If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP) and an extrovert, a lot of general career guidance doesn’t quite fit. To be sure, highly sensitive extroverts (HSE) have amazing gifts and those gifts are in demand. Let’s make sure your needs are in the mix. I’ll explain.
If you are an HSE, you might have felt pulled (or pushed) toward more extrovert-oriented career roles, but another part of you can get worn out by too much people time. It can feel confusing until you learn a few simple things.
HSEs are at risk of burnout at work because it’s all too easy to end up in a mismatch or overdoing the people time without enough restorative time for your high sensory/highly sensitive system. Sensitive is a superpower by the way. There’s nothing wrong.
As a career coach for highly sensitive people (HSPs), including extroverted HSPs, I want to offer you some hope — and some practical ideas about making the livelihood process a little easier.
I’ll cover:
- Why finding a career fit can be hard for HSP extroverts
- Strengths of extroverted HSPs
- What HSP extroverts need for a good career fit
- Good career paths for HSP extroverts
- How to choose a good career fit
- Case study: sensitive extrovert career clarity journey
Why Finding a Career Fit Can Be Hard for HSP Extroverts
Finding a good fit career path for HSP extroverts can be tricky. For starters, many people aren’t familiar with the idea of being highly sensitive and extroverted and what that combo means.
In a nutshell, if you think of yourself as an ambivert, “social introvert” or “extroverted introvert,” HSP extrovert might be a better explanation. These signs you’re an extroverted HSP could feel validating and clarifying.
Most HSP extroverts are not aware of how their various strengths and energy needs can come together so you can have more joyful and energizing work experiences.
As a result of this common lack of understanding in one’s early career, a mid-career pivot is normal for HSP extroverts. Kudos for even having a peek at the idea of career change, because mid-career change can feel scary or impossible, at first.
Let’s get you some relief.
Many HSP extroverts need a balance of people time and quiet time, but they may lean too far in one direction or the other in their work.
For instance, many people might see your outward-facing extroverted side, but not your high sensitivity experience on the inside, so they might expect you to act a certain extroverted way most of the time. But something doesn’t feel right when you try to meet that expectation.
On the other hand, some extroverted HSPs might lean away from lots of people time, perhaps assuming they are introverts, but then they feel drained or lonely in their work and don’t realize it’s a lack of enough people time. (Of course introverts need people time too but it’s often a lower amount than an extroverted HSP.)
Both scenarios can be exhausting.
Learning about your optimal level of stimulation is something you have to understand and choose consciously. Your setpoint is unique to you and can vary depending on the situation. For instance, meaningful conversations will be more likely to energize you than lots of lighter conversations.
Finding a career path that plays to your strengths and energy needs is key to career fulfillment .
Strengths of Extroverted HSPs
Some of your strengths might be things you have kept in the closet or considered “wrong” or “weak” or not valuable. And yet you have so much to offer.
When you understand what it means to be a sensitive extrovert, you can understand better what you have to contribute, and what to avoid.
HSP extroverts tend to have strengths or high potential strengths such as:
- Ease of connecting and communicating with others in meaningful ways.
- Thriving in productive, mutual collaborative work situations.
- Understanding others’ needs/ empathy.
- Imaginative and creative.
- Enjoyment of venturing into new situations.
- Contagious enthusiasm.
- Genuinely caring leadership styles.
I’ve put this list together based on my own years of observation, study, and experiences, and also based on findings from Jacquelyn Strickland, LPC (counselor, HSP extrovert, certified Myers-Briggs professional, and recognized HSP expert).
Strickland notes that HSP extroverts can thrive when using those kinds of strengths and can wither without it. (You can read more in Strickland’s in-depth article on extroversion and HSPs.)
What HSP Extroverts Need for a Good Career Fit
Before jumping into a job search, it can be really helpful to step back to think about what criteria will make something a good fit.
4 key factors extroverted HSPs need in their work:
- Balance and boundaries
- Positive, productive environment with a sense of mutuality
- Meaning
- Meaningful engagement with people (but not too much)
You can find work where your sensitivity to others’ needs is valued and where the work itself aligns with your values. It might take time but it’s worth imagining the possibilities and persevering to find the right fit.
You can also learn to assess potential employers for these qualities, such as by asking how they handle certain situations.
For many extroverted sensitives, they turn to self-employment/ freelancing options as a way to create the environment they prefer, and they can still have a collaborative group of colleagues of their choosing.
Good Career Paths for HSP Extroverts
Once you understand some of the qualities you are looking for in your career path, it’s fun to imagine actual options. I put together this list of career paths that seem to be good fits for HSP extroverts.
This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, and there is no one right career path for HSP extroverts. It’s simply a starting place to get you thinking about possible options.
All of these ideas meet the criteria of having good potential for a sense of meaning and depth; a nice balance of meaningful people time and quieter work time, and fair pay. (Actual job experiences will of course vary.)
