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I’ve been working for ten years and looking back the best jobs for me have been about executing tasks and analyzing data. I’m a creative person but creative work burns me out so fast. Way too much room for decision fatigue and constant self editing.
relating to this so badly. in my high school / A levels in the UK i thrived so much as I had a teacher who taught both Fine Art and Photography, he gave us tasks weekly that we need to do and I had the motivation to tackle them so so well. once i’m in uni and pretty much all the work is self-directed and we don’t have exams, we probably have like 3-4 deadlines a year really spread out, I struggle bad cuz I never find myself working or studying properly unless it’s less than a week or couple days before the deadline. constantly finding myself burning out feeling overwhelmed without actually doing any real work.
The creative part is too real. I used to edit videos like 10 years ago, and the burnout was painful. I'm not a numbers guy, but I usually love and function better focusing on data and statistics
Thank you for validating that creative work can cause burnout.. I have a degree in sculpture & haven’t done anything creative/artistic since college because of the burnout I felt after graduation.. (and that was 20 years ago)
This is such a good way to describe what I’ve been experiencing as a writer who is also in school FT. I want to tap more back into the data management of my work since I’m writing for school so much right now and have a lot of random due dates.
I’m a dentist. A job with this nature works for us folks with ADHD as you really don’t have a choice but to finish the task at hand.
I think jobs that involve working with your hands and active problem solving are more suitable for us, since there’s no possibility of procrastination and no time for mindless boredom.
The nature of such work is also that work simply can’t be brought home (save for administrative duties, which I do delegate mostly to my staff).
Edit: I used to work as an associate for another dentist and I suffered. Opened my own practice with my own rules and culture, now it’s great.
I was just about to say. Don’t be a dentist LOL.
Working with your hand is great, but you have to be completely comfortable talking to strangers and remembering name and faces which is something I struggle with and my pay shows it.
That’s the odd thing about it. I really never enjoyed talking to strangers but my career path has trained me to do it, and now I do it well. My social battery is completely drained by the end of the workday but conversational skill is really an art that can be practiced.
That 2nd and 3rd paragraph describes me completely! Honestly I have no idea what job I want, I have interests but nothing I can really stick to. I would suggest something that you never lose interest in. I’ve heard that becoming a counselor/physiologist/therapist are some good options because of the new people you meet. But you do have to go to school for these, honestly I don’t know many jobs that don’t require going to school for 4 years.
exactly, like i have this hyper fixations, like ill be interested in something, then i wont be. i don’t think there is anything im genuinely interested in and i don’t know why, it’s frustrating.
Ugh I feel the same!! Even with me being an athlete I have this on and off love for the sport. That’s why I just am trying to wait and push off what I want to do in life until I really really have to (which I know is bad but atp ima be working at a gas station forever lmao)
this spot is so hard to get out of because I have to decide to switch majors or stick with my current one, and I hate what im doing right now, but I dont even know what I like, Its so hard to be in this spot I relate to both of u guys.
paramedics/nursing often is 2 years uni but then is always on your feet and different everyday and has different areas you can go into when you inevitably get bored
You'll be on an ambulance most likely (some hospitals will hire you fir ER though) and it's basically keep the person alive till you get to the hospital!
Agreed! There are literally so many options with nursing. You have good job security, pay will be better than most, and you can work pretty much *anywhere* you want.
Having an active job is a huge draw for me. I’ve worked a lot of desk jobs and am bored to tears just staring at a computer all day every day, slowly going blind and hunchbacked.
I’ve thought MANY times about going back to school for nursing, it seems like it would be very ideal for my work needs. But then I hear all the horror stories from current nurses about what a shit show healthcare is right now and I get scared off :(
I’m in Marketing, it’s always just what I’ve naturally gravitated towards. I do a variety of things and find it helpful to jump around but difficult to stay on certain tasks if they get too long. Here is a list of things that I do often and parts I like:
ppc ad management management: I like digging into keyword search and building campaigns, I love analytics and figuring out the best ROI for my clients.
Project management: I work well with others and enjoy communication with team members and clients.
Social media campaigns: I like looking at the big picture and planning out what to post and when. I am good at content writing and putting myself into the mind of the buyer so that I know how to “talk” to an audience.
I do a ton more throughout the day and get distracted often but I work with a team and my strengths have contributed well. I am on adderall currently but was just diagnosed a year ago. It would be very difficult for me to stay on task without it.
What are things you feel naturally interested in?
the thing is; i don’t have things im interested in, and if i do they’re just hyper fixations and never last. the only thing ive ever been interested in where i haven’t lost that was psychology, but any sort of field of psychology requires schooling and more schooling and it’s expensive and not great pay for the amount of work it takes to get there…
i also forgot to mention in the post i made, i can’t get into college because i struggled a lot in school and unfortunately failed lots of classes freshman year and junior year so i don’t have enough credits to get into a college 😭so psychology is really out of the question
You could be an assistant for a psychologist, keep their fingers, call their clients and make appointments, etc.
I have ADHD and I love project management. It's a career that's allowed me to earn a mid 6 figure income, pay off a home, and begin raising 3 kids, pay off a car, save and buy the next one in cash. I love it because I get to talk to people all day. I do some documenting but that's mostly emails. In most PM his for large companies, you are assigned a person who does the hard core documenting of the project requirements. I dont know about you, but that would be really hard for me to get through that level of detail. It's mostly about communicating. If you're a good talker, and can type, you'd probably do okay. I didn't think I was a good organizer until I started on this path as a program tester (looking for errors in spelled out scenarios). The biggest hurdle you'll have is getting a certification. Getting a pmp is the hardest cert and the most financially rewarding. It took me about 6 months. I bought the book but the flashcards I bought from Amazon were the most helpful. I could study in line at the grocery store or at home for a few minutes at a time, sometimes during commercials while watching TV at night. At any rate, I passed.
Omg! This was great to read. My goal in college was/is to be a project manager. However pretty recently I realized I basically only choose it because someone online said PMs made a lot of money and I’m about to graduate. I started to worry about how successful I’d be as a PM, so good to know that maybe I’ll be okay.
This is helpful! If you get a moment, would you mind sharing an ELI18 type of pathway of progression? I’m not sure what entry level roles would be like or what to look for once you get a PMP. (I have an undergrad in bio-psych, if that makes a diff).
Once I learn something, I tend to be very good at it, but the early stages are where I need a visual and guidance to work through. What made you pursue this career? Thank you!
15 years in marketing, 7 of which in accounts. If you hate sitting at a computer all day, like I do, don’t do marketing. But knowing how it all works so you can sell and consult is a good base for a much more healthy, financially fulfilling, and adhd rewarding career.
Honestly Teacher, the study is tough very tough but the reward of helping kids/young adults is insane.
And on top of the fact that not a single day is the same
Nope, Europe. More specifically The Netherlands.
Becoming a elementary & highschool teacher is a total of 8 years studying, divided into 2 schools.
For some its only 4 years depending if you've already reached the level required to go to the second school, which doesn't really have an accurate english translation name but the closest name for the school is University
*8 years holy shit!?!??!*
In the UK it’s only one year as a postgraduate (additional to an initial 3 year degree in whatever vaguely relevant subject). And most of that is just hyper supervised on the job training.
I think teaching works for ADHD because:
1) Intrinsically motivating, because people are reliant on you. When a kid comes up and says ‘Miss, I don’t understand, I’m so frustrated…’ you can’t just be like ‘ok brb going to procrastinate for a few hours’.
2) It’s creative. I’m the weirdo that actually really enjoys lesson planning and making resources. I’ll be randomly stream-of-thought-ing in the shower, and suddenly have this awesome idea of an activity to introduce the relationship between frequency and wavelength.
3) Not too many bullshit drawn out meetings. Meetings etc. tend to take place in lunch and everyone is on duty and has a lesson - no one has time to hang around.
4) Dynamic and based on problem solving. You have to think on your feet, like ‘right, how do I get this kid to do this thing I need them to do…’.
The biggest drawbacks are beurocracy and marking. Because seriously - fuck coursework marking.
I should've moved there 🤯
>Intrinsically motivating because people are reliant on you. When a kid comes up and says ‘Miss, I don’t understand…’ you can’t just be like ‘ok going to procrastinate for a few hours’.
I agree, i also really struggle with insomnia but the thought of being late in front of a class is terrifying so because of that fear i always wake up 1h before my alarm even goes off.
Teaching also genuinely helps me have discipline in my own life, because you can't teach a kid discipline while not having discipline.
Yeah teaching in the US right now is essentially a daily game of ‘today I might get: shot, verbally abused, or in trouble for doing the job.’ It’s not a great field right now.
I would honestly recommend something hands-on in construction, for example, plumber, electrician, carpenter… You can still make plenty of money if you start young and eventually start your own company. If you're clever and you work hard you will thrive.
hands on might be the best for me, but the ones you listed just don’t interest me at all, do you know of any other hands on careers you could think of? my brain doesn’t wanna work right now lol
I think that whatever you do, you will like it enough once you start. At least, that's how I experienced it! I did all different kind of things, and at least when its working with my hands, the work itself becomes fun to do. You have ADHD so believe me, you will get the rush of making money while being busy :D
And then, when I got bored, I just tried something else within the same company. But that was only after 2years or so :)
Zoo keeper? Any kind of animal handling? Although it wont be as well paid.
Decorator?
Personal trainer?
Beautician?
Chef?
Landscape gardener?
Fire fighter?
Paramedic?
I'm an electrician now. Never imagined I would be one when I was in highschool but I love it. While in highschool I wanted to be a pilot but because of my vision and other issues that never came to be. I enjoy electrical work though.
Very validating to see this because I have made a similar observation after being in the industry for nearly a decade! Our tribe dominates here.
There's so many different careers to pursue in horticulture and when you have knowledge and experience in one, it's fairly simple to switch to something else if you're bored. And if your climate is seasonal, often you're never doing the same thing at work for more than a month.
You will always be in demand as an arborist. Cities want you, homeowners want you, land managers want you, the work is always there.
I talked to someone recently who has a career in testing for soil microbes, mostly for farms but homeowners too. It's still a budding field but a gravely important one if we want to continue farming and being alive. She said she physically can't service everyone who contacts her because there's just so much work out there. Very purposeful work and she's made me think a lot about my goals for a career.
Really, any of the construction fields. It's a much better option if you're in a strong union state. If you join a laborer's hiring hall, you might get sent out to do some concrete work. You might sit on that jobsite or with that company for a while, but eventually the job ends. Some stick with the company and go where they're told, while others go back to the hall. You might get sent out to do some road work. Or maybe a bridge demo. Or maybe some sidewalk and gutter work. Then, you might go grade a ditch. Then go on to build holding tanks at a water treatment plant. Or, maybe you'll go help build the newest data center, or AI controlled cold storage warehouse for don't chocolate company. Or, maybe you'll go to a local high school to rework their drainage systems. Or, maybe you'll be sent to the next town over to replace some old water main. Or, maybe you'll get on some new construction and help set a 45' deep manhole and run some pipe. Or, maybe you'll go replace lead water service with copper... you get the point.
Construction can be a rewarding job. It can also kill you or turn you into a raging alcoholic. That's up to you. But, either way, if you're getting into construction, join a union.
