The Crave

As an introvert, I've had to figure out how to rise and succeed in a world that might not be built for me. The year was 2009, and I had just graduated with a degree in Journalism with English Literature, at the height of the recession. After months of failed job applications, I applied for a graduate scheme with one of London's top B2B publishers. I beat out 35 applicants (during 5-rounds of interviews with rotating editors in one day) to land my entry-level job. On my first day, I walked into the open-plan office surrounded by budding journalists — some of whom were lively and energetic and others who were calm and collected — all equally determined to prove themselves. I got invited to after-work drinks, which I enjoyed because I was mostly working in a balanced team of 50% introverts and 50% extroverts. I found my rhythm. I socialized more. I had a consistent work routine, and I began to thrive as a writer, taking on more challenging news stories.

That balance shifted during a restructuring of the company. Teams started growing as we climbed out of the recession, and eventually, we left for a much bigger office. Suddenly, I was working with many new people who were building rapport with one another, a team full of — you guessed it — extroverts. There were days when I struggled to feel present in team meetings. I couldn't get on the same page as my extroverted teammates. I didn't feel heard. I wasn't making an impact. I had no presence.