8 Great Jobs for Those with Social Anxiety in 2020


The above picture is of a paintbrush against a wall putting on a mixture of colors.

8 Great Jobs for People with Social Anxiety


You’ve just been fired from your third retail job this year. While the job itself wasn’t hard, the dealing with people part was. All it takes is one angry customer to throw you into a panic attack.

Rather you’re aware of it or not, your problem may be rooted in social anxiety to some degree.  Retail isn’t one of the best jobs for people with social anxiety but it did allow you to interact with others, which was good. It’s not beneficial to seclude yourself from the outside world altogether.

Part of getting better is challenging yourself a little bit. To help you find a stable job that won’t throw you headfirst into human interaction like retail, here are a few great career options.

1. Freelance Writer

Do you have a passion for fabricating fantasy worlds and playing around with the written word? You may benefit from being a freelance writer. It can be hard for you to get your foot in the door with this profession but once you do, you can make a pretty comfortable wage. 

We know you want to hurry up and write the next New York Times Best Seller but take baby steps. Do some copywriting to build up your portfolio and confidence first. 

Just because you'll be working from home doesn't mean you should avoid social interaction. Make sure you're reaching out to and networking with other writers like yourself. 

2. Film or Video Editor 

Not all jobs for people with social anxiety involve sitting alone in your house all day. Some of them involve sitting alone in a studio. As a film or video editor, you'll be spending the vast majority of your time in an editing bay. 

As you can imagine, editing videos is almost impossible to do in a loud office environment with a lot of people. You wouldn't be able to hear yourself think let alone hear the clips you're working with. 

If you do end up working in a louder environment then you should invest in a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones. 

3. Computer Programmer

It takes a heavy amount of concentration to be a computer programmer. You're responsible for working with complex coding so you need as little distractions as possible. 

This being said, it's not a job where you'll be working with a ton of people. That would make it too easy to lose focus. If you do want to challenge your social anxiety a little bit, you can give reports on your progress to your clients.  

4. Animal Care

Many people with social anxiety feel more comfortable around animals then they do humans. In fact, they find it to be a bit therapeutic. As far as what job you can take in animal care, there are many. 

You could go into dog walking, be an animal rescuer, help out in a vet office as an assistant, or become a groomer. All these jobs will give you the chance to make new furry friends and work on your social anxiety at the same time. You'll have to interact with customers at some point but it won't be as often as it would be if you were behind a register. 

5. Artist 

It can be a little hard to make a living wage as an artist. Like with writing, it's difficult to get your foot in the door. Many artists have to take on a secondary job to support themselves while they work on their craft. 

This doesn't mean that you have to go to work in a store to earn extra money. You can go into a different field that's sort of related to art until you can start selling your work regularly. One good example is graphic design. 

If you don't want to do that, you can also take commissions to try and support yourself. No matter what you decide to do, you can work on your social anxiety while you do it. 

Present your work at an art exhibit or network with other artists. Communicate with the clients that ask for a commission.  

6. Accountant

If you're good with money and crunching numbers then becoming an accountant could be right for you. For the most part, you'll be doing all of your work alone in an office. 

There will be some level of social interaction for this one but it won't be that bad.  If you work for a company you'll have to talk to co-workers at some point.

You'll also have to associate with your clients. Think of this as a challenge and a chance to grow.  

7. Landscaper

If you find peace in being one with the great outdoors then try out landscaping. It gives you the chance to work alone outside all day. At least, you can work alone if you're a worker in a company. 

If you decide to upgrade later and own your own landscaping business you will have to communicate with clients. Consider working for a while in a company first. Take baby steps until you feel like you'd be comfortable associating with customers. 

8. Counselor

Yes, if you are a counselor you will be working with other people all the time. The thing is, you'll be helping other people like yourself. Who better to assist someone with their social anxiety than someone who is going through it themselves.   

Besides, going this route may give you the chance to reflect and work on your own anxieties as well. 

Amazing Stress-Free Jobs for People With Social Anxiety 

Just because you've struck out at a few traditional jobs in the past due to social anxiety doesn't mean that you're unhireable. It means that you need to find a job that will allow you to bring in income while working on your condition slowly through small interactions.  

Consider one of these stress-free jobs for people with social anxiety and get yourself back in the career seat. 

Need a little push in the right direction with finding a career? Let us help you. Check out our job links