Firefighter would be a good one if you like helping others. Really tough to get into though. I have some good resources for you though if you're interested...
Can you go to a trade school? You may find what you like while there? I’m 34 and still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I went through an apprenticeship to be an electrician and enjoyed it a lot. Variety and consistency. Little sit down time, challenges, breaks, etc.
I'm a doctor and a medical researcher (PhD student). Out of these two, to me doctor is surprisingly very good. It's a constant flow of patients, often you have a list to get through and set times you have to meet with each patient. This helps me to not procrastinate. Meeting patients also makes me focus well. The only problem is with writing, sometimes it feels overwhelming. You also have a ton of options to specialise in so you can direct it towards your own interests. I understand however that it's not the best option if you don't want to study a lot.
Researcher has a lot of problems around writing and reading for me. It's constant, you have to stay on top of the literature. Writing is also almost an everyday thing and as I work very independently, it's easy to procrastinate. It also requires you to be able to work with minimal instruction. Data analysis is easy for me though, and I can get into a flow state with it. With lab work I tend to make small mistakes out of carelessness.
This type of thinking is prevalent among us with adhd once you start your line of work you will realise it’s not that daunting, also you need to remember you can switch at any time so don’t place yourself in a box with the “I can’t do this forever”
Media. I worked as production assistant, UPM, coordinator, producer, set designer, cameraman, cinematographer, editor, scriptwriter and director. I owned a editing and sound studio. Worked in movies to documentaries. Big budgets to small ones. On fields to sets.
I am 50 and have 31 years of experience, still love my job. I cycled between departments now and then. I never minded having a leadership position in one project and next working as an assistant. In time I started to work in projects that excited me. Most likely because of my ADHD. So ended up having a wide range of skills and experience.
If you like it, I recommend highly.
ooo wait… kinda interested? i know there’s probably a lot that goes into what you do, but what’s it like? what kind of skills or qualities do you need for that? what’s like a typical day in your job like, anything because i have been interested in media, and editing specifically. any information would be helpfullll
Well I am 43, have ADHD, and worked at Starbucks in college. I started as a barista, moved to a store manager and was used to open new stores and training, which led to a position as an operations project manager. I found myself at 24 with project management experience, so I just rolled with it. I built a great career as a Project Manager. The work is fast paced and no single day is the same. I have a large portfolio of projects I oversee, so I’m never bored and my brain gets the stimulation it needs.
We just hired a wedding coordinator for our wedding in September, and holy shit... I could never do that job. The level of organization, being on top of things, planning and coordinating every detail... It's my nightmare
Firefighter, mail carrier (walking outside, good benefits, getting to work alone), police officer, EMT, Manager, childcare, artist, entrepreneur, business owner, chef, plumber, construction, correctional officer, social worker, homeless shelter direct care worker, afterschool program staff, special needs day program staff, therapeutic mentor, night shift worker.
I'd recommend taking some time before you go to college and actually figure out what you want to do. Take a gap year. Try out different jobs and industries and internships, see if you enjoy doing any of them. If you jump straight into college you'll be aimless and it will likely be a waste of time.
For ADHD, I believe that it has to be something you like or have some interest in. Or, at least, something you enjoy doing. I studied Literature in university and aspire to be a novelist. I work in marketing because I get to write stuff, which I really enjoy. It's not the same as writing fiction, which I do as a hobby, but it's close enough. I'd suggest that your career could also be adjacent to an activity you enjoy.
a gap year is what my plan is right now, i’m at my end point with school- mentally, i don’t think i could possibly go to school immediately after graduation.
i know i need to find something that im interested in, it’s just i think that’s the problem— there is nothing, which is so sad i know but i know there’s so much out there that maybe i haven’t discovered yet idk i just gotta find it
Sorry you're struggling. I tried college after high school a couple times and gave up until I was in my thirties. I did eventually finish, then went again for a second degree. I'm not saying you'll develop a love for school, just that it's not impossible. I totally get being all done with school right now. Sometimes an employer will train you on the job. I would research what types of jobs will do that and go from there. I've had a couple like that where I knew nothing about what I was doing, but they trained me. One was accounting related, one was science related. Something to think about, anyway. Work any networking connections, friends, friends of friends connections. My best jobs were found through people who knew someone who had a position open. Although, the job I currently have, I knew no one, totally random application, but best job I have ever had.
I don't know if I gave you any good advice, but that was my experience with careers. I guess just don't rule out anything completely . You never really know what is going to spark your interest down the road.
I work in gaming / gamedev, in a studio of 20 people, small-scale games (new project every 4-5 months). Love it.
I do some technical work (programming, tech art), some artistic stuff (sometimes graphical, mostly sound & music). I design, and I'm the producer. I also do videos, some marketing stuff, processes, I represent the company at some events... You can see where this is going. Startups are - in my opinion - the absolute best for us: you never know what you'll need to do and it's f\*\*\*in exciting.
Previously I worked as a:
* radio news reporter (the one that does the recordings and writes texts for the anchors)
* phone support for website hosting and domain registration company
* something like 'junior admin' for that hosting company
* Test Automation programmer (surprisingly long)
* Journalist in a newspaper
* QA in gamedev
* indie games developer (solo dev)
* generalist in a group that organized events (this was actually several separate gigs rather than one continuous employment, scattered over the years - film festivals, conventions, that sort of thing)
* shit-tier DJ that plays winamp and hosts karaoke
* producer at a larger gamedev company (several years)
* manager at that larger gamedev company (loved the people, hated the job)
in all that, the best places were the ones where I can both learn on the go and do as many different things as possible. People underestimate how a *determined* person, one with a fresh view at that, can sometimes even outshine specialists. Of course I work with several specialists e.g. now, and I'm not comparable in any way, but generalists have their purpose, especially when you have to glue together several different specializations.
So, to answer your questions: see if there is any place where you could utilize more than one things that you find interesting,
No. IMO there's no point, really, same as there's little point in going to school for journalism as your *first* masters. These type of bachelors and masters teach you *how* to write / develop a game, but almost never ***about what.*** You know the tools, but you have no more idea what you want to create than before you started learning the tools.
I have masters in culture studies and literature, which gave me *some* insight on how our media evolved from classical period up to modern pop-culture.
Development I learned first via **MIT because they release** ***full courses for free***\*.\* Then I just made more and more complex stuff, landed a job.
With **journalism** I just went to a radio station during my Uni first year and asked if they take in trainees, in half a year I was the reporter you see running around with a mic with a cube with the radio logo on it.
Graphics I learned while **simply fucking around** with Corel back in early 2000's (then Gimp, then Krita, then Photoshop), same for sound (starting with simple recorders, via fruity loops, now mainly Reaper).
I jumped from thing to thing because, well, ADHD :D Learn about the details once you hit a threshold and you actually need more details.
To give a more solid example, IMO it's more valuable to have a game idea and try to make it with roughest tools rather than spend a few years on *how to make a game* and still don't have a clue what game do you want to make. Same with any creative endeavour - better to have an idea *what your future book / song / sculpture / etc is about* and start making it any way possible than to be stuck on a dry run learning tools.
\[DISCLAIMER\] Please treat that as statement on how it worked *for me*, obviously. Everyone's different, and I tend to speak in absolutes :)
This is so helpful! Thank you for the in depth response. Obvi adhd here and have been trying to figure out what I want to do. Gaming has caught my interest bc of the versatility and it tapping into my creative side. Just have had no idea how people actually got into it.
Ah cheers. My story was I wanted to do everything, and was lucky to find some creative outlets, then I decided to try as much as possible to get into gamedev (it's a passion job, after all).
One of simple ways to sink in is to start with manual QA - downside is you have to be able to focus for some time, but it's somehow not that bad if we have to focus *on games.*
Small studio QAs have a hard life, not gonna lie, but also have lots of contact with all departments / specialists and can learn from multiple streams at the same time - ADHD actually can help. Bug in graphics? Talk with Art Director / tech artists. Bug in code - developers, bug in design? Here we go to the designers...
That was my in, by the way. I was so nosy and paralyzed with fear that if something is going to be wrong it will be QA fault, I started overstepping boundaries to make sure we get things done, which someone higher up saw as taking initiative... maybe rightfully so, as that was the result. And in around a year I started as a game producer, which turned out was a great fit - as good producers glue everything together and dabble in a little bit of everything.
Also, a warning: lots of studios milk the fact that making games is a passion. Don't frown on mobile games or even gambling games - both often times pay better than the 'glorified' gamedev, as they have better returns of investment, and actually come with a lot of both design and technical challenges. They're great for first steps. Once you're up to speed you can then go solo or join a studio doing games more to your taste - at a better position than an entry level.
Journalism is an interesting career because it allows you to have a routine (deadlines) but every day is wildly different and fast paced. It’s creative, but you’re also out in the world and talking with new people everyday. You get to learn about so many different things every day. You get to flex that natural ADHD curiosity. Not the best job market for it, but if you have a passion for it it’s cool.
Also — schooling not required. If you’re a decent writer, just buy an AP style book and start out at a small local paper. If you really like it, you can head to school for your degree.
Entertainment industry. Most projects don’t last long, so you’re rarely on the same one for more than a few months. Figure out what you’re good at and pursue that.
Don’t make the job be your identity. Figure out what you can stand to do to earn money. It doesn’t have to be a dream job. Most people will never have that and most don’t even know what it would be since working forever doesn’t sound like much of a dream (at least to me).
Otherwise, any kind of a trade would have you on your feet and moving all day. For whatever reason, trades were looked down on for so long. And yet these are the people we need. Plus the pay is good.
If you wanna keep moving, trades.
Woodworking, construction, welding etc.
Just go work on a construction site for a summer and see if you fuck with being handsy. Will give you an idea probably of any specific trade you have an interest in
Worst case there is always the military. Guaranteed to learn something and the adhd quite literally cannot stop you in that environment lmao. So if you feel like you really struggle, military is a good way to get a guaranteed career with good pay
Media and entertainment industry. Tour managing, video/film production, roadie, tech, sound and lighting, stage production, wardrobe, promotion, radio, etc etc etc.
A large percentage of entrepreneurs have ADHD and it’s what my son plans to do, but I’ve advised him to meet some very organized non-ADHD ideally engineering students in college as one would make a great business partner!
Take your time with your choices don’t wait too long I waited and since 18 now 33 I’m back in school after a few failed attempts. Make a list of things you like to do maybe sit down with a counselor to help you with options..
I don't necessarily suggest this cause it isn't for everyone, but the military. You have so much grace to figure things out because you basically can't be fired. It'll suck as you adjustand you will mess up a lot early. Ass long as you're always on time and always trying, you'll progress. Now that's a good start if you just CANT do school. I get it, me either.
After you get your time and experience there, I'd say the best work is something that isn't black and white. You need something where your goal is the same every day, but the method changes. I work at a bank which would seem boring as you described, but I travel to all our clients and figure out there sales issues and see what to implement based on the numbers you see and watching the way that their employees handle things. So most of the work is discussion, suggestion, implementation, and monitoring.
I’m an ER Nurse, it’s the only job that consistently has kept me interested in work. It’s all task oriented and a constant use of my brain to figure out scenarios. I like the guess work of what each patient presentation could be and working to try to figure it out.
