'm terrible at public speaking/presenting, and find it hard to open up to others. There must be something out there that would suit me better than my current job, I just don't know what.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

I'm in my 20s, have a degree and master's in Biology.

I think you have to consider your interests as well as your personality. Ultimately you want to be happy in your work.
Would you like to utilise your masters more? If so, maybe a lab tech role? Researcher? That kind of thing? Could be a great introvert job! Can lead to great career opportunities too.

Or if you are happier with a quieter, simpler job maybe a librarian? Lots of my ex teacher colleagues have become librarians and it seems a pretty low stress, cosy kind of jobs. You do have to interact with the public though so it would depend how shy you are.

If you wanted to use your patient and caring traits then the obvious things that come to mind are carer roles and nursing but I imagine this would be a huge pay cut from your current London job and also a lot of stress too!

Laboratory Scientist?

Pharmacy technician, its not completely isolated, you'd be working as part of a small team, but doesn't involve talking to large groups of people and could evolve into a new role if you wanted to (flu jabs, medicines management, hospital aseptics, management)

I think it's not the job it's the organisation you work in. I used to manage a team of copywriters and we never moved from our desks let alone international dinners and public speaking :)

Train driver. Can be competitive to get into and some companies require you to work as station staff first. Requires focus, strict adherence to rules and to be able to work alone for long periods.

If you are near London, the Underground are recruiting at the moment for station staff on 30k. Once you get in you can apply for promotion to Tube driver.

Proofreader
Copyeditor
Copywriter - without the travel and public speaking
University Librarian
Researcher (in your chosen field)
University Administrator

I'm probably similar and have enjoyed lab work. Quite busy depending on your area but you can just get on with it yourself or within a small team. Food Standards Agency or Forestry Commission may be a good fit? Have a look on Civil Service Jobs and set up some alerts!

Nursing - you sound ideal for a career in this area

Nursing was the first thing that came to my mind too.

Describes me and I’m a nurse. Not for everyone and I’m ready to leave but it’s been an interesting and fulfilling career.

Social Media Manager for a medical organisation

This. I was going to suggest copywriting, instructional design/writing type roles from your thread title.

I'd sign up with a recruitment agency and be very clear about what you want to avoid. International travel and expensive dinners with clients doesn't happen for most jobs.

I can relate to this. Weirdly enough I also wanted to be a nurse (family all medical) but dad put me off. I'm mid-40s and started in quite a high flying job in my 20s after uni - fancy dinners, client meetings, travel etc and it really impacted my mental health. I felt like I had to put a mask on every day and it was exhausting. I'm still in the same organisation but moved into project management. Home-based job with lots of planning and analysis. My confidence is different to when I was in my 20s though and I have no issues facilitating and hosting meetings etc so that will perhaps come with experience. Don't under-estimate how you will grow and develop as you gain that experience.

Look at medical writing. Most med Comms companies don't expect their writers to travel or do client facing work. It's also well paid and really flexible. Has good career paths also. Google medcomms networking. There is a site dedicated to med Comms careers.

Most data analysis roles would fit the bill. In our place decent data analysts (and other data-related roles) are on £55-60k+. Most of them are introverts who hate doing presentations etc, though have to occasionally.

How are your maths skills? I’m shy and generally don’t do people/socialising at work and I’m an actuary, I could get by without speaking at work apart from the odd presentation.

🤣

I'm a speech and language therapist - working in an acute hospital. You sound exactly like my new graduate and she is quite possibly one of the best newly qualified SLTs I've ever seen. She is patient and kind with the patients, quiet and contemplative in the office, organised and gets everything done and has delightful social communication without being over bearing. The patients love her.

I would really encourage you to consider an AHP role in the NHS (don't just consider nursing!!)

Why is this suggestion so funny?

I think you'd be well-suited to lab work, or research if you want to keep the science element. Many jobs in the civil service that might suit someone with your qualifications. Lots of back office roles in finance and law that require no client interaction.

Nursing, only if you are mad! No money and shitty work conditions. They're on here daily saying how awful it is. Plus you're already more qualified than that, so pointless in terms of career.

@Shootingstarsparkle because it's mad to suggest to someone who already has a degree and masters and with the OP's preferences about careers that they go and do another degree to get a job they're overqualified for already with two degrees, in conditions that (per their OP cross referenced with what we hear here about nursing, daily, and how miserable it is for minimal pay) would be highly unlikely to make them happy or give them any prospect of good career progression?

I knew the analyst option would come up! I am a statistician and whilst I do a lot of coding and analysis, I work within project teams so there is a lot of collaboration and I have to present results regularly, both internally and externally. We're not all quiet introverts you know!

Absolutely not mad imo - OP sounds perfect for a role in nursing! Not all nurses are unhappy in their jobs!

Accountancy? whilst you would be working in a team they tend to be quite small and auditors need to be hard working. If you have a good eye for detail and good maths skills it might well work for you. Once qualified you could move out to work in house for a 3rd sector organisation if you preferred.

Medical writing!