HSP in Sales

by Helen
(Northern Colorado)

My experience working for my current employer has been extremely challenging for me. Yet at the same time it is because of my experience here that I began searching for information on sensitivity and overstimulation and found Elaine Aaron's book and the "Big Ah-ha" moment happened. Now of course, I had always been aware of my sensitivity throughout my life, but wasn't aware of exactly what it was until reading the book.

That said working in a sales environment, which is competitive, unappreciative of the qualitative and only focused on the quantitative results, dominated by "extroverts" and the non-hsp's who automatically judge us to be "timid", "shy", "stuck-up", "extremely sensitive", "unapproachable", etc. has been nothing short of a nightmare for the majority of the time I've been there. The job is one where you are isolated, you work on your own with very little training or support. The job is very fast paced and it is very easy to get overstimulated. I know that it is not for me and I need to get out, but on the other hand it pays very well and it's not like jobs that pay this well are a dime a dozen. I'm currently enrolled in a Master's program and eventually want to be self-employed.

There is no meaning in this job for me and I don't think there ever will be. How much meaning can there be in a job that involves selling chips and who's very activities are mundane, repetitive and pointless to humanity. In fact they are harmful to humanity because the consumption of our products encourages obesity. Anyway as of late I have taken on the attitude of letting go and it has greatly helped. I have accepted the fact that this is neither the job nor the company for me and I don't need to pressure myself to try and fit in. I have begun to see everything that occurs there with a sense of humor and this has helped as well. My relationship with my boss has always been somewhat strained because she views me as "too quiet", "sensitive", unapproachable", "shy", etc. without really trying to get to know me. That is upsetting, but I can't change her. I gave her some articles explaining high sensitivity as well as introversion and that seems to have helped a little. Standing up for yourself and sometimes educating others is key, but it is up to them to either get it or not. Who cares? If you like yourself and are satisfied with who you are, then those that get it will get to be in your life and those that don't simply won't. It's their loss.