The Best Jobs For Highly Sensitive People
Updated 2/28/2022
It’s a highly sensitive person’s biggest challenge.
Going to a job every day that siphons the life out of you. You have no energy to do what you want when the day is over.
Buying toilet paper at the grocery story leaves you growling at people in the checkout. There’s no way you’d accept a dinner invitation on a weeknight.
Your life gets smaller and smaller.
I’ve been there. But I found another way. And you can, too. Here’s the advice I wish someone had given me as an introverted HSP.
Let’s start by talking about jobs to avoid.
Steer clear of jobs that require demanding full-time face-to-face interaction
Job types: Full-time counseling, patient care, customer service, customer care, teaching, sales, retail sales, help desk, receptionist/front desk.
I got a grad degree in social work to become a professional counselor because I’m full of compassion and I crave meaningful connection.
As HSPs, our souls’ delight at doing life changing work.
Reading people and knowing what they need comes naturally. We are deep processors who are observant. But soaking up the energy of people around us leaves us overwhelmed and depleted.
As an introverted HSP, I wish someone had said to get a job that saw clients only half of the time, because there would be a trade-off for accepting a full-time caseload and expending so much energy at work.
To get through the day, I did deep breathing and meditation between client sessions. There was no socializing at lunch. I needed that hour to recharge. By the last client session of the day, I was speaking gobbledygook.
Spending 8 hours a day being “on” left me needing to stare at a blank wall after work.
The work I was doing was important and rewarding. But because of pushing beyond my limits and seeing clients so many hours a week, I became protective over my energy and time. Saying NO became my default.
Don’t get me wrong, boundaries are good. But I’d built an impenetrable steel wall with a moat. I had zero left to give.
Get out of positions that require crisis management and being “on call”
I don’t run towards fires. Instead, I call for help.
I will never take a job that requires me to carry a pager to handle 3:00 a.m. crisis calls.
But in human services, working with clients in distress was par for the course.
I adapted to handling those aspects of the job. But I had all the normal stress reactions. Dry mouth, heart pounding, sweaty armpits, brain grinding to a halt.
I internalized the feelings of stress to remain the picture of calm to my clients.
But at what personal cost?
Restless nights. Persistent thoughts. Escaping with cupcakes and television.
So what makes an ideal job?
Jobs that breathe life into you
You’re preparing for a job search and are ready to have more life. Look for these things.
Employers with a meaningful mission. HSPs are most satisfied when we’re doing work that makes a difference. Try non-profits, schools, and colleges.
Family-friendly work environments. You’ll find more work-life balance at organizations that call themselves “family-friendly”. The culture values shutting off email outside of work and a 40-hour work week, whether or not you’ve got a family. You may be able to telecommute or flex your time. Again, think non-profits. And office environments.
Autonomy over your schedule. You plan your own day and book your own appointments and meetings. This lets you leave buffer time between sessions to recharge.
Proactive workflow. Aim for most of your work projects to be on your to-do list far in advance of the deadline. Surprise projects with a quick turnaround time should not be the norm.
Your own office. Quiet uninterrupted work space nurtures the deep thinking of HSPs.
Supervisory jobs. Mentorship of a small team can be rewarding and less taxing than doing direct client work.
A respectful boss and co-workers with good boundaries. The people you work with are everything. Use your intuition in the interview to look for red flags. Ask around to learn about their reputation.
A culture of giving each other the benefit of the doubt. The best work happens in a space where mistakes are seen as an opportunity to learn and it’s assumed you’ve got good intentions.
It’s time to list job types! Are you ready?
Thinking about looking for a new job that works for you as an HSP?
Discover job search advice that’s a fit for you as an HSP.
Feel seen and understood for who you are. Get unstuck, start taking action to find a job that’s good for your soul, and feel more assured in your job search.
Job types you’ll flourish in
In fourth grade, my teacher left me to sweat through math problems at the blackboard. And now I will never say yes to a math-based job.
Vice versa, your experience trying to spell “onomatopoeia” in the school spelling bee may mean you will never take a writing job.
We all have different strengths and your best job as an introverted HSP will let you do mostly solitary work using yours.
Here are positions where the bulk of the work is done alone.
Statistician, data analyst, and database administrator
Accounting, bookkeeping, human resources, and payroll
Grant writer, technical writer
Horticulturist
Back office administrative support, medical coding
Virtual assistant, web design and development
Web coding, computer programmer, software developer, search engine optimization specialist
Historical research, some lab science research jobs
Service jobs including baker, mechanic, janitor, and landscaper
If you’re drawn to working with people, the amount of time you spend together matters. Teaching or counseling two days a week may be very doable if the rest of your time is spent in solitary work.
Don’t lose heart about finding a job that is compatible with your introverted sensitivity. I’m proof it’s possible.
A job that’s a total match
Several years ago, I transitioned into working at colleges and universities.
It was work that felt meaningful because of education’s ability to change lives. Students are in a process of ongoing personal discovery, asking questions like “who am I?” and “what do I want for my life?”
In this job my year had two parts, solitary administrative and planning work, and student-centered time during the summer. I spent most of my time managing data, doing reports, and preparing for the next summer. When the students arrived, I was excited to see them because I was well-rested. I loved the time I spent with them.
It was the best of both worlds.
You can find this too! And your happiness hangs on it.
Do you feel most job search advice isn’t a fit for you as an HSP?
It’s possible to feel seen and understood for who you are. And to find a job you truly want and that works for you as an HSP.
Begin to get unstuck, feel more assured in your job search, and start taking action to find a job that’s good for your soul.
Passion gives you staying power
The ultimate work situation for an HSP is to align your work with your calling, because doing work that feels meaningful makes the energy output undeniably worth it.
You have to look for your calling. Most of us aren’t lucky enough to have chosen a major in school that naturally aligns with our purpose.
Discovering what you’re meant to do comes from living fully awake. My post, How to Make Your Dream a Reality (When You Have No Idea What Your Dream Is) is a must-read for anyone yearning for more fulfillment.
You’ll want to bookmark my post, 11 Powerful Principles for Changing the World as an HSP: How To Use Your Super Senses and Influence the Masses by Being Yourself, so you can refer back to it whenever doubt creeps in.
Don’t let work wreck you
You can handle any job as an introverted HSP but the question is, for how long, and at what price?
Are you willing to sacrifice your inner calm?
When you first start working, it may be tempting to try to strong-arm your way through the day, disconnecting from your physical symptoms, and enduring high levels of stress to prove you can do it.
But your mental well-being is essential for a happy life.
Use these tips and take a look at what’s out there.
You may be pleasantly surprised.
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