Different types of people excel in different types of jobs—so if you want to thrive in your career, it’s in your best interest to find a job that’s well-suited to your personality.
If you’re an extrovert, you might be drawn to different roles than those an introvert might go after. But how do you know what types of jobs will play to your natural strengths and abilities—and leave you feeling excited and energized at the end of the workday?
We’ve put together a list of 10 roles that tend to be great fits for extroverts. But first, let’s quickly define what, exactly, an extrovert is, and what they should look for in a job.
What’s an Extrovert Again?
Extroverts “direct their energy and attention outward and receive energy from interacting with people,” says Mike Warrick, founder of Jamesson Solutions, a consultancy that offers personality and motivation assessments to help teams and individuals identify their strengths—and build careers that play to those strengths. “Extroverts are typically outgoing, talkative, action-oriented, and not afraid to take risks.”
Essentially, extroverts are energized by social interaction—unlike introverts, who often feel drained by too much of it and need plenty of alone time to recharge their batteries. But that kind of talkative personality can come with misconceptions, starting with the idea that talking is all extroverts know how to do.
“A basic misconception about extroversion is that we just can’t help ourselves in terms of being vocal...in meetings or in conversation,” says Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, self-proclaimed extrovert and founder of Beyond Discovery Coaching, where she works with recent grads as they navigate the professional world for the first time and find the right jobs.
While extroverts do tend to lean towards being more talkative, they also value what other people have to say and can be excellent listeners.
Another misconception about extroverts is that they automatically have a leg up in their job search. It’s true that being naturally extroverted may help during certain parts of the process (for example, by being able to keep energy high during a long day of interviews with multiple people), but extroversion alone isn’t enough to land you the job.
“Being an extrovert in and of itself doesn’t necessarily give someone a job market advantage—unless you connect it to a skill or ability,” Ibrahim-Taney says. “For example, how does being extroverted connect to your ability to lead a team? Hit sales targets? Solve problems? Or motivate others around you?”
What Should Extroverts Look for in a Job?
If you identify as an extrovert, you’ll want to find a role (and company) that plays to who you are so that you can feel like your happiest and most productive self. “The more a person chooses roles that align with their behavioral strengths, the higher the likelihood they will perform at a higher level—and choose to stay in the role longer,” Warrick says.
“Typically, an extrovert will have a much higher likelihood of long-term success and superior performance in a role that requires action, a high degree of contact with other people, a forum to express ideas, and freedom from mundane or routine tasks,” Warrick says. “An environment that is faster paced, not as restrictive, where they have freedom to create and develop their ideas is ideal.”
Now that you know what to look for in a role and work environment, let’s jump into some of the best jobs for extroverts along with salary info from PayScale. (Note that PayScale's database is updated nightly; these numbers reflect the latest as of June 2021.)