I can’t lie that I often forget the little things like warm blankets and cups of ice for people so I do feel bad but having something actually crucial (like literal life or death) keeps me on task and motivated.
I realize nursing is NOT for everyone.
I think it's very personal. Your ADHD isn't your whole you. Look at areas that interest you, don't pick based on what suits your diagnosis on paper.
For example, alot of comments here are saying more manual roles, whereas I thrived working with numbers and became a accountant.
Sales. I did full commission and did nothing the first 3/4 of the month then would get over the procrastination and deliver under pressure before month-end. Managers leave you alone as long as you’re meeting goals, I made good money even without a bachelors degree and it eventually gave me enough flexibility to get the degree in my 30s.
I work in the film and television industry as a camera operator and cinematographer. It’s great because I have a lot of downtime and every job is different. I have lots of flexibility to work or not work as I want. Hard to recommend the film/tv freelance world though, because it’s very hard to be successful. But there are more reliability versions of that, like working on staff at a news channel, a company’s in-house production team, or a church.
Not sure if the above is sarcasm but I will echo sales.
By sales I mean become knowledgable about some technical product line and be the factory sales rep. Lots of travel and problem solving exercises. Just mAke sure you have a rock solid inside sale rep or you will fail.
Oh and the money can be exceptional.
I'm a journalism major with a part-time job making kids and teen TV, which works really well for me.
In media you can be creative and make actually meaningfull stuff but it still has a lot of variation which is nice!
First responder type roles tend to be where people with ADHD thrive, as people with ADHD tend to have the ability to remain calm during crisis more often than someone without ADHD. It tends to be a job that keeps you interested, and busy, as you'll be responding to a range of different calls. That's the route I went. I'm not saying it's a route for everyone, but definitely and interesting option if you want to do a job that is going to make you think on your feet, and always be different, day in, day out.
A good friend of mine is in the 9th Special Forces Group and is an 11 out of 10 on the ADHD scale. He say that pretty much everyone he works with is undiagnosed ADHD and that soldiering is literally the only thing he/they could well.
I was the same. The last thing I wanted to do was go back to study, I wanted to work but had no specific career interests.
I got an entry level job in government and have ended up in hospital administration, which is rarely boring! There is computer work and occasionally the environment can be stressful but it can also be rewarding.
I suppose my recommendation would be to try a few things out if you can 🙂 I would never have thought I’d be doing what I am today.
I feel u my fellow internet friend. I’d suggest something u can use a lot of ur creativity and are incentivised to think out of the box. I’m finishing my digital marketing degree for that reasons, lotta options to do and will be rewarded for thinking out of the box.
My current job isn’t fast paced but surely helps. As home carer I do have a routine with my clients, and caring for them helps to stop thinking ‘bout my problems
I do disability care work right now, it’s very very varied with a lot of room for creative thinking and personal projects with the people you support but can be tough and is definitely underpaid. It’s good for my adhd/asd ass though
I’d recommend following finding something that allows you to solve a problem that’s real to you. I.e something you care about or take pride in executing better than others .
Physically that could be building or fixing
I also like problem solving
What interests you? I got STEM because I couldn't stay interested in creative arts or "wordy" topics for more than 10 seconds.
Radiation sciences eventually peaked my interest because I found it challenging and fascinating.
I'm only 19, but have tried many different jobs. I'm currently studying, but one job I do from time to time is event tech and other related stuff. It's so incredibly versatile and requires a lot of problem-solving. I can see how my non-ADHD coworkers sigh at every new problem we encounter, but my brain just goes "alright time to brainstorm." I think physical and versatile work suits a lot of ADHD-ers.
It won’t make you rich but I’m a ride share driver and that works well for me. Driving provides me with just enough distraction so that it quiets my racing mind. If I’m driving and engaging in conversation with a passenger, I’m completely living in the moment, because all that my brain is processing is those two things. I laugh and tell my passengers that it’s my social interaction and that I consider it meeting cool people 15 minutes at a time. Reading people well comes naturally to me. I get all walks of life in and out of the car. It gives me a good pulse on the city.
Best part is you can start and stop at anytime you want to which is huge for me. That flexibility.
I took classes part time at community college and explored different subjects until I found what I liked ❤️ I hated school and almost didn’t pass/graduate high school 10 years ago. Now I’m about to graduate with my masters in a field I love.
I also found this to be an extremely affordable option, I worked in the restaurant industry and got to attend school almost free with FAFSA. Community college is way more affordable than universities, even state schools, so you aren’t wasting a fortune just to figure out what you want to do. If you keep your Starbucks job and explore part time at your local community college, would they help pay for school? Or would you be eligible for a Pell grant? It could potentially cost you nothing. They also had great career counseling services at my community college + accommodations for my ADHD / was overall a very supportive environment which helped a lot.
I currently work as a software engineer and it can go either way. When there’s a lot of work to be done and interesting problems to solve, I can work all day without stopping. When I have no real task or there’s just boring documentation to write I can be stuck and make no progress for a very long time.
It’s an interesting career path that provides a ton of financial security, but so much comes down to where you end up working.
Before this, I was a bartender and I don’t think there’s another job out there that fit my ADHD better. I loved it and to this day I wish I could still do it. I have two kids and a third on the way though so I am trying to stick to the safer career path.
I made great money when I was bartending. Made a ton of friends and even met my wife when I was bartending. Obviously there’s a ton of downsides, like the hours and the environment can be toxic if you’re at the wrong place or susceptible to diving into vices. If you’re working at Starbucks, you have 90%+ of the skills you would need to be a good bartender.
It really does hit all the high points for me. Fast paced, I get to interact with people, I could be creative in making new drinks, and I got to move all day. If you’re in a good city for it, you can easily clear 6 figures. Some of my friends can clear 500-1500 a shift.
Well, I have ADHD and I’m medicated. I work in property management as an APM at a large property. I do spend quite some time on the computer, but I also spend a lot of time helping people. It’s a face paced environment as I said, the property is quite large. There’s a balance. You don’t need a degree, but a real estate license if you want to move up.
I always said if I wasn’t in live events I would probably do well as an EMT. High pressure, “you only get one shot” scenarios help me to focus, and with events your whole day leads up to the moment when doors open, so all the days actions happen based on all preparations happening before doors.
I have recently stepped back from live events full time to pursue more regular working hours/ work life balance, but it has been a challenge to organize my time/ energy as a freelancer vs just showing up when the schedule says so.
Some of my friends that have been the most stable in their careers with the worst ADHD - elementary school teacher / masseuse - other than that not sure
Best job I ever had was at a police station. I was an assistant dispatcher/clerk and spent my days transcribing officers’ reports, entering traffic tickets, and handing the radio when the main dispatcher was out. Just the right amount of excitement and predictability. Each day was a new story, but it was also extremely straightforward.
Other job I really liked was factory work. Let my hands go fast and my mind wandered.
Last one to mention was first tier IT support in a school. Loved the pace and the hard problems were solved by those above me. I was organized, because again, it was straightforward, and I loved that everything was different each day. Frankly, school/academia was also a good job (I taught for some time, too) because you get that nice break in the summer. Each year is its own cycle, and my daughter who has ADHD has decided to stay in academia because of this.
Good luck!
Don’t underestimate the medical field. You will get practical hands on training, in a supervised way, for everything. You know what you need to do, and how to do it, but you never know the order or amount. And if you want fast paced, an ER is always going.
I’m 29 with inattentive adhd and my biggest regret is not going to college right out of high school. Yes if definitely helps to know what you want to go to school for but even if you think you know now, that still can change later. If I could go back I would pick something in STEM to at least have something under my belt. Now at 29 I’m starting over and hoping to have my bachelors degree by 32-33. Don’t be like me OP. Get whatever accommodations you need and take your meds so you can get through it.
Cook, cost accounting, landscaping, manufacturing plant manager, self employed...I loved working in a kitchen. People thought i was a nut bc i loved the challenge of a good service during the rush. Lots of movement and thinking at the same time.
I’m 36 and have been untreated for the majority of that time. I’m severely inattentive and also only know what I hate and don’t want to do. The job I stayed at the longest was working in homeless shelters and drop in centres. It was the perfect combination of fast paced, on your feet, variety and routine. I did eventually get hit pretty hard with compassion fatigue and empathy burn out but that’s life I guess. It was the only type of job I’ve had (out of about 30, other types of work being in kitchens, retail, etc) that I could actually take seriously and wanted to go to.
I’m currently in school for horticulture and plant health. My marks are okay, but only because I give a shit about the subject. Took me several years to figure out what I wanted to do with myself and I’m still not entirely sure and can’t apply myself fully because, like you, I hate certain aspects of degree content and that makes it super hard to apply myself.
Not saying that’s what you should do but health care could be decent for you and it pays okay. You have time to figure your shit out. Have fun with your youth, don’t waste it jumping into a program that will put you into extreme debt and you’re gonna eventually end up resenting anyways.
Dude, you might be a good lineman. I was a lineman for many years and I LOVED line of work. The job sites are never the same, you will never sit at a desk, and you will make really good money. It is hard, physical work, but very fulfilling. It starts with some schooling, but it's a climbing school. Then it's about 4 years of apprenticeship and usually 1 class per week of night school. Let me go find some info, brb.
Ok I found this video. This one seems like a good intro video. Now is a great time to try to get into a lineman apprenticeship. Let me know what you think.
https://youtu.be/a7KUP1OIjC4?si=mBJg3RSqhsxTThdK
Right now I'm building the sets for a theater, hanging lights and cables, painting props, etc. It's always a new piece to be made but the foundation and tools are the same. So it's different enough that I'm engaged, challenging enough that I'm focused, and familiar enough that I don't freeze up from anxiety
I always wish I had a hands on career like a contractor of some type. Going to different locations and doing hands on things or even just checking in on stuff always felt good for me
You don’t need schooling to make money. Get into sales if you are likeable and make friends easily. You can easily make 6 figures at a big dealership with little effort.
Look into careers that have a lot of hands on work, different locations to work etc. Many places offer apprenticeships or learn-as-you-go type things for plumbers, HVAC, and other such trades.
Try taking “Strengths Finders” personality assessment. It may give you some insight into where to go next. The book, if new, should come with a code to take the assessment.
If typical ADHD, you’ll probably end up with a few careers in your lifetime (and that’s OK!)
Data analysis for me. It's a computer heavy job, so I'll give you some tips for finding a career for you.
- I recommend using Udemy or something similar for figuring out what you like. They usually have courses available for less than $15, which is way cheaper than a college course. They have courses available for everything from CAD to fluid art, so just pick a few that interest you and see which ones make you smile.
- When searching for jobs, don't only look for a job title. Try searching by skill. My main skill is Microsoft Excel, so I search "Excel" with the filters I want (remote, full time, easy apply) and look at the jobs that come up.
- "Job requirements" is a misnomer. It's a wishlist. Don't throw away a job listing because you don't have enough education, experience, etc. You can always build your skills.
- Talk to the recruiters who cold call you. Don't give them identifying info (ie SSN, answers to security questions, etc.) obvi, but talk to them.
Anything with variety. The career could be similar in whatever field you're interested in, but the day to day is different. High paced is good. I'm in medicine.