See if any of these spark new ideas for you. Click on the category to view ideas:
Helping RolesHelping roles can be in health and wellness or all kinds of directions. Here are some samples that draw on HSP extrovert strengths with potential for more meaning and less stress, when it’s the right fit for you.
- Allied health roles like physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), PT assistant, OT assistant, sonography.
These roles tend to focus on 1:1 meaningful connections and don’t tend to be as intense as other health care roles while still earning good pay. - Student affairs and student services professional in higher ed.
There’s a large range from entry level to high level roles, with various niches from accessibility services to internships and study abroad. You can view examples of student services roles listed at HigherEdJobs.com. - Professional organizer
See case study of an HSP extrovert professional organizer. - Wellness professionals
These could easily blend 1:1 time, group leadership, and concentrated alone time, and you could have some control over how much of each. For instance, this could be in roles related to or blending these fields: fitness, nutrition, exercise, yoga teacher, Chinese medicine.
There are a lot of career paths that involve meaningful helping or educating, leading, and coordinating or managing. It can become more fulfilling and easier on you if you’re working for a cause you care about, or at least with people that value caring and integrity. Here’s a few ideas that extroverted HSPs might enjoy:
- Chaplain/ Officiant/ Celebrant
Your heartfelt leadership style could really shine in the whole process from planning to facilitating deeply meaningful ceremonies. - Leadership roles in a healthy mission-driven organization
If you’re passionate about the mission, and the org itself is functional, your inspiring and caring style can really shine in a leadership role. - Executive coach/ Leadership coach
This is especially good for those with leadership role experience who might enjoy more of a mentor-like role with meaningful 1:1 time. - Training and development specialist
Sometimes the same people who do leadership coaching will also do some training and development or talent development work, and that can make a nice blend of 1:1 and group program leading. Some of this work is from in-house employees and some is by freelance specialists.
Your strong communication skills and visionary thinking are can be a good fit for these fields. And you still get to be picky about where you’ll channel those gifts, such as with a high-functioning collaborative team. A few ideas to get you started:
- Photographer/ videographer
These professionals enjoy a nice balance of people time, quiet time, and meaning. Plus they can choose projects that lean in different directions (1:1, events, business settings), so you’re in control of the balance. - Donor relations/ non-profit development/ philanthropy
There are many roles within the field of fundraising and you can find a nice blend of behind-the-scenes, meaningful 1:1 donor connections, and/or public speaking. - Public relations and communications
As with fundraising, there’s a wide range of role and responsibilities possible, from writing meaningful communications, to speaking with the press, to planning meaningful events. When you care about the mission, you’d be amazing at it. - Event planning
You might enjoy specializing in event planning, and within that are many interesting niches such as wedding planning, fundraising galas, family reunions, and/or corporate retreats. You might be employed at an event venue or work as a freelancer.
How to Choose Your Best Career as an HSP Extrovert
Don’t just assume that something on the list will work for you without really understanding your own unique strengths and values.
I offer a free career roadmap for sensitive souls to help you more fully understand what sensitive souls need, and how to make choices based on your unique talents and values.
If you’re worried it’s too late for a mid-career transition, I address fear of change and income worries with some real-life stories for inspiration in that free mini-course. Many people make a change later in life, and finding a better fit can be such a relief.
If you want more support in exploring a new path, a career clarity group program or career coaching for HSPs can help you navigate new ideas with your sensitive extroversion in mind.
As a highly sensitive extrovert, you have so much to offer. Learning about yourself and getting clear on what works for you and what doesn’t can help you find either a better-fit career or how to make changes in your current work to make it feel so much better.
Case Study: Sensitive Extrovert Career Clarity
I had the pleasure of having a front row seat to this woman’s experience of discovering being a highly sensitive extrovert, understanding her strengths from a new perspective, and learning how to find her unique energy balance.
Through that discovery process, she found a way to find deeper meaning and ease in her current work.
In her words:
At a mid-career moment I had reached a sort of crossroads, unsure whether to stay in my current non-profit role and explore ways to move forward there, or potentially branch out to something new.
I had a sense Val Nelson’s insightful and creative approach to career coaching could help me with that. Where we ended up is far beyond what I could have imagined at the start.
I learned that I am a highly sensitive extrovert. This answered a lot of questions I had, and gave me insight into what I need to do to bring my best foot forward at work (and the rest of my life) – a good balance of together time and alone time. I have been able to move closer to that balance now that I have tools and techniques to understand myself better.
I have come to recognize natural skills and innate qualities as strengths and assets I had previously overlooked.
With new awareness and confidence in my strengths, I began interacting with co-workers differently, which has led to new opportunities, positive connection, and more fulfillment at work. I’m achieving more this way too, and it feels good to notice that.
Taking time to notice what was and wasn’t working for me helped me land in the decision to happily stay in my current job. I was able to see how small adjustments could have a big impact on my workflow and interactions with colleagues, and ultimately increased my levels of satisfaction. I was surprised to learn that taking a series of small steps could lead to great outcomes.
~ S.L., Massachusetts, HSP extrovert
