If you’re an introvert, traditional corporate jobs might not suit you. Their open office designs, public speaking expectations, and frequent meetings can drain your social battery. Plus, many of these jobs require a college degree.
Luckily, you don’t need to change your personality or struggle in an unsuitable environment. Here are some of the best careers for introverts without a degree to inspire your job search.
Professional Stenographer
Do you pride yourself on your excellent listening skills? Are you exceptionally skilled at typing? If so, you should consider becoming a professional stenographer. Stenographers create transcripts of speech using specialized keyboards called stenotype machines.
If you have an interest in the legal field, you can work as a court reporter or a congressional stenographer and record courtroom or legislative proceedings. Closed captioning stenographers write captions for live TV and often work from home.
Stenographer training typically takes several months, but you can find online courses to fit with your schedule. Once you’ve finished training, you’ll often need to do an internship and take a certification exam. To maintain your certification, you’ll also need to take continuing education courses.
Photographer
Do you love capturing special moments? Are you interested in a creative job that offers fun interactions with others? If so, you should consider a career in photography, especially if you don’t want to work from a desk every day.
A career as a photographer also offers great flexibility, both in terms of schedule and photo subjects. Professional photographers can capture weddings, family events, wildlife, and travel. You’ll also spend time editing photos, which is great for detail-oriented introverts.
While you don’t need a degree to work as a photographer, you will need to learn how to manage your camera equipment and use photo editing software. You should also set up a home office with all the essentials so that you can focus on photo editing.
Truck Driver
Are you a confident driver who enjoys traveling on the open road? Do you thrive on working independently? Truck driving is one of the best careers for introverts without a degree. Plus, this industry is in desperate need of new workers, which means pay is competitive.
To work as a truck driver, you’ll need a high school diploma, a current driver’s license, and a clean driving record. After that, you’ll need to get a commercial driving license (CDL).
You can often find truck driving courses at local community colleges or tech schools. These programs typically take four weeks to complete, but they can take up to six months for more specialized training. Another option is company-sponsored CDL training, in which a trucking company will pay for your training and give you a job in the end.
Find the Right Career for Your Personality
Corporate office jobs aren’t the only way to make a good living. Between noisy offices and public speaking, introverts can struggle in traditional work environments.
By choosing the right career, you can thrive in an environment where your personality is an asset without investing in college tuition.