As I have been job hunting these past few weeks, something caught my attention: most of the managers could tell I was an introvert. How? Do they have some kind of super vision that can see the structure of my brain and what my character is? Probably not. That would come in handy for employers, maybe science will go that far someday. Although I hope not, that would be weird. But anyways, I got curious and decided to do a little research in order to understand why and how they could read me so well.
I was talking and smiling, being myself; I wasn't being shy. However, not even two minutes had passed since I walked into a cinema to ask for an application when the manager said to me, "You aren't as shy as you look, right?" and I was like, "No..." How could he tell?! I wasn't lying because I am not as shy as I used to be; I'm still introverted, though. I'm quiet, but still confident. Is it something about my expression, my body language? Do I have a little bubble above my head labeling me as introvert? If we know why people think these things, we can better disguise ourselves and be super sneaky, introverts in disguise. They'll never know, unless we want them to. Don't get me wrong, though; I don't think introverts need to change. I'm not going to change, because there is nothing wrong with being quiet or introverted. In fact, there is an entire TED Talk about the power of introversion. In some situations, however, it can come in handy to disguise introversion, especially in a working atmosphere. This is because sometimes, introversion can come across as lack of interest. And an employer wants to hire someone who would be interested in the position and be passionate about it.
In some situations it is a good thing when people can tell you are an introvert. For example, I applied for a cashier job at PetSmart, and the manager suggested I consider working in the pet hotel where I will be working with animals more than with people. She noticed that I had to come out of my shell a lot for the group interview with one other applicant, but that I did a good job going out of my comfort zone. However, it is true that I'd rather work with animals more than with people, and this is definitely what I would rather be doing. So hooray for my obvious introverted personality!
I did some research, using myself and other introverts I know, as well as the few extroverted people I know, to compose a list of behaviors that can signify introversion:
Body Language
Typically introverts have closed body positions like a human turtle and can be less animated in order to avoid drawing attention to themselves. However, it is not the case all the time--I can have very animated moments. As opposed to extroverts, though, introverts use fewer gestures and exaggerated movements.
Voice
Introverts can have quiet voices, too. I have been soft-spoken all my life. Not on purpose--it is just how I talk. I am also a very calm person so this can just be a trait of my chillness.
Often Seen Alone
Introverts don't mind being alone. If you see someone sitting alone somewhere, they might be perfectly content, maybe even enjoying being the only one at the table. At a party, an introvert may mysteriously disappear for a while, then come back later. They probably ran out of socializing batteries and needed to recharge or wind themselves back up to go back out into the party place.
Often Found in Small Groups
At a party, for example, introverts (if they are even there) will be somewhere closer to the walls, like the wallflowers they, are instead of being in the middle of the convoluted action. Rather than mingle with a bunch of people, they will probably hang around one or two people and have conversations with them, and really focus on the conversation. I can say this is true because I would rather hang out with a small group of good friends, going on fun adventures and getting to know each other better, than hanging out at a party with a bunch of people I may never see again.
So there are a few things I have noticed about myself and other introverted people. Everyone is different, and people can't be judged based on their social personality type. I am an introvert, but I also enjoy cracking jokes, talking to people, and making them laugh. Knowing someone's personality type can help you understand them and their behaviors better, but before you make judgments, get to know the person for real.