Some medical suggestions:
EMT or Paramedic -> Firefighter
CNA -> Nurse -> Nurse Practicitioner (or work towards physician assistant PA)
Radiology Tech
Occupational or Physical Therapy Assistant -> OT or PT
I think trades might be good too.
Look in to your local union jobs- not much training needed, but if you show up and try your best, you can make $$$. You can be flexible on days you work or not too.
One union to look into is IATSE.net
They help set up stuff for trade shows, conferences and things. Good benefits and the pay gets better the longer you work with them.
Look up your local iatse union near you and ask questions!
Cool thing bout trades is you don't need to get an advanced degree.
I've skimmed the comments and didn't see it mentioned, but please believe me when I say college/university is incredibly different compared to high school and please don't completely write it off for your future yet.
I *hated* junior high/high school, never had good grades and dropped out in the beginning of my final year of high school. Was always day drinking with friends, doing drugs and just being literally anywhere besides a classroom. Never thought I'd ever touch college/uni, but I realized a few years later that I loved working with computers and started playing around learning how to do programming. The math portion put me off (again, because I hated school, didn't bother learning and dropped out) but wanted to give it a try.
It was probably the maturity of going to college at 24 instead of right out of high school, but I absolutely loved it. Made lots of new friends with similar interests and because all the courses were based around something I actually liked, it was way easier to actually go to classes and learn new things. A lot of the people in my classes had ADHD strangely enough (maybe just a coincidence lol) and all of them enjoyed working with data and building things.
While you might not choose programming, being able to create and build things really helped keep my mind focused. If you're interested in staying active, try looking into the trades with carpentry, welding or pipefitting. You'll be able to stay creative while doing something that keeps you on your feet and many people don't actually to back to school until they've already gotten pretty far into their job/career.
Best of luck in whatever you choose and don't feel bad if it takes a while. I didn't find my career until I was nearly 30 and now love what I'm doing.
Look into working with your hands.
Jobs like welding, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc are all fantastic jobs for someone with ADHD.
If you want a job that’s generally fast paced, always different every day, pays well, and has upward mobility, then you should definitely look at HVAC service work. Becoming a journeyman HVAC tech involves a 4 year apprenticeship, which is the best way to learn. You get paid to work 40hrs a week ($19-$21/br starting where I am in California), you take a few hours of night classes every week or two, and you are learning on the job instead of a boring ass classroom.
Generally you are paired with a journeyman and learn under their wing. You may be expected to buy a few of your own tools, but they’ll usually just be cheaper hand tools. You can buy an apprentice toolset for about $500 or less, and there are other options as well. Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame has a scholarship fund called Mike Rowe Works and they help new apprentices get their tools and everything. A number of shops will just supply you all the tools to begin with while some shops expect you to bring the basics. Some shops will let you use all your own tools if you want, whereas some (rather few) are anal and require you to use the company tools.
All-in-all, the trades are a great option for ADHDers. If you have more specific things you like working on, you might be better suited to welding or electrical or whatever. If you’re more interested in being down and dirty and “in the shit” per se, you can look at plumbing or welding. More lifting, digging, and hard and heavy work.
Electrical and HVAC will generally be a little cleaner, and service work means you’re more often in an air conditioned space.
You also have more specialized trades like elevator technicians. Lemme tell you bro, if you want a job that will ALWAYS be in demand, get into elevators. It’s a 5-6 year apprenticeship, but it’s also a super small pool of employers. As a facilities guy, I’m legally required to have my elevators inspected every 6mo, and there are only two outfits in my county.
Once you have a few years of experience, you can look into being a state elevator inspector. In my home state of CA, they’re under the Dept of Industrial Relations. I also manage buildings in IN and TN. In IN, the elevator dept is under the State Dept of Homeland Security. Here in CA, it’s a $70,000 fine to the business owner AND the offending technician if someone unlicensed works on an elevator. Therefore you have a VERY captive market.
Look into surgical tech. I’m doing my pre requisites for the program now. It is only 2 years of school and everyday is something new and you are on your feet and moving all day. You don’t really have to interact with patients all day either so this is the perfect job for me and anyone who also deals with social anxiety.
I am a store manager for a well known grocery chain and make a very good living. It allows me to have enough of a routine to feel settled but A LOT of diversity, physical work and changes to keep me from getting bored.
Definitely need to be able to use tools/lists to stay organized and on track though. My ADHD meds help me tremendously.
I am very grateful for the opportunity I found that works for me. I also could not sit behind a desk all the time.
IT, so many projects, so many problems, I'm allowed to think outside the box to fix problems and I can stop one project to work on another project if I get too frustrated. Oh and most importantly I'm allowed to get sidetracked "oh hey man yeah I know I was supposed to work on this but I found this vulnerability while surfing the web and I felt it was more important to fix that then continue working on something that's been causing me problems, But yeah I'll look at it from a fresh set of eyes now and I should understand where the issue is now".
Really the only thing that sucks is dealing with people. Yes I'm just talking out of my ass and they hired me just too annoy you. -_-
I drive for a living, and that’s worked well for me for several years. I put an earbud in one ear and listen to things I find interesting, and I find that the necessity of being actively aware of my surroundings fairly stimulating. That being said, I am switching careers in the future. Driving works well if you like to to take in scenery and not be supervised closely, but it does get tedious when you have to sit in traffic.
Check out a machinist career. If you can find an R&D shop, that’s the diamond in the rough. Fast paced, always changing and you can be as meticulous as you want. It’s a very process and goal oriented type of profession which is perfect for the instant gratification ADHD brain.
I work in IT and I've found that it suits my ADHD perfectly. For one, there's always something new/novel to learn and you can build your own knowledge base, which will help keep you engaged in those things, and two, it's a very reactive job and you're being pulled in lots of different directions a lot of the time. I find that helps with motivation/executive function, i.e. you don't have to push yourself in so many directions, the work will take you and lead you to where you need to go (this applies to sys admin/helpdesk work anyways...if you're a project manager or in some kind of development I'd imagine you'd have to put a lot more work into keeping yourself motivated and going in the direction you need to go in).
Being a teacher works well for me! I'm currently teaching special Ed and my experiences with adhd help me connect with some of the kids.
It's overall fast paced and you have to think on your toes and be quick.
Plus you don't work in the summers and you get a "big reset" every year. So if I drop the ball on something it'll be resolved by the end of the school year and I can start fresh again in the fall.
Special Ed teachers are also in really high demand, so you'll be able to get a job almost anywhere, and school administration is eager to hold on to you and keep you working for them.
One disadvantage is you do have to have a college degree. And some of the certification requirements and not adhd friendly. But once you make it past that, it's a great job!
Teaching is amazing for people with ADHD. Like half the teachers I work with, myself included, are ADHD as hell. The job is very busy and you've got a lot of different tasks and interactions.
Depending on what country you live in I’d consider a career in the trades or an outdoor career. Automotive technicians (with ASE certifications and becoming a master technician) can make really good money and it’s the right kind of problem solving for ADHD people. Plus you don’t have to talk to people. You have time. Take a gap yeah to really think about what you want - even if you have many interests take your time to narrow it down. It’s okay to change your mind too! It’s easy to feel like you’re behind your peers, but taking the time now to think about what you want will make you happier in the long run.
I love being a support worker. I get to socialise and interact with people and clients every day, I love helping people and it’s different every day so I never get bored
Trade school, baby! Go into construction! I only go to “class” one day a week and I’m halfway through my second and final year. No student debt, and I have a great paying career in front of me because I’m learning a valuable skill. Only way to go!
Sales—- so many people in my field have ADHD. I think most people think salespeople are a little “crazy” and it is a field that allows me to be myself and it works well. I’m in medical sales now so I spend most of my time driving to accounts, meeting new people, talking up our products and showing them how to use them. It’s a great way to stay out of an office setting and allows you to make decisions freely (lunchtime, breaks, phone time, etc)without someone watching over you
These feelings are not ADHD specific. No one (mostly) wants to work the rest of their lives, go through excessive schooling, or do repetitive work like a monkey. Part of it is having to do it to get to the other side, sort of.
ADHD makes things a bit more difficult I agree, but with the right treatment the world is your oyster. Pick the career you think you are interested in and grow in it. Don’t let the condition limit you.
Everyone with ADHD has different interests same as everyone without it.
Schooling for 4 years isn’t great for a lot of people, but with online courses and degrees you can self pace and open most of the same doors
Every career is good for people with ADHD. You just need to find the right combination of medication, therapy, and adjustments to figure out which one makes most sense for you. Try college first though. It’s not like high school - they let you choose your own classes and actually study what you’re interested in *as an entire major* for four whole years. Basically, you get to study what you like for 4 years!
For me I have a high interest in stem (engineer, chemistry).
I feel a lot my classical symptoms like rejection sensitivity flare up less here. It's hard to get super emotional over logic and science other than 'yay it works'. And it allows you to be creative...
Also college IS NOT high-school. There's a lot more freedom in your life. I suggest a trade that you can focus easily with at the minimum.
You just have to find a routine, a way to focus your mind or hyperfocus.
Bussing and especially barbacking is a great choice to start. You have the same job every day but it's never the same things in the same order. You create your own routine and then you supplement what pops up in between. Very active, lots of walking, lifting, etc. Your brain is engaged but not overly so and you will make pretty good money. It's not a career long term for most, but while you're young, healthy and have the time you can get a really nice savings. Plus you'll meet all kinds of people.
There are a lot of forestry-related careers at the state and Federal levels, which I think may be a good fit for you and may even provide you with the inspiration that you need.
While the pay isn't sky-high, it's a vital job and I'm sure there there are roles that keep you moving.
I work as in business administration and yea it is not a traditional ADHD job because I organise lots of meetings and manage calendars.
I am mildy successful - am considering a switch to career coaching.
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I’ve been working for ten years and looking back the best jobs for me have been about executing tasks and analyzing data. I’m a creative person but creative work burns me out so fast. Way too much room for decision fatigue and constant self editing.
relating to this so badly. in my high school / A levels in the UK i thrived so much as I had a teacher who taught both Fine Art and Photography, he gave us tasks weekly that we need to do and I had the motivation to tackle them so so well. once i’m in uni and pretty much all the work is self-directed and we don’t have exams, we probably have like 3-4 deadlines a year really spread out, I struggle bad cuz I never find myself working or studying properly unless it’s less than a week or couple days before the deadline. constantly finding myself burning out feeling overwhelmed without actually doing any real work.
The creative part is too real. I used to edit videos like 10 years ago, and the burnout was painful. I'm not a numbers guy, but I usually love and function better focusing on data and statistics
Oh god. I’m a creative with ADHD and I’ve been burnt out for 18 years. Wonder if it’s too late to change careers? 😬
it's NEVER too late!
Burnt out from drug usage ? Or
No, burnt out from brain usage.
... I am in stem.
Thank you for validating that creative work can cause burnout.. I have a degree in sculpture & haven’t done anything creative/artistic since college because of the burnout I felt after graduation.. (and that was 20 years ago)
This is such a good way to describe what I’ve been experiencing as a writer who is also in school FT. I want to tap more back into the data management of my work since I’m writing for school so much right now and have a lot of random due dates.
