1/5 of people are highly sensitive and therefore, we need jobs for sensitive people! I’ve done some research about this topic and most of the time, jobs in healthcare or teaching are proposed. From my experience in healthcare, compassion fatigue is real and those careers aren’t always the best for sensitive people.
Finding a job you like to do, that doesn’t completely overwhelm you daily can be difficult as a HSP. There are a lot of jobs out there with a fast pace, high expectations, and no morals to make things even worse. Jobs don’t care about your feelings and your boss often doesn’t care enough as well, unfortunately.
For sensitive people, it is important to not experience negative emotions all day long, because we absorb them so much that it hurts our wellbeing. A job should contribute to a good life and have some great positive aspects to it, and shouldn’t drain you over and over again.
So, let’s talk about 10 great jobs that could be a good match for you, great jobs for sensitive people!
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10 Great Jobs for Sensitive People
1. Animal Caretaker/Pet Groomer/Trainer
I think a lot of sensitive people have a big heart for animals, which is great because they deserve a lot of love. Did you know that most animals are highly sensitive as well? Maybe that’s why we like them so much!
Taking care of animals can be a very rewarding profession for highly sensitive people. You can be an animal caretaker by working in an animal shelter or starting a pet hotel by yourself. There you can take care of all types of animals you want, you can work in a dog shelter or maybe be the owner of a cat hotel. The activities that you get to do go from washing them, walking them, and feeding them, to playing with them and cleaning up after them.
You can also work in a pet grooming place where you can work as an employee or again start working as your own boss and start a business that grooms animals. Not all animals love to get washed and trimmed but going from a scruffy appearance to a cleaned-up one is so satisfying to see!
Working with animals can be so wonderful and jobs that include animals are often great jobs for sensitive people. You could also train dogs for a living. Become the next dog or horse whisperer. Follow a few courses on how to do this and get started. Woof Woof!
2. Writer
Writing can be a great job for sensitive individuals as you can express yourself through words and take your time to think about how you want to come across. The beauty of writing jobs is that you can work from anywhere, which is great for sensitive people who want to choose their working environment.
Being a journalist often is not a great job for HSP, because you have to be pushy to get to the right people to interview and work with tight deadlines all the time. But there are plenty of good writing opportunities as jobs for sensitive people!
You can find writing jobs in your local community, working for the government as a communication specialist for example, or start a freelance writing business where you take the jobs you want to do.
You could also start a blog to write about topics you love and share it with the world. With blogging, you might have some more patience before you see any money from it so I would recommend starting this as a side hustle to see if you can monetize your blog after a while.
Maybe you can even become a famous writer like J.K. Rowling if you like writing books and have some luck on your side. You could also write books and sell them on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, no need to convince an agency to get published!
If you want a bit of certainty in your paycheck, it’s best to start your writing career as an employee if you can or write on the side and have a main job to support you at first.
3. Nurse
As a nurse, you get to make a big difference in people’s lives by looking after them when they need it the most. It can be very rewarding.
So earlier I said that healthcare professions can cause compassion fatigue and burnout but hear me out about nursing! I know a few nurses who are highly sensitive and love what they do. Not all sensitive people get burned out from healthcare jobs thankfully, because sensitive people are the best caregivers if they keep looking after themselves as well!
Jobs for sensitive people often do have the caring part in them.
As a nurse, you have so many different routes you can take professionally, that’s the beauty of it! That and helping people of course. You also get to work in a team with people who chose a caring profession and more often than not, these people are really nice to be around.
Not all of your patients are going to love you, but as a nurse, the chances are much higher of being liked than being a dentist for example. Nurses often get chocolates from patients because they are thankful for all that you did for them.
4. Ice Cream or Coffee Shop
Highly sensitive people often absorb the emotions of others, and if they work in an environment or sector where customers aren’t happy to see them, are anxious, or are always complaining, this can take a toll on their well-being. Jobs for sensitive people with customers should have happy people most of the time ideally!
That’s why working in an ice cream store or coffee shop might be a fun job for sensitive people because most people are so happy that they get ice cream or coffee that they are nice to you.
I worked in an ice cream shop once when I was still a student and I liked it a lot! All the happy faces getting their ice cream, lovely! It was a bonus that I got to eat ice cream for lunch for free. It also depends on the workload and your colleagues if it’s a fun place to work, but when the customers are happy, that’s a good start if you ask me.
Working in a coffee shop seems nice to me as well, the environment is warmer and you have less chance of having a wrist injury due to scooping ice all the time. Turning a smile onto people’s faces will lift your mood and make you feel good.
