Shy to Outgoing

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>I was really shy the first couple years of high school and things like public speaking made me very nervous. In the second half of high school, I gained a lot of confidence and am still shy, but not as much. </p>

<p>I have been considering career options and have been looking into business and management areas where the typical person is very outgoing. I just had a couple questions - Can you be successful in management jobs if you are shy? I've made a lot of progress in becoming less shy, will this continue or will I never be outgoing enough for a management position because it's in my DNA?</p>

<p>If you were shy in high school, could you tell me if you still are or not as an adult?</p>

<p>Specifically, I'm considering biomedical engineering vs. an industrial engineering/econ double major. I'm leaning towards, IE/ECON, but maybe I am too shy.</p>

2

<p>Shyness can be overcome. I’m a very shy person as well, but when needed, I will put it aside and do what I need to do. I’ve been shy all of my life, mainly because I have a slight speech impediment(I speak a little slower than most people, and sometimes stutter). I still am shy to this very day, but like I said, I can be assertive when required. I will tell you this though, it is more of a phobia, a psychological issue, than a genetic issue. With that said, given time, as well as confrontation with the shyness, it can be overcome. If you can show leadership skills, determination, and able to get things done, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be fit for a management-related career.</p>