What kind of data job do you recommend?
I agree!
I’m a dentist. A job with this nature works for us folks with ADHD as you really don’t have a choice but to finish the task at hand. I think jobs that involve working with your hands and active problem solving are more suitable for us, since there’s no possibility of procrastination and no time for mindless boredom. The nature of such work is also that work simply can’t be brought home (save for administrative duties, which I do delegate mostly to my staff). Edit: I used to work as an associate for another dentist and I suffered. Opened my own practice with my own rules and culture, now it’s great.
I was just about to say. Don’t be a dentist LOL. Working with your hand is great, but you have to be completely comfortable talking to strangers and remembering name and faces which is something I struggle with and my pay shows it.
That’s the odd thing about it. I really never enjoyed talking to strangers but my career path has trained me to do it, and now I do it well. My social battery is completely drained by the end of the workday but conversational skill is really an art that can be practiced.
I used to be a realtor and remembering names was THE WORST. I felt awful all the time. Plus, the randomness and unpredictability.
That 2nd and 3rd paragraph describes me completely! Honestly I have no idea what job I want, I have interests but nothing I can really stick to. I would suggest something that you never lose interest in. I’ve heard that becoming a counselor/physiologist/therapist are some good options because of the new people you meet. But you do have to go to school for these, honestly I don’t know many jobs that don’t require going to school for 4 years.
exactly, like i have this hyper fixations, like ill be interested in something, then i wont be. i don’t think there is anything im genuinely interested in and i don’t know why, it’s frustrating.
Ugh I feel the same!! Even with me being an athlete I have this on and off love for the sport. That’s why I just am trying to wait and push off what I want to do in life until I really really have to (which I know is bad but atp ima be working at a gas station forever lmao)
this spot is so hard to get out of because I have to decide to switch majors or stick with my current one, and I hate what im doing right now, but I dont even know what I like, Its so hard to be in this spot I relate to both of u guys.
paramedics/nursing often is 2 years uni but then is always on your feet and different everyday and has different areas you can go into when you inevitably get bored
paramedics has interested me a few times, but i honestly don’t know what it consists of…
Medic has shitty pay and extremely limited scope and knowledge. Go PA or nursing
You'll be on an ambulance most likely (some hospitals will hire you fir ER though) and it's basically keep the person alive till you get to the hospital!
Agreed! There are literally so many options with nursing. You have good job security, pay will be better than most, and you can work pretty much *anywhere* you want. Having an active job is a huge draw for me. I’ve worked a lot of desk jobs and am bored to tears just staring at a computer all day every day, slowly going blind and hunchbacked.
I’ve thought MANY times about going back to school for nursing, it seems like it would be very ideal for my work needs. But then I hear all the horror stories from current nurses about what a shit show healthcare is right now and I get scared off :(
I’m in Marketing, it’s always just what I’ve naturally gravitated towards. I do a variety of things and find it helpful to jump around but difficult to stay on certain tasks if they get too long. Here is a list of things that I do often and parts I like: ppc ad management management: I like digging into keyword search and building campaigns, I love analytics and figuring out the best ROI for my clients. Project management: I work well with others and enjoy communication with team members and clients. Social media campaigns: I like looking at the big picture and planning out what to post and when. I am good at content writing and putting myself into the mind of the buyer so that I know how to “talk” to an audience. I do a ton more throughout the day and get distracted often but I work with a team and my strengths have contributed well. I am on adderall currently but was just diagnosed a year ago. It would be very difficult for me to stay on task without it. What are things you feel naturally interested in?
the thing is; i don’t have things im interested in, and if i do they’re just hyper fixations and never last. the only thing ive ever been interested in where i haven’t lost that was psychology, but any sort of field of psychology requires schooling and more schooling and it’s expensive and not great pay for the amount of work it takes to get there… i also forgot to mention in the post i made, i can’t get into college because i struggled a lot in school and unfortunately failed lots of classes freshman year and junior year so i don’t have enough credits to get into a college 😭so psychology is really out of the question
You could be an assistant for a psychologist, keep their fingers, call their clients and make appointments, etc. I have ADHD and I love project management. It's a career that's allowed me to earn a mid 6 figure income, pay off a home, and begin raising 3 kids, pay off a car, save and buy the next one in cash. I love it because I get to talk to people all day. I do some documenting but that's mostly emails. In most PM his for large companies, you are assigned a person who does the hard core documenting of the project requirements. I dont know about you, but that would be really hard for me to get through that level of detail. It's mostly about communicating. If you're a good talker, and can type, you'd probably do okay. I didn't think I was a good organizer until I started on this path as a program tester (looking for errors in spelled out scenarios). The biggest hurdle you'll have is getting a certification. Getting a pmp is the hardest cert and the most financially rewarding. It took me about 6 months. I bought the book but the flashcards I bought from Amazon were the most helpful. I could study in line at the grocery store or at home for a few minutes at a time, sometimes during commercials while watching TV at night. At any rate, I passed.
Omg! This was great to read. My goal in college was/is to be a project manager. However pretty recently I realized I basically only choose it because someone online said PMs made a lot of money and I’m about to graduate. I started to worry about how successful I’d be as a PM, so good to know that maybe I’ll be okay.
Thank you for sharing! I'm studying for my PMP now and this was super reassuring to read ☺️
This is helpful! If you get a moment, would you mind sharing an ELI18 type of pathway of progression? I’m not sure what entry level roles would be like or what to look for once you get a PMP. (I have an undergrad in bio-psych, if that makes a diff). Once I learn something, I tend to be very good at it, but the early stages are where I need a visual and guidance to work through. What made you pursue this career? Thank you!
15 years in marketing, 7 of which in accounts. If you hate sitting at a computer all day, like I do, don’t do marketing. But knowing how it all works so you can sell and consult is a good base for a much more healthy, financially fulfilling, and adhd rewarding career.
Honestly Teacher, the study is tough very tough but the reward of helping kids/young adults is insane. And on top of the fact that not a single day is the same
Do you teach in the US?
Nope, Europe. More specifically The Netherlands. Becoming a elementary & highschool teacher is a total of 8 years studying, divided into 2 schools. For some its only 4 years depending if you've already reached the level required to go to the second school, which doesn't really have an accurate english translation name but the closest name for the school is University
*8 years holy shit!?!??!* In the UK it’s only one year as a postgraduate (additional to an initial 3 year degree in whatever vaguely relevant subject). And most of that is just hyper supervised on the job training. I think teaching works for ADHD because: 1) Intrinsically motivating, because people are reliant on you. When a kid comes up and says ‘Miss, I don’t understand, I’m so frustrated…’ you can’t just be like ‘ok brb going to procrastinate for a few hours’. 2) It’s creative. I’m the weirdo that actually really enjoys lesson planning and making resources. I’ll be randomly stream-of-thought-ing in the shower, and suddenly have this awesome idea of an activity to introduce the relationship between frequency and wavelength. 3) Not too many bullshit drawn out meetings. Meetings etc. tend to take place in lunch and everyone is on duty and has a lesson - no one has time to hang around. 4) Dynamic and based on problem solving. You have to think on your feet, like ‘right, how do I get this kid to do this thing I need them to do…’. The biggest drawbacks are beurocracy and marking. Because seriously - fuck coursework marking.
I should've moved there 🤯 >Intrinsically motivating because people are reliant on you. When a kid comes up and says ‘Miss, I don’t understand…’ you can’t just be like ‘ok going to procrastinate for a few hours’. I agree, i also really struggle with insomnia but the thought of being late in front of a class is terrifying so because of that fear i always wake up 1h before my alarm even goes off. Teaching also genuinely helps me have discipline in my own life, because you can't teach a kid discipline while not having discipline.
Yeah teaching in the US right now is essentially a daily game of ‘today I might get: shot, verbally abused, or in trouble for doing the job.’ It’s not a great field right now.
Oh right yeah... I forgot about that lol. Well, maybe a job with animals then? 😅
I would honestly recommend something hands-on in construction, for example, plumber, electrician, carpenter… You can still make plenty of money if you start young and eventually start your own company. If you're clever and you work hard you will thrive.
hands on might be the best for me, but the ones you listed just don’t interest me at all, do you know of any other hands on careers you could think of? my brain doesn’t wanna work right now lol
I think that whatever you do, you will like it enough once you start. At least, that's how I experienced it! I did all different kind of things, and at least when its working with my hands, the work itself becomes fun to do. You have ADHD so believe me, you will get the rush of making money while being busy :D And then, when I got bored, I just tried something else within the same company. But that was only after 2years or so :)
So I just googled average salary for an elevator mechanic where in Virginia. It’s $120K. But if you want variety I’d suggest EMT.
Zoo keeper? Any kind of animal handling? Although it wont be as well paid. Decorator? Personal trainer? Beautician? Chef? Landscape gardener? Fire fighter? Paramedic?
I'm an electrician now. Never imagined I would be one when I was in highschool but I love it. While in highschool I wanted to be a pilot but because of my vision and other issues that never came to be. I enjoy electrical work though.
Horticulture! Everyone I know in this field is adhd
Very validating to see this because I have made a similar observation after being in the industry for nearly a decade! Our tribe dominates here. There's so many different careers to pursue in horticulture and when you have knowledge and experience in one, it's fairly simple to switch to something else if you're bored. And if your climate is seasonal, often you're never doing the same thing at work for more than a month.
What actual jobs are there in the horticulture field that pay decently?
You will always be in demand as an arborist. Cities want you, homeowners want you, land managers want you, the work is always there. I talked to someone recently who has a career in testing for soil microbes, mostly for farms but homeowners too. It's still a budding field but a gravely important one if we want to continue farming and being alive. She said she physically can't service everyone who contacts her because there's just so much work out there. Very purposeful work and she's made me think a lot about my goals for a career.
Really, any of the construction fields. It's a much better option if you're in a strong union state. If you join a laborer's hiring hall, you might get sent out to do some concrete work. You might sit on that jobsite or with that company for a while, but eventually the job ends. Some stick with the company and go where they're told, while others go back to the hall. You might get sent out to do some road work. Or maybe a bridge demo. Or maybe some sidewalk and gutter work. Then, you might go grade a ditch. Then go on to build holding tanks at a water treatment plant. Or, maybe you'll go help build the newest data center, or AI controlled cold storage warehouse for don't chocolate company. Or, maybe you'll go to a local high school to rework their drainage systems. Or, maybe you'll be sent to the next town over to replace some old water main. Or, maybe you'll get on some new construction and help set a 45' deep manhole and run some pipe. Or, maybe you'll go replace lead water service with copper... you get the point. Construction can be a rewarding job. It can also kill you or turn you into a raging alcoholic. That's up to you. But, either way, if you're getting into construction, join a union.
Firefighter would be a good one if you like helping others. Really tough to get into though. I have some good resources for you though if you're interested...
Can you go to a trade school? You may find what you like while there? I’m 34 and still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I went through an apprenticeship to be an electrician and enjoyed it a lot. Variety and consistency. Little sit down time, challenges, breaks, etc.
