There are a few things introverts can do when looking for that perfect job.
First, this is not the time for your usual self-effacement. In general, we don’t like bringing attention to ourselves. But as my mom always said, “If you don’t toot your own horn, nobody else will!” In other words, you have to tell the world how great you are in your resume.
Use strong action verbs like: create, manage, lead. My favorite new action verb is “pioneer.” At my last two jobs, I’ve been the one to create Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles for the companies I worked for. So adding “Pioneered the use of social media” looks great on my resume.
Second, be sure to highlight some of those great introvert strengths:
We learn really fast. Many years ago, I took a job as a proofreader at an advertising agency. I started in early May; the only other proofreader was starting a maternity leave in September. So I had just a little over three months to learn the job; I was on my own until she returned from her maternity leave. You bet that went on my resume for several years.
We have great attention to detail. There are a lot of jobs where this will come in handy: working with numbers, engineering fields, etc. But it’s not hard to get that across in your resume, even if your job is not all about numbers. I’m the only employee for the small nonprofit I work for. I have to pay attention to the details, because if I don’t, nobody else will!
We excel at foresight. Because we think so much (and pay attention to detail), we often see things that others don’t. Did you help create a new product? Did you find a new process that saved your company money? Did you anticipate a trend before it started? Find these things in your work history and pay special attention to them in the resume. It’s a skill that not everyone has, but it’s highly valued by employers.
Third, prepare for the interview. For many introverts, this is the worst part of the job search process. There’s so much unknown: What is the personality of the person who will interview me? Will there be more than one person doing the interviewing? What will they ask me? What if my brain can’t find an answer fast enough?
To prepare, you must practice, practice and practice some more. Use your ability to learn quickly and absorb as much information as you can about the company you’re interviewing with. You may not need it all for the interview, but it will give you an enormous sense of comfort.
My all-time favorite prep technique is a book called 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions (affiliate link). I’ve used a couple of different versions of the book throughout the years. It has worksheets and other strategies to help you discover your best points and how to talk about them. I usually go through and come up with an answer to each of the 101 questions just as an exercise. Again, it gives you a great sense of comfort when you’ve already answered just about any question you could get.
And last, but not least, stay positive! It’s tough, I’ll admit it. I’ve sent out several resumes in the last few months but I’ve only had one phone interview, and that went nowhere. But you just have to keep trying.
http://www.theconfidentintrovert.com/2011/04/07/introverts-and-the-job-search/
