How Can Introverts Sell Themselves During a Job Search?

?In a world more catered to extroverts, introverts can fall behind in the job search because they are working against their nature. But introverts can leverage their unique strengths to land a job. Here we discuss tips for introverts to succeed in all aspects of the job search.

By Lora Korpar

From networking to interviewing, the job search involves a lot of talking. This can make it difficult for introverts to stand out when looking for work.

An introvert is someone who feels energized when alone and drained by too much social interaction. Introverts tend to be quieter and less likely to initiate conversation.

But this does not make introverts worse leaders or employees. Introverts have unique strengths to highlight in their job search.

“Introverts should stop trying to become an extrovert because you'll fail at that,” said Matthew Pollard, the bestselling author of “The Introvert’s Edge” book series. “What you want to do is lean into your introversion. That's the key to success.”

I spoke with Pollard and Janice Chaka, introvert leadership coach at TheCareerIntrovert, to explore introverts’ workplace strengths and ways introverts can thrive in the job search.

Introvert Soft Skills

Though extroverts’ sociability can help when networking and interviewing, introverts have plenty of natural strengths they can leverage in the job search.

Pollard and Chaka said these strengths include active listening skills, attention to detail and holding deep conversations.

“Everyone thinks extroverts have a natural advantage because they can be charismatic in an interview,” Pollard said. “I think for introverts, the ability to plan and prepare is a huge advantage before they even start the interview.”

Chaka and Pollard also said introverts’ listening skills give them a natural sense of empathy, which could help during an interview.

“They can connect with interviewers on a deeper level and that will leave a lasting impression because they talked about not just the surface-level, and they want to know more and ask a lot of questions,” Chaka said.

Jobs for Introverts

Some careers require more individual work, making them a better fit for introverts. Intuit says positions best suited for introverts include accountant, artist, content or marketing manager, writer or editor, graphic designer, research scientist or jobs in information technology.

However, Chaka and Pollard think jobs should not be divided into introverted and extroverted categories. Introverts can have any career.

“Introverts are not second-class citizens. Our path to success is just different to that of an extrovert,” Pollard said. “So I have a real issue with HR managers saying, ‘Sarah, who's an extrovert, she should be in sales… John, on the other hand, poor Johnny, he's an introvert and should probably be in one of those quiet jobs.’?

“[Introverts] need to say ‘I can do anything I want.’ If I want to be a leader in a major organization, I can. If I want to be a negotiator, attorney, salesperson, I can. That may not mean I want to, but I can… Decide what would set you on fire, what you would love to do, and then realize there are no barriers to obtaining that.”

Chaka added that introverts should focus on how they can make the workplace accommodate their needs instead of finding an introvert job.

“What works better for introverts once they know themselves and know how to work is finding a job where they can control how they work,” Chaka said. “So a place that is not about having meetings back-to-back, a place that does asynchronous communication so people can respond in their own time… [A place] that is able to trust how you work with your energy management and accepts boundary-setting. And you need to be able to speak to what your needs are and have them accept it.”?

Networking for Introverts

Many assume networking requires speaking to as many people as possible. However, Chaka and Pollard say targeted networking is just as effective, if not more.

Check the event guest list, research the attendees and pick the ones you most want to meet. Pollard said you can also message them ahead of time so they can expect to meet you there. They may also be introverted and will be happy to see a familiar face.

“When I walk into a room and look around, at least one person out of those [I’ve contacted] is going to be ecstatic that they saw me and they're going to want to come and chat with me,” Pollard said. “And they're expecting me, so it feels more like an appointment than it does me going cold into a networking event.”?

View the networking event as a chance to make connections, not a business transaction. Pollard said to consider people you’re networking with as a potential “momentum partner,” meaning? “somebody who is passionate about what you're passionate about or sees your passion, believes in it and shares it with others.” Looking at their LinkedIn profile ahead of time can help make those connections.