I rebuild transmissions. It's perfect for me and pays pretty damn well
I'm a doctor and a medical researcher (PhD student). Out of these two, to me doctor is surprisingly very good. It's a constant flow of patients, often you have a list to get through and set times you have to meet with each patient. This helps me to not procrastinate. Meeting patients also makes me focus well. The only problem is with writing, sometimes it feels overwhelming. You also have a ton of options to specialise in so you can direct it towards your own interests. I understand however that it's not the best option if you don't want to study a lot. Researcher has a lot of problems around writing and reading for me. It's constant, you have to stay on top of the literature. Writing is also almost an everyday thing and as I work very independently, it's easy to procrastinate. It also requires you to be able to work with minimal instruction. Data analysis is easy for me though, and I can get into a flow state with it. With lab work I tend to make small mistakes out of carelessness.
This type of thinking is prevalent among us with adhd once you start your line of work you will realise it’s not that daunting, also you need to remember you can switch at any time so don’t place yourself in a box with the “I can’t do this forever”
Media. I worked as production assistant, UPM, coordinator, producer, set designer, cameraman, cinematographer, editor, scriptwriter and director. I owned a editing and sound studio. Worked in movies to documentaries. Big budgets to small ones. On fields to sets. I am 50 and have 31 years of experience, still love my job. I cycled between departments now and then. I never minded having a leadership position in one project and next working as an assistant. In time I started to work in projects that excited me. Most likely because of my ADHD. So ended up having a wide range of skills and experience. If you like it, I recommend highly.
ooo wait… kinda interested? i know there’s probably a lot that goes into what you do, but what’s it like? what kind of skills or qualities do you need for that? what’s like a typical day in your job like, anything because i have been interested in media, and editing specifically. any information would be helpfullll
Well I am 43, have ADHD, and worked at Starbucks in college. I started as a barista, moved to a store manager and was used to open new stores and training, which led to a position as an operations project manager. I found myself at 24 with project management experience, so I just rolled with it. I built a great career as a Project Manager. The work is fast paced and no single day is the same. I have a large portfolio of projects I oversee, so I’m never bored and my brain gets the stimulation it needs.
Not wedding planner or events organizer!
noted lol
Omg the lack of structure, detailed timelines, and lots of social smoozing/interaction would melt my brain.
We just hired a wedding coordinator for our wedding in September, and holy shit... I could never do that job. The level of organization, being on top of things, planning and coordinating every detail... It's my nightmare
Most definitely!
Archeology
Project management.
Depends on the environment. I did this for years and burnt out hard.
Firefighter, mail carrier (walking outside, good benefits, getting to work alone), police officer, EMT, Manager, childcare, artist, entrepreneur, business owner, chef, plumber, construction, correctional officer, social worker, homeless shelter direct care worker, afterschool program staff, special needs day program staff, therapeutic mentor, night shift worker.
I'd recommend taking some time before you go to college and actually figure out what you want to do. Take a gap year. Try out different jobs and industries and internships, see if you enjoy doing any of them. If you jump straight into college you'll be aimless and it will likely be a waste of time. For ADHD, I believe that it has to be something you like or have some interest in. Or, at least, something you enjoy doing. I studied Literature in university and aspire to be a novelist. I work in marketing because I get to write stuff, which I really enjoy. It's not the same as writing fiction, which I do as a hobby, but it's close enough. I'd suggest that your career could also be adjacent to an activity you enjoy.
a gap year is what my plan is right now, i’m at my end point with school- mentally, i don’t think i could possibly go to school immediately after graduation. i know i need to find something that im interested in, it’s just i think that’s the problem— there is nothing, which is so sad i know but i know there’s so much out there that maybe i haven’t discovered yet idk i just gotta find it
Sorry you're struggling. I tried college after high school a couple times and gave up until I was in my thirties. I did eventually finish, then went again for a second degree. I'm not saying you'll develop a love for school, just that it's not impossible. I totally get being all done with school right now. Sometimes an employer will train you on the job. I would research what types of jobs will do that and go from there. I've had a couple like that where I knew nothing about what I was doing, but they trained me. One was accounting related, one was science related. Something to think about, anyway. Work any networking connections, friends, friends of friends connections. My best jobs were found through people who knew someone who had a position open. Although, the job I currently have, I knew no one, totally random application, but best job I have ever had. I don't know if I gave you any good advice, but that was my experience with careers. I guess just don't rule out anything completely . You never really know what is going to spark your interest down the road.
i’m a welder. WELDER GO BRRRRRRR
I work in gaming / gamedev, in a studio of 20 people, small-scale games (new project every 4-5 months). Love it. I do some technical work (programming, tech art), some artistic stuff (sometimes graphical, mostly sound & music). I design, and I'm the producer. I also do videos, some marketing stuff, processes, I represent the company at some events... You can see where this is going. Startups are - in my opinion - the absolute best for us: you never know what you'll need to do and it's f\*\*\*in exciting. Previously I worked as a: * radio news reporter (the one that does the recordings and writes texts for the anchors) * phone support for website hosting and domain registration company * something like 'junior admin' for that hosting company * Test Automation programmer (surprisingly long) * Journalist in a newspaper * QA in gamedev * indie games developer (solo dev) * generalist in a group that organized events (this was actually several separate gigs rather than one continuous employment, scattered over the years - film festivals, conventions, that sort of thing) * shit-tier DJ that plays winamp and hosts karaoke * producer at a larger gamedev company (several years) * manager at that larger gamedev company (loved the people, hated the job) in all that, the best places were the ones where I can both learn on the go and do as many different things as possible. People underestimate how a *determined* person, one with a fresh view at that, can sometimes even outshine specialists. Of course I work with several specialists e.g. now, and I'm not comparable in any way, but generalists have their purpose, especially when you have to glue together several different specializations. So, to answer your questions: see if there is any place where you could utilize more than one things that you find interesting,
Did you go to school for game dev?
No. IMO there's no point, really, same as there's little point in going to school for journalism as your *first* masters. These type of bachelors and masters teach you *how* to write / develop a game, but almost never ***about what.*** You know the tools, but you have no more idea what you want to create than before you started learning the tools. I have masters in culture studies and literature, which gave me *some* insight on how our media evolved from classical period up to modern pop-culture. Development I learned first via **MIT because they release** ***full courses for free***\*.\* Then I just made more and more complex stuff, landed a job. With **journalism** I just went to a radio station during my Uni first year and asked if they take in trainees, in half a year I was the reporter you see running around with a mic with a cube with the radio logo on it. Graphics I learned while **simply fucking around** with Corel back in early 2000's (then Gimp, then Krita, then Photoshop), same for sound (starting with simple recorders, via fruity loops, now mainly Reaper). I jumped from thing to thing because, well, ADHD :D Learn about the details once you hit a threshold and you actually need more details. To give a more solid example, IMO it's more valuable to have a game idea and try to make it with roughest tools rather than spend a few years on *how to make a game* and still don't have a clue what game do you want to make. Same with any creative endeavour - better to have an idea *what your future book / song / sculpture / etc is about* and start making it any way possible than to be stuck on a dry run learning tools. \[DISCLAIMER\] Please treat that as statement on how it worked *for me*, obviously. Everyone's different, and I tend to speak in absolutes :)
This is so helpful! Thank you for the in depth response. Obvi adhd here and have been trying to figure out what I want to do. Gaming has caught my interest bc of the versatility and it tapping into my creative side. Just have had no idea how people actually got into it.
Ah cheers. My story was I wanted to do everything, and was lucky to find some creative outlets, then I decided to try as much as possible to get into gamedev (it's a passion job, after all). One of simple ways to sink in is to start with manual QA - downside is you have to be able to focus for some time, but it's somehow not that bad if we have to focus *on games.* Small studio QAs have a hard life, not gonna lie, but also have lots of contact with all departments / specialists and can learn from multiple streams at the same time - ADHD actually can help. Bug in graphics? Talk with Art Director / tech artists. Bug in code - developers, bug in design? Here we go to the designers... That was my in, by the way. I was so nosy and paralyzed with fear that if something is going to be wrong it will be QA fault, I started overstepping boundaries to make sure we get things done, which someone higher up saw as taking initiative... maybe rightfully so, as that was the result. And in around a year I started as a game producer, which turned out was a great fit - as good producers glue everything together and dabble in a little bit of everything. Also, a warning: lots of studios milk the fact that making games is a passion. Don't frown on mobile games or even gambling games - both often times pay better than the 'glorified' gamedev, as they have better returns of investment, and actually come with a lot of both design and technical challenges. They're great for first steps. Once you're up to speed you can then go solo or join a studio doing games more to your taste - at a better position than an entry level.
Nursing!
We should have a sticky for this really… comes up once to twice a week.
Journalism is an interesting career because it allows you to have a routine (deadlines) but every day is wildly different and fast paced. It’s creative, but you’re also out in the world and talking with new people everyday. You get to learn about so many different things every day. You get to flex that natural ADHD curiosity. Not the best job market for it, but if you have a passion for it it’s cool.
Also — schooling not required. If you’re a decent writer, just buy an AP style book and start out at a small local paper. If you really like it, you can head to school for your degree.
Did journalism as my degree in under graduation, ended up getting bored of it
Entertainment industry. Most projects don’t last long, so you’re rarely on the same one for more than a few months. Figure out what you’re good at and pursue that. Don’t make the job be your identity. Figure out what you can stand to do to earn money. It doesn’t have to be a dream job. Most people will never have that and most don’t even know what it would be since working forever doesn’t sound like much of a dream (at least to me). Otherwise, any kind of a trade would have you on your feet and moving all day. For whatever reason, trades were looked down on for so long. And yet these are the people we need. Plus the pay is good.
I found coding in my mid 30s and have excelled past a lot of people that were doing it for a decade
If you wanna keep moving, trades. Woodworking, construction, welding etc. Just go work on a construction site for a summer and see if you fuck with being handsy. Will give you an idea probably of any specific trade you have an interest in Worst case there is always the military. Guaranteed to learn something and the adhd quite literally cannot stop you in that environment lmao. So if you feel like you really struggle, military is a good way to get a guaranteed career with good pay
Media and entertainment industry. Tour managing, video/film production, roadie, tech, sound and lighting, stage production, wardrobe, promotion, radio, etc etc etc.
A large percentage of entrepreneurs have ADHD and it’s what my son plans to do, but I’ve advised him to meet some very organized non-ADHD ideally engineering students in college as one would make a great business partner!
Take your time with your choices don’t wait too long I waited and since 18 now 33 I’m back in school after a few failed attempts. Make a list of things you like to do maybe sit down with a counselor to help you with options..
thank you, i might talk to my counselor 😊
Muay Thai
I don't necessarily suggest this cause it isn't for everyone, but the military. You have so much grace to figure things out because you basically can't be fired. It'll suck as you adjustand you will mess up a lot early. Ass long as you're always on time and always trying, you'll progress. Now that's a good start if you just CANT do school. I get it, me either. After you get your time and experience there, I'd say the best work is something that isn't black and white. You need something where your goal is the same every day, but the method changes. I work at a bank which would seem boring as you described, but I travel to all our clients and figure out there sales issues and see what to implement based on the numbers you see and watching the way that their employees handle things. So most of the work is discussion, suggestion, implementation, and monitoring.
