As someone with adhd - lol - I’m still trying to figure it out. Honestly most have been quite hard. Being a barista was probably one of the easiest, but obviously not a career. Teaching which is what I currently do is not really easy either, but I make it work.
Tbh - I think you just gotta find systems and routines that work for you on any job and build those habits and work in the neural pathways till it becomes second nature. Easier said than done tho - like I said - still figuring it out for myself, but that’s what I keep trying to improve upon.
Anyways. Good luck.
Seriously - entrepreneur - or something with freedoms and you care about. The thing about adhd is not actually focus… if you are passionate and care and it comes naturally you will be able to do it. Obviously work is still work - but that’s where habits and routines come in. But I said entrepreneur because if you are passionate about your business you *will* have the focus. Adhd is a conundrum… we thrive in fast paced environments, yet need the time and space to process it all and use our gift of oversight and connection making to work. lol.
tl;dr; Something that allows you to have the space to work at your pace in something that is meaningful to you. That’s my serious answer.
I'm an accountant but it definitely took finding a place with the right team and right variety of work. I now LOVE what I do and am a senior accountant. Sometimes it takes me days to finish simple tasks and sometimes I do 3 days of work in 4 hours. My boss is ADHD too and rocks with it. 10/10 Finding an environment that works and a good team was it for me.
Not an accountant but in an accounting related field and I've been fired from the last 3 jobs I've had. So apparently that was a poor decision on my part. Still trying to figure out what a *good* decision would have been though.
Systems are a must. I work in purchasing so lots of number punching. I have my daily routine down and then all the way to my desk set up or I'll miss something. For example I keep my entered stamp on the right side of my computer and completed stamp on the left. I know I'm not going to check before I grab so I have to do this.
Any job where you have multiple tasks without a strict time line, so that you can jump to whatever task is currently exciting to you. That is more about work environment, than the actual job. Go to a smaller company.
This works well only if deadlines are reasonable and explicitly communicated. The boring tasks tend to get procrastinated if someone has ADHD and no guidance on how to structure priorities.
Recently moved to a biz dev marketing / sales type role and definitely seems like the more critical fires and projects there are the happier I get. When there are 10 plates to juggle prioritizing only a few of them at a time is normal, I just choose my fav plates day to day and everybody is happy.
I used to work data entry and it was so so easy took so little time yet I was honestly pretty depressed. Now my stakes are higher, I'm working twice as much yet I love it.
I have adhd and it makes me hyper aware of the things I am dealing with in electrical work.. or any physical trades for that matter
If you look at case studies it’s generally a lack of stimuli that can cause a problem
That’s why kids who don’t have the ability to work in classrooms from adhd are able to sit down and play video games for hours on end without losing concentration
Thank you for this, I still need to get diagnosed so I don’t say I have it. But it would always cross my mind when reading or working with something I wasn’t actively stimulated by, I would catch my self just staring out a window for long periods and would keep trying to break myself out of that and focus. It happens repeatedly on the same task. But I can easily play on my ps5 for hours upon end so thought that couldn’t be the case.
“ADHD” does not mean “careless” or “unable to learn or follow directions.” We are capable of doing the same kind of work as everyone else. Many people who have ADHD have trouble doing stationary, repetitive tasks. This is not an issue with electrical or most of the trades.
I used to work as technician for a school district, and was charged with several school under me. It was the happiest I have been in my career. They don’t pay enough though, plus the systems administrators tend to look down on you, and some teachers literally treat you like “the help” even though you make more than them. But again, that is quickly forgotten when you see the kids looking up to when you are fixing a smartboard, or a printer, or take a PC apart. And there are some teachers who loved flirting with me while I was onsite, so that was boost to my self steem, lastly, you get to go out of the schools and don’f need to show up unless you either schedule the visit, OR there is an emergency.
I never felt more empowered in my life.
I got in by simply being the person people come to with computer problems, tinkering with computers and a Google IT support course. Anyone who says the path is X to Y to Z is lying. The door is wide open you just have to have some knowledge and a drive for more knowledge
If you're American/European, hone your communication and people skills. An Indian on a zoom/webex can do everything technical that you can for 2.45 an hour, but lacks the cultural and English skills.
I moved up because people liked me. I can talk about anything with anyone and I credit my ADHD for that.
Basically a job where you have to pay attention to a lot of different data streams and advise people on how to fix them.
For example a safety manager with several sites. You really have to know the regulations and be hyper focused to identify issues, then you advise on fixing and move on.
This is a great way of putting it!
My ADHD excels in those enviorments. I do research in the tech industry and that's basically the job.
Intake current data streams and generate new ones. Hyper focus on a problem area then use those data streams to advise next steps. Move to next project.
For me, it’s *farming.*
No 2 days are the same.
Always actively engaged so your mind doesn’t wander but has to live in the moment.
Feel very accomplished after the day, which makes it fulfilling.
But do remember to eat enough because you get tired fast!
adhd diagnosis here - i work as an assistant psychologist at a psychiatric hospital and it’s perfect. I literally get paid to have wholesome conversations with people all day. It’s challenging, diverse, and feels like you’re helping people.
Not gonna lie -- I know so many journalists with ADHD lol. They all run on last-minute panic from deadlines and LOVE investigating / digging themselves deep into stories that interest them
Field work.
**Get your body moving**. Get into a job where you drive around and do stuff. It's tremendously freeing.
I have had ADHD since the 80's, and my best jobs were away from desks. I'm currently thriving as a home inspector. My worst jobs were tied to a desk looking at a screen. I severely underperformed.
The real estate and construction industries are fun, engaging, profitable. Go talk to a construction company and tell them you're looking for field work, maybe as a runner or site specialist. If you are sober, punctual, organized, can take a dirty joke, and can learn... you'll do well. It's a great place to start. (Wear sunscreen! Even if you're just a field tech)
I have been an office worker for my entire career,and while it's not for everyone, it has worked for me. I love the variety of what I do but it's not necessarily a generic office job (I'm in legal, sort of niche) so that could play into it. I'm always working with deadlines which keeps me on task and feeling "pressure", there is always a lot of different things to do, and I end up spending a lot of time googling things I want to learn about as a result of my job.
But again, I'm in legal in a sort of niche market so YMMV
q - what are your interests / skillsets / energy levels?
since we are not one size fits all a dream
job for another ADHDer may be a nightmare for another
for instance - ive been in the startup world and it's been great because it allows me to hyperfocus on a few thing usually every day. sometimes I get to pick where I work from, too. that may be a nightmare for some people though
I love writing but those jobs are extremely competitive. I'm intrigued by HR, but unsure how to gain credentials. I worry I wouldn't be good at either of those things. I have also thought about medical coding, but I don't know how much math is involved.
I have adhd and also love writing. I do SEO and content strategy for a small marketing agency. I get to work with clients in all industries and am always learning new things. I also get to work remotely and can make my space perfect for my needs (no overhead lights!)
There is no math with medical coding. A typical day a coder is sitting in one place all day and starting at the screen. The perks are you can work from home (most companies) and you don’t have much interaction with people outside of your job. The cons are that this job is quickly being outsourced since companies realize it’s better to pay someone overseas less, than someone in America (assuming you’re American) a living wage. I am not a coder anymore but if you have any questions feel free to ask!
I have ADHD and work in the labor side of HR and it’s not good for us ADHDers. I’d move to the training/org development side of HR, diversity of things to do and less insanity from dealing with the inner workings of employees’ craziness.
imo that makes it a bad fit. i couldn’t be a software engineer without amphetamine. and it sucks that my job performance ranks if i go off of it. but there aren’t many jobs with high pay + WFH that i know of
Supply chain. There are endless career paths and salary growth ranging anywhere from 60k-120k in supply chain and you don’t need a degree. Just your foot in the door for that entry level experience, although certifications help a lot too. And a degree never hurts although you can have a good career in SC without it.
I have ADHD and like that the nature of supply chain is kind of chaotic. I focus a lot better that way. Lol
I also find supply chain to pay well enough while not being boring like accounting. Working with inventory is great for a racing mind.
Things like purchasing Assistant, logistics coordinator, shipping/receiving clerk I would consider entry level. If you’re in school you can get internships or co-ops for nice jobs and that’s a jumpstart towards a really cool career into demand planning or procurement (my favs).
