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I am interested in possibly breaking into academic advising. However, I've read conflicting information as to whether counseling/advising suits an introvert's personality. Some sources say yes because introverts are understanding, empathetic and good listeners. Others say no because naturally the job would require spending a lot of time around other people, thus leading the introvert to burn out quickly.
In my experience introverts are horrible at advising jobs. I've clashed with almost every introverted adviser or counselor. They are way too into themselves, they overgeneralize, they can't empathize, and they are difficult to deal with. To be a good counselor you need to have the technical skills. Then you need to have the outgoing and friendly personality. You are not there to show off. You are there to help, encourage, inform, and motivate people.
Wow! What you stated runs contrary to what is generally stated about introverts. I feel I would be empathetic - I love to help people. I'm also a scholar at heart and would love to help students succeed academically.
I am an introvert and my job is highly technical. I would suck as an advisor. I tend to cut to the chase and kind of lack of empathy for (whiny) people.
In my experience introverts are horrible at advising jobs. I've clashed with almost every introverted adviser or counselor. They are way too into themselves, they overgeneralize, they can't empathize, and they are difficult to deal with. To be a good counselor you need to have the technical skills. Then you need to have the outgoing and friendly personality. You are not there to show off. You are there to help, encourage, inform, and motivate people.
I'm a counselor, as is my husband, and we are both high on the introvert scale. I find it to be easy to be an introvert and counselor. Being a counselor, you spend a lot of time listening, something I find my more extroverted friends have a hard time doing! Seriously, at the end of the day you might feel a bit drained from being so present and helping people through tough situations, but support from coworkers and lots of down time at home helps a lot.
My husband also works as a professor and although it is tough, extroverted type of work, he loves it. And he is much more introverted than I am!
Introverts are often best suited to complimentary dancers when performing in any San Francisco art-house cabaret show, since their personality precludes them from primary or lead roles.
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Originally Posted by Wordsmith12
I am interested in possibly breaking into academic advising. However, I've read conflicting information as to whether counseling/advising suits an introvert's personality. Some sources say yes because introverts are understanding, empathetic and good listeners. Others say no because naturally the job would require spending a lot of time around other people, thus leading the introvert to burn out quickly.
What's your view on this?
As an advisor who is in the middle between extrovert and introvert (although I lean more extroverted), I can say that the introverted qualities of understanding, empathy and ability to listen are essential to the job of counselor/advisor. As an introverted person, you need to assess how comfortable you are with a job that requires heavy student contact? Do you have the ability to establish and maintain rapport with a diverse range of students from various backgrounds and walks of life? Do you have the ability to comprehend complex academic policies and have the ability to break the information down so that students can understand what those policies are?
while advising does, yes, involve interaction with other people, for the most part, the interaction is a one-on-one basis, so that would be an advantage for an introvert.
Being considered an introvert is different from having a Schizoid personality (a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships....) which I think is what some of the posters are confusing. I am fairly introverted but do enjoy my work as a therapist. Like one person mentioned, it can be taxing on occasion but good self-care and having time alone is very beneficial.
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! Seriously, at the end of the day you might feel a bit drained from being so present and helping people through tough situations, but support from coworkers and lots of down time at home helps a lot.
