12 Careers To Consider If You Love Working With People
Does a future spent in front of Excel spreadsheets with no one to talk to except your desk plant fill you with dread? For many extroverts, jobs with limited human interaction can seem like punishment. Luckily, there are many careers to consider if you prefer people to spreadsheets.
If you love working with people, your ideal work day most likely consists of networking events, one-on-one sessions with a client, collaborating on projects, or surveying a crowd for market research. You feel most comfortable at a job that lets you strengthen current relationships while also introducing you to new faces. These people-centric spaces inspire you, but you may be unsure of which industry you want to break into, or which role you want to fill. To help you get a better idea of which job fits your personality, we’ve rounded up 10 options for a wide range of majors that can kickstart your meaningful career.
Executive Team Leader
Good-fit majors: Supply Chain, Liberal Arts, Business Management, Human Resources
If you thrive on working with people and creating exceptional guest experiences, a role as an Executive Team Leader at iconic retail brand Target might be your ideal career path. Target seeks candidates with a well-rounded skill set, including strong interpersonal and communication skills to foster effective teamwork and provide exceptional guest service. They value individuals with a keen business acumen who can make informed decisions and contribute to the store's success. Target also looks for leaders who can confidently manage conflict, hold team members accountable, and relate effectively with colleagues at all organizational levels. In other words, if you’re great with people and want to make a career out of honing your skills, this could be the place for you! As an Executive Team Leader, you'll gain knowledge in guest service, team management, problem-solving, and retail fundamentals. You'll also enjoy a dynamic work environment where no two days are the same. Plus, they offer a comprehensive training program to equip you with the necessary skills for success, all while enjoying a flexible schedule and opportunities for growth.
You can learn more about Target’s opportunities – and why the company is a great place to work – here.
Member Advocate
Good-fit majors: Business, Communications, Psychology, Liberal Arts
If you’ve always wanted to make an impact with your work and are also looking for job security in a stable industry, consider becoming a Member Advocate at Pure Insurance. In this entry-level claims adjustment role, you’ll be responsible for speaking to Pure’s members, taking their calls when needed and adjusting their claims. To excel in this role, you should be entrepreneurial and persistent, but also have great communication skills and a high degree of empathy. As a Member Advocate, you’ll be speaking with members who are going through a difficult time, having experienced anything from minor car accidents to storm damage to their home. As a purpose-driven organization, Pure takes their commitment to their members seriously, and it will be your responsibility to support them through these challenging life events.
Before starting as a Member Advocate, you’ll receive extensive training in Pure’s comprehensive, team-oriented three-month training program. You’ll learn everything you need to know to excel in the role, including what it means to work with high net worth property and casualty insurance and what sets Pure apart from competitors. You’ll also obtain the necessary state licenses and designations. The skills you develop in training and in your position as a Member Advocate will prepare you for a number of career paths, allowing you to shape the future you’ve dreamed of. If you enjoy working with people and using your skills to help others, you can learn more about Pure Insurance and their Member Advocate role here.
Product Manager
Good-fit majors: Computer Science, Engineering, Design, IT
Not everyone with a technical background wants to be behind the scenes developing a product. If you feel like you’d thrive in an environment with more face-to-face interaction – instead of face-to-computer interaction – you should consider stepping into the role of a product manager. Your role would be to set the course for which products the engineering team would build, and then bring those directives to life. As a product manager, you will work across teams such as engineering, design, marketing, and sales, in addition to interacting with clients or users to gather feedback. This makes great communication and interpersonal skills a must alongside strong technical knowledge.
Financial Advisor
Good-fit majors: Economics, Business, Finance, Mathematics
A financial advisor’s role is completely based on effectively communicating the complex world of money management. Every day, your job would be to speak to clients about their income, expenses, taxes, insurance coverage, and the need to develop a specific financial plan. And since money is a confidential matter, it’s important to build relationships that not only strengthen your connection with current clients, but also help you grow your network and obtain new clients by word-of-mouth.
Teacher
Good-fit majors: Education, Liberal Arts, Psychology, History, English, Mathematics, Biology
Everyone knows that teachers have a huge influence on their students’ lives because of how much time they spend developing connections inside the classroom. Whether you’re teaching elementary school students or high school students in their teens, you’re responsible for preparing lectures and creating a safe environment where everyone feels inspired to learn. And the job doesn’t stop once the papers are graded! Your love for working with people will really come into play when you develop meaningful relationships with your students, parents, and fellow teachers. After spending some time as a teacher, you might consider a role as an administrator or school leader, where most of your day-to-day interactions will involve working with other professionals to build community and culture.
If you’re interested in becoming a teacher but don’t have an education degree, Great Hearts Academies, a growing network of 45 public, open-enrollment, tuition-free, k-12 schools in San Antonio (TX), Dallas/Ft. Worth (TX), Phoenix (AZ), Baton Rouge (LA), and Jacksonville (FL - opening in the future), might be the perfect place to begin your career. Teaching certification is not required for general ed., and they hire teachers from across all academic disciplines and majors. While many traditional school districts require a teaching degree and student teaching experience, Great Hearts Academies will provide you with extensive training to help you become an exceptional teacher, ready to make a difference in the classroom. Learn more about Great Hearts Academies and their opportunities here!
