Career #1: Accountant
When data talks, are you usually listening? An ability to sit quietly while poring over numbers could serve you well as an accountant.
"Shhhh!" Factor: If you prefer to keep quiet and focus on the details, this number-driven occupation could play to your strengths, Shatkin says. Reviewing financial statements, computing taxes, and reviewing accounting systems are some of the duties required of accountants, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Accountants carry out their duties in either an office or at home, according to the Department of Labor. Sounds like you'll have plenty of quality time to spend with your number-friends.
Just keep in mind that this job may require meeting face-to-face with clients on occasion, in order to provide recommendations or explain your findings, the Department notes.
Career #2: Graphic Designer
Would you rather express yourself through images than words? Your skills as a visual communicator could take center stage in a graphic design career.
"Shhhh!" Factor: Quiet people are often considered better listeners, Shatkin says, which means they may have an advantage in this creative field.
Why do graphic designers need active listening skills? In order to "really focus on what the client is trying to convey with the graphic," Shatkin says.
But taking direction from clients isn't the only time you'll find yourself keeping mum. As a graphic designer, you might spend much of your time figuring out the best way to use colors, images, text, and layouts to communicate ideas, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Career #3: Software Developer
If you come up with your best ideas during quiet contemplation, a career as a software developer could deliver rewarding work.
"Shhhh!" Factor: "Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs," according to the U.S. Department of Labor. While they may work in teams, most of the day-to-day work is solo, Shatkin says.
Career #4: Database Administrator
Do you like to quietly and thoroughly think over the task at hand before taking action? If so, you may want to think over a career as a database administrator.
"Shhhh!" Factor: Talk about the need for quiet concentration: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in this career "a minor error can cause major problems."
Career #5: Writer
Do you feel most comfortable when you're up to your eyeballs in research and facts - with not a person in sight? Then you might have a calling as a writer.
"Shhhh!" Factor: Quiet people often have a great ability to concentrate on slogging through information, Shatkin says. This kind of endurance can be a prized skill for writers, who, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, need to demonstrate strong research and proper citation methods to establish credibility in their work.
Career #6: Survey Researcher
Surveys are used regularly to help organizations test the waters of public opinion, but did you ever wonder who designs the questions? Survey researchers - that's who. If you're one for long hours of quiet contemplation, this could be the career for you.
"Shhhh!" Factor: The listening skills that seem to go hand-in-hand with quiet personalities can be the key to designing surveys that deliver reliable, meaningful results, Shatkin says.
No, surveys won't tell you how they should be designed, but your employers might. "Part of [survey research] is finding out what someone needs to learn from the survey, and that requires really listening," Shatkin says.
As a survey researcher, you could enjoy a good amount of silent work - like researching the survey topic, determining the best method for accurately capturing the desired information, or using statistical software to analyze the results, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
http://education.yahoo.net/articles/careers_for_quiet_types2.htm
