If you’re magnetized toward breakroom chatter, count down the days to big networking events, and always know the right person to solve a problem, chances are you identify as an extrovert.
Everyone deserves to have a job where they feel like themselves. It improves your sense of belonging and purpose, motivates you to perform well, and keeps you interested in developing professionally. If you’re higher on the extroversion scale, find a job for extroverts that’s full of social interaction and stimulation to build a fulfilling career.
What’s an extrovert?
Extroversion is a personality type that typically describes those who feel enlivened by social gatherings — and are often the most noticeable ones in the room. They’re comfortable expressing themselves, enjoy being the center of attention, and have no problem starting a conversation.
Extroverts tend to recharge their energy through socializing, although that doesn’t mean they don’t benefit from alone time. They just don’t require as much of it as introverts.
While you might think you sit on one side of the scale, modern psychology argues that your personality exists on a spectrum. Some people aren’t extroverted at all, while others sit in the middle, requiring about as much alone time as they do social time.
If you thrive off of social interactions, you likely sit closer to the full-on extrovert side. Understanding what this means professionally can help you find opportunities to develop your natural skill set, build a career that lets you bring your whole self, and find the work environment that best suits you.
Benefits of extroversion in the workplace
As an extrovert, you’re a natural people person who helps hold the social fabric of an organization together.
Extroverts positively contribute to a work environment because they:
Ideal work environments for extroverts
Not all extroverts are cut from the same cloth. You must self-reflect on the personality traits, employee strengths, and shortfalls that make you unique and pursue work environments that accommodate these things.
Maybe you're an excellent public speaker but feel shy or self-conscious about presenting your ideas. A supportive company culture can help build your confidence and refine your presentation skills.
Here are four work environment characteristics you should look for to encourage your professional growth:
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Group settings: Extroverts externalize their thoughts and feel inspired when conversing with others. You’ll likely excel in jobs requiring collaboration, group brainstorming, and teamwork.
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Experimentation: Shyness and risk-taking might not have a lot of crossover for you. Extroverts love to share ideas before they’ve fully formed them. They do well in environments that encourage experimentation and failing quickly to find the right results.
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Support systems: Extroverts tend to make decisions impulsively based on their emotional state. You might feel like you’re full of great ideas but aren’t positive about how to execute them. If that sounds familiar, working environments with supportive coworkers, managers, and leaders that guide your decision-making will help you grow.
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Noisy environments: The worst jobs for extroverts are stiff and quiet because extroverts hit their stride in loud spaces. Open floor plans, busy hospitals, and loud workshops are ideal conditions to enter your flow state and keep your focus and concentration from dwindling.
18 great careers for extroverts
You can find job opportunities in every industry. The trick is finding a role with responsibilities and a work environment compatible with your personality.
If you’re wondering what jobs are best for extroverts, here are eighteen potential career paths to explore.
Entry-level jobs for extroverts
Whether you’re looking for a side gig while you study or raise a family, or don’t have a university education, plenty of jobs don’t require much work experience or specialized bachelor’s degrees. Here are a few options.
1. Event planner
While some event planners study hospitality or event management, you can break into this gig as an assistant and learn the technical tools of the trade.
Event planning requires a mixture of people skills for building relationships with vendors, venues, and potential clients. It also requires problem-solving and organizational skills to balance all the moving parts.
And successful event planners possess excellent communication skills that enable them to generate sales and meet client expectations.
2. Flight attendant
A high school diploma and passport are the two hard requirements for flight attendants to apply for certification by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Extroverts who enjoy new experiences, excel at managing people, and can regulate their emotions to keep a positive, authoritative attitude when dealing with difficult people will excel. And they’ll reap the benefits of endless travel opportunities.
3. Sales representative
Most businesses need great sales representatives, which makes it an excellent career choice for people who want to explore different industries. Sales reps have outgoing personalities and are proactive.
They also see commission-based pay or performance-measured benefits as exciting extrinsic motivation rather than a deterrent. Many sales jobs provide on-site training with the potential for moving up to sales management positions over time.
Fast-paced jobs that pay well
If you’re an extrovert who runs from routine, plenty of jobs offer experimentation and constant change. Here are a few options.
4. Healthcare professional
While you might associate hospitals and doctor’s offices with sterility, the mood can shift in the blink of an eye. Registered nurses, first responders, and emergency room technicians think fast, communicate quickly, and make snap decisions, which fills the healthcare industry with some of the best jobs for extroverts.
Plus, it’s one of the fastest-growing fields in the US and is full of jobs for extroverts that pay well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physicians have an average salary above $208,000, and registered nurses can earn above $120,000.
