There are so many different aspects of computer science, and different majors to point you towards varying careers. What types of cs work are best to pursue for an introvert who is not a people person and would like to work from home?
Frankly, I don’t think that most CS jobs would want what you’re describing - no matter what the job is, you will need to communicate with people, and in person vs at home won’t change that. If anything, you may need more contact if you work from home in order to work with your team and keep up to date.
There’s a difference between an introvert and a complete shut-in. You can not like being around lots of people, but you need to be able to talk and communicate with your team on projects, whether you’re doing software, research, or just about anything else.
I could be reading in too much I guess. There are some work from home / remote jobs in software development, but they will require constant contact for a long term job - Skype and phone calls too, not just email.
Could you elaborate on what specific situation you’re thinking of?
@PengsPhils I am looking to help educate my HS age S on different types of computer related careers. My H works from home successfully as a programmer, so we know that area well. My S is definitely not interested in web development or any kind of graphics work. Of course, he enjoys video game programming, but isn’t trying to pursue that as a career. S is a great thinker, tinkerer, and problem solver. He is also very logical. He enjoys taking things apart to see how they work, and building something else useful by recycling spare parts. He owns a number of machines that allow him to work with wood and build things, and he is good with imagining what he wants and ending up with a product that meets his mental designs.
So what other kinds of cs jobs are out there? My S is quite capable of interacting with others, but prefers the outdoors and would not thrive in a corporate cubicle job working a 9 to 5 job. As a homeschooler, he has seen the reality of my H’s 2 hour conference calls, the late nights installing updates on a client’s system, and the extra hours spent completing the work (as compared to just clocking in for a strict 9 to 5 shift).
Just trying to discover other types of computer related jobs people can work at from home.
Ah, so it’s not the people primarily, it’s the job hours + a preference against the office life. It should be noted that many software jobs can be a true 9 to 5 style - it depends on the company and job.
First, it sounds like he would like Engineering more than CS. Probably EE or CE. Secondly, working from home probably isn’t going to be a reality if he doesn’t want to do development work. My recommendation would be to look at academic research jobs in the CS / CE (Computer Engineering) / EE (Electrical Engineering) area - they seem to be more fitting a bit less stress that way.
The other route would be an entrepreneurial route - if he’s a tinkerer, making a product and running a business will give him the flexibility he wants - but probably more people interactions and stress. If he had a partner to handle the business and he functioned as the inventor / engineer, that could work well.
I don’t know of any other routes, but others may - I would also post on the Engineering forum if he would be interested in that field.
Best of luck!
@PengsPhils thanks for your input. He is not opposed to programming, I am just trying to introduce him to various ways that his interests can be turned into employment. I am doing the same with his interests in outdoors/fitness, and his enjoyment of building and tinkering. I don’t want to pigeon-hole him into the programming route just because that is what his father does.
He is excited to take Physics next year, so we will see how that interest develops once he goes deeper into that subject. And, he is in a long recovery from a concussion 2 years ago, so the long-term unknowns of that will affect his schooling and eventual employment.
I appreciate your help.