Reserved Personality: Should You Admit to Being Reserved?

Some employment questionnaires may contain a question about reserved personality traits. If you aren’t sure how to answer, here is what you need to consider…

What is a reserved personality?

A reserved personality is a preference. Reserved people prefer to keep their thoughts and ideas to themselves. They tend to be very self-aware and speak only when it matters or when someone asks for their opinion. They also prefer to take their time before acting on their thoughts.

You may be wondering whether someone with a reserved personality is essentially an introvert. The answer is usually yes. Reserved people are often introverts, but they can also be ambiverts with strong introverted tendencies. If you aren’t sure about your preference, you can take our Introvert, Extrovert, Ambivert Quiz here.

Reserved personality traits

If you need a short but comprehensive list of reserved personality traits, here you go. Reserved people:

are mentally alert;
are perceptive;
are highly independent;
are absorbed in thought;
need lots of time alone;
share their thoughts only with those they know well;
focus on work rather than socializing;
think before acting;
may be difficult to get to know;
love peace;
dislike crowded places;
prefer texting over phone calls.

How does a reserved personality develop?

Some people naturally prefer introversion, or in other words, they have been this way for as long as they can remember. There are also theories about why some people develop a more reserved behavior style later in life.

One possible reason is that some people may feel that the world is too dangerous and chaotic, and as a result, they think they need to make their choices carefully and acquire as much knowledge and as many skills as possible. They may also feel that they can only trust people they know very well. It’s a survival strategy.

Others simply seek mastery and skill. They want to be good at something so that they can feel strong and capable. They want to be able to offer the world something special — something that not everyone has.

What does it mean to have a reserved personality?

If you have a reserved personality, you may spend a lot of time developing knowledge or expertise in areas that interest you. Before doing something, you need to work it out in your mind first. To outsiders, it may seem that you are completely consumed by your ideas, living in your own world.

✦ Printable Assessments and Worksheets
For Classrooms, Teams, and Workshops
Download once — use with unlimited participants
Shop now »

What does it mean to have a reserved personality on the job?

Some may think that having a reserved personality is disadvantageous for your career, but in reality, it depends. Outgoing, extroverted people are better suited for some jobs, while reserved people may do better in others.

If you are asked whether you have a reserved personality at a job interview or employment test, the best course of action is to tell the truth. If you are naturally reserved, working in a job that requires lots of networking or being in crowded places may be exhausting for you.

Remember, there are many jobs that can suit a reserved personality: programming, accounting, writing, content editing, graphic design, counseling, research, engineering, and many others.

Whether or not you get hired may also depend on the personality of your future boss or whoever makes the hiring decision. Some employers may prefer reserved people because they tend to focus on their tasks rather than socializing.

When it comes to work, having a reserved personality generally means that:

You need to be able to work in a quiet place, without disruptions.
You don’t get involved in workplace drama.
You carefully analyze all options before making a choice.
You prefer to work alone rather than be a member of a team.
You focus on tasks but may not pay enough attention to networking and building relationships with your co-workers.

How to become less reserved?

A reserved personality isn’t a disadvantage, but some people may want to become more sociable because they think it will be more beneficial for their career or personal relationships.

Generally, acting out of character for a short while shouldn’t be a problem. However, it will probably feel unnatural and a little uncomfortable, like writing with your non-dominant hand.

Some ambiverts are only slightly more introverted than extroverted. They may have an easier time switching between the two behavioral styles.

If you are naturally reserved but want to seem more sociable and outgoing, you can practice some more outgoing behaviors:

Practice smiling and eye contact.
Spend more time with your friends and colleagues. Give people you don’t know very well a chance, such as friends of your friends.
Have a goal of at least one conversation per day. For example, you could ask a colleague for their opinion about something. It may be even more effective if it’s someone you don’t usually talk to.
Join a public speaking group, such as Toastmasters.
Invite people to dinner.
Allow yourself to take a break from analyzing everything and just relax and enjoy other people’s company.