Sales Representative
Good-fit majors: Business, Communications, Psychology, Finance
A job as a sales representative requires you to have outstanding communication skills as you go out and sell your company’s product to other people or businesses, either through email, phone, or in-person. You have to be friendly enough to develop a close network of potential customers, yet confident enough to make sure these customers truly believe in everything you’re selling. And when you’re not trying to sell a product or service, you’re surveying customers to gather more information on their interests and problem areas. You’ll then communicate your findings with your team and assist them as they head back to the drawing board.
Many companies offer sales training programs for entry-level employees that can help you learn everything you need to know to excel in the role, regardless of your college major. Herc Rentals, for example, has a 12-month Sales Training Program for new graduates, called the Black + Gold Academy. The program includes three weeks of formal instructor-led training, structured on-the-job learning activities, special project work, and more. At the end of the year-long program, you’ll be ready for placement into Territory Sales Representative positions and set up for career advancement into roles in branch management, region sales management, national accounts and more.
Careers in Hospitality
Good-fit majors: Hospitality/Hospitality Administration, Operations Management, Business Administration/Management
Working in hospitality means you'll be working closely with people from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and preferences — which is a great opportunity for you to use and develop strong interpersonal and communication skills. Compass Group, a global leader in contract food service & hospitality, has ample opportunities for students and new grads to explore this industry — from its standout hospitality internship to a Hospitality Manager in Training role. Compass Group’s hospitality internship is a great way to get your foot in the door and explore this career path through first-hand experience. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills and competencies to understand what is needed to be successful in the world of hospitality. Working as a Hospitality Manager in Training at Compass Group, you’ll receive training in front-of-house operations and within the fields of marketing, customer service, retail, merchandising, purchasing and supply chain, hiring, training, payroll, profit and loss, and more. You’ll also receive one-on-one coaching to develop as a future leader through their Accelerated Manager Program. Learn more about Compass Group and these amazing opportunities here.
Environmental Engineer
Good-fit majors: Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Urban Planning
If your strengths include persuasive speaking, organizing data, and conducting extensive research, environmental engineering may be the perfect role for you. This job would require you to develop relationships with lawyers, technicians, and city planners to support sustainable efforts. Your knowledge of public health, waste disposal, and CO2 emissions will help you regulate environmental projects and communicate your concerns with government officials who can put your ideas into effect.
Public Relations Specialist
Good-fit majors: Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Advertising
As a communication major, speaking to people face-to-face is an integral part of any job in the field – especially a public relations (PR) specialist. A job in PR means your number one goal is to communicate to media outlets on behalf of a person or organization. You may be selling a product, or your job can be solely focused on helping someone maintain a certain image. The majority of your time will be spent contacting media officials, arranging interviews, creating press kits, and of course, growing your far-reaching network. Since you’ll be interacting with others for most of these responsibilities, working in public relations is a great career for extroverts!
Consultant
Good-fit majors: Economics, Finance, Psychology, Political Science, Communications
The role of a consultant is pretty general, which is great for people who haven’t settled on going into a particular field. Your entire job would consist of providing advice to people and pulling from your expertise on a specific niche. This strategic advice would help a person or company get their business from point A to point B, with detailed instructions and ongoing coaching. You could be a financial consultant, human resources consultant, sales consultant, IT consultant, and the list goes on. The desire to work with people is important because you have to build a strong relationship with clients internally, while also building your clientele by attending industry events and networking conferences.
Social Worker
Good-fit majors: Psychology, Sociology, Education
A social worker is tasked with having deep conversations that extend far past typical business talk. Instead of meeting with clients to discuss a financial plan or the launch of a product, your job as a social worker would require you to empathize with people who’ve struggled with abuse, neglect, or have a mental illness. You’d be tasked with having long, private conversations with clients in order to properly assess their living situation and make comprehensive decisions based on their needs. And while the majority of your day would be spent talking to people directly, you must also have the ability to stay calm during stressful situations.
Area Manager
Good-fit majors: Business, Sociology, Liberal Arts, Communications
If you love collaborating with—and leading—teams, working as an Area Manager for Amazon might be the perfect way to start your career. This entry-level management position is a great opportunity for new grads who want to coach and develop their own teams while developing management skills that will last a lifetime. As an area manager, you’ll receive extensive training before being assigned a team of your own, ensuring that you’ll be prepared to lead a team of anywhere from 15-100 associates even if you’ve never been a manager before. In the role, you’ll work to monitor and mentor your team, ensuring they have everything they need to succeed. It’s the perfect opportunity for an extrovert who dreams of bringing out the best in others and developing as an excellent people leader.
Your passion for working with people should never be an afterthought when you’re trying to find your dream job. Most industries are looking for candidates with great communication skills and welcoming personalities, so it’s up to you to figure out how you can combine those skills with your other interests to find your ideal career.
