Healthcare is a great industry to work in … except for all the people. 😂 Just kidding! Healthcare really is a great field to work in, and one that’s growing. But what are the best healthcare jobs for introverts?
We quiet types have to think about these things before deciding on something we’ll spend most of our time doing. That’s what most people’s jobs ultimately become.
Here is a little help on finding the best healthcare job for you, Wallflower.
Why a Job in Healthcare
Healthcare is a growing field.
Healthcare is a growing field. It’s part of a larger group of jobs in the STEM field (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). STEM jobs are projected to outpace all other types of employment. This includes healthcare careers, which are specifically projected to grow by over 10% by 2029.
The fastest-growing health-related jobs include nurse practitioners (46.3% growth), medical and health services managers (28.5% growth), physician assistants (28.5% growth), and physical therapist assistants (25.4% growth).
Healthcare is gaining more women and Black people.
Women are increasing their employment in health-related fields. Since 2016, women have increased their employment as physicians and surgeons (by 2%), dentists (by 3%), optometrists (by 3%), veterinarians (by 3%), and EMTs and paramedics (by 2%).
Black people are also well represented in healthcare jobs. Healthcare is the only STEM job field where Black people are represented in equal numbers to their share of the total workforce. Black people make up 11% of the total workforce and 11% of the healthcare workforce.
It’s amazing to see women and Black fam represented so well in healthcare. The downside is that many of them still grapple with pay equity. Black and Hispanic women are typically the lowest paid in STEM jobs.
The average salary for women in STEM jobs is about 74% of the average man’s salary. And the average salary for Black workers in STEM is about 78% of the average White worker’s. This doesn’t seem to be changing; in fact, gender and racial pay gaps have increased in recent years.
Fulfillment.
Despite these pay challenges, healthcare is a very rewarding field to work in. This is a big reason for many people joining this field – to help others when they need it most. Many people were inspired by family members who faced a health challenge.
Whatever your motivation, if helping people resonates with you, there are a lot of great career options for you to get into the healthcare industry.
Here are a few introvert-friendly considerations to ponder as you make your choice.
What to Look for in the Best Healthcare Jobs for Introverts
Minimal people interaction.
You’ll want to look for a job that doesn’t require much social interaction. There are a lot of healthcare jobs that do, especially those involving direct patient care.
However, there are a lot of jobs in the healthcare field that don’t require a lot of interaction with people. How much you’ll have to interact with people on a daily basis is something to consider in your search for the best healthcare job.
Deep focus and further learning.
People with an introverted personality type excel at deep focus work. We are built for it, and most of us would be quite happy finding something we can focus on all day and shut everything else out.
Bonus points if it’s something we can continue growing our knowledge in. Most introverts much prefer to be an expert at some things rather than know a little about a lot of things.
Success without applause.
Not surprisingly, introverts DO NOT like being the center of attention. They avoid it at all costs. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t desire success and achievement.
Consider healthcare jobs that allow you to experience success without having to stand in front of a bunch of people, smiling awkwardly to do so.
Smaller teams and direct coworkers.
Introverts do well in small groups and are often overwhelmed in large ones. An ideal healthcare job for introverts requires you to work directly with a small group of people instead of requiring you to constantly “touch base” with a bunch of people.
Some predictability.
Planning is an introvert’s love language. We like having a plan and knowing what to expect from day to day. However, in healthcare, that might not always be the case. Things are often changing since healthcare deals with one of life’s biggest variables – people.
If you can’t find a completely predictable healthcare job, try looking for one that has at least some amount of normalcy or routine to anchor your days.
Best Types of Healthcare Jobs for Introverts
Contrary to popular belief, not all medical careers require you to be a doctor or a nurse. In fact, for introverts, the best medical job would allow them to avoid patient interaction altogether.
Another myth people often believe is that you need an advanced degree to find the best medical job. The examples I included require different levels of education, including an associate degree, a master’s degree, and some that only require job-specific training.
Below are healthcare job categories that are best suited for introverts because they provide all of the key elements introverts should look for mentioned above. Each category has a variety of specific medical field roles you can further research to see what works for you.
Laboratory
Laboratory jobs typically require working in a singular environment with routines that must be followed for success. Typically, there are small teams of people who work in a lab for safety reasons. Laboratory work is a good option for very introverted people who love science.
