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 knew librarian would come up. If you think its quiet and cosy you don't work as one.

Where are all these librarian roles? It's a dying profession. I was a librarian for 25 years, but very few roles are available now and they are mostly low paid unless you're talking uni library services. It just isn't what it was, sadly.

@CurlyhairedAssassin So true...most workers in public libraries are library assistants and not well paid. If they get paid at all!

I'd second Data Analyst (I am one, and although I do have to present the data it is usually pretty low key).

@quietquiet If you're a really good copywriter and enjoy it, consider going freelance. You can work from home and can interact with your clients online only. Admittedly it's competitive but it is possible.

It’s really good you recognised this early on! I hammered away at the same industry for all of my 20s and have a similar personality to what you’ve described- I was so unsuited to it in hindsight. Bid writer is a great option if you enjoy writing/deadlines. No clients, just dealing one on one or in small groups with your colleagues generally. Huge demand for ppl with Science backgrounds who can write properly too - as some here have mentioned, check out medical copywriting.

Train Driver, shifts aren't amazing but money is good.
You spend a vast amount of time on your own so would suit the fact you're shy.
You need to be able to maintain concentration for a prolonged period and have a good attention to detail.
The fact you're educated to a degree standard suggests you would deal well with the intense training.

Most train operating company's recruit externally so just keep an eye on the careers pages of your local operator or pop them an email expressing an interest.

I was going to say nursing. Either medicine or mental health.
Lab work?

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.

this bit stood out to me. It sounds like you're dressing up ways of saying you have poor self confidence, you're happy to be taken advantage of, you're a bit of a people pleaser, and you don't know how to put your foot down.

That sounded harsh reading back on reflection but do you think the job is the issue or your self confidence because to me it sounds like the latter and you could benefit from some therapy to help you assert boundaries so you've got a better work-life balance.

Be careful not to burn out by taking on too much extra work.

You might like policy work, it would be worth looking at the civil service. Lots of room for more introverted people there

Following because I'm very similar and need a career change. I'm in marketing / digital content and it's just too loud and fake. Marketing for a charity is even worse (begging for donations and then spunking it on fake social media campaigns and paying off influencers!)

My degree is actually in architecture (ish) but again, I don't suit the industry. I'm so quiet and I am ND.

I love the idea of being a radiographer but in my area, they don't offer apprenticeships, degrees or anything!

Clinical coding looks amazing - again, our local NHS don't offer training in this area. OP I'd recommend it if there's training in your area. X

Exactly! I only started reading this thread to see how soon librarian would be suggested. Didn't have to wait long.

Do not become a librarian if you want a quieter, less stress job.

I think your friends have maybe become library assistants in libraries in films and tv series because working in a library is bloody hard work. You know you need a Masters to be a librarian too?

Please don’t comment on something you know nothing about!

Project management? I’ve worked with a few who have Architecture degrees and they are quite reserved and hard working. Just need to be super organised! Coding sounds interesting- had never heard of it.

Nursing if you are quiet or shy could be a killer.
handovers, meetings.
colleagues saying one thing you recognise as not correct for the patient can you assert yourself and advocate for the patient?
This could be a lot more challenging if shy.
Some very toxic colleagues as well and it takes a thick skin to shake this sort of thing off.
depends if these are skills the op wanted to work on.
personally being in healthcare myself I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Hey @elmooie - that's a great idea! Do you know if they have any qualifications / training to do PM in that industry? It would be my perfect job (and I've only just realised, so thank you!!)

I love project management in construction! Its always been part of my role but never a specific role.

I love these threads. Be a librarian, you can sit and read books in your cosy cardigan all day and help little old ladies with their family history. Also there are Library Assistants and Librarians, there’s a big difference in terms of jobs and pay. Most people that work in libraries are not librarians.

Public Libraries are low paid (or not paid at all) and a mix of nice tasks and bloody horrible ones. You’re usually on a help desk that deals with other council services.

I’m an academic librarian, quite high up, I’ve got a masters, PGCE and am chartered . I earn about 50k (I’m 42 and qualified at 27) We’re actually recruiting quite a lot at the moment, it’s not a dying profession in Higher Education. Many librarians actually teach on the university courses. Teaching students how to find, use and evaluate information for their work is actually very challenging and important.

Rant over! I just hate the stereotype.

The vast majority of staff in public libraries now are unpaid volunteers. In my library there are 2 paid staff and 40 volunteers. The 2 paid staff are paid only just above minimum wage.

Yesterday I spent 2.5 hours with a regular library user who was having a psychotic episode. He talked at me manically and loudly for the entire duration of his visit.

Patent/IP lawyer for the life sciences sector?

Scientific or medical writer

Data scientist.

These guys work in teams, think covid dashboards, you can work within biology, mostly work from home.

I would disagree with this, it just takes time and experience to gain confidence and find your feet at work. It’s hard when you’re a new grad, and the youngest, but it gets easier! Taking on extra work and arriving early will be noticed and appreciated (and eventually rewarded) if your employers are half decent.

Classic jobs for your personality are

• accountancy
• coding
• solicitor
• research assistant / data analysis
• fiction writer (but the pay for most is about £4k a year so I wouldn’t consider this an actual real job)

Maybe book editor?

Sorry the above was meant for @Jimmyneutronsforehead comment earlier on

With a STEM background look into IP law or work as a patent attorney.

The hours of a patent attorney are more regular than a (private practice) solicitors and it’s on the job training - a bit like a legal apprenticeship.

The exams are really tough but if you put the hours in it’s a great profession and mostly desk based with the odd meeting with clients to discuss work.

It’s not completely without travel though as you may be required to attend oral proceedings, or the odd conference for business development, however that’s usually post qualification which can take several years.