The Relationship Between Introverted and Extroverted Personality and Career

Baltas Group

In society, career success is often seen as a form of social acceptance. A career becomes one of the most important areas representing an individual’s status and identity. Therefore, when making choices, people consider not only their own interests and tendencies but also the professions that society deems “prestigious.” In addition, factors such as economic income, job security, family, and social environment also play a significant role in planning.¹

However, one factor often overlooked in career choice is personality traits. Yet personality is a critical determinant of how an individual will perform in the workplace, under what conditions they will be motivated, and how much satisfaction they will experience.^2,3 In particular, introversion–extroversion stands out as one of the key dimensions. Although not a theory in itself, it began with Jung’s typology approach, and was later accepted as a core dimension in models such as Eysenck’s personality theory⁴ and the Five-Factor Model.⁵ The relationship of this dimension with career is also frequently emphasized in the literature: for example, extroverts tend to be more successful in fields requiring social interaction,^6,7 while introverts excel in areas requiring deep focus and independent work.⁸

Reasons why personality traits are overlooked in career choice

The deprioritization of personality in career choice can negatively affect both individual motivation and the ability to sustain long-term job satisfaction. There are several prominent reasons for this:

• Societal and family expectations: Individuals are often directed toward prestigious or high-income professions.¹
• Lack of self-awareness: As Savickas points out, when individuals do not recognize how their personality affects their work life, they prioritize external rewards over internal tendencies.²
• Misleading assumptions: The belief that “I will grow to love the job as I learn it” may overshadow the importance of personality–job fit.⁹
• Education and labor market factors: Systems usually focus more on cognitive performance and academic achievement rather than personality.³ As a result, even if someone appears successful from the outside, a career choice incompatible with their personality can lead to inner dissatisfaction and burnout.

The role of introversion–extroversion in personality

Introversion–extroversion is not merely a communication style; it relates to where an individual draws energy, in which environments they are motivated, and how they develop work relationships.⁵

• Introverts draw their energy from their inner world; they prefer selective social interactions and can perform highly in jobs requiring deep focus.
• Extroverts draw their energy from their surroundings; they feel more comfortable in social settings and can succeed in communication and leadership roles.⁶

It is important to note that people do not have to be “completely introverted” or “completely extroverted” in every situation. Personality is reflected in behavior depending on context and conditions; the same person may act more socially in some settings, while being more reserved in others.

Personality–career mismatch

Career choices that are not compatible with personality traits can lead to long-term dissatisfaction.

• An introverted person directed into socially intensive professions such as sales or public relations may initially be motivated by status and income, but in the long term, the constant requirement for interaction may cause burnout.
• An extroverted person on the other hand, may experience loss of motivation and increased loneliness when working in jobs requiring solitary work and continuous focus, such as accounting or data analysis.

Therefore, when personality–job fit is not achieved, performance decreases, satisfaction declines, and the individual may seek a career change.⁹

Ideal career matches

Holland’s RIASEC model and recent research support these matches:

• For introverts: Professions aligned with Holland’s artistic and investigative types (e.g., writing, research, software development) tend to be more suitable.⁸
• For extroverts: Professions overlapping with Holland’s social and enterprising types (e.g., sales, human resources, teaching) may be more appropriate.^6,7

Conclusion

Personality traits are fundamental determinants of career success and satisfaction. According to Holland’s career–personality fit approach, it is not only about what you do well—but also in which types of work environments you feel energized. Research by Judge and colleagues also shows that when personality–job fit is achieved, both job performance and career satisfaction increase.⁶

Success is not only about external criteria but also about knowing yourself and making choices aligned with your personality. Each personality type fills a different gap in the business world; the key is realizing which gap you can fill best. What truly matters is being able to answer honestly the question: “Where do you feel both motivated and comfortable?” To learn more about this topic, you can read the “Motivation” issue of our Kaynak Magazine, available at https://kaynakbaltas.com/dergiler/motivasyon/.

1. APSA. (2024). Are therapy chatbots effective for depression and anxiety? American Psychological Society Association.
2. Frontiers in Psychology. (2023). Emotional awareness in AI chatbots: A comparative study with human norms. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1199058.
3. MIT Media Lab. (2025). How AI and human behaviors shape psychosocial effects of chatbot use: A longitudinal controlled study. arXiv preprint arXiv:2503.17473.
4. ScienceDirect. (2024). Compulsive chatbot use and its relation to anxiety, burnout, and sleep disturbances. Addictive Behaviors, 150, 107–125.
5. Washington Post. (2025, Haziran 29). Is AI rewiring our minds? Scientists probe cognitive cost of chatbots. The Washington Post.
6. Business Insider. (2025, Temmuz 28). Sam Altman is worried some young people have an emotional over-reliance on ChatGPT when making decisions. Business Insider.