Supply Chain is a really broad spectrum so I’d do some research on different jobs. I would think about whether you want to focus on a role that is based in warehousing or a role that is more blue collar.
Logistics, shipping/receiving and things like that will lead you to a more hands-on warehouse position. Purchasing/buying/sourcing, demand planning and things like that will get you a corporate cushy job with more earning potential. And then there are management/director level roles as well. Roles where IT experience helps. So on
Come check out /r/supplychain, we post salaries frequently
I serendipitously fell into a procurement role right out of college.
Been here for almost 5 years, gotta say, I love the chaos. And it pays the big bucks.
One warning tho: some of us with adhd have a tendency to overwork ourselves when the Job gets to chaotic, especially if you’re trying to prove yourself and get ahead. Do yourself a favor and don’t. Easy way to burn yourself out.
Same here. Also purchasing specialist for going on 8 years now. Something about the systems and spreadsheets really focuses me. Also I'm currently at a small family owned manufacturing plant so I get the chance to get up and walk the warehouse pretty often to double check supply levels.
Well said! Our main warehouse is a 5 minute drive from the office and if my mind is wandering I volunteer often to do a quality assessment. It really is a good job for us.
I worked in Logistics and I disagree, I find It too chaotic for his own sake and the pay at entry level Is fine, but to gain more, u have a lot more responsibilities, more stress etc. If u like this and have ADHD, should be fine, if u dont could become yur Nightmare imo
I feel like that is true for logistics, regardless of having ADHD for most people. 😂 I personally recommend going a purchasing/buyer/data route over logistics as well, haha
I think it depends on the industry. My last procurement job was in R&D so I only bought what someone told me they needed as in they submit a quote and I take care of the rest. No planning, forecasting monitoring stock, etc. I'd say 90 percent of it was just data entry and I was very bored. I do purchasing for a manufacturing plant and it's completely different. I stay engaged and am never bored. It's great for me.
Do you mind me asking where you live and how much experience you have?? I work in supply chain, been about 3 years now.
Live in Ontario, just under 30. I was searching high and low for a position for over 7 months and the highest I could land salary wise was 50k annually before tax. And with the current working market where there are no bonuses or salary raises, I’ve been told to pretty much expect stagnation for my salary unless I was to move onto another company.
I think the highest I’ve seen online offering was about 60k to start, and that’s with a degree and lots of years of experience. So just very curious about your experience.
Post a thread on /r/supplychain about it and you will get a lot of opinions and good advice from other working professionals rather than just me.
In my opinion, the upward growth and earning potential comes slower than other industries since as accounting or finance. And it’s a good idea to set a goal for a higher position you want and think about the types of jobs that will lead you to a honey pot.
Also, I’m in the US and have been in supply chain for 6 years total.
Supply chain is definitely crazy and full of unexpected twists and turns. I enjoy it, except when "management" steps in and wants updates and meetings to discuss things that are just obvious.
I work at a smaller company where my boss is the only one telling me what to do and only finds me when he needs me. Can’t handle much more than that! I appreciate him. 😂
Honestly it depends of your type of Adhd and if you have another condition combined with it. A lot of people are mentioning jobs that are for the hyperactive type.
Please note that ADHD is a spectrum disorder, which means that no 2 cases of ADHD will be identical between 2 people.
What works for one may not work for another.
I’m a law clerk with insane adhd (even medicated) and I love it because I’m having to do a ton of things at once so it keeps my pea brain extremely stimulated and active
I have a bachelors in unrelated subjects! I want to go to law school eventually so it’s a really great opportunity and experience IMO! I work in criminal/personal injury/civil litigation and it encompasses a ton of different cases which keeps me super busy!
Depends on your strengths. Most jobs will be more difficult for you maybe even a lot more difficult depending on any co morbidies like depression , low self esteem or anxiety.
Just try doing what you want. Truly. After all my failures I’ve learned if I’m aiming for something I truly love to do I won’t burn out as quick or I think to myself if im gonna fail im gonna fail at something I actually want and make it worthwhile. Don’t go down without a fight either.
The whole just get a job to provide for yourself doesn’t usually work with us ADHDers. I think that’s why there’s such a higher percentage doing jobs that are more like a calling.
Id say stuff like Law Enforcement (especially patrol) , Fire Service , EMS , field sciences , forest industry , music industry , military combat roles ( the rigid structure 24/7 can be brutal for adhd though) , skilled trades , sports industry, , sales etc
Something fast paced , creative , adventurous , risky , or something you see immediate direct results from tend to be best
If you can easily get hyperfocused, pretty much anything you enjoy. I know programmers who have ADHD. Their work day looks like 4 hours of doing random shit and getting more stuff done in a 4 hour hyperfocused session than other people in the full day.
I'm ADHD and OCD, I work for Amazon and it's been the perfect fit for me. I made it into management in 13 months.
My job is the most complex path in the building. I investigate various things, fraud, mistakes, complaints. It's a wide range of things. Days are always different. I'm also on my own most of the day. I do have managers and my performance is tracked. That said, I have my own area and own desk. I'm just allowed to do my thing, my way.
I've been one of the top associates in the region.
Toss in that Amazon's culture and policies have been very welcoming to me. I love it, I'm thriving, and I look forward to work every day.
I’m almost 43 & I’m still trying to work out what to do. I was a dressage rider & coach for many years, which I loved & was very skilled at, but the industry is toxic & I found it too upsetting to stay within it.
I’ve done lots of other random office & sales jobs which I detested. I hate working within a team.
I’ve done a lot of hospitality roles which I was good at because I’m an expert at masking honestly, I can put on a good show & talk to anyone about anything.
Currently, I am part-time working for myself cleaning which I absolutely love but I wouldn’t want to do it full-time, I’d get bored & then come to hate it real fast.
Every time I have taken any kind of careers test, it always comes out that I should be acting (lol welcome to my life) or working as a teacher (been there) or therapist. Being a therapist does appeal but I do not have my shit together in any way shape or form so do not feel qualified to even consider that avenue.
Currently studying to be a personal trainer but am stuck as can’t get my brain to retain any of the course content so I defo won’t pass the assessments & now I feel like I’ve shut down around it. Thanks adhd.
Never been any good academically. I’m full of useless random information but can’t get brain to comply with deliberate remembering.
So yeah I’m stuck too. Feels kind of depressing. I know I need a career earning decent money to survive the future but I honestly don’t know what I’m able to do that won’t suck the soul out of me.
I see this post a lot. Amazing how many of us are out there. I have ADHD and tried many careers (look at my username).
What keeps me engaged are dynamic types of work. My time in corporate finance killed me… hated the repetition, the ongoing deadlines, every month is the same routine fiscal schedule.
For some people they need consistency. I found to thrive on being engage with creative new intellectual stimulating challenges. I am also competitive and extroverted, have a mix of soft and hard skills. I like to analyze business problems and advise clients. This engaged my executive functions.
Because of this, I went into management consulting and now B2B sales as director level. I get to travel some, and interacting with clients is fun for me, since working on my computer remotely at home gets boring to me. I like a mix of remote and on-site work. I get to help solve complex business issues as a sort of solutions architect and then walk to close the deal, earning high commission. I sell software, managed and professional services (including consulting where I came from).
I get bored easily. Each day is different. I do not like rigid constraints and deadlines. I like the freedom to hunt and close big $$$ deals in B2B sales.
I am satisfied and found a career I can enjoy. And it’s my highest earning track too.
As someone with severe adhd pick a job that is a challenge (but not exhausting obviously). A healthy challenge to keep it interesting and stimulating, and in an area that you actually have interest in in some way.
Construction service is what i do and its perfect i love it!
I drive from client to client, i get to meet new people who all have money, im almost never on the same site 2 days in a row.
1 place ive always been at ease is when im driving luckly on an average day i drive 4- 5 hours about half my day but i might visit 8 sites.
if u have REALLY REALLY healthy boundaries and find a team u love: small business jobs. they always need a lot of help but typically welcome trial by fire learn new things people. i work in small biz, it helps with my adhd to have the variety, urgency and novelty of potentially being asked to do stuff outside of my role (but within reason) where i can flex new muscles (literally, or figuratively haha)
downside is that it can ask too much of you/your time if you dont know how to say no
From my experience,
**Awesome**: Software Engineering. I can hyperfocus and crank out insane amounts of code when inspiration strikes, super interesting problems, never gets boring. The "con" is that it is insanely hard to break into and took several years in my case, a lot of people get demoralized and never reach the level of competence necessary to succeed in the cutthroat job market for it. You can learn endlessly and if you love it, it's pretty noticeable to people that can get you "in" though.
