I agree with going into a creative field. Theatre is perfect for me; contracts are 6-8 weeks long, the process evolves daily, it requires a lot of problem-solving, and it comprises a wide variety of people and personalities.
I am a bicycle mechanic, I find it combines technical knowhow with craft and creativity. I was lucky to find a career on something that happened to be a special interest at the time I needed to learn the ropes. It's also a profession that you can't really learn in a school.
It's a bit sad that crafts aren't so well appreciated in today's world of industrial manufacturing. I would also say that passion for the job can so easily be detrimental for long term wellbeing in the career.
I think the best job for people with ADHD is if it interest YOU.
For me I want to become a illustrator, drawing keeps my ADHD and ASD in check without any medication. So why would I wanna do something if I'm not interested in it? I would just sit there stare at the walls doing nothing all day long 🤣
I’m a speech language pathologist and fellow neurodivergent individual. I love that my job keeps me on my toes, allows for creativity and more than one way to solve problems. I also think staying in one setting with one population wouldn’t work for me so I like being able to work across the lifespan and change settings if I get bored in the schools or need a change of pace.
I have done so many different jobs already, but I noticed that regardless if it’s a job I like or not (mostly I do jobs I like) after a while I still need a change because of different reasons. I stop liking the people, or the place, or it gets boring after a while. If I ever find a job that I can stay longer than 4 years I will share (3 years is my limit so year 4th is usually looking for something new)
This may be the first thing about jobs for people with ADHD that was actually worth reading -- I don't like those lists, either. Entrepreneur? Don't have the executive functioning to manage a business. Something fast-paced? I'd freeze up in anxiety. The arts? Sure, if I don't care about supporting myself financially. (Respect -- no offense-- to any people here in the arts).
I need all the things you listed above, but I *also* need something that sometimes conflict with the variety and flexibility we need. I need structure -- a clear understanding of what the deadlines are and what projects are most important, so I can allocate my time and energy accordingly. Most of all I need to be expected in a specific place at a specific time. The trick is finding a workplace where you get structure while still having variety and freedom to be creative.
After a long career in tech (business development and product management), I am launching a new business after my most recent layoff.
This is a passion project to help neurodivergents. Fidget Newton makes fidgets from premium Italian leather. They feel amazing and, best of all, they look like something an adult would have, unlike most fidgets.
It’s amazing that I can focus for 8+ hours on sanding leather (yeah, it’s a big part of what makes them shine) as opposed to time on a screen.
I don’t want this comment to be a plug and I want to tell people about something I love so if you’re interested... www.fidgetnewton.com)
I’m an accountant, which is typically a very rigid profession. However I have been extremely lucky and “Project Girl” better describes what I do. I’ve spent almost 20 years in manufacturing or construction so there is always something new that I need (and want) to learn and there is never a shortage of company wide projects to keep me occupied.
From being an Emergency Room/Ambulance medic in the Air Force (a job that found me, but I thoroughly got into...the military, not so much though I tried it as a Reserve Medical Service Corps and didn’t like again, so I resigned). I found teaching to be my niche. I taught Paramedics and after blowing out my back (I insisted on practicing in the pre-hospital emergency medicine) I had gotten a master’s degree with enough credits to teach human anatomy & physiology. I taught full-time in a community college for 27 years, but often got bored. When I got bored I branched out. I owned a couple of horses at that time and worked with my veterinarian by assisting him in surgery and just riding along, so I taught equine animal science courses that I wrote for the college. While doing all of that I also became more interested in pastoral ministry. After a divorce that was liberating but not so much for my sons, I pursued a Doctor of Ministry degree and was ordained a Lutheran Pastor. Following retirement from the community college, I accepted a full-time call in a very dysfunctional congregation. It was both liberating and stifling. Dysfunctional folks didn’t respond well when I called them out, but they just waited me out till I retired after 10 years with them. Now with my official diagnosis of ADHD during the pandemic and new meds, I am much more relaxed. I received an unexpected offer from a large parish to do Pastoral Care. I lead the traditional liturgical services (which I LOVE) and visit and care for the homebound. I do most of the funerals and an occasional wedding. Other than Sunday mornings, I have complete control of my schedule. I make visits when my Introvert has been well fed,, allowing me to be extroverted and caring. When my Extrovert is depleted I take time off to hang out around the house and enjoy the company of my wife and our dog.