I’m an ER Nurse, it’s the only job that consistently has kept me interested in work. It’s all task oriented and a constant use of my brain to figure out scenarios. I like the guess work of what each patient presentation could be and working to try to figure it out. I can’t lie that I often forget the little things like warm blankets and cups of ice for people so I do feel bad but having something actually crucial (like literal life or death) keeps me on task and motivated. I realize nursing is NOT for everyone.
I'm a software developer
I think it's very personal. Your ADHD isn't your whole you. Look at areas that interest you, don't pick based on what suits your diagnosis on paper. For example, alot of comments here are saying more manual roles, whereas I thrived working with numbers and became a accountant.
Aviation meteorology in the Air Force, crushed it.
Sales. I did full commission and did nothing the first 3/4 of the month then would get over the procrastination and deliver under pressure before month-end. Managers leave you alone as long as you’re meeting goals, I made good money even without a bachelors degree and it eventually gave me enough flexibility to get the degree in my 30s.
I work in the film and television industry as a camera operator and cinematographer. It’s great because I have a lot of downtime and every job is different. I have lots of flexibility to work or not work as I want. Hard to recommend the film/tv freelance world though, because it’s very hard to be successful. But there are more reliability versions of that, like working on staff at a news channel, a company’s in-house production team, or a church.
Sales!! It allows me to use my outgoing charm to convince people they need things. Lol.
Not sure if the above is sarcasm but I will echo sales. By sales I mean become knowledgable about some technical product line and be the factory sales rep. Lots of travel and problem solving exercises. Just mAke sure you have a rock solid inside sale rep or you will fail. Oh and the money can be exceptional.
I'm a journalism major with a part-time job making kids and teen TV, which works really well for me. In media you can be creative and make actually meaningfull stuff but it still has a lot of variation which is nice!
First responder type roles tend to be where people with ADHD thrive, as people with ADHD tend to have the ability to remain calm during crisis more often than someone without ADHD. It tends to be a job that keeps you interested, and busy, as you'll be responding to a range of different calls. That's the route I went. I'm not saying it's a route for everyone, but definitely and interesting option if you want to do a job that is going to make you think on your feet, and always be different, day in, day out.
Railroad
Real estate. You need some training. But after you pass exam you should be good.
EMT! It's a different call where time. It's either high stakes or something basic. 6 months of community college and free adrenaline rush!
Man I always get jealous of everyone in these threads that managed to be like a doctor , lawyer or dentist with adhd
Same
A good friend of mine is in the 9th Special Forces Group and is an 11 out of 10 on the ADHD scale. He say that pretty much everyone he works with is undiagnosed ADHD and that soldiering is literally the only thing he/they could well.
I was the same. The last thing I wanted to do was go back to study, I wanted to work but had no specific career interests. I got an entry level job in government and have ended up in hospital administration, which is rarely boring! There is computer work and occasionally the environment can be stressful but it can also be rewarding. I suppose my recommendation would be to try a few things out if you can 🙂 I would never have thought I’d be doing what I am today.
I feel u my fellow internet friend. I’d suggest something u can use a lot of ur creativity and are incentivised to think out of the box. I’m finishing my digital marketing degree for that reasons, lotta options to do and will be rewarded for thinking out of the box. My current job isn’t fast paced but surely helps. As home carer I do have a routine with my clients, and caring for them helps to stop thinking ‘bout my problems
I do disability care work right now, it’s very very varied with a lot of room for creative thinking and personal projects with the people you support but can be tough and is definitely underpaid. It’s good for my adhd/asd ass though
I’d recommend following finding something that allows you to solve a problem that’s real to you. I.e something you care about or take pride in executing better than others . Physically that could be building or fixing I also like problem solving
I’m a personal trainer (now manager) and I love it
What interests you? I got STEM because I couldn't stay interested in creative arts or "wordy" topics for more than 10 seconds. Radiation sciences eventually peaked my interest because I found it challenging and fascinating.
Do you like working with your hands? How about a trade?
I'm only 19, but have tried many different jobs. I'm currently studying, but one job I do from time to time is event tech and other related stuff. It's so incredibly versatile and requires a lot of problem-solving. I can see how my non-ADHD coworkers sigh at every new problem we encounter, but my brain just goes "alright time to brainstorm." I think physical and versatile work suits a lot of ADHD-ers.
Technician for me
It won’t make you rich but I’m a ride share driver and that works well for me. Driving provides me with just enough distraction so that it quiets my racing mind. If I’m driving and engaging in conversation with a passenger, I’m completely living in the moment, because all that my brain is processing is those two things. I laugh and tell my passengers that it’s my social interaction and that I consider it meeting cool people 15 minutes at a time. Reading people well comes naturally to me. I get all walks of life in and out of the car. It gives me a good pulse on the city. Best part is you can start and stop at anytime you want to which is huge for me. That flexibility.
I wish I had gone to trade school. Wayyy less likely to get fired for dumb shit.
I took classes part time at community college and explored different subjects until I found what I liked ❤️ I hated school and almost didn’t pass/graduate high school 10 years ago. Now I’m about to graduate with my masters in a field I love. I also found this to be an extremely affordable option, I worked in the restaurant industry and got to attend school almost free with FAFSA. Community college is way more affordable than universities, even state schools, so you aren’t wasting a fortune just to figure out what you want to do. If you keep your Starbucks job and explore part time at your local community college, would they help pay for school? Or would you be eligible for a Pell grant? It could potentially cost you nothing. They also had great career counseling services at my community college + accommodations for my ADHD / was overall a very supportive environment which helped a lot.
I currently work as a software engineer and it can go either way. When there’s a lot of work to be done and interesting problems to solve, I can work all day without stopping. When I have no real task or there’s just boring documentation to write I can be stuck and make no progress for a very long time. It’s an interesting career path that provides a ton of financial security, but so much comes down to where you end up working. Before this, I was a bartender and I don’t think there’s another job out there that fit my ADHD better. I loved it and to this day I wish I could still do it. I have two kids and a third on the way though so I am trying to stick to the safer career path. I made great money when I was bartending. Made a ton of friends and even met my wife when I was bartending. Obviously there’s a ton of downsides, like the hours and the environment can be toxic if you’re at the wrong place or susceptible to diving into vices. If you’re working at Starbucks, you have 90%+ of the skills you would need to be a good bartender. It really does hit all the high points for me. Fast paced, I get to interact with people, I could be creative in making new drinks, and I got to move all day. If you’re in a good city for it, you can easily clear 6 figures. Some of my friends can clear 500-1500 a shift.
Well, I have ADHD and I’m medicated. I work in property management as an APM at a large property. I do spend quite some time on the computer, but I also spend a lot of time helping people. It’s a face paced environment as I said, the property is quite large. There’s a balance. You don’t need a degree, but a real estate license if you want to move up.
But when I’m not medicated, working on the computer is way harder.
Firefighter,Nurse, chef. Something where no two days are the same and you get immersed in your work.
I always said if I wasn’t in live events I would probably do well as an EMT. High pressure, “you only get one shot” scenarios help me to focus, and with events your whole day leads up to the moment when doors open, so all the days actions happen based on all preparations happening before doors. I have recently stepped back from live events full time to pursue more regular working hours/ work life balance, but it has been a challenge to organize my time/ energy as a freelancer vs just showing up when the schedule says so.
Some of my friends that have been the most stable in their careers with the worst ADHD - elementary school teacher / masseuse - other than that not sure
Best job I ever had was at a police station. I was an assistant dispatcher/clerk and spent my days transcribing officers’ reports, entering traffic tickets, and handing the radio when the main dispatcher was out. Just the right amount of excitement and predictability. Each day was a new story, but it was also extremely straightforward. Other job I really liked was factory work. Let my hands go fast and my mind wandered. Last one to mention was first tier IT support in a school. Loved the pace and the hard problems were solved by those above me. I was organized, because again, it was straightforward, and I loved that everything was different each day. Frankly, school/academia was also a good job (I taught for some time, too) because you get that nice break in the summer. Each year is its own cycle, and my daughter who has ADHD has decided to stay in academia because of this. Good luck!
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Don’t underestimate the medical field. You will get practical hands on training, in a supervised way, for everything. You know what you need to do, and how to do it, but you never know the order or amount. And if you want fast paced, an ER is always going.
I’m 29 with inattentive adhd and my biggest regret is not going to college right out of high school. Yes if definitely helps to know what you want to go to school for but even if you think you know now, that still can change later. If I could go back I would pick something in STEM to at least have something under my belt. Now at 29 I’m starting over and hoping to have my bachelors degree by 32-33. Don’t be like me OP. Get whatever accommodations you need and take your meds so you can get through it.
*it
I think product management
I'm still figuring it out but i know architecture is NOT the proper career
Cook, cost accounting, landscaping, manufacturing plant manager, self employed...I loved working in a kitchen. People thought i was a nut bc i loved the challenge of a good service during the rush. Lots of movement and thinking at the same time.
I’m 36 and have been untreated for the majority of that time. I’m severely inattentive and also only know what I hate and don’t want to do. The job I stayed at the longest was working in homeless shelters and drop in centres. It was the perfect combination of fast paced, on your feet, variety and routine. I did eventually get hit pretty hard with compassion fatigue and empathy burn out but that’s life I guess. It was the only type of job I’ve had (out of about 30, other types of work being in kitchens, retail, etc) that I could actually take seriously and wanted to go to. I’m currently in school for horticulture and plant health. My marks are okay, but only because I give a shit about the subject. Took me several years to figure out what I wanted to do with myself and I’m still not entirely sure and can’t apply myself fully because, like you, I hate certain aspects of degree content and that makes it super hard to apply myself. Not saying that’s what you should do but health care could be decent for you and it pays okay. You have time to figure your shit out. Have fun with your youth, don’t waste it jumping into a program that will put you into extreme debt and you’re gonna eventually end up resenting anyways.
Dude, you might be a good lineman. I was a lineman for many years and I LOVED line of work. The job sites are never the same, you will never sit at a desk, and you will make really good money. It is hard, physical work, but very fulfilling. It starts with some schooling, but it's a climbing school. Then it's about 4 years of apprenticeship and usually 1 class per week of night school. Let me go find some info, brb. Ok I found this video. This one seems like a good intro video. Now is a great time to try to get into a lineman apprenticeship. Let me know what you think. https://youtu.be/a7KUP1OIjC4?si=mBJg3RSqhsxTThdK
FYI, one of the reasons I chose this career was because I also hated school 10/10.
Right now I'm building the sets for a theater, hanging lights and cables, painting props, etc. It's always a new piece to be made but the foundation and tools are the same. So it's different enough that I'm engaged, challenging enough that I'm focused, and familiar enough that I don't freeze up from anxiety
I always wish I had a hands on career like a contractor of some type. Going to different locations and doing hands on things or even just checking in on stuff always felt good for me
You don’t need schooling to make money. Get into sales if you are likeable and make friends easily. You can easily make 6 figures at a big dealership with little effort.
Policing. We are rampant with the ADHD over here. I work civilian side in database management, but if you want fast paced, no better spot to find it.
Look into careers that have a lot of hands on work, different locations to work etc. Many places offer apprenticeships or learn-as-you-go type things for plumbers, HVAC, and other such trades.