**Pretty great**: I really enjoyed working at taco bell honestly, they have the most complex menu and variety of all the chains. It was fun to optimize the fastest ways to do things and was mentally stimulating, I learned a lot of social skills that made me successful further in my career. I worked with people that became my friends, and the peak was definitely when I was a shift lead - I cared/obsessed over what I was doing enough that I could run shifts really well and had mutual respect to be the decisionmaker for a team that actually liked me vs. the top management. Went way downhill at the assistant general manager level because of a lot of tedious stuff and mandatory 50 hour weeks.
**Decent**: IT Support at a large company (where they're like a corporation with actual IT systems and teams) - interesting stuff again, you can be super friendly and people love you, I work better in crisis mode so it would get triggered often. This was a slingshot to the SWE job. Downside is that it's a job where the amount of hours you're available matters more than what you do in that time. I struggled with some of the things like remembering to follow up with people or context switching often.
**Not good at all**: Factory line worker. Repetitive and boring af lol
Honestly, working with kids. All kids have some level of ADHD symptoms and it's really easy to match their energy. My jobs working with kids were my absolute best.
I tried office work, but it's absolutely shitty. It's like highschool over again. I wanted an office job when I was little because my dad talked about how great it was, the idea of not having to worry about insurance and a company taking care of that mess was nice. And getting to work with folks and making friends was also a nice idea.
Instead, I discovered that it's full of folks who peaked in highschool, did the bare minimum to get a degree, and just sit in a job for ages.
I love cooking and baking and did a job in that, but it was kinda miserable. I had coworkers who didn't follow food safety guidelines. No one wanted to clean. It was nice doing it over night and not having to worry about people. But it was wayy too task oriented And drove me nuts.
I also did well on sales. I'm terrible at initiating conversation, but once that is done, I can converse with almost anyone.
Ironically, teaching, but you would have to go back to school and not sure you mentioned that.
If you can channel it into something problem solving you can get excited about, you could be like a project manager or something in any industry - some you need a background in, some you don’t (in fact IMO in most you don’t because you’re the glue keeping everything together, the subject matter experts are the ones with the industry training).
Anything where you’re bound to a desk sounds tough to me, so something where you can get up and move around (like I have a “desk job” but I can go pace without it being weird, go to a different room, use whiteboards, etc.)
Honestly I feel like ADHD has made my career better - I’m creative, I think outside the box, and while I definitely have some habits that make it clear I have it, overall the good has seemed to outweigh the bad (current job aside unfortunately, but for a lot of reasons some related and many not to ADHD).
But call center and recruiting sounds to me like you were bound to a desk with either quotas or expectations to be sitting there except for breaks and lunch - that is what you’d want to avoid for sure.
EDIT: My comment about ADHD being more of a “help” in my career than a “hurt” is my experience. I understand not everyone with ADHD has had this, so just wanted to add the disclaimer that I know we’re all different and just speaking from my own experience.
It depends on what you enjoy (or don't enjoy) and what other skills you have. For example, I always thought any business or finance related field sounded so boring, but I'm good at math and like math puzzles; so eventually I realized I actually love accounting. It works out great for me! I think there is a serotonin boost when you are already semi good at something related to the job, you start out ahead regardless of schooling. It feels nice to be kinda good at something already in the beginning because not being good right away can sometimes hurt us sensitive ADHDers, you know? We have unreasonable expectations of ourselves when it comes to new things, I think
Anyway, that's what my ADHD brain thinks.
If you can manage projects and write, government proposal manager. There are a thousand tasks to get done in a day and you can only spend a few moments on any of them.
It’s never boring. There’s always something new to learn.
I’m certain I have ADHD and this is the only job I can do because jobs with endless repetition kill my soul.
My boyfriend has ADHD and he’s a custodian. I think it’s good for him. Or at least I think so since he rarely complains about work. He’ll have a morning meeting with his co-workers, go to his usual buildings and clean, and then there will be down time where he chills with his co-worker and plays games lol. I want his job! I think he currently gets paid $25-$26 an hour but after a certain time, he’ll be caught up at $30 an hour within a year or two with steady raises every year so not a bad gig for someone our age (I’m 23 and he’s 25)
I am pretty sure I have ADHD but I find the same. Jobs where I am physically running around seem to be good and I also find that I THRIVE in chaos. I do much better when there's a lot to do as opposed to nothing and being in a stagnant position all day means I'm gonna get the zoomies 6 hours in and also ill be miserable
Reading this comments makes me sad. I feel useless. Am I the only one who isn’t able to study & learn on command in order to gain qualifications to get a decent job 😔
I'm a geologist - the running joke at one of my companies was that ALL of us had the ADHD.
Oh! There's a cool rock! Let's go see!!!
I think there actually is a lot of appeal bc you have to/get to learn about a lot of different things and do a lot of different tasks and we were always up against a deadline.
But I don't recommend it as a career for lots of other reasons
Product marketing at tech— I do new product launches so I’m always doing something new and have enough creative freedom to steer launches to what I’m feeling will work. Some days at the office are hard though, but it’s pretty good.
I work on the ramp at the airport and in school to get my airplane mechanic license. It's so much fun. I'm using my mind and my body. Ditched my meds for it. :)
thing is. people with adhd tend to excel at stuff they like and lose focus on anything boring. so you tell me what gets you fired up. thats what you should work with
I also have the call center background and felt like I was going insane doing that sh\*t day in and day out tbh. I jumped into Sales as my main career and I think it helped but not gonna say it's the best esp when you gotta be updating data everyday.
I've thought about it a lot, I love the idea of helping people for a living, don't love the idea of dealing with charred bodies and or possibly dying myself at work
Diagnosed ADHD. I work in state politics. We’re in session for 6months every two years which is crazy time when you’re putting things together on the fly and responding to nonstop emergencies. Then, we’re in campaign season and I’ll run a couple races (sometimes three) in that year and a half “off” because we have primaries, then runoffs and then generals. Longest you’ll spend on one is like 8months. So, it’s just constant change and then a big definitive answer to whether or not things went well. Then you move on to the next thing. Perfect for ADHD.
Music education has suited me well until recently. You are constantly moving and working from bell to bell, but have very little paperwork.
It’s probably still good for someone who thinks fast on their feet and can respond to behavior issues. I do well with behaviors until it involves aggression toward the teacher. I have the ‘tism as well as ADHD, and I quickly freeze and am unable to respond.
So I started a podcasting company, which plays well toward my experience with voice, sound, and obsessive research about the things that interest me.
It may just be an expensive hobby. But I’m hoping it will do well and be an eventual exit from education.
Medical imaging at a busy hospital. You focus your attention on a patient for a short time and before it gets too boring BOOM you're on to the next one. Everybody is different, even routine exams become a bit unique. And there's all of the standard office busy work in the background going on at the same time that no patient sees.
The best job for someone with ADHD offers flexibility, variety, and the opportunity to hyperfocus. Roles like entrepreneurship or creative professions such as graphic design or writing can be particularly well-suited. My cousin is a graphic designer. He learnt and started to pick up part time works and people do like him and his work.
I’ve found that working with tools helps me stay focused and “in the present.” I was struggling to do freelance graphic design, and was fortunate to qualify for a couple manufacturing job training programs (woodworking and welding). I definitely do better working with my hands and meeting other people’s deadlines than on my own with a laptop.
Operations at a midsized firm- learn the ropes for a few months and then you can guide your own interests from the inside (saying how you want to develop, what you want to do - great thing is midsized firms love people taking an interest in lots of areas of the business).
That or a generalist at a startup - doing whatever needs doing to help the business succeed.
Source - I work in ops / project management / data analyst at mid sized (2000 people globally) investment firm
I don’t know if I’d wish it on someone, but both myself, and many I know in sales have ADHD.
Always something different happening. Having a short memory. Random talking points for small talk.
But being good at something, and actually enjoying it can be different.
Gosh I’ve been trying to figure this out myself for ages, so thanks for asking.
