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A while back I wrote this blog post about my experiences in corporate as a Human Design Projector. Being an empath and highly sensitive person as well meant that my multilayers of sensitivity were both a problem-solving godsend and an absolute mismatch for the hustle culture hellscape my company worshipped. As the Charles Dickens quote so aptly puts it: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

And it left me wondering, was my exit from corporate inevitable given my Human Design and energetic sensitivities? 

The Common Theme Across Empath, HSP, and Human Design Non-Sacral Wisdom and Advice 

If you pick up a book/listen to a podcast/scroll on social media on any of these three groups (and you can belong to more than one) you will see that it’s generally accepted that we’re best suited to consulting, advising, or any type of job that doesn’t tie us down into one specific 9-5 job. 

This makes a ton of sense for a myriad of reasons. Our energy can be inconsistent, we can be greatly impacted by being in an office with dozens of other people, we’re best in roles where we have autonomy to do it as we see fit, we need ample time to rest and release the energy we pick up, we’re literally not designed to be worker bees, etc. 

And while having full control over your schedule by going freelance or turning your skill set into a consulting offer sounds heavenly, there are some drawbacks to being self-employed. Inconsistent income, marketing yourself, tax structures, behind-the-scenes business structures, etc. can all kill the passion you have for your business and leave you wondering if you made the right decision (I am a firm believer that most businesses crash and burn because the owners were too focused on their passion and not on the business-y aspects of their business). 

So what is a sensitive soul to do if self-employment doesn’t feel like the right answer but you’re also worried a corporate career will inevitably lead to burnout…

Can We Be Happy In Corporate? Short Answer: Yes, with a big asterisk

I think that it’s absolutely possible for sensitive souls to find purpose and enjoyment in a corporate career, provided we’re very mindful about the industry and company we’re working for. 

However, the more sensitive you are (like my HSP, empath, HD Projector self) the more likely it is that you will need to transition out of corporate at some point in your career. 

What To Look For In A Corporate Job 

Most of us, when faced with looking for a job, focus on the position and the pay. And while this is totally understandable, for sensitive souls where you are going to be working needs to be carefully and thoroughly vetted. 

The sad fact of the matter is that many companies are way more focused on the quantity of hours worked versus the quality of the work being done.

They love to exercise their control and flex their micro-management muscles by requiring everyone to be in an office when the position could easily be done from home, they want to know they can reach out outside of the office at all hours, and they think answering email when you’re in labor and delivery is the height of commitment (true story from my corporate days).

In other words, they have their collective head up their collective ass and then wonder why their average employee stays with them for less than 2 years. 

To avoid this misery, here are the key things to look for: 

A flexible work environment with hybrid in-office/remote work, quiet space in the office so you can get away from the “open concept” floor plans that subject you to everyone’s everything, and a focus on results versus hours worked. Bonus points if they have flexible hours where you can start and stop work at different times on different days. 

Leadership that supports independence. Sensitive souls need space and consistent pressure from a hovering manager will impede your ability to be effective and efficient. A job that has a plethora of processes that need to be followed, checklists to be completed, or that sends out production numbers five times a day (or worse has them displayed real time on a monitor) are signs of micromanagement and inflexibility that will drive you crazy (most sensitive souls are very adept at creating better ways of doing things so being locked into a rigid set of processes will be frustrating). Questions like “Is there a specific process that is required to be followed or am I free to structure my work in the most efficient way for me?” and “Tell me how you lead the team” are great ones to ask.

Psychological safety and emotional intelligence in leadership. Make sure you interview with your proposed direct leader so you can get a feel for who you are going to be working with. Ask questions like: Tell me how feedback is given to employees and leaders? How receptive is the company to suggestions to do things in a different way? What are a few changes you implemented based on employee feedback? What is the turnover rate for this position?  What is the average length of time someone has been with the company? How does the company help team members have a work life balance? How do you set new hires up for success in their role? You want to make sure you’re going to be in a collaborative group where you are safe to give feedback and suggestions. If you can I highly recommend asking to briefly speak to someone in the same role that you’ll be interviewing for to get the best idea of what the job entails and how the team functions.

A company whose values align with yours. Do not underestimate this one. A lot of companies have their core values on their website so pay attention to any that suggest hustle and overworking. Ditto any that suggest they “figure it out” with what they have as it can suggest a company that doesn’t invest in the right technology or hiring team members to effectively solve the issue. A company that doesn’t have any core values is another red flag as it can signal jumping around from trend to trend and a constant state of chaos because they don’t have a specific vision they’re trying to reach. 

And finally, a red flag that looks green from afar: Companies that boast about onsite nurses, dentists, barbers, free meals, chair massages, etc. This sounds like a dream right? Except the reason they have these services on site is because they expect YOU to always be on site too. I once had a client send me a job description that included a monthly DoorDash budget. While the remote work part was nice, the expectation was that she’d be available 10+ hours a day and respond to MS Teams messages within 15 minutes. Big “NO”. Better things to look for: good health, dental, vision insurance, gym reimbursements, 4+ weeks of PTO, and other perks you can use outside of the office. 

Final Reflections

I hope these factors help you understand what to look for in a corporate job as a sensitive soul. There absolutely are great companies out there that can offer the right types of work environments and leadership that allows HSPs, empaths, and HD non-sacrals the ability to use their skills and talents in ways that are fulfilling, while still leaving us with energy to have thriving lives outside of the office too. 

If you are a multi-layered sensitive like me, in addition to making sure you’re aligning yourself with the right company for you, it’s a good idea to spend time each month researching and mapping out what a non-corporate career would look like for you. Typically, the more sensitive you are, the more likely you’re going to burn out even if you “do everything right” and work for a great company. The effects of absorbing so much energy build up over time and eventually we seem to reach a threshold from which there is no return.  

(The research and mapping out is something I regret not having done earlier in my career, especially because I had known for years that I wanted to be a consultant and coach at some point! I think I would’ve had a much easier time adjusting to life as a solopreneur if I had started to expose my nervous system to the idea in smaller doses.) 

If you need help better understanding your unique sensitivities, which types of work environments will be best for you, or what a post-corporate life could look like for you, I offer 90 minute Human Design Readings and 90 minute In-Depth Coaching & Strategy Sessions to find you the clarity and strategy to get there. 

Hugs,
Elena