Not a people person! Any careers? 🙂

[ExtrovertedIntrovert1]

Argh I can't find a section for this post so will turn it into an AIBU

"Am I being unreasonable to think you have to be a people person to thrive in a career or is there a well paid job where you can work alone in peace?"

Ok just putting this out there incase it yields any inspiration.

I currently have a career that I spent 5-6 years training for. A very specialised masters degree so not really something that can be used for anything other than what I do. It involves the general public, lots of chat, care, constant interaction all day. I have had the same career all my adult life.

I have reached my 40s and come to the conclusion that I am just not a people person. Ive just not had the guts or determination to get out of this career/rut!

I really care about people genuinely and have a good heart. I just find interaction difficult and stressful. I feel I'm just performing every day like an actress playing a part. Maybe I'm neurodiverse (I'll suggest it before someone else does 😂)

I can do it, and am well versed in it but my god it's exhausting and as I get older I'm struggling to keep pace. I long for a job where I can work in peace, doing something on my own. I'm looking at changing careers while I'm still young enough to do so.

Trouble is, have a mortgage and depend on my salary. I would need to earn at least 25k, probably more, to stay afloat. Whether this be whilst training, or in a job that doesn't require years of training as my current one does.

Anyone have a none peopley job? I'd love night shifts. Interests include sciences, healthcare, any sort of analysing, the written word, caring stuff (but from a purely admin way maybe!)

Bid writer in social care (or any sector I suppose)?

not sure where you are based but in scotland clinical coding is band 4 in nhs, so salary is 27.5 - 30k full time. It’s quite niche and usually hires internally, those having done coding courses etc via their workplace. It’s not super popular though so you occasionally see roles advertised externally.

accounts assistant (not sure if technician is the same thing?) roles have more people interaction than what springs to mind - phoning/greeting clients etc, asking for missing invoices etc and any accounts prep can involve meeting clients etc.

IT support responding to online submitted works orders for say a big organisation like a college/uni or the nhs. Every team i’ve seen like this has introverted people who don’t speak (no offence i hope!!)

Dog walker

...and Astronaut

E learning designer
Proof reader

Police dispatcher. Dont take 999 calls, literally just dealing with officers on the radio and about 900 other things but little public interaction. Can be very fast paced and hard work but pays well, i think my force is about 37k and will accept flexible patterns, i did just nights for about 3 years

Ooh that's something I never even thought of. What sort of qualifications does it require?

Have you looked into freight trains? They tend to run overnight so competition is less fierce as many want day shifts.

HR?

Archivist librarian etc?

I have a relative who works as an ecological consultant, doing bat surveys at night, also tree/newt surveys all on their own etc. Relative says this occupation attracts a lot of introverts, people with neurodiversity, people who grew up as an only child, or just like spending time on their own. The pay is probably £25K+ for a council job (e.g. tree officer) and about £30K+ in the private sector working for an ecological consultancy company. There are other roles in forestry and also agriculture that might suit, for example with the Forestry Commission.

Transport or Logistics admin

I do a WFH role and generally don't speak to anyone all day. If you are in an office you may occasionally speak with a driver but as they aren't meant to use a phone whilst driving or use a handheld PDA you shouldn't have to. Occasionally customers but most just use email nowadays unless urgent.

I'm a freelance editor and proofreader. I see no people that I don't choose to see.

Any good at maths?

Actuary
You can train on the job now, rather than having a degree and then gaining a training position.

I understand feeling drained from constant interactions at work.

The finance team where I work seem to keep to themselves. I’ve also always thought being a grounds keeper would be a great job if you want to keep social interactions to a minimum.

I can think of lots but all mine involve high levels of maths and good coding skills (either "real" coding or spreadsheets) I'd try some basic free online course, even just in Excel to see whether you have any aptitude

I saw a documentary about Canadian firewatchers. They spend six months a year alone in cabins in the middle of forests, going up to the watch towers to be early warnings for wildfires. I wonder if there's anything like that in UK?

What qualifications do they have? Asking for autistic DS please.

SQL report writing- I have worked alongside some (I am a people person tbf) but you don’t see them unless they absolutely have to 🤣🤣 it’s a send an email situation for them.

alternatively maybe look into IT- developing software and managing systems seems to appeal to those who prefer lone working.

Not really. As a bid writer, you have to chivvy other people into supplying information for the bid.

Software developer
Prison guard
Something in research
Any admin job
Cleaner
Warehouse operative
Bin man/woman
Gardener
Electrician
Plumber

Loads of jobs when you start thinking about it.

Many years ago a former head of HR where I worked said to me in a casual conversation “you know me Sneed, I’m not a people person”. I was horrified. Till I got more work experience and realised she was exactly right for that role.

I'm not well paid, but I'm a Reprographics Tech in a big secondary school. I love it and am more or less left to my own devices (the devices being the printers arf arf...sorry).

I do get people dropping in to collect their printing but they are short, pleasant interactions where people are usually happy as they are getting their printing.

If I ever lose this job, which I hope never happens, I'll do something similar elsewhere. If not printing then something else repetitive but visual (I need to make things look pretty/clear and neat), where I don't really see anyone else.

Even my interactions with students are 99% lovely.

I feel very lucky, although not well paid

My son is autistic and this is the career path we’re aiming for. He doesn’t want to deal with people either.