5. Administrative Assistant
You can use your sensitivity to become an administrative assistant your boss can truly lean on.
Sensitive people are often more loyal and thoughtful about the needs of their colleagues, so when your job is assisting someone, your helpfulness really shines through.
If you love to help people but don’t necessarily think of yourself as a caretaker or nurse, you might consider a job where you can assist your boss, coworker, or client. When you are working as an administrative assistant for a nice boss who values your work, it can be very fulfilling.
Sometimes, administrative assistants have the opportunity to work from home for a few days. This can also help you work in an environment you choose yourself and that makes you feel the most comfortable.
6. Florist
If you love flowers and have a good eye for esthetics, you might consider becoming a florist! Working with plants can make great jobs for sensitive people.
Before you can work as a florist, you should take courses about it and maybe start working for someone to learn from them while you work. Being a florist apprentice first will help you get the skills you need to start on your own one day.
As a florist, you can have a store and sell your flowers and bouquets to individuals or companies. You could also specialize and offer services for weddings for example.
If you like to teach, why not give workshops about flower arrangements to people who want to learn how to do it?
7. Artist
Jobs for sensitive people are often caring or creative. Being an artist lets you focus your energy on creating and making beautiful things, which is wonderful.
There are so many different ways that you can have a career as an artist. Art is very broad and can mean anything like drawing, painting, sculpting, making music, dancing, writing poems, photography, graphic design, etc.
Although finding a good-paying job as an artist isn’t always that simple, it can be worth it if this is what you really want to do!
If you have a hard time finding work, maybe try to start selling your artwork as a side hustle instead of trying to make it your full-time income straight away. A lot of artists start this way where they have to work a day job to support themselves.
Artsy jobs for sensitive people can be found online as well. You could sell your artwork on platforms like Etsy or create your own online store. Sell your designs on any platform that will allow you to make the most revenue possible.
8. Tutor
When you like to teach but don’t like to do it in front of 30 kids, become a tutor! Teaching things to others can be very rewarding, when you see others learn and grow, it’s quite satisfying.
As a tutor, it is possible to make a big difference in students lives. Sensitive people often are the best teachers and tutors because they feel for their students and are the best at supporting them when something doesn’t work out immediately. You need to have patience and empathy to be a great tutor. Then your students will love you.
The working hours will probably be less good than when you work as a teacher because tutors mainly work after school hours, but if you can create an online platform, you could also work during the day and sell your courses online.
9. Researcher/Scientist
As a researcher or scientist, you can choose a field that interests you explore it, and do some research. Try to solve problems that the world has and that are important to you. You could research climate change if that’s something that you feel deeply about, or look for solutions to heal cancer.
A lot of sensitive people have good analytical skills and are curious as well, which comes in handy with a job as a researcher or scientist. Some researchers will have more human contact than others, so discover which work environment you need to thrive.
Jobs for sensitive people have to have meaning to them and if you stand behind your values and goals, you can reach so much! You can have a lot of positive impact on the world by becoming a researcher or scientist!
10. Gardener
Nature can be a second home to sensitive people and empaths. Jobs for sensitive people could be located in or near nature or at least have a natural view. They say even looking at a forest on your computer screen can help you feel more relaxed and calm.
Being a gardener could be a good job for a sensitive person if they don’t like to interact with other people but love plants more than people. Being sensitive doesn’t mean that you like conversing with or helping people all the time. Some sensitive people love nature, animals, and plants more than people and that’s okay.
Your sensitivity can help you take good care of everything that lives in a garden. And you still get to help your clients without having to talk to them all day long!
Conclusion – Jobs For Sensitive People
Jobs for sensitive people exist but are sometimes not easy to find. Do not give up if you are a highly sensitive person, you will find a fit!
There are plenty more jobs for sensitive people than I mentioned above, so if you don’t find a job you like, don’t panic but keep looking.
The work environment also plays a big role in finding a good job as a sensitive person. You want a non-competitive environment where you work together with your colleagues, not against them. Having a supportive team and boss will help you thrive!
The work itself should have some type of meaning to you as a sensitive person. Sensitive people in general don’t like doing tasks without a greater purpose or a positive result. I don’t think sensitives would like to work for the weapon industry for example or sell people things that don’t align with their values.
If you can find a job that lets you use your sensitive nature and doesn’t squish it out like a lemon, that’s great! Try to find a balance between using your sensitivity and giving your senses some rest to recharge.
Good luck with job hunting! 🙂