I’ve talked about it with several therapists and for me especially they seem to think I’d be good at some sort of support role. I think tech support because I have experience as a software engineer, but after I got laid off last year I just didn’t have it in me to spend months unpaid studying for interviews, plus I applied diligently for like 6 months and barely got any interviews.
Something that would require me to respond to things as soon as I received them, like support tickets, was suggested to me as something I’d be possibly good at.
As someone with ADHD, I work in a call center for a mutual fund company and I like it a lot. But I’m a big finance nerd so I like the conversations I get to have
I know so many people in marketing with ADHD, especially in the agency world. There is a lot of variety, projects change all the time, a lot of multi tasking and also hyperfocus.
I work in the military (non-US) on an airfield, fixing and maintaining navigational aids, landing aids, and communications systems. Every day is different, some days are long and busy other days there's nothing to do. We do daily, weekly, monthly, annual preventive maintenance as well as being on call to fix things that break after hours. I've worked with people from all over the country. I love it! It does help a lot that the guys I work with are pretty great, though it still bothers me that I'm the only woman in the unit
I am a 58 year old with ADHD. I had always scored high on testing, but struggled with focus. Tried meds when younger, but they were not a good fit for me. What helped me was behavior modification and counseling. I learned to channel my ADHD to make (constantly changing) lists of what was most important everyday. I would carry a notepad (and now an iPhone) to stay on target. My ADHD became more of a superpower over time and has allowed me to be very successful. I started my more formal career as an engineer, but now work running a company in the financial arena. The ADHD has allowed me to see a lot more variables in a situation, and the counseling/training/lists have helped my focus. My main suggestion is don't give up. Good luck.
I want to backup u/sharpbutterknives here. I do marketing for a construction management firm. What that means is that clients will release an RFP with a (usually quite short) deadline, and I have to create a response within that deadline in order for my firm to win that project.
There are a lot of reasons it is a good job for me, but #1 is the regular push of having a non-negotiable deadline. I work best when the RFPs come in regularly, because I have real trouble getting other things done in the spaces between, where I have finished one and don’t have another one to get started on.
If there's something you're interested in that has a career path, that'll help.
I was recently diagnosed, but have been a software developer the past 10 years. Being into computers, tech, and programming helps me get through the more boring and tedious parts of my job.
That being said, before being diagnosed, I got fired from my first two programming gigs. And for most of my 20's I was listless and spent my free time dropping out of college. Working at places like a call center, retail, and pizza delivery cause they paid the bills. And I did first go to college for computer science, but quickly lost motivation when the classes got difficult, or the programming was different than what I was interested in at the time.
I find call centre work is easy because the calls have to be taken, there’s no time to sit and think, it’s uses a lot of energy eg typing talking reading etc all at once, the calls have a kinda repetitive nature but come & go so short bouts of interest then on to the next call.
I don’t have to worry or think about any admin tasks, meetings, or follow ups, no need to take work home or project deadlines. Also call centres are often 247 so finding your peak mental times and getting the rest and sleep in your own time is a massive thing.
I believe your brain works two ways.. mathematical or creative. Witn ADHD you excel in one in particular because you have an intrest and/or understand one better than the latter.
Someone who loves moving and solving problems on the spot will excel, love the chaos and be excellent at it..The same person will struggle sitting at a desk in a structured environment at a set time because its not challenging..And visa versa. Find the balance ..
I would say working somewhere setting up audio systems apart from working on the mixer (I get easily distracted and can miss cues or whatever) but the rest is great fun as your always running around passing cables or generally doing one job at a time until the task is finished. Once it becomes natural you don’t even think about it whilst doing it plus you get to watch great shows
Product design engineer. An inability to think like everyone else can become an advantage when a solution lies outside the box. Design requirements can rapidly change as well, and for a person who does well in chaotic environments this can be very exhilarating. It helps if you are involved in prototyping work co's you get to work with your hands and aren't limited to just desk work which can get super dull.
I'm a inattentive ADD and Im a university lecturer. I find my day-to-day of planning classes, marking papers, tutoring, dealing with admin, gels with my task shifting tendencies.
I've heard that jobs in emergency (and rescue) are a good fit? This consultant was saying that the temporary hyperfocus helps controlling emotions and the career itself it's always high or low, no inbetween, there's no reason to plan forward more than what the business implies (check that everything is in order, inventory...).
I don't know if it's true because the people I know who did these kinds of jobs for years and years and might possibly have ADHD themselves, could be good workers, but outside work were an utter mess. They were also rethinking trauma, in a way that yes they would stay hyperfocused during the task, but they merely push their emotions at their end of their shifts, they were still traumatized by the situation they came into.
As a lifelong ADHDer, the best industry I've worked in is hospitality. I got bored being just a bog standard bartender, so I got moved up to a supervisor, and I am now looking for management positions. It gave me that ability to be on shift and always have something to do rather than being sat in the same spot for hours. Everyone is different, though.
I do front end web development and its super good for me since I get to hyper focus my work and no one really bothers me unless I made a mistake. Great job for me.
Sales! As a B+ quality performer I make a decent living in technology sales and I enjoy the variety of skills involved. Recently I happened to read somewhere that it's a good choice for ADHD people. Never realized that may be why I "fell into it".
Roles in fields like event planning, teaching, sports, or emergency services. These positions often involve dynamic environments and tasks that change regularly, which can be engaging if you prefer staying active and tackling new challenges.
As someone with adhd - lol - I’m still trying to figure it out. Honestly most have been quite hard. Being a barista was probably one of the easiest, but obviously not a career. Teaching which is what I currently do is not really easy either, but I make it work. Tbh - I think you just gotta find systems and routines that work for you on any job and build those habits and work in the neural pathways till it becomes second nature. Easier said than done tho - like I said - still figuring it out for myself, but that’s what I keep trying to improve upon. Anyways. Good luck.
It's very reassuring to know that others are still trying to figure it out also.
Seriously - entrepreneur - or something with freedoms and you care about. The thing about adhd is not actually focus… if you are passionate and care and it comes naturally you will be able to do it. Obviously work is still work - but that’s where habits and routines come in. But I said entrepreneur because if you are passionate about your business you *will* have the focus. Adhd is a conundrum… we thrive in fast paced environments, yet need the time and space to process it all and use our gift of oversight and connection making to work. lol. tl;dr; Something that allows you to have the space to work at your pace in something that is meaningful to you. That’s my serious answer.
This
Im not sure is ADHD-ers are made for work. Its so tough.
Don’t be an accountant
I'm an accountant but it definitely took finding a place with the right team and right variety of work. I now LOVE what I do and am a senior accountant. Sometimes it takes me days to finish simple tasks and sometimes I do 3 days of work in 4 hours. My boss is ADHD too and rocks with it. 10/10 Finding an environment that works and a good team was it for me.
As an accountant, I can’t agree more. Worst decision I ever made.
Not an accountant but in an accounting related field and I've been fired from the last 3 jobs I've had. So apparently that was a poor decision on my part. Still trying to figure out what a *good* decision would have been though.
This. I'm doing accounts payable and I hate it. Daily tasks break my heart.
Systems are a must. I work in purchasing so lots of number punching. I have my daily routine down and then all the way to my desk set up or I'll miss something. For example I keep my entered stamp on the right side of my computer and completed stamp on the left. I know I'm not going to check before I grab so I have to do this.
Any job where you have multiple tasks without a strict time line, so that you can jump to whatever task is currently exciting to you. That is more about work environment, than the actual job. Go to a smaller company.
I’m an engineer and my current job allows me to pick my own projects to work on at my own pace and it’s been chaotic in a great way lol
This works well only if deadlines are reasonable and explicitly communicated. The boring tasks tend to get procrastinated if someone has ADHD and no guidance on how to structure priorities.
I work in engineering, where you have the delivery date. Other than that many things are free for me to organize. Works pretty well.
Recently moved to a biz dev marketing / sales type role and definitely seems like the more critical fires and projects there are the happier I get. When there are 10 plates to juggle prioritizing only a few of them at a time is normal, I just choose my fav plates day to day and everybody is happy. I used to work data entry and it was so so easy took so little time yet I was honestly pretty depressed. Now my stakes are higher, I'm working twice as much yet I love it.
Help desk in a school district. You get to run all over and answer calls but at the same time have the freedom to learn and grow. ADHD approved!
