In today's world (more specifically, Singapore), jobs in the banking and finance / business sector draw many oohs and aahs followed by "how much do you earn?" Whereas people thriving in the art and science sector get the same "how much do you earn?", projecting that obvious sarcasm with a tinge of doubt. It is normal that society sees money as top priority when searching for jobs, given the current times. What really bothered me was how it portrays the introverts.
According to statistics, 50-74% of the population worldwide are extroverts while the rest of the 16-50% are introverts (I'm not alone?!). Here you can already tell that the world is run by extroverts. Schools promote and encourage group work to enhance a student's social skills, debates and presentations are more widely practiced now than before. Most of the time, you can't NOT excel in an interview without giving an impression where you sound like an extrovert.
Most lies go like this: "I like working with people and learning about them. I believe this [position] will give me an opportunity do so, and even let myself grow and make more friends!" Bullshit, bullshit, utter bullshit. Is what an introvert would have most likely said.
So, really, why does being an introverted suck (if you don't already get the point)? Here are the 5 biggest, fattest points that I feel the need to throw at the 50-74% of your faces.
1. People think you are sad all the time
And THAT, makes me sad. It saddening how people approach me with concern and go "are you alright?" While I understand that hanging out in groups make you feel wanted and appreciated, we introverts do not need the big groups. In fact, we do not want those. Also, we hate how we are "pitied on" just because we are that kid eating alone in a table for four at a cafe, or studying alone even during the peakest of hours.
2. People think you are shy (and boring)
THAT'S JUST INSULTING. If you're an extrovert, does that mean you aren't boring? What's so interesting about your life that I must know about? Your trip to town with friends last weekend, or last Wednesday's tgiw at Zouk with your girlfriends? I don't need to know about that among the dozens of other generic photos flooding my social feeds. My boyfriend is an extrovert and he is scared of heights and adrenaline (I find it cute and hilarious), and I LOVE THEM. How am I boring again?
3. We are never the first choice
We don't have to be the life of the party or basking in the limelight at a gathering. We just hate how some people only pay attention to the "loud-thinkers" and never consider the opinions of the quieter ones. Yeah, sure, we could raise a question out loud and speak (yes, we are capable of doing that.) but to us, nothing matters if no one is willing to listen. In interviewss, who gets chosen more often? No prices for guessing the right answer.
4. Turning down invitations
Introverts recharge from time alone, and extroverts do it by mingling with people. Our source of energy is from the inside, where we find peace and little to no human presence. In order to do so, we have turned down so many invitations from friends that we are experts at coming up with excuses. From feeling unwell to having last minute make up lessons, we have all escape plans at our fingertips. As a result, we have a lack of friends... which kinda sucks. Sometimes.
5. When we are offered help from others
This may sound ridiculous, but we LOATHE being offered help. It's hurting our already overlooked pride. We would rather ASK for help (at the last resort) than being offered help. There is a 90% chance that we will reject your help the moment you offer it, then make sure that we get the job done OURSELVES and show it off. We will never understand people who can never be alone. Independence is our biggest strength, I'd say!
xx
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