[CosmicRose]

After researching hundreds of jobs and careers over the past year, I've come to the terrifying realization that every single one of them deals with people. You can't get away from it. Every job requires you to interact with customers, and if you're not interacting with customers, you're interacting with coworkers.
So every job/career means you will be solving customer issues, or discussing issues with coworkers. I literally have not been able to find a job that is solitary. I would be fine working with a few people, but that's not realistic. Each job requires you to interact with multiple people.
This world is not cut-out for shy people or people who generally don't have the energy to be people-pleasers every single day. It's friggin' weird.

Are there any jobs that don't require you to be "on" 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Do you mean absolutely alone? Tough one that now that lighthouses are automated.

If you mean ones where you don't have to be especially interactive it would be easier.

[CosmicRose]

Originally Posted by ManOfConstantSorrow

Do you mean absolutely alone? Tough one that now that lighthouses are automated.

If you mean ones where you don't have to be especially interactive it would be easier.

Can you list jobs where you wouldn't have to be especially interactive?

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

Can you list jobs where you wouldn't have to be especially interactive?

'Man' in context of below = human person

Lorry(truck) or tractor driver
Computer programmer
Forester
Gamekeeper
Stockman
Night-watchman
Motorcycle or van courier
Critic or reviewer
Rat or pest exterminator
Hermit (limited demand nowadays)
Prophet ( ditto )
Restorer of antiques

However, for good/bad we are social animals and I suggest a job with a little social interaction will be beneficial.

[offthegrid]

You can't avoid people totally, that's just not realistic (but it would be nice). There are ways to limit interactions and I disagree that they all require you to be a people pleaser. I am a chronic people pleaser and my lack of assertiveness in jobs always makes things worse. Jobs that involve research seem to be less "people" centered. Most skilled tradesmen have to deal with people initially but once you take orders or whatever you're pretty much left to do your task. My uncle is a mechanic and he almost never has to talk to people.

[bigblackdog]

Originally Posted by ManOfConstantSorrow

'Man' in context of below = human person

Lorry(truck) or tractor driver
Computer programmer
Forester
Gamekeeper
Stockman
Night-watchman
Motorcycle or van courier
Critic or reviewer
Rat or pest exterminator
Hermit (limited demand nowadays)
Prophet ( ditto )
Restorer of antiques

However, for good/bad we are social animals and I suggest a job with a little social interaction will be beneficial.

Freelance anything--writer, web design, personal assistant,
Any job with lots of writing,
Accounting
Research assistance.

But yeah, at some point, you will have to deal with people. And really, social interaction is a key part of mental wellness and general health. People active in their community live longer and are generally happier. Maybe you could look into DBT to help with the social skills.

[music junkie]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

I would be fine working with a few people, but that's not realistic. Each job requires you to interact with multiple people.

How many is a few for you? Do you want to avoid interaction in person AND on the phone, or just in person? I ask because I'm a receptionist in a very small accounting office. There are only like 5 of us here, including my boss. Because of my anxiety, I sometimes have trouble interacting with people in person but I do much better on the phone.

Anyway, my point was that if you can find a small office to work in (for example, because I don't know what kind of work you do or want to do), it might not be so bad for you. I'm pretty antisocial because of my anxiety, but this is manageable for me most of the time. (At least until tax season, when traffic into our office really increases.)

[CosmicRose]

Originally Posted by music junkie

How many is a few for you? Do you want to avoid interaction in person AND on the phone, or just in person? I ask because I'm a receptionist in a very small accounting office. There are only like 5 of us here, including my boss. Because of my anxiety, I sometimes have trouble interacting with people in person but I do much better on the phone.

Anyway, my point was that if you can find a small office to work in (for example, because I don't know what kind of work you do or want to do), it might not be so bad for you. I'm pretty antisocial because of my anxiety, but this is manageable for me most of the time. (At least until tax season, when traffic into our office really increases.)

I have never had a job that required me to be on the phone, so I often wonder if I would be okay with that role or not. I'm not sure. It would probably be easier. I thought receptionists were on the front lines when it comes to interaction...and I thought there was more in-person communication going on. But if most of the communication is on the phone, I think I could handle that.

[music junkie]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

I have never had a job that required me to be on the phone, so I often wonder if I would be okay with that role or not. I'm not sure. It would probably be easier. I thought receptionists were on the front lines when it comes to interaction...and I thought there was more in-person communication going on. But if most of the communication is on the phone, I think I could handle that.

For a lot of receptionists, the job is a lot more demanding in terms of in-person interaction, that's true. Luckily for me, that's only during certain parts of the year & not year-round. Most of my interactions are over the phone. Sometimes that's still stressful, but I manage. But if you could find a slower job in say, a dermatologist's office, it probably wouldn't be too busy. Just an idea.

[Koko2]

I have social anxiety issues, and agree there aren't many ideal jobs out there for recluses. Being a forester stationed at a forest watchtower would be great. Also, there are government clerical jobs that don't involve much social interaction if you're willing to be tied to a computer in an office cubicle all day. However, they aren't easy to get because their turnover rate is fairly low.

[hvert]

What about programming or IT? There's still some interaction, but people assume you have limited social skills and expect you to be a bit odd

[CosmicRose]

Originally Posted by hvert

What about programming or IT? There's still some interaction, but people assume you have limited social skills and expect you to be a bit odd

I think programming requires one to be good at math, which is like another language to me

[hvert]

Nope, no math needed! Being good with languages or math won't hurt, but it's not required.

[Strive4health]

I do computer programming, and it requires more abstract thinking, learning the syntax and "grammar" of a language, and organization more than math.

I used to also think that I needed to have a job that required no interaction with people. It's simply not realistic, but it made me think about what was driving my desire to seek those kinds of jobs. It was because I was tired of people and tired of working in a field that made me unhappy.

Even though I'm in IT, my interaction with people is minimal to moderate depending on the work. To be honest-- I would rather interact with people outside of IT than people in it! My supervisor has no tact, a couple of my coworkers are not helpful, and everyone else seems to be clueless. Sometimes the grass really isn't greener on the other side.

Have you thought about finding out what you really want to do? It's not good to always focus on what you want to get away from. Focus on what you want to move toward and maybe that will help.