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Original poster

Introvert seeking a fully remote job - what can I do?

143 replies

careerchange2022 · 14/08/2022 15:41

I'm almost 40 and am looking for a career change.

I'm very shy, introverted and don't have a lot of confidence and as such, a job that is fully WFH and doesn't involve much interaction with people would be ideal for me.

I'd really like to end up on a salary of £50-£60k in the next 10 years, although that might be ambitious.

Does anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
NoodleNuts · 14/08/2022 15:57

In think earning 50-60K is a bit ambitious for someone who is introverted, lacks confidence, doesn't want to interact with other people and wants to WFH permanently.

What skills or experience do you have? Is there anything you are good at that you can set up your own business doing and earn a living from?

Flockameanie · 14/08/2022 15:58

Retraining as a data scientist or accountant?

bathorshower · 14/08/2022 16:01

Software engineering - that salary is definitely achievable, not sure if you'd need more than 10 years.

Plus, if you're retraining in anything, there's huge value to being around people as you're learning - you'll pick up so much that way (and be much more likely to get the next job).

NoSquirrels · 14/08/2022 16:03

What do you do at the moment - what’s your skill set, interests, educational background? Apart from low people interaction, what kind of work do you enjoy?

nottalot · 14/08/2022 16:04

Developer or ux design might suit.

VenusClapTrap · 14/08/2022 16:05

Software developer. My company’s employees are all fully remote and a lot are introverts and people who struggle with social skills. They are very well paid.

Original poster
careerchange2022 · 14/08/2022 16:12

Honestly there's no work that I especially enjoy - I've not really tried very much.

At school I was always much better at subjects like English, History than science or maths.

@VenusClapTrap Do you have to be sciency to do software developing? Is it difficult to learn?

OP posts:
ParabolicCurve · 14/08/2022 16:22

Although there are large chunks of head down concentration time in software development, there can be a lot of communication and interactions within the team throughout the day.

BoredWithLife · 14/08/2022 16:29

careerchange2022 · 14/08/2022 16:12

Honestly there's no work that I especially enjoy - I've not really tried very much.

At school I was always much better at subjects like English, History than science or maths.

@VenusClapTrap Do you have to be sciency to do software developing? Is it difficult to learn?

You don't really need to be science-y as you put it, but it will help a lot if you can think logically about things. Getting to that salary is totally achievable within 10 years, but it might well require a significant amount of work - I'm not sure on the practicality of achieving it without any in-person working - happy to (try to) help/answer questions though if you have them

Aprilx · 14/08/2022 16:31

I think it would have to be something highly technical if there is such a job, but even then I would have my doubts.

Somebody mentioned accountancy, this is my field and contrary to the stereotyping, we do not sit in dark closets and not interact with other people. There is actually quite a lot of dealing with people, similar to what somebody else has pointed out regarding software development work.

I would also have to challenge the notion that it is normal for introverts to want it stay at home and not meet people. I am most definitely introverted, but I am confident at work and I can speak to people. Being an introvert, means that this drains my energy and I need time alone to recharge my batteries, but it doesn’t mean I need to hide away on a permanent basis. I mean surely 50% of us are introverted. So I guess what I am saying is that maybe you should think about how you can overcome or at least manage these issues which are creating a barrier to the workplace for you and not just accept that introverts don’t go to work.

toffeechai · 14/08/2022 16:33

bathorshower · 14/08/2022 16:01

Software engineering - that salary is definitely achievable, not sure if you'd need more than 10 years.

Plus, if you're retraining in anything, there's huge value to being around people as you're learning - you'll pick up so much that way (and be much more likely to get the next job).

I work with software developers and being able to talk to other people about your work is a big part of the job.

Raindancer411 · 14/08/2022 16:37

As @toffeechai says, it's a lot of chatting to others and my hubby is always in meetings!

Original poster
careerchange2022 · 14/08/2022 16:37

I'm not very good at expressing or articulating myself, I think because I get nervous when having to speak to others.

It sounds like the type of job I'm looking for may not actually exist!

OP posts:
toffeechai · 14/08/2022 16:38

Do you think it might help to get some help with your anxiety?

Work2live · 14/08/2022 16:44

Generally I think there are very few jobs where you could work 100% from home, have very little interaction with people, and earn £50k+.

