Is the introvert dead?

Is the introvert dead?

My personal journey from introvert to extrovert was a matter of boredom. As a kid, I couldn't be happier if I could sit on top of a heater vent with a book and a blanket and read all day. Homeschooling was great because I didn't have to deal with people I didn't like and didn't want to talk to. I could just learn, learn, learn.

But the story has changed now. Public middle school, high school, college, and now, the job market. I'm an Intercultural Communication major. I love interacting with people: learning about people's lives, passions, dreams, and fears. Nothing is more interesting or personally satisfying when I can sit down and have a deep, honest conversation with someone.

I'm told the key to success on the job hunt is networking, networking, networking. Now, it could very well just be the field I'm looking at (Marcom, PR, Customer Service, and recently, Hospitality), but I get the feeling that even in a more stereotypically introverted field (say, programming), it would be nigh impossible to land a job without getting out there, meeting the right people and making the right connections. If you don't put yourself out in front of a hiring manager, you're not going to land the job.

Will the introvert be eliminated from the job market by "natural selection?"