4 jobs for loners

A few years ago, I wrote a post on some of the best career choices if you're a people person. With the emphasis in the workplace on teamwork and interaction, it seems like everyone is expected to be a people person.

But you're past the days of group projects in school, and you can choose a job that is the best fit for you - not only in content and schedule, but also in how much you interact with others.

In this post I'll offer up 4 example jobs for those of us who prefer working alone.

Photo by Sem Steenbergen

Driver

​A professional driver is the epitome of a loner, whether for deliveries, truck driving or chauffeur.

There are an abundance of truck driving jobs that may fit your lifestyle. While not everyone can swing long stretches of time away from home, some companies guarantee you home a certain number of days a week. But if you prefer to be on the road, I'm sure they'll take you up on it. 

Transcriptionist

A transcriptionist typically listens to audio recordings and transcribes them. The benefit of transcription work is that if you have a high word per minute count you can make a lot of money per minute that you transcribe.

Many people do this freelance which can help give you a better work-life balance if necessary and can be done independently from home.

There are a variety of offshoot careers that you could also utilize here that predominantly involve you working by yourself. For example, if you want to break from freelance work, you could seek out a job transcribing legal hearings. 

Transcription work doesn't require professional qualifications, but does offer additional education such as speed-typing courses to help fine-tune your skills. Remember, it's not just speed, but accuracy that matters, too!

Assessor

Many sectors require assessors to ensure that they are compliant with best practices.

​Typically to become an assessor you would need substantive experience within that particular sector; however, you can acquire assessor qualifications as a starting point. Demonstrate in interviews that you are a quick study and able to do the off-the-job studying to get caught up.

Content creator

With the reach of the internet, content creation is gold these days. But you don't have to be a pro tik tok-er or social media consultant to advertise your work as a content creator.

If you have impeccable spelling and grammar skills, consider ghost writing. With the rise of AI, I would stay away from solely being able to do copy writing.

You can also gain certifications in professional editing and be an editor for scientific journals, books, and other publications.

If your interest is more in the visual arts and you enjoy editing videos, you offer a skill that many do not have. There are so many people out there who have great ideas for their video channel but lack the ability to put together good videos. You can offer your services, and also generate passive income with basic tutorial videos on a youtube channel.

As you gain work or work on volunteer projects, keep track of the details and examples so you can offer a portfolio for future employers. 

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Working to get any new job can be as much about figuring out how your attitudes and ethos will work in a certain environment as much as your skills. If you are someone that prefers to work by yourself these career choices can be an excellent way into a way of working that suits you.