I work remotely but I do go into the office every 2-3 months. I also spend a lot of my time on Zoom, leading meetings and speaking with people across various time zones. I’m not far off earning £50k.

I’m quite introverted so I find days when I have a lot of meetings draining. I hugely prefer it to being in-person all the time though.

I work in marketing.

BeanieTeen · 14/08/2022 16:45

Can I ask you what you’ve been working as up until now? You might have some transferable skills that.

Introverts are underrated in the workplace by the way. I think many organisations are catching on to that. Introverts can be of great value in a seemingly ‘extroverted’ line of work. I don’t think you should limit yourself to WFH because you are introverted.

If you didn’t take being an introvert into consideration, what job would you really want to do?

VenusClapTrap · 14/08/2022 16:45

I think if you don’t like science and maths then software development may not be for you.

PollyRockets · 14/08/2022 16:46

Work2live · 14/08/2022 16:44

Generally I think there are very few jobs where you could work 100% from home, have very little interaction with people, and earn £50k+.

I work remotely but I do go into the office every 2-3 months. I also spend a lot of my time on Zoom, leading meetings and speaking with people across various time zones. I’m not far off earning £50k.

I’m quite introverted so I find days when I have a lot of meetings draining. I hugely prefer it to being in-person all the time though.

I work in marketing.

Especially with no experience

Many people fully WFH earn over £50k a year and never speak to people

But those are people who have trained in niche roles or certain sectors which the OP hasn't

PollyRockets · 14/08/2022 16:46

careerchange2022 · 14/08/2022 16:37

I'm not very good at expressing or articulating myself, I think because I get nervous when having to speak to others.

It sounds like the type of job I'm looking for may not actually exist!

Maybe look into therapy over a WFH position

gatehouseoffleet · 14/08/2022 16:47

toffeechai · 14/08/2022 16:38

Do you think it might help to get some help with your anxiety?

What sort of help do you think the OP needs? Or can realistically get?

OP, I think you need to think about what you can do ,not what you can't. There was a thread on here a few weeks ago about someone who needed to do a presentation but couldn't and despite all the tips given on here, had a panic attack and didn't do the presentation. I don't know what happened subsequently. You don't want that to happen to you.

Running your own business might work, but even then you need to be able to sell your services or goods to people.

There are lots of things that can be done remotely but there is always an element of human contact. For example, I work as a lawyer/knowledge professional remotely, but I still have to have (and run) meetings. However, I would say the best thing is to find a careers consultant and see what jobs come up for your personality and interests. Something has to be out there for you. Inputting data might be one eg the magazine Athletics Weekly periodically advertises for people to input results of athletics meets for its magazine and website. But it's very part-time. However, there might be full time equivalents of that sort of work. I don't think you'd ever earn the sort of money you are looking for, though.

Some librarianship jobs might suit - obviously not in a public or academic library where you have to deal with people, but doing things like cataloguing. But again I think you'd be hard pushed to make the sort of money you are looking for.

gatehouseoffleet · 14/08/2022 16:48

Maybe look into therapy over a WFH position FGS - so unhelpful.

CrabbitBastard · 14/08/2022 16:51

look on the charity jobs website and select remote - there's lots of jobs that are either fully remote, home based (with occassional travel) or hybrid.

I found my current job on there and next month is the first time in a year I'll be travelling for work (I'm home based). Just one day though!

PollyRockets · 14/08/2022 16:52

gatehouseoffleet · 14/08/2022 16:48

Maybe look into therapy over a WFH position FGS - so unhelpful.

Do you not think the OP could benefit from therapy

Her anxiety is causing her to not be able to work properly

Ffs

SuspiciousDuck · 14/08/2022 16:53

A sub-editor for a specialist industry publication? You would need subbing skills, layout and web publishing skills and would need to look for a well paid specialist subject - something like finance or engineering perhaps. Not sure about salary but you might get close.

LuciferRising · 14/08/2022 16:53

I'm all the things you are and WFH on a higher salary. I do however have to suck it up and interact with people on Zoom. I have techniques to deal with this. And I am in a sector I have been in for nearly 2 decades.

I've started to write in the hope that in 10 years I can ditch work and be an author. I have my days planned already. Exercise and writing.

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