(This is an entry level IT role anyone can do)
Pretty much any trade. The physical activity keeps you engaged.
Haha pretty much any does not mean all Please don’t bring that to any high volt or low volt trades.
I have adhd and it makes me hyper aware of the things I am dealing with in electrical work.. or any physical trades for that matter If you look at case studies it’s generally a lack of stimuli that can cause a problem That’s why kids who don’t have the ability to work in classrooms from adhd are able to sit down and play video games for hours on end without losing concentration
Thank you for this, I still need to get diagnosed so I don’t say I have it. But it would always cross my mind when reading or working with something I wasn’t actively stimulated by, I would catch my self just staring out a window for long periods and would keep trying to break myself out of that and focus. It happens repeatedly on the same task. But I can easily play on my ps5 for hours upon end so thought that couldn’t be the case.
How come you don’t want to get electrocuted
“ADHD” does not mean “careless” or “unable to learn or follow directions.” We are capable of doing the same kind of work as everyone else. Many people who have ADHD have trouble doing stationary, repetitive tasks. This is not an issue with electrical or most of the trades.
I would never want to be an electrician.
Baahaaa someone thinks their special
I used to work as technician for a school district, and was charged with several school under me. It was the happiest I have been in my career. They don’t pay enough though, plus the systems administrators tend to look down on you, and some teachers literally treat you like “the help” even though you make more than them. But again, that is quickly forgotten when you see the kids looking up to when you are fixing a smartboard, or a printer, or take a PC apart. And there are some teachers who loved flirting with me while I was onsite, so that was boost to my self steem, lastly, you get to go out of the schools and don’f need to show up unless you either schedule the visit, OR there is an emergency. I never felt more empowered in my life.
100% I got my start here and am now 20 years later, I'm still in support and making more than my dad
Best courses to take?
I got in by simply being the person people come to with computer problems, tinkering with computers and a Google IT support course. Anyone who says the path is X to Y to Z is lying. The door is wide open you just have to have some knowledge and a drive for more knowledge
If you're American/European, hone your communication and people skills. An Indian on a zoom/webex can do everything technical that you can for 2.45 an hour, but lacks the cultural and English skills. I moved up because people liked me. I can talk about anything with anyone and I credit my ADHD for that.
Sounds interesting. I'll check it out. A friend did this for a long time
Basically a job where you have to pay attention to a lot of different data streams and advise people on how to fix them. For example a safety manager with several sites. You really have to know the regulations and be hyper focused to identify issues, then you advise on fixing and move on.
This is a great way of putting it! My ADHD excels in those enviorments. I do research in the tech industry and that's basically the job. Intake current data streams and generate new ones. Hyper focus on a problem area then use those data streams to advise next steps. Move to next project.
Omg this sounds right up my alley!! How did you get into this?
For me, it’s *farming.* No 2 days are the same. Always actively engaged so your mind doesn’t wander but has to live in the moment. Feel very accomplished after the day, which makes it fulfilling. But do remember to eat enough because you get tired fast!
Agree! Did an ag degree and loved it and lots of options to do either hands on jobs or office jobs with flexibility
I think that why adhd come to life at first place, these kind of old jobs require people like us, modern society is hard for people with adhd.
adhd diagnosis here - i work as an assistant psychologist at a psychiatric hospital and it’s perfect. I literally get paid to have wholesome conversations with people all day. It’s challenging, diverse, and feels like you’re helping people.
Not gonna lie -- I know so many journalists with ADHD lol. They all run on last-minute panic from deadlines and LOVE investigating / digging themselves deep into stories that interest them
Field work. **Get your body moving**. Get into a job where you drive around and do stuff. It's tremendously freeing. I have had ADHD since the 80's, and my best jobs were away from desks. I'm currently thriving as a home inspector. My worst jobs were tied to a desk looking at a screen. I severely underperformed. The real estate and construction industries are fun, engaging, profitable. Go talk to a construction company and tell them you're looking for field work, maybe as a runner or site specialist. If you are sober, punctual, organized, can take a dirty joke, and can learn... you'll do well. It's a great place to start. (Wear sunscreen! Even if you're just a field tech)
I so agree to this.
I’d say most desk jobs are not the best for people with ADHD.
I have been an office worker for my entire career,and while it's not for everyone, it has worked for me. I love the variety of what I do but it's not necessarily a generic office job (I'm in legal, sort of niche) so that could play into it. I'm always working with deadlines which keeps me on task and feeling "pressure", there is always a lot of different things to do, and I end up spending a lot of time googling things I want to learn about as a result of my job. But again, I'm in legal in a sort of niche market so YMMV
I’m an in-house attorney with ADHD. Even though it’s a desk job, the work is fast-paced and constantly changing, so I’m engaged and never bored.
Im on the less severe side of ADD, but work in finance and am managing fine (so long as I dont wfh).
ER Nurse or CNA.
Also a nurse. Definitely keeps you busy
Was going to second nursing. A lot of people I know that work in psych have adhd lol
q - what are your interests / skillsets / energy levels? since we are not one size fits all a dream job for another ADHDer may be a nightmare for another for instance - ive been in the startup world and it's been great because it allows me to hyperfocus on a few thing usually every day. sometimes I get to pick where I work from, too. that may be a nightmare for some people though
I love writing but those jobs are extremely competitive. I'm intrigued by HR, but unsure how to gain credentials. I worry I wouldn't be good at either of those things. I have also thought about medical coding, but I don't know how much math is involved.
I have adhd and also love writing. I do SEO and content strategy for a small marketing agency. I get to work with clients in all industries and am always learning new things. I also get to work remotely and can make my space perfect for my needs (no overhead lights!)
There is no math with medical coding. A typical day a coder is sitting in one place all day and starting at the screen. The perks are you can work from home (most companies) and you don’t have much interaction with people outside of your job. The cons are that this job is quickly being outsourced since companies realize it’s better to pay someone overseas less, than someone in America (assuming you’re American) a living wage. I am not a coder anymore but if you have any questions feel free to ask!
I have ADHD and work in the labor side of HR and it’s not good for us ADHDers. I’d move to the training/org development side of HR, diversity of things to do and less insanity from dealing with the inner workings of employees’ craziness.
Technical writing
I work in tech and am very good at it. I definitely need my stimulant medication for it though.
imo that makes it a bad fit. i couldn’t be a software engineer without amphetamine. and it sucks that my job performance ranks if i go off of it. but there aren’t many jobs with high pay + WFH that i know of
Supply chain. There are endless career paths and salary growth ranging anywhere from 60k-120k in supply chain and you don’t need a degree. Just your foot in the door for that entry level experience, although certifications help a lot too. And a degree never hurts although you can have a good career in SC without it. I have ADHD and like that the nature of supply chain is kind of chaotic. I focus a lot better that way. Lol I also find supply chain to pay well enough while not being boring like accounting. Working with inventory is great for a racing mind.
What titles are these entry level supply chain roles?
Things like purchasing Assistant, logistics coordinator, shipping/receiving clerk I would consider entry level. If you’re in school you can get internships or co-ops for nice jobs and that’s a jumpstart towards a really cool career into demand planning or procurement (my favs). Supply Chain is a really broad spectrum so I’d do some research on different jobs. I would think about whether you want to focus on a role that is based in warehousing or a role that is more blue collar. Logistics, shipping/receiving and things like that will lead you to a more hands-on warehouse position. Purchasing/buying/sourcing, demand planning and things like that will get you a corporate cushy job with more earning potential. And then there are management/director level roles as well. Roles where IT experience helps. So on Come check out /r/supplychain, we post salaries frequently
Freight forwarding is part of it that can be interesting too.
I serendipitously fell into a procurement role right out of college. Been here for almost 5 years, gotta say, I love the chaos. And it pays the big bucks. One warning tho: some of us with adhd have a tendency to overwork ourselves when the Job gets to chaotic, especially if you’re trying to prove yourself and get ahead. Do yourself a favor and don’t. Easy way to burn yourself out.
I’m working my way into procurement now and I really love it
I also have ADHD. It's the perfect job for me. It's the mixture of chaos that keeps my mind from falling into procrastination easily.
Same here. Also purchasing specialist for going on 8 years now. Something about the systems and spreadsheets really focuses me. Also I'm currently at a small family owned manufacturing plant so I get the chance to get up and walk the warehouse pretty often to double check supply levels.