Examples of laboratory healthcare jobs include a pathologist, a medical lab technician, and a phlebotomist.
Diagnostic
Diagnostic career choices are similar to laboratory jobs and may even happen in the same type of space. These healthcare jobs have the important role of testing samples to identify illness or disease.
Examples of diagnostic healthcare jobs include ultrasound technicians, a radiologic technologist, and MRI technologists.
Administrative
Healthcare administration is more of an office-style job. These are great options for people who want to work in a hospital or a physician’s office.
Administrative healthcare jobs can involve anything from patient intake to insurance to healthcare facility operations. It’s a great option for some interaction with people, but not too much.
Examples of healthcare administration jobs include medical office manager, healthcare administrator, and medical records keeper.
Data
Here’s to all my “squints.” 🤭 You know, those of you who love squinting at a screen while processing large amounts of information. I know you’re out there. I’ve met people just like you.
These are the jobs that crunch all the numbers and translate the information into meaningful ways to help people. Many of these qualify as a remote job.
Examples of data healthcare jobs include data analyst, healthcare statistician, and data engineer.
Research
Research is not for everybody, but it is so important. Without researchers, we wouldn’t know how to treat many of the diseases we can treat today. Researchers also help uncover the not-so-obvious root of problems affecting people’s health.
Examples of healthcare research jobs include clinical research assistant, clinical trial administrator, and research program coordinator.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy jobs are probably the most recognizable because pretty much everyone has interacted with someone working in a pharmacy at some point. This is a very important and very quiet way to help people while only requiring very brief interactions with them.
Examples of pharmacy jobs include pharmacist, clinical pharmacist, and pharmacy technician.
Public Health
This one is near and dear to my heart because I have worked as a public health professional for many years. Most people don’t even realize how many parts of our daily lives public health touches.
Public health focuses on making changes at a population level to ensure everyone can be healthy.
Examples of public health jobs include public health administrator, public health nurse, and public health policy analyst.
Veterinary
I know, I know. You probably weren’t expecting to see this one on the list. It is in the health industry, just for our furry friends instead of people.
Most people consider their pets to be family, so you would still be helping people, but only interacting with them for brief periods. Plus, puppies!! 🐶💕
Examples of veterinary jobs include veterinarian, veterinary assistant, and veterinary receptionist.
How to Manage the More “Peopley” Healthcare Jobs
The healthcare jobs above are great for minimal people interaction, but maybe you’re a social introvert who doesn’t mind being in social settings.
Even so, you still need to be mindful to balance your energy and recharge when needed. Here are a few ways to maintain balance if your healthcare job requires frequent interaction with people.
Have quiet mornings.
Start your days off as quietly as possible. I know this may be hard if you, like me, have a full and busy family. However, maybe you can try getting up a little earlier than everyone else.
Even 15 minutes of extra time to yourself would make a difference. This allows you to start your day on your own quiet terms.
Take people breaks.
Find ways to take breaks from people throughout your day. That may mean eating lunch alone or stepping out to stretch or take a quick walk. Whatever you can do to squeeze in some quiet, alone time will help you prevent reaching introvert meltdown before the end of your workday.
Plan your time off.
Plan your leave time off in advance. Knowing the next time you’ll have a break will help motivate you. It also gives visible “off ramps” instead of an endless road of socializing.
Balance socializing time when you’re off work.
When working a highly social job, it becomes even more important to balance how much time you spend socializing when you’re not working. I’m not suggesting you don’t have a personal social life, but make sure you include quiet time to rest and recharge outside of work.
Get a good night’s rest.
Make sure you get a good night’s rest whenever possible. This helps you start your day fully energized, which is important when working a job that is very draining.
Self-Care for Introverts in Busy Healthcare Jobs
Self-care is important for healthcare professionals and especially for those who are introverts. Be sure to make time for self-care every day. Journaling and exercise are easy ideas for self-care. Find more in my article about self-care tips for busy introverts.
Closing Thoughts
A career in healthcare can be very rewarding. If you’re a quiet type and want to explore opportunities in this field, there are several options that are introvert-friendly.
Use these tips to identify a healthcare career path that is the right fit for you. And remember to balance your energy and prioritize your needs for recharging.
