His struggle is one common for introverts, who make up potentially half the population. They’re not shy, but prefer an environment that’s less stimulating, quieter and more conducive to thought. And this doesn’t mean introverts can’t have extremely successful careers: the key for anybody is to find the job that fits with where you are on the personality scale according to career coaches.

Most of us have at least some introvert characteristics. We’re not outgoing in every social situation, prefer sometimes to mull over thoughts uninterrupted by other people, don’t want to express personal feelings to everybody or want to spend at least some time alone.

But introverts, for example, need less praise from others to thrive; show better attention to detail and are more conscientious decision makers. These are valuable traits in any area of work.



The heart of the matter

Some stumble into their perfect, if unlikely, occupation purely by accident. Michael Motylinski was a lawyer in California, a job he came to hate. “You were always in these meetings. There were constant interactions with people.”