I wish I had received the diagnosis of ADHD when I was much younger. Things have worked out well for me now at age 70, but knowing and treating my ADHD when a teen would likely have resulted in less of the “wailing and gnashing of teeth” that plagued me all of my life. Now understanding my psychological makeup has enabled me to be of more help to others without the inferiority complex from childhood stopping me at critical junctures in my life. I really want to give younger folks encouragement to take themselves less seriously, but also to reach out to and discover people who have walked the path they are walking, and to find ways to nourish the experience of life with ADHD as “what it is” and learn to adapt to this often cruel world without sacrificing their uniqueness.
I often spot the ADHD person who is struggling, and occasionally one who shares my own struggle and has continued to work to thrive in spite of themselves. In retrospect, I am thankful for my ADHD as it has made me a much more interesting person than if I would have settled for the first job I had and just went along with what I was told. ADHD is not a curse, but rather an amazing opportunity.
I am a preschool teacher. We have routines, which keep us all on track but the theme changes from week to week, and we do different creative things within those themes, like art projects, books, dance parties, dramatic play, etc. Having ADHD has actually made me good at this job bc I can change horses midstream, so to speak. If the children become interested in a certain part of the theme or project and want to explore it more, we can do that and call it emerging curriculum
I’ve found I have to be in the charity sector (environmental as that’s my passion). And being in a creative role (communications) seems to be the best fit. I have to be working for a cause I believe in and not working to make money for a company/someone else. I think I would have eventually been fired from the only corporate job I’ve had if I hadn’t left as I just had no motivation to work.
I agree with going into a creative field. Theatre is perfect for me; contracts are 6-8 weeks long, the process evolves daily, it requires a lot of problem-solving, and it comprises a wide variety of people and personalities.
I am a bicycle mechanic, I find it combines technical knowhow with craft and creativity. I was lucky to find a career on something that happened to be a special interest at the time I needed to learn the ropes. It's also a profession that you can't really learn in a school.
It's a bit sad that crafts aren't so well appreciated in today's world of industrial manufacturing. I would also say that passion for the job can so easily be detrimental for long term wellbeing in the career.
I think the best job for people with ADHD is if it interest YOU.
For me I want to become a illustrator, drawing keeps my ADHD and ASD in check without any medication. So why would I wanna do something if I'm not interested in it? I would just sit there stare at the walls doing nothing all day long 🤣
I’m a speech language pathologist and fellow neurodivergent individual. I love that my job keeps me on my toes, allows for creativity and more than one way to solve problems. I also think staying in one setting with one population wouldn’t work for me so I like being able to work across the lifespan and change settings if I get bored in the schools or need a change of pace.
Been doing barista work since 2017 breaking that cycle for office based work couldn’t be happier
I have done so many different jobs already, but I noticed that regardless if it’s a job I like or not (mostly I do jobs I like) after a while I still need a change because of different reasons. I stop liking the people, or the place, or it gets boring after a while. If I ever find a job that I can stay longer than 4 years I will share (3 years is my limit so year 4th is usually looking for something new)
Rach, Let network and learn from each other. I am on LinkedIn username bryanrogle
Thank you so much for this article. I feel seen.
This may be the first thing about jobs for people with ADHD that was actually worth reading -- I don't like those lists, either. Entrepreneur? Don't have the executive functioning to manage a business. Something fast-paced? I'd freeze up in anxiety. The arts? Sure, if I don't care about supporting myself financially. (Respect -- no offense-- to any people here in the arts).
I need all the things you listed above, but I *also* need something that sometimes conflict with the variety and flexibility we need. I need structure -- a clear understanding of what the deadlines are and what projects are most important, so I can allocate my time and energy accordingly. Most of all I need to be expected in a specific place at a specific time. The trick is finding a workplace where you get structure while still having variety and freedom to be creative.
