Introverted Job Search: It's not a High School Dance

Remember those high school dances, the ones where you used to sit trying to get up courage to ask someone to dance (or waiting for someone to ask you)?  Remember that feeling: not being sure what to say, feeling awkward, worrying that you’d embarrass yourself and the person you wanted to ask?

But, do you also remember all the energy there?  The hundreds of things that you could think of to say, the cool lines that would ease the conversation, how you could see in your mind just how great you’d be on the floor?

A few weeks ago I read a good article about the value of introverts (25% of population are introverts, but 60% of gifted children are introverts) and their job search challenge when companies check their ‘influence score’ in making a hiring decision.  As the author puts it, “the extroverts have won the values battle.”  (Christian Science Monitor, “Introverted Talent in America, Buried by the ‘Influence Score’” by Jim Sollisch).

So, what’s an introverted job seeker to do?  How do you translate all those great ideas into a successful search?

Play to Strength.  You have a wealth of advantages in your job search.  Maximize them:

1. Deep thought:  Planning and problem-solving are strengths.  Use them to be totally ready when going into new situations.  Use them to help other people in your network – it will reap benefits.
2. Memory:  Actually, Introverts typically remember better.  So use that memory to remember birthdays and other key facts to help others.
3. Energy from Within:  Because introverts get their guidance and inspiration from within themselves, they can be more resilient in their search – because you don’t rely as much on other people, you don’t get disappointed as badly.
4. Thinking before acting:  Provide the analysis for your social networks.  Become the go-to person to make sense of breaking events.  Remember, everyone is suffering from information overload. An introvert is perfectly suited to sort through the data looking for information that will help everyone.

Mitigate Weaknesses.  And, you can still work on the places that aren’t your strength:

5. Metrics are your friend:  Actually, the new metrics are your friend.  Go check out Klout and PeerIndex, then go all introverted-crazy on it – do the things that move your score.
6. Leverage Interactions:  Ok, meeting people is tiring.  Take time after every meeting to maximize your return by following up online, both one-to-one (emails, tweets) and broadly (LinkedIn, Facebook, a blog, Twitter).
7. Ignore your ‘stay-at-home’ impulse:  Do whatever you need to do to ignore or get over your objections to getting out.  Just go.  And when you get back, do any analysis you want but stick that meeting in the “plus” column:  By definition it was a worthwhile get-together because it got you out and talking to people.