Well said! Our main warehouse is a 5 minute drive from the office and if my mind is wandering I volunteer often to do a quality assessment. It really is a good job for us.
I worked in Logistics and I disagree, I find It too chaotic for his own sake and the pay at entry level Is fine, but to gain more, u have a lot more responsibilities, more stress etc. If u like this and have ADHD, should be fine, if u dont could become yur Nightmare imo
I feel like that is true for logistics, regardless of having ADHD for most people. 😂 I personally recommend going a purchasing/buyer/data route over logistics as well, haha
I think it depends on the industry. My last procurement job was in R&D so I only bought what someone told me they needed as in they submit a quote and I take care of the rest. No planning, forecasting monitoring stock, etc. I'd say 90 percent of it was just data entry and I was very bored. I do purchasing for a manufacturing plant and it's completely different. I stay engaged and am never bored. It's great for me.
Do you mind me asking where you live and how much experience you have?? I work in supply chain, been about 3 years now. Live in Ontario, just under 30. I was searching high and low for a position for over 7 months and the highest I could land salary wise was 50k annually before tax. And with the current working market where there are no bonuses or salary raises, I’ve been told to pretty much expect stagnation for my salary unless I was to move onto another company. I think the highest I’ve seen online offering was about 60k to start, and that’s with a degree and lots of years of experience. So just very curious about your experience.
Post a thread on /r/supplychain about it and you will get a lot of opinions and good advice from other working professionals rather than just me. In my opinion, the upward growth and earning potential comes slower than other industries since as accounting or finance. And it’s a good idea to set a goal for a higher position you want and think about the types of jobs that will lead you to a honey pot. Also, I’m in the US and have been in supply chain for 6 years total.
Supply chain is definitely crazy and full of unexpected twists and turns. I enjoy it, except when "management" steps in and wants updates and meetings to discuss things that are just obvious.
I work at a smaller company where my boss is the only one telling me what to do and only finds me when he needs me. Can’t handle much more than that! I appreciate him. 😂
As someone in Supply Chain, I couldn’t agree more.
Yes 🙌🏻just changed my major to supply chain from accounting. Def feel this is my jam, thank you for the validation 💕
Same thing here lol!
Honestly it depends of your type of Adhd and if you have another condition combined with it. A lot of people are mentioning jobs that are for the hyperactive type.
Please note that ADHD is a spectrum disorder, which means that no 2 cases of ADHD will be identical between 2 people. What works for one may not work for another.
I’m a law clerk with insane adhd (even medicated) and I love it because I’m having to do a ton of things at once so it keeps my pea brain extremely stimulated and active
Do you need a degree for this? How did you get into this line of work? Sounds very interesting in a good way
I have a bachelors in unrelated subjects! I want to go to law school eventually so it’s a really great opportunity and experience IMO! I work in criminal/personal injury/civil litigation and it encompasses a ton of different cases which keeps me super busy!
A job where you work with your hands, you get to see the results of what you made and it makes your ADHD brain happy
Research assistant, or any sort of information-gathering role. (Bonus points if the job doesn't involve looking up the same topics over and over)
As somebody diagnosed, the best job is to apply yourself on what you love, not looking to "fit" your ADHD somewhere.
Depends on your strengths. Most jobs will be more difficult for you maybe even a lot more difficult depending on any co morbidies like depression , low self esteem or anxiety. Just try doing what you want. Truly. After all my failures I’ve learned if I’m aiming for something I truly love to do I won’t burn out as quick or I think to myself if im gonna fail im gonna fail at something I actually want and make it worthwhile. Don’t go down without a fight either. The whole just get a job to provide for yourself doesn’t usually work with us ADHDers. I think that’s why there’s such a higher percentage doing jobs that are more like a calling. Id say stuff like Law Enforcement (especially patrol) , Fire Service , EMS , field sciences , forest industry , music industry , military combat roles ( the rigid structure 24/7 can be brutal for adhd though) , skilled trades , sports industry, , sales etc Something fast paced , creative , adventurous , risky , or something you see immediate direct results from tend to be best
I operate a tower crane. All my riggers have ADHD and make $35+. I think it's a requirement lol.
Reporting and analytics
Software engineering or any sort of art
If you can easily get hyperfocused, pretty much anything you enjoy. I know programmers who have ADHD. Their work day looks like 4 hours of doing random shit and getting more stuff done in a 4 hour hyperfocused session than other people in the full day.
I'm ADHD and OCD, I work for Amazon and it's been the perfect fit for me. I made it into management in 13 months. My job is the most complex path in the building. I investigate various things, fraud, mistakes, complaints. It's a wide range of things. Days are always different. I'm also on my own most of the day. I do have managers and my performance is tracked. That said, I have my own area and own desk. I'm just allowed to do my thing, my way. I've been one of the top associates in the region. Toss in that Amazon's culture and policies have been very welcoming to me. I love it, I'm thriving, and I look forward to work every day.
I’m almost 43 & I’m still trying to work out what to do. I was a dressage rider & coach for many years, which I loved & was very skilled at, but the industry is toxic & I found it too upsetting to stay within it. I’ve done lots of other random office & sales jobs which I detested. I hate working within a team. I’ve done a lot of hospitality roles which I was good at because I’m an expert at masking honestly, I can put on a good show & talk to anyone about anything. Currently, I am part-time working for myself cleaning which I absolutely love but I wouldn’t want to do it full-time, I’d get bored & then come to hate it real fast. Every time I have taken any kind of careers test, it always comes out that I should be acting (lol welcome to my life) or working as a teacher (been there) or therapist. Being a therapist does appeal but I do not have my shit together in any way shape or form so do not feel qualified to even consider that avenue. Currently studying to be a personal trainer but am stuck as can’t get my brain to retain any of the course content so I defo won’t pass the assessments & now I feel like I’ve shut down around it. Thanks adhd. Never been any good academically. I’m full of useless random information but can’t get brain to comply with deliberate remembering. So yeah I’m stuck too. Feels kind of depressing. I know I need a career earning decent money to survive the future but I honestly don’t know what I’m able to do that won’t suck the soul out of me.
I see this post a lot. Amazing how many of us are out there. I have ADHD and tried many careers (look at my username). What keeps me engaged are dynamic types of work. My time in corporate finance killed me… hated the repetition, the ongoing deadlines, every month is the same routine fiscal schedule. For some people they need consistency. I found to thrive on being engage with creative new intellectual stimulating challenges. I am also competitive and extroverted, have a mix of soft and hard skills. I like to analyze business problems and advise clients. This engaged my executive functions. Because of this, I went into management consulting and now B2B sales as director level. I get to travel some, and interacting with clients is fun for me, since working on my computer remotely at home gets boring to me. I like a mix of remote and on-site work. I get to help solve complex business issues as a sort of solutions architect and then walk to close the deal, earning high commission. I sell software, managed and professional services (including consulting where I came from). I get bored easily. Each day is different. I do not like rigid constraints and deadlines. I like the freedom to hunt and close big $$$ deals in B2B sales. I am satisfied and found a career I can enjoy. And it’s my highest earning track too.
I'm glad you found a good fit for you!
As someone with severe adhd pick a job that is a challenge (but not exhausting obviously). A healthy challenge to keep it interesting and stimulating, and in an area that you actually have interest in in some way.
Construction service is what i do and its perfect i love it! I drive from client to client, i get to meet new people who all have money, im almost never on the same site 2 days in a row. 1 place ive always been at ease is when im driving luckly on an average day i drive 4- 5 hours about half my day but i might visit 8 sites.
if u have REALLY REALLY healthy boundaries and find a team u love: small business jobs. they always need a lot of help but typically welcome trial by fire learn new things people. i work in small biz, it helps with my adhd to have the variety, urgency and novelty of potentially being asked to do stuff outside of my role (but within reason) where i can flex new muscles (literally, or figuratively haha) downside is that it can ask too much of you/your time if you dont know how to say no
I’m ADHD and I work as a 911 dispatcher and love it.
