Shyness can make job hunting difficult. In a world full of extroverts, shy people have to struggle to be assertive and ambitious as the job market demands. Fortunately, there are tactics that can help you focus on your strengths and find the job that's right for you.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assess your strengths and weaknesses
Step 1. Assess your level of shyness
Taking the time to reflect on your personality and assess your shyness can help you gain the right awareness to effectively sell yourself on the job market. Once you have established how shy you are and what situations increase your shyness, you can prepare yourself to handle challenges. Ask yourself:
- Have I always been shy?
- Am I shy both at work and outside of work?
- Is my shyness mainly related to looking for a job?
- Was I considered a shy person in my previous job?
Step 2. Learn that preparation can help you manage shyness associated with looking for a job
If most of the answers to the previous questions indicate that your shyness is mainly related to looking for a job (introducing yourself, taking the interview, meeting potential colleagues, and so on), you need to know that preparing for these situations can help you. to solve the problem.
Step 3. Convince yourself that shy people can find a job that suits them
If you believe that your shyness is a character trait and not a manifestation of anxiety related to looking for a job, you need to reflect on your weaknesses and strengths and decide how to proceed. It is not necessary to become an extrovert to find a job. You can work on yourself to try to get out of your safe nest by focusing your attention on finding a job that suits your weaknesses and strengths.
Step 4. Emphasize your strengths
If you understand what your skills are, you can determine which job best suits your needs. Start with the strongest aspects of your personality and the most relevant job skills. For example, if you are a detail-oriented person and an analytical thinker, and have experience in preparing financial reports, a position as a financial analyst might be for you.
Part 2 of 3: Looking for a job
Step 1. Look for a job that matches your strengths
To feel capable and successful, you need to find a job that fits your strengths. Make a list of your skills, experiences and other qualifications and look for a job that matches them.
Step 2. Focus on jobs that make you feel comfortable
If you are a particularly shy and introverted person, a job as a motivational speaker or salesperson is not for you. Look for a job that doesn't require great communication skills or interpersonal relationships. Jobs that are good for a shy person can be for example:
- programmer;
- financial employee;
- scientist;
- Writer;
- web content manager.
Step 3. Look for a potential employer
Remember that the work itself is only part of the matter; you should also be able to find a workplace where you feel comfortable. For every job posting you find, try to figure out what kind of company it is. If, for example, you are interested in a job as a programmer but you realize that the company in question has a fast pace of work, with frequent meetings, perhaps it is better if you do not apply. The company's website is usually a good way to start; read the sections “About us” and “Work with us” to understand what kind of company it is, how it operates and what it expects from its employees. Plus, you might also:
- do a search for the company's keywords on the internet. You will find articles and news about it. You will be able to have a better view of the company and understand if the employees are happy.
- look at the pages on the social networks of the company or employees. The company's social network profile can give you additional information. As for employee profiles, they will help you understand if the company attracts people who have a similar personality, with common interests and skills. In this way you will evaluate if you could get along well with that type of people.
Step 4. Apply for jobs with confidence
Once you understand what kind of job you would like to do, apply! Do not miss an opportunity just because you do not have enough confidence or because you believe that you would pass for shy and introverted during interviews. Take the first step and send your application. If you've found the right jobs, you may be called to interview when you least expect it.
Step 5. Prepare the ground
Don't overdo it: You don't have to go to a big event and talk to everyone in attendance. Choose one or two employees and get in touch by phone or email, as you find best. Look for a first contact and express your interest in the company and in the job; this will help you when you apply.
Part 3 of 3: Overcoming shyness during the interview
Step 1. Prepare what you want to say
Having an interview can be scary, it is normal to feel anxious: almost everyone is nervous during a job interview due to the many unknowns. The best thing is to review the resume and be ready to answer typical questions, such as "Tell me about yourself". Knowing what to say and how to present your experiences, your educational background, your skills and your goals will help you respond calmly and confidently.
Step 2. Prepare to emphasize your strengths
It is essential to be able to illustrate your potential by giving examples of past experiences and successes. For example, if you want to emphasize your ability to pay attention to detail, you must be ready to give an example: maybe you have reviewed some reports and discovered an error that saved the company you worked for money.
Step 3. Consider the importance of body language
Eye contact, the right posture, a firm handshake are important elements in an interview. Everyone has to practice this non-verbal language, but shy people have to work harder on it. Practice! Do some tests, for example:
- have a conversation with someone you know by making eye contact.
- sit in the correct posture for 30 minutes.
- practice handshaking.
Step 4. Try to be positive and confident
Remember: they wouldn't have called you for the interview if you weren't qualified. At this point you just have to express yourself confidently about yourself and focus on your potential. Be positive during the interview, and try to express your confidence and enthusiasm both verbally and non-verbally.
Step 5. Send a thank you note
After the interview, send a short thank you message to the prospective employer for the time they have given you. If you want to clarify an aspect of the interview, you can do it, but don't talk about more than one or two aspects, don't apologize and don't point out the negative aspects of the interview. Emphasize your interest and enthusiasm for the job.
Suggestions
- Accepting yourself as a person is important for your happiness and well-being, both in your professional and private life. Don't criticize yourself for being shy; it's a part of how you are.
- Don't let failures stop you from finding the job you love. Anyone can throw up an interview, sooner or later; everyone can happen to be beaten by a more qualified candidate. Do not insist on analyzing failures. Focus on successes.
- Many shy people are happy to have online contacts. If this is the case for you too, don't miss the opportunity to work online. Sites like Linkedin, Facebook and others can give you the chance to meet people in your industry.