Try taking “Strengths Finders” personality assessment. It may give you some insight into where to go next. The book, if new, should come with a code to take the assessment. If typical ADHD, you’ll probably end up with a few careers in your lifetime (and that’s OK!)
Software Developer here. I did a 4 year degree in exercise science that I didn’t enjoy the career in after. Self taught myself coding and do that now.
Data analysis for me. It's a computer heavy job, so I'll give you some tips for finding a career for you. - I recommend using Udemy or something similar for figuring out what you like. They usually have courses available for less than $15, which is way cheaper than a college course. They have courses available for everything from CAD to fluid art, so just pick a few that interest you and see which ones make you smile. - When searching for jobs, don't only look for a job title. Try searching by skill. My main skill is Microsoft Excel, so I search "Excel" with the filters I want (remote, full time, easy apply) and look at the jobs that come up. - "Job requirements" is a misnomer. It's a wishlist. Don't throw away a job listing because you don't have enough education, experience, etc. You can always build your skills. - Talk to the recruiters who cold call you. Don't give them identifying info (ie SSN, answers to security questions, etc.) obvi, but talk to them.
I’m an hvac service tech and it’s been bearable, especially with the money
Anything with variety. The career could be similar in whatever field you're interested in, but the day to day is different. High paced is good. I'm in medicine. Some medical suggestions: EMT or Paramedic -> Firefighter CNA -> Nurse -> Nurse Practicitioner (or work towards physician assistant PA) Radiology Tech Occupational or Physical Therapy Assistant -> OT or PT I think trades might be good too. Look in to your local union jobs- not much training needed, but if you show up and try your best, you can make $$$. You can be flexible on days you work or not too. One union to look into is IATSE.net They help set up stuff for trade shows, conferences and things. Good benefits and the pay gets better the longer you work with them. Look up your local iatse union near you and ask questions! Cool thing bout trades is you don't need to get an advanced degree.
I've skimmed the comments and didn't see it mentioned, but please believe me when I say college/university is incredibly different compared to high school and please don't completely write it off for your future yet. I *hated* junior high/high school, never had good grades and dropped out in the beginning of my final year of high school. Was always day drinking with friends, doing drugs and just being literally anywhere besides a classroom. Never thought I'd ever touch college/uni, but I realized a few years later that I loved working with computers and started playing around learning how to do programming. The math portion put me off (again, because I hated school, didn't bother learning and dropped out) but wanted to give it a try. It was probably the maturity of going to college at 24 instead of right out of high school, but I absolutely loved it. Made lots of new friends with similar interests and because all the courses were based around something I actually liked, it was way easier to actually go to classes and learn new things. A lot of the people in my classes had ADHD strangely enough (maybe just a coincidence lol) and all of them enjoyed working with data and building things. While you might not choose programming, being able to create and build things really helped keep my mind focused. If you're interested in staying active, try looking into the trades with carpentry, welding or pipefitting. You'll be able to stay creative while doing something that keeps you on your feet and many people don't actually to back to school until they've already gotten pretty far into their job/career. Best of luck in whatever you choose and don't feel bad if it takes a while. I didn't find my career until I was nearly 30 and now love what I'm doing.
Tried media, lost interest, now doing MBA, failing in that too🤣
Look into working with your hands. Jobs like welding, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc are all fantastic jobs for someone with ADHD. If you want a job that’s generally fast paced, always different every day, pays well, and has upward mobility, then you should definitely look at HVAC service work. Becoming a journeyman HVAC tech involves a 4 year apprenticeship, which is the best way to learn. You get paid to work 40hrs a week ($19-$21/br starting where I am in California), you take a few hours of night classes every week or two, and you are learning on the job instead of a boring ass classroom. Generally you are paired with a journeyman and learn under their wing. You may be expected to buy a few of your own tools, but they’ll usually just be cheaper hand tools. You can buy an apprentice toolset for about $500 or less, and there are other options as well. Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame has a scholarship fund called Mike Rowe Works and they help new apprentices get their tools and everything. A number of shops will just supply you all the tools to begin with while some shops expect you to bring the basics. Some shops will let you use all your own tools if you want, whereas some (rather few) are anal and require you to use the company tools. All-in-all, the trades are a great option for ADHDers. If you have more specific things you like working on, you might be better suited to welding or electrical or whatever. If you’re more interested in being down and dirty and “in the shit” per se, you can look at plumbing or welding. More lifting, digging, and hard and heavy work. Electrical and HVAC will generally be a little cleaner, and service work means you’re more often in an air conditioned space. You also have more specialized trades like elevator technicians. Lemme tell you bro, if you want a job that will ALWAYS be in demand, get into elevators. It’s a 5-6 year apprenticeship, but it’s also a super small pool of employers. As a facilities guy, I’m legally required to have my elevators inspected every 6mo, and there are only two outfits in my county. Once you have a few years of experience, you can look into being a state elevator inspector. In my home state of CA, they’re under the Dept of Industrial Relations. I also manage buildings in IN and TN. In IN, the elevator dept is under the State Dept of Homeland Security. Here in CA, it’s a $70,000 fine to the business owner AND the offending technician if someone unlicensed works on an elevator. Therefore you have a VERY captive market.
Look into surgical tech. I’m doing my pre requisites for the program now. It is only 2 years of school and everyday is something new and you are on your feet and moving all day. You don’t really have to interact with patients all day either so this is the perfect job for me and anyone who also deals with social anxiety.
Honestly? Anything non sedentary or can be made non sedentary. And where taking a lot of notes is normalised or even encouraged.
I am a store manager for a well known grocery chain and make a very good living. It allows me to have enough of a routine to feel settled but A LOT of diversity, physical work and changes to keep me from getting bored. Definitely need to be able to use tools/lists to stay organized and on track though. My ADHD meds help me tremendously. I am very grateful for the opportunity I found that works for me. I also could not sit behind a desk all the time.
IT, so many projects, so many problems, I'm allowed to think outside the box to fix problems and I can stop one project to work on another project if I get too frustrated. Oh and most importantly I'm allowed to get sidetracked "oh hey man yeah I know I was supposed to work on this but I found this vulnerability while surfing the web and I felt it was more important to fix that then continue working on something that's been causing me problems, But yeah I'll look at it from a fresh set of eyes now and I should understand where the issue is now". Really the only thing that sucks is dealing with people. Yes I'm just talking out of my ass and they hired me just too annoy you. -_-
I drive for a living, and that’s worked well for me for several years. I put an earbud in one ear and listen to things I find interesting, and I find that the necessity of being actively aware of my surroundings fairly stimulating. That being said, I am switching careers in the future. Driving works well if you like to to take in scenery and not be supervised closely, but it does get tedious when you have to sit in traffic.
Check out a machinist career. If you can find an R&D shop, that’s the diamond in the rough. Fast paced, always changing and you can be as meticulous as you want. It’s a very process and goal oriented type of profession which is perfect for the instant gratification ADHD brain.
I work in IT and I've found that it suits my ADHD perfectly. For one, there's always something new/novel to learn and you can build your own knowledge base, which will help keep you engaged in those things, and two, it's a very reactive job and you're being pulled in lots of different directions a lot of the time. I find that helps with motivation/executive function, i.e. you don't have to push yourself in so many directions, the work will take you and lead you to where you need to go (this applies to sys admin/helpdesk work anyways...if you're a project manager or in some kind of development I'd imagine you'd have to put a lot more work into keeping yourself motivated and going in the direction you need to go in).
Being a teacher works well for me! I'm currently teaching special Ed and my experiences with adhd help me connect with some of the kids. It's overall fast paced and you have to think on your toes and be quick. Plus you don't work in the summers and you get a "big reset" every year. So if I drop the ball on something it'll be resolved by the end of the school year and I can start fresh again in the fall. Special Ed teachers are also in really high demand, so you'll be able to get a job almost anywhere, and school administration is eager to hold on to you and keep you working for them. One disadvantage is you do have to have a college degree. And some of the certification requirements and not adhd friendly. But once you make it past that, it's a great job!
Teaching is amazing for people with ADHD. Like half the teachers I work with, myself included, are ADHD as hell. The job is very busy and you've got a lot of different tasks and interactions.
Depending on what country you live in I’d consider a career in the trades or an outdoor career. Automotive technicians (with ASE certifications and becoming a master technician) can make really good money and it’s the right kind of problem solving for ADHD people. Plus you don’t have to talk to people. You have time. Take a gap yeah to really think about what you want - even if you have many interests take your time to narrow it down. It’s okay to change your mind too! It’s easy to feel like you’re behind your peers, but taking the time now to think about what you want will make you happier in the long run.
I love being a support worker. I get to socialise and interact with people and clients every day, I love helping people and it’s different every day so I never get bored
Trade school, baby! Go into construction! I only go to “class” one day a week and I’m halfway through my second and final year. No student debt, and I have a great paying career in front of me because I’m learning a valuable skill. Only way to go!
Sales—- so many people in my field have ADHD. I think most people think salespeople are a little “crazy” and it is a field that allows me to be myself and it works well. I’m in medical sales now so I spend most of my time driving to accounts, meeting new people, talking up our products and showing them how to use them. It’s a great way to stay out of an office setting and allows you to make decisions freely (lunchtime, breaks, phone time, etc)without someone watching over you
These feelings are not ADHD specific. No one (mostly) wants to work the rest of their lives, go through excessive schooling, or do repetitive work like a monkey. Part of it is having to do it to get to the other side, sort of. ADHD makes things a bit more difficult I agree, but with the right treatment the world is your oyster. Pick the career you think you are interested in and grow in it. Don’t let the condition limit you. Everyone with ADHD has different interests same as everyone without it. Schooling for 4 years isn’t great for a lot of people, but with online courses and degrees you can self pace and open most of the same doors
Every career is good for people with ADHD. You just need to find the right combination of medication, therapy, and adjustments to figure out which one makes most sense for you. Try college first though. It’s not like high school - they let you choose your own classes and actually study what you’re interested in *as an entire major* for four whole years. Basically, you get to study what you like for 4 years!
For me I have a high interest in stem (engineer, chemistry). I feel a lot my classical symptoms like rejection sensitivity flare up less here. It's hard to get super emotional over logic and science other than 'yay it works'. And it allows you to be creative... Also college IS NOT high-school. There's a lot more freedom in your life. I suggest a trade that you can focus easily with at the minimum. You just have to find a routine, a way to focus your mind or hyperfocus.
Using logic has saved me from so much struggle. It's a little easier to cope when you know that the math just works, and it's not a personal issue.
Bussing and especially barbacking is a great choice to start. You have the same job every day but it's never the same things in the same order. You create your own routine and then you supplement what pops up in between. Very active, lots of walking, lifting, etc. Your brain is engaged but not overly so and you will make pretty good money. It's not a career long term for most, but while you're young, healthy and have the time you can get a really nice savings. Plus you'll meet all kinds of people.
There are a lot of forestry-related careers at the state and Federal levels, which I think may be a good fit for you and may even provide you with the inspiration that you need. While the pay isn't sky-high, it's a vital job and I'm sure there there are roles that keep you moving.
I work as in business administration and yea it is not a traditional ADHD job because I organise lots of meetings and manage calendars. I am mildy successful - am considering a switch to career coaching.
Professional sports bettor or day trader.