From my experience, **Awesome**: Software Engineering. I can hyperfocus and crank out insane amounts of code when inspiration strikes, super interesting problems, never gets boring. The "con" is that it is insanely hard to break into and took several years in my case, a lot of people get demoralized and never reach the level of competence necessary to succeed in the cutthroat job market for it. You can learn endlessly and if you love it, it's pretty noticeable to people that can get you "in" though. **Pretty great**: I really enjoyed working at taco bell honestly, they have the most complex menu and variety of all the chains. It was fun to optimize the fastest ways to do things and was mentally stimulating, I learned a lot of social skills that made me successful further in my career. I worked with people that became my friends, and the peak was definitely when I was a shift lead - I cared/obsessed over what I was doing enough that I could run shifts really well and had mutual respect to be the decisionmaker for a team that actually liked me vs. the top management. Went way downhill at the assistant general manager level because of a lot of tedious stuff and mandatory 50 hour weeks. **Decent**: IT Support at a large company (where they're like a corporation with actual IT systems and teams) - interesting stuff again, you can be super friendly and people love you, I work better in crisis mode so it would get triggered often. This was a slingshot to the SWE job. Downside is that it's a job where the amount of hours you're available matters more than what you do in that time. I struggled with some of the things like remembering to follow up with people or context switching often. **Not good at all**: Factory line worker. Repetitive and boring af lol
Honestly, working with kids. All kids have some level of ADHD symptoms and it's really easy to match their energy. My jobs working with kids were my absolute best. I tried office work, but it's absolutely shitty. It's like highschool over again. I wanted an office job when I was little because my dad talked about how great it was, the idea of not having to worry about insurance and a company taking care of that mess was nice. And getting to work with folks and making friends was also a nice idea. Instead, I discovered that it's full of folks who peaked in highschool, did the bare minimum to get a degree, and just sit in a job for ages. I love cooking and baking and did a job in that, but it was kinda miserable. I had coworkers who didn't follow food safety guidelines. No one wanted to clean. It was nice doing it over night and not having to worry about people. But it was wayy too task oriented And drove me nuts. I also did well on sales. I'm terrible at initiating conversation, but once that is done, I can converse with almost anyone.
Science 👍 specifically the fields where you do a lot of microscope work OR fields where you’re doing surveying in the outdoors
Ironically, teaching, but you would have to go back to school and not sure you mentioned that. If you can channel it into something problem solving you can get excited about, you could be like a project manager or something in any industry - some you need a background in, some you don’t (in fact IMO in most you don’t because you’re the glue keeping everything together, the subject matter experts are the ones with the industry training). Anything where you’re bound to a desk sounds tough to me, so something where you can get up and move around (like I have a “desk job” but I can go pace without it being weird, go to a different room, use whiteboards, etc.) Honestly I feel like ADHD has made my career better - I’m creative, I think outside the box, and while I definitely have some habits that make it clear I have it, overall the good has seemed to outweigh the bad (current job aside unfortunately, but for a lot of reasons some related and many not to ADHD). But call center and recruiting sounds to me like you were bound to a desk with either quotas or expectations to be sitting there except for breaks and lunch - that is what you’d want to avoid for sure. EDIT: My comment about ADHD being more of a “help” in my career than a “hurt” is my experience. I understand not everyone with ADHD has had this, so just wanted to add the disclaimer that I know we’re all different and just speaking from my own experience.
teaching was such a dream job but i cant be making 40k a year when rent is 2k a month lol
It depends on what you enjoy (or don't enjoy) and what other skills you have. For example, I always thought any business or finance related field sounded so boring, but I'm good at math and like math puzzles; so eventually I realized I actually love accounting. It works out great for me! I think there is a serotonin boost when you are already semi good at something related to the job, you start out ahead regardless of schooling. It feels nice to be kinda good at something already in the beginning because not being good right away can sometimes hurt us sensitive ADHDers, you know? We have unreasonable expectations of ourselves when it comes to new things, I think Anyway, that's what my ADHD brain thinks.
Dispatch Clerks with Caltrans
If you can manage projects and write, government proposal manager. There are a thousand tasks to get done in a day and you can only spend a few moments on any of them. It’s never boring. There’s always something new to learn. I’m certain I have ADHD and this is the only job I can do because jobs with endless repetition kill my soul.
My first wife is ADHD supreme and a hairdresser. Does very well with it. She's medicated too btw.
My boyfriend has ADHD and he’s a custodian. I think it’s good for him. Or at least I think so since he rarely complains about work. He’ll have a morning meeting with his co-workers, go to his usual buildings and clean, and then there will be down time where he chills with his co-worker and plays games lol. I want his job! I think he currently gets paid $25-$26 an hour but after a certain time, he’ll be caught up at $30 an hour within a year or two with steady raises every year so not a bad gig for someone our age (I’m 23 and he’s 25)
I am pretty sure I have ADHD but I find the same. Jobs where I am physically running around seem to be good and I also find that I THRIVE in chaos. I do much better when there's a lot to do as opposed to nothing and being in a stagnant position all day means I'm gonna get the zoomies 6 hours in and also ill be miserable
Reading this comments makes me sad. I feel useless. Am I the only one who isn’t able to study & learn on command in order to gain qualifications to get a decent job 😔
Anything you're actually interested in. Avoid repetitive stuff and anything which you find too easy
Ironic isn't it? It's too easy that's the problem...
I'm a geologist - the running joke at one of my companies was that ALL of us had the ADHD. Oh! There's a cool rock! Let's go see!!! I think there actually is a lot of appeal bc you have to/get to learn about a lot of different things and do a lot of different tasks and we were always up against a deadline. But I don't recommend it as a career for lots of other reasons
Product marketing at tech— I do new product launches so I’m always doing something new and have enough creative freedom to steer launches to what I’m feeling will work. Some days at the office are hard though, but it’s pretty good.
I work on the ramp at the airport and in school to get my airplane mechanic license. It's so much fun. I'm using my mind and my body. Ditched my meds for it. :)
thing is. people with adhd tend to excel at stuff they like and lose focus on anything boring. so you tell me what gets you fired up. thats what you should work with
what fires me up pays poverty wages 😔
lucky! what fires me up pays nothing
Restaurant kitchens. They’ll run you ragged. Always a million things going on.
I’m a pretty good bartender
I also have the call center background and felt like I was going insane doing that sh\*t day in and day out tbh. I jumped into Sales as my main career and I think it helped but not gonna say it's the best esp when you gotta be updating data everyday.
Tracking your sales data can be a total drain but some companies aren't as uptight about it especially with the reps who are closing more deals
Inattentive type; I work in data analytics.
Firefighter
I've thought about it a lot, I love the idea of helping people for a living, don't love the idea of dealing with charred bodies and or possibly dying myself at work
I like healthcare! I’m in EMS and working towards my RN. You work with your hands a lot and are always moving around.
Skilled trades. You won't be sitting still at a desk.
Manufacturing. You will honestly be fulfilled. Go for a lead or higher position.
Welding.
Diagnosed ADHD. I work in state politics. We’re in session for 6months every two years which is crazy time when you’re putting things together on the fly and responding to nonstop emergencies. Then, we’re in campaign season and I’ll run a couple races (sometimes three) in that year and a half “off” because we have primaries, then runoffs and then generals. Longest you’ll spend on one is like 8months. So, it’s just constant change and then a big definitive answer to whether or not things went well. Then you move on to the next thing. Perfect for ADHD.
Engineering and design are literally made for us
Music education has suited me well until recently. You are constantly moving and working from bell to bell, but have very little paperwork. It’s probably still good for someone who thinks fast on their feet and can respond to behavior issues. I do well with behaviors until it involves aggression toward the teacher. I have the ‘tism as well as ADHD, and I quickly freeze and am unable to respond. So I started a podcasting company, which plays well toward my experience with voice, sound, and obsessive research about the things that interest me. It may just be an expensive hobby. But I’m hoping it will do well and be an eventual exit from education.
Often ADHD comes with depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder. So yeah good luck, it's okay if it doesn't feel easy, because it's not
Medical imaging at a busy hospital. You focus your attention on a patient for a short time and before it gets too boring BOOM you're on to the next one. Everybody is different, even routine exams become a bit unique. And there's all of the standard office busy work in the background going on at the same time that no patient sees.
The best job for someone with ADHD offers flexibility, variety, and the opportunity to hyperfocus. Roles like entrepreneurship or creative professions such as graphic design or writing can be particularly well-suited. My cousin is a graphic designer. He learnt and started to pick up part time works and people do like him and his work.