“There's so much online that you can get access to these days,” Pollard said. “I don't want to say to go out and stalk them, but it's not hard to get access to information like what they're posting about and what books they've read.”

Chaka added that you have no obligation to stay for the entire event once you have met everyone you planned to meet. Once you’ve established these connections, maintaining relationships with people in your industry and job recruiters will help in the long run.

“Instead of feeling that you have to work with everyone, just focus on building relationships with a few people you really click with,” Chaka said. “Reaching out to those recruiters and starting to make those relationships even before you need to look for a job can be really critical in your job search.”

Introverts in Job Interviews

Chaka said job interviews tend to be geared toward extroverts. Multiple in-person or video interviews take a lot of time and energy. So don’t be afraid to ask questions about what the interview process will look like before starting.?

Preparation is key once you know what to expect. Also, Pollard said to prepare for numerous job opportunities to relieve some of the pressure on a single interview.

“Don't have all your eggs in one basket,” Pollard said. “As uncomfortable as it may be to focus on a series of possibilities and have lots of interviews lined up, that will actually lead to a much more successful outcome.”

Chaka said introverts are good at answering questions and making connections in an interview but tend to slip when selling themselves. Pollard said a strong way to sell yourself is to prioritize talking about your passions over giving facts about yourself.

“You want to really ask yourself, ‘What impact do I want to have on the world?’ instead of only talking about your skill sets,” Pollard said. “If you talk to the organization about what you're passionate about and the mission that you're on, or the transformations you want to make within the organization, and then connect it to how that will benefit them, it’s much more powerful.”

Chaka and Pollard recommend storytelling as a way to highlight past accomplishments. Storytelling is also a quick and easy way to build rapport with the interviewer.

“Before the interview, talk to friends and peers about what you've done and how you've helped clients and customers, and use those stories,” Chaka said. “Think about how you made a difference and how it's in line with your values and probably in line with the company's values that you are looking to interview with.”

Pollard recommends always having a few stories in your back pocket that illustrate how you helped previous employers achieve their goals.

“We make information tangible for the person and they can see the outcome if we structure our story correctly,” Pollard said.

“Talk about the human story behind what you did because people love to hear the human elements behind those things,” Chaka added. “It invokes feelings, and that's what leaves a lasting impression.”

You might also hear the phrase “team player” in the interview. A common misconception is that introverts are antisocial, but they can collaborate as well as an extrovert.?

Chaka recommends answering team-based interview questions with data. Explain how you worked with multiple departments or teams on collaborative projects.

“When people are asking you about being a team player, ask them what exactly they mean by that because that can be different for different people,” Chaka said. “There are some jobs where ‘team player’ might mean you have to attend events with other humans at least eight times a month. If that's not what you want to do, then this isn't the job for you and don't feel pressured to take that job.”

Also, Pollard said to instill a sense of urgency in an interviewer by telling them you have other job options. Ask “When are you planning to make a selection?” then explain you are not trying to rush them, but you have other interviews. Tell them you want to ensure you don’t take a different job before hearing back from them.?

“Lining up options and making it clear that you have options actually allows you to come across as having momentum and being in control,” Pollard said. “Making sure that those people see you as somebody they could lose if they don't make a decision quickly is really powerful.”

Overall, Pollard said to be kind to yourself. Rejection is common and introverts are more likely to internalize it. Find time for positive self-affirmations to prevent job search struggles from affecting your mental health.

“We're programmed to protect ourselves from a bear – when a bear runs at us, we run away,” Pollard said. “And because of that, our mind focuses on the negative. So we need to train it to focus on the positive so that when challenged, we meet that challenge as opposed to running from it.”

Top Takeaways

Job searching for introverts

• Introverts are more inclined to soft skills like active listening, empathetic conversations, attention to detail and preparation. So lean into them.
• No job is off-limits for introverts. Find something you’re passionate about, then make it suit your needs.
• Research networking event attendees and connect with them ahead of time to make face-to-face interactions easier.