Good careers that integrate brain power with movement

[Anonymous]

Trying to help my bright, ADHD kid think about careers he might enjoy. He’s someone who really needs to be up and moving and would probably be terrible at any job that tied him to a desk all day.

Strengths:
—math
—manipulating things with his hands (for example, he loves speed-solving Rubik’s cubes)
—very athletic
—art
—outgoing
—quick thinker

Weaknesses:
—writing
—struggles with empathy & introspection
—impatient

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Maybe environmental engineering? Doing ecological restoration work

[Anonymous]

I work for a boat manufacturer and he's exactly the type of person we would hire to build our boats. He would likely move up quickly and end up on the operations side of manufacturing or as a lead for one of the building stations.

[Anonymous]

Construction project management

College degree and information technology mgmt and then work as a project manager or engineer.

[Anonymous]

Pilot might be a good one—especially smaller planes that are more hands-on and less automation.

[Anonymous]

Construction, car repair, welding, landscaping

[Anonymous]

Soil engineer
Ag tech

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to help my bright, ADHD kid think about careers he might enjoy. He’s someone who really needs to be up and moving and would probably be terrible at any job that tied him to a desk all day.

Strengths:
—math
—manipulating things with his hands (for example, he loves speed-solving Rubik’s cubes)
—very athletic
—art
—outgoing
—quick thinker

Weaknesses:
—writing
—struggles with empathy & introspection
—impatient

Any thoughts or suggestions?

This sounds exactly like my kid (minus the art). He's a junior now and thinking about data science/analytics, ag/tech engineering and frankly, being a math teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to help my bright, ADHD kid think about careers he might enjoy. He’s someone who really needs to be up and moving and would probably be terrible at any job that tied him to a desk all day.

Strengths:
—math
—manipulating things with his hands (for example, he loves speed-solving Rubik’s cubes)
—very athletic
—art
—outgoing
—quick thinker

Weaknesses:
—writing
—struggles with empathy & introspection
—impatient

Any thoughts or suggestions?

This sounds exactly like my kid (minus the art). He's a junior now and thinking about data science/analytics, ag/tech engineering and frankly, being a math teacher.

Data Science and analytics is going to be sitting around managing databases. Very sedintery.

[Anonymous]

Emphatically agree with Construction Management. Requires serious brainpower, people skills, writing and math, and much time outdoors or on your feet on the construction site.

[Anonymous]

News cameraperson (in the field)

[Anonymous]

Facilities management or historic Preservation? Mike Rowe's foundation does a lot to promote hands-on physical trades & other professions so that might be an inspiring source of ideas

[Anonymous]

Does he like science? Field works sounds like it might suit him.

[Anonymous]

Construction management or landscape architecture

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Emphatically agree with Construction Management. Requires serious brainpower, people skills, writing and math, and much time outdoors or on your feet on the construction site.

Sounds like the kid doesn't have the people or writing skills.

That said, when you're dealing with a bunch of contractors/construction workers to get a job done I find people skills haven't helped nearly as much as being a hardass. Though maybe because I'm female.