5. Financial advisor
If you love crunching numbers but prefer stock market volatility over tax-season spreadsheets, a career as a financial advisor is a great choice. Financial advisors have the focus and long-term strategic thinking of an introvert combined with extroverts' risk-taking, experimental attitude.
And personal financial advisors have tremendous earning potential as they receive commissions, incentives, and bonuses. According to the BLS, top earners make over $208,000.
6. Security, commodity, or financial trader
While digital trading is replacing the thrill of the exchange floor, traders operate in a fast-paced, high-stakes work environment. It’s an ideal job for extroverts who possess high self-efficacy, thrive on emotional snap decisions, and are confident in their abilities.
Traders exponentially build their salaries over time as they gain more clients and increase their commissions. According to the BLS, top earners make over $205,000.
7. Fundraising manager
Fundraising managers use a mixture of public relations, sales, and project management skills to attract revenue to an organization. And strong communication skills drive every task, from public speaking and relationship building to fostering brand awareness.
According to the BLS, most fundraising managers work in securities or insurance, with median salaries of $163,570 and $159,130, respectively. And high earners in more specialized industries can make up to $204,430.
Creative jobs for extroverts
An experimental attitude, less fear of failure, and collaboration skills make many extroverts perfect for creative industries. Here are a few creative careers to consider.
8. Marketing manager
Extroverts love sharing information with others, and that’s what marketing’s all about. While introverts may be more adept at designing marketing concepts and materials, an extrovert’s ability to connect with people is essential to launching projects.
9. Public relations specialist
In public relations, social capital is everything. Creative extroverts are perfect for public relations. You have the skills to develop attention-grabbing press releases and media campaigns and a network of people to ensure you deliver your message.
10. Arts administrator
Arts administrators balance a passion for art with a love of community-building. They spearhead events, exhibitions, and daily activities to foster camaraderie around their institution. It’s an ideal job for extroverts who are assertive, organized and think outside the box.
Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to socialize with a variety of people, including curators, artists, and the general public.
11. Creative director
Creative directors are the hands that move the strings of creative projects and are the liaison between team members and clients. You must develop a deep knowledge of your trade (film, publishing, visual effects), be resourceful, and have a creative vision.
But the bread-and-butter of a creative director is fine-tuned social skills to leverage team members' strengths and manage client expectations. These are skills you likely already possess.
12. UX designer
Although a UX designer has a lot of solo screen time, their job is collaborative. You must interface with computer engineers, UI designers, and project managers, brainstorm with fellow UX designers, and connect with potential users. Extroverts who enjoy leveraging research and design in social interactions will excel.
13. Social media manager
Effective community managers understand the social zeitgeist. They’re skilled at interpreting societal trends and translating them into social media campaigns that build brand awareness.
Hot topics and trends come and go, sometimes within hours. Effective social media managers love the thrill of having their finger on the pulse, taking risks on fun projects, and participating in the larger conversation.
Jobs for extroverts who want to help people
If you enjoy spending meaningful time with a select group of people, here are a few jobs you might love.
14. Teacher
Working with children and adolescents makes every day different, even if you’re working from the same lesson plan as last year. Teaching requires several skills that come naturally to extroverts, including effective leadership skills, public speaking, and adapting your behavior depending on the situation.
15. Human resource manager
It’s all in the name. Human resource professionals oversee an organization’s most important asset: human capital. They’re instrumental in building employee value propositions and managing every aspect of an employee’s job experience.
It’s an ideal job for extroverts who are strategic planners, have solid time management skills, and understand how to communicate with a variety of people.
16. Recruiter
Job recruiters source candidates, are the first point of contact for new hires, and often manage the onboarding process. Extroverts who are organized, persistent, and love connecting the dots are ideal recruiters. You’ll enjoy meeting new people constantly, leaving you feeling energized and motivated at work.
17. Life coach
Life coaches combine their emotional intelligence, active listening skills, and intellectual curiosity to help people live more meaningful lives. Their ability to read between the lines and think strategically rather than reactively are instrumental to helping people reach their goals.
It’s an ideal job for highly-adaptable extroverts with fine-tuned communication skills who can balance a straightforward attitude with care and sensitivity.
18. Mediator
Mediators manage communication between disputants in legal proceedings to guide each party toward a mutual agreement. Extroverts that love people, critical thinking, and problem-solving are great at this. Effective mediators are also adept in interpreting nonverbal communication because they must read between the lines to understand a person’s intentions.
Embrace your extroverted qualities
Extroverted personalities have a lot to bring to the table. They’re social connectors who aren’t afraid to share their innovative ideas and tap into their professional network. This is why you can find jobs for extroverts in every industry and career level.
When job hunting, focus less on the industry and more on job responsibilities that tap into your extroverted skill set. Whatever role you land, if you search for the one that complements your personality, you’ll soar.
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