Any tips on how to find that? ;)
After a long career in tech (business development and product management), I am launching a new business after my most recent layoff.
This is a passion project to help neurodivergents. Fidget Newton makes fidgets from premium Italian leather. They feel amazing and, best of all, they look like something an adult would have, unlike most fidgets.
It’s amazing that I can focus for 8+ hours on sanding leather (yeah, it’s a big part of what makes them shine) as opposed to time on a screen.
I don’t want this comment to be a plug and I want to tell people about something I love so if you’re interested... www.fidgetnewton.com)
I’m an accountant, which is typically a very rigid profession. However I have been extremely lucky and “Project Girl” better describes what I do. I’ve spent almost 20 years in manufacturing or construction so there is always something new that I need (and want) to learn and there is never a shortage of company wide projects to keep me occupied.
From being an Emergency Room/Ambulance medic in the Air Force (a job that found me, but I thoroughly got into...the military, not so much though I tried it as a Reserve Medical Service Corps and didn’t like again, so I resigned). I found teaching to be my niche. I taught Paramedics and after blowing out my back (I insisted on practicing in the pre-hospital emergency medicine) I had gotten a master’s degree with enough credits to teach human anatomy & physiology. I taught full-time in a community college for 27 years, but often got bored. When I got bored I branched out. I owned a couple of horses at that time and worked with my veterinarian by assisting him in surgery and just riding along, so I taught equine animal science courses that I wrote for the college. While doing all of that I also became more interested in pastoral ministry. After a divorce that was liberating but not so much for my sons, I pursued a Doctor of Ministry degree and was ordained a Lutheran Pastor. Following retirement from the community college, I accepted a full-time call in a very dysfunctional congregation. It was both liberating and stifling. Dysfunctional folks didn’t respond well when I called them out, but they just waited me out till I retired after 10 years with them. Now with my official diagnosis of ADHD during the pandemic and new meds, I am much more relaxed. I received an unexpected offer from a large parish to do Pastoral Care. I lead the traditional liturgical services (which I LOVE) and visit and care for the homebound. I do most of the funerals and an occasional wedding. Other than Sunday mornings, I have complete control of my schedule. I make visits when my Introvert has been well fed,, allowing me to be extroverted and caring. When my Extrovert is depleted I take time off to hang out around the house and enjoy the company of my wife and our dog.
I wish I had received the diagnosis of ADHD when I was much younger. Things have worked out well for me now at age 70, but knowing and treating my ADHD when a teen would likely have resulted in less of the “wailing and gnashing of teeth” that plagued me all of my life. Now understanding my psychological makeup has enabled me to be of more help to others without the inferiority complex from childhood stopping me at critical junctures in my life. I really want to give younger folks encouragement to take themselves less seriously, but also to reach out to and discover people who have walked the path they are walking, and to find ways to nourish the experience of life with ADHD as “what it is” and learn to adapt to this often cruel world without sacrificing their uniqueness.
I often spot the ADHD person who is struggling, and occasionally one who shares my own struggle and has continued to work to thrive in spite of themselves. In retrospect, I am thankful for my ADHD as it has made me a much more interesting person than if I would have settled for the first job I had and just went along with what I was told. ADHD is not a curse, but rather an amazing opportunity.
I am a preschool teacher. We have routines, which keep us all on track but the theme changes from week to week, and we do different creative things within those themes, like art projects, books, dance parties, dramatic play, etc. Having ADHD has actually made me good at this job bc I can change horses midstream, so to speak. If the children become interested in a certain part of the theme or project and want to explore it more, we can do that and call it emerging curriculum
I think finding what interests you is the best work you can do...otherwise its v difficult to do typical job
I’ve found I have to be in the charity sector (environmental as that’s my passion). And being in a creative role (communications) seems to be the best fit. I have to be working for a cause I believe in and not working to make money for a company/someone else. I think I would have eventually been fired from the only corporate job I’ve had if I hadn’t left as I just had no motivation to work.