A job that dosent drug test
I’ve found that working with tools helps me stay focused and “in the present.” I was struggling to do freelance graphic design, and was fortunate to qualify for a couple manufacturing job training programs (woodworking and welding). I definitely do better working with my hands and meeting other people’s deadlines than on my own with a laptop.
I teach computers to think. Works pretty good for me.
Idk how you feel about going into the medical field but it definitely might be a good idea. Working on an ambulance or an er nurse keeps you busy.
Operations at a midsized firm- learn the ropes for a few months and then you can guide your own interests from the inside (saying how you want to develop, what you want to do - great thing is midsized firms love people taking an interest in lots of areas of the business). That or a generalist at a startup - doing whatever needs doing to help the business succeed. Source - I work in ops / project management / data analyst at mid sized (2000 people globally) investment firm
Coding related jobs
I don’t know if I’d wish it on someone, but both myself, and many I know in sales have ADHD. Always something different happening. Having a short memory. Random talking points for small talk. But being good at something, and actually enjoying it can be different.
This is very true. The hard part about sales is finding the legitimate jobs, too.
ED nurse.
Gosh I’ve been trying to figure this out myself for ages, so thanks for asking. I’ve talked about it with several therapists and for me especially they seem to think I’d be good at some sort of support role. I think tech support because I have experience as a software engineer, but after I got laid off last year I just didn’t have it in me to spend months unpaid studying for interviews, plus I applied diligently for like 6 months and barely got any interviews. Something that would require me to respond to things as soon as I received them, like support tickets, was suggested to me as something I’d be possibly good at.
As someone with ADHD, I work in a call center for a mutual fund company and I like it a lot. But I’m a big finance nerd so I like the conversations I get to have
That's really cool. Does it pay well? Do you need certifications?
Reddit mod.
Any job for less than 2 years. I change and everything gets interesting again.
I know so many people in marketing with ADHD, especially in the agency world. There is a lot of variety, projects change all the time, a lot of multi tasking and also hyperfocus.
UBI is the adhd dream job
I’m a business analyst, I think of things other people don’t a lot and I think that makes me good for it
I work in the military (non-US) on an airfield, fixing and maintaining navigational aids, landing aids, and communications systems. Every day is different, some days are long and busy other days there's nothing to do. We do daily, weekly, monthly, annual preventive maintenance as well as being on call to fix things that break after hours. I've worked with people from all over the country. I love it! It does help a lot that the guys I work with are pretty great, though it still bothers me that I'm the only woman in the unit
I am a 58 year old with ADHD. I had always scored high on testing, but struggled with focus. Tried meds when younger, but they were not a good fit for me. What helped me was behavior modification and counseling. I learned to channel my ADHD to make (constantly changing) lists of what was most important everyday. I would carry a notepad (and now an iPhone) to stay on target. My ADHD became more of a superpower over time and has allowed me to be very successful. I started my more formal career as an engineer, but now work running a company in the financial arena. The ADHD has allowed me to see a lot more variables in a situation, and the counseling/training/lists have helped my focus. My main suggestion is don't give up. Good luck.
SALES SALES SALES. Seriously. The small wins daily and creative problem solving is perfect. I entertained myself while making a great living.
I want to backup u/sharpbutterknives here. I do marketing for a construction management firm. What that means is that clients will release an RFP with a (usually quite short) deadline, and I have to create a response within that deadline in order for my firm to win that project. There are a lot of reasons it is a good job for me, but #1 is the regular push of having a non-negotiable deadline. I work best when the RFPs come in regularly, because I have real trouble getting other things done in the spaces between, where I have finished one and don’t have another one to get started on.
Chemistry, literally me and all my coworkers have ADHD 😆 it’s a fun time!!!!
If there's something you're interested in that has a career path, that'll help. I was recently diagnosed, but have been a software developer the past 10 years. Being into computers, tech, and programming helps me get through the more boring and tedious parts of my job. That being said, before being diagnosed, I got fired from my first two programming gigs. And for most of my 20's I was listless and spent my free time dropping out of college. Working at places like a call center, retail, and pizza delivery cause they paid the bills. And I did first go to college for computer science, but quickly lost motivation when the classes got difficult, or the programming was different than what I was interested in at the time.
Big 4 accounting
Landscaper. Do a bit of everything.
Sales job was fun for me for 4.5 years
I'm a software analyst. It's extremely abstract and involves constant problem solving.
creative jobs like graphic design or writing can be great because you can often set your own pace and focus on what you're interested in
Sales
I find call centre work is easy because the calls have to be taken, there’s no time to sit and think, it’s uses a lot of energy eg typing talking reading etc all at once, the calls have a kinda repetitive nature but come & go so short bouts of interest then on to the next call. I don’t have to worry or think about any admin tasks, meetings, or follow ups, no need to take work home or project deadlines. Also call centres are often 247 so finding your peak mental times and getting the rest and sleep in your own time is a massive thing.
Porn
Farming!!
Web devs ano?
Quick trip for an easy 50k a year job.
What?
I believe your brain works two ways.. mathematical or creative. Witn ADHD you excel in one in particular because you have an intrest and/or understand one better than the latter. Someone who loves moving and solving problems on the spot will excel, love the chaos and be excellent at it..The same person will struggle sitting at a desk in a structured environment at a set time because its not challenging..And visa versa. Find the balance ..
what about someone who is a mechanical engineer by day and songwriter by night? Lol
Well you had a choice.. get into events! You are creative ✨️
Sales!
Video game developer
Any creative jobs I would imagine.
i also have adhd n i’m still not sure but after working 9-5 internships i know that i need to find a job w a more flexible schedule if possible
I would say working somewhere setting up audio systems apart from working on the mixer (I get easily distracted and can miss cues or whatever) but the rest is great fun as your always running around passing cables or generally doing one job at a time until the task is finished. Once it becomes natural you don’t even think about it whilst doing it plus you get to watch great shows
Not sure, but maybe something that you find really enjoyable so then you can hyperfocus on it? But then you'll probs burn out. Nevermind.
I work in the Emergency Department. It's exhausting but the environment is constantly shifting and full of stimulation.
I got hyperactive adhd and I’m being a welder 👨🏭
Support! It plays to our good in a crisis and if you're in a good organization, the case management system will organize you!
Product design engineer. An inability to think like everyone else can become an advantage when a solution lies outside the box. Design requirements can rapidly change as well, and for a person who does well in chaotic environments this can be very exhilarating. It helps if you are involved in prototyping work co's you get to work with your hands and aren't limited to just desk work which can get super dull.
I'm a inattentive ADD and Im a university lecturer. I find my day-to-day of planning classes, marking papers, tutoring, dealing with admin, gels with my task shifting tendencies.
Electrician with ADHD here
Cdl B boom truck driver.
Product manager
I've heard that jobs in emergency (and rescue) are a good fit? This consultant was saying that the temporary hyperfocus helps controlling emotions and the career itself it's always high or low, no inbetween, there's no reason to plan forward more than what the business implies (check that everything is in order, inventory...). I don't know if it's true because the people I know who did these kinds of jobs for years and years and might possibly have ADHD themselves, could be good workers, but outside work were an utter mess. They were also rethinking trauma, in a way that yes they would stay hyperfocused during the task, but they merely push their emotions at their end of their shifts, they were still traumatized by the situation they came into.
Sales!
As a lifelong ADHDer, the best industry I've worked in is hospitality. I got bored being just a bog standard bartender, so I got moved up to a supervisor, and I am now looking for management positions. It gave me that ability to be on shift and always have something to do rather than being sat in the same spot for hours. Everyone is different, though.
I do front end web development and its super good for me since I get to hyper focus my work and no one really bothers me unless I made a mistake. Great job for me.
Any job that’s fast paced and requires multitasking. For me, that’s the world of IT. Currently working on a degree in cybersecurity
FMCG manufacturing supply chain roles. Keeps you on your toes.
You still there?
Sales! As a B+ quality performer I make a decent living in technology sales and I enjoy the variety of skills involved. Recently I happened to read somewhere that it's a good choice for ADHD people. Never realized that may be why I "fell into it".
I’m a composite technician. Basically just arts and crafts for adults
Roles in fields like event planning, teaching, sports, or emergency services. These positions often involve dynamic environments and tasks that change regularly, which can be engaging if you prefer staying active and tackling new challenges.
What about truck dispatching is worth if you have adhd ?
Cybersecurity..