Best jobs for ADHD
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Anonymous
| ADHD is really a superpower once you learn how to manage it. |
Anonymous
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Of the people I know or have known with diagnosed ADHD, medicated or not:
Executive/entrepreneur Designer in consulting (and entrepreneur) Risk manager, previously a nurse Admin with a strong background in science - I consider her to be underemployed but also think she gets in her own way, which I think is more related to her personality than her condition Project/program manager for the federal government Lawyer for the federal government I have found people with ADHD to be very intelligent, but do have a hard time with time management and become easily overwhelmed. There also seems to be an impulsivity component. I don’t think there are any “off-limits” progression, but encouraging and fostering self-awareness is really key. |
Anonymous
Self awareness comes with age and mistakes and sometimes medication and therapy, but these are harmful stereotypes. I have seen so many unkind posts about ADHD on DCUM. It’s not surprising that so many people don’t self report ADHD to employers. |
Anonymous
| I had untreated ADHD and ended up with an office job and the admin tasks were killer and soul sucking, but it certainly paid better than park ranger or flight attendant that I was thinking about pursuing. I will say, however, that I hit a ceiling because I do not have the skills or desire to manage a team. It takes you away from the actual part of your job that is interesting and over 50% of your job is admin stuff and BSing. I think she can do any kind of job, she just has to be REALLY interested in it. She could be a coder or a farmer or engineer or anything. I’ve always thought emergency medicine is absolutely amazing for ADHDers, but the trouble is getting through med school. I have a friend with ADHD who is doing extremely well as a trader. |
Anonymous
+1. This is why I don’t think ADHD shouldn’t be classified as a disability. It’s just a different way of thinking. |
Anonymous
Should have written: “This is why I think ADHD shouldn’t be classified as a disability.” |
Anonymous
It's a disability because society is just not compatible with ADHD. People can't stand being around ADHD symptoms the 98% of the time then when ADHD superpowers spring into action it appears too routine or easy for anyone to appreciate. For example, I was spaced out at DS's baseball game then subconsciously reached out and caught a line drive foul ball heading for a woman's face. She was thankful obviously but people were more confused than anything. Anyways, the successful ADHD people either got treated early and avoided the inevitable frustration/anger from school-age years or their naturally developed coping mechanisms led them to viable careers. The natural path sucks which is why so many of us have an ah-ha moment during adult diagnosis where we finally recognize why we are so different. |
Anonymous
I want to dispel the myth that social skills are key in sales. I moved into sales because I am neurodivergent (including adhd) and do not have the social skills to navigate climbing the corporate ladder. Sales is much less about glad handing and networking today. It’s really data driven, so if you are good a math, seeing patterns and problem solving, sales could be a good career path. You do occasionally need to present to stakeholders but 85% of the time, the work you are doing is over email. I found sales much more predictable and formulaic (you need X in your pipeline to move to proposal stage to hit your monthly goal) then trying to navigate a promotion by schmoozing with the right dept heads. In sales, all I need to do is deliver my numbers, and no one bothers me - I can work anywhere and anytime I want and I don’t need to fill my calendar with useless internal meetings. Also, I enjoy learning about clients businesses and how my company’s product/service can solve their problem. Listening is much more important than speaking. Obviously, sales isn’t for everyone, but I was surprised at how good a fit it is for me as an introverted /adhd/neurodivergent person. |
Anonymous
But it’s not a disability. It’s not an impairment. |
Anonymous
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I’ve never been formally diagnosed, but many people have told me I have ADHD, so there is probably something to it. I’m a physician (pathologist at a university hospital) and my boss also definitely has ADHD. Neither of us takes medication.
If you can manage ADHD then in some fields it is, indeed, a superpower. My boss and I are both a scattered mess, and would be terrible interacting with patients, but we are the go-to group for when our colleagues are stumped by an unusual tumor - and this includes people who do not specialize in our organ system and people who work at other universities. We almost always figure it out. People complain that our minds are “whirring out of control” and it’s exhausting to be around us and our offices look like a garbage heap of slides and papers. But a few times a week we are both asked for help because someone needs us to “think outside of the box.” It’s a lot of fun! And we are good at it! Many of my colleagues seem so staid on their thought patterns - it seems boring to me. But they are often in (or gunning for) a leadership position, so they are just taking a different track than me - and making more money. The administrators keep us in line with regard to things like renewing our medical license on time. My spouse makes sure that bills are paid and I don’t accidentally leave the kids in a store when we go shopping. So if your kid is academically inclined then I would recommend pathology. |
Anonymous
| financial management and spreadsheets. |
Anonymous
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I also have a family member with undiagnosed ADHD who is in Pathology, and it is a great fit, esp. in medicine. The work is somewhat isolated, no inter-personal emergencies (no patient contact), and the social skills of the general pool is pretty low. Also, there are a lot of foreign medical graduates in pathology, and so, if you are an American and have decent communication and social skills, tbh, you can stand out even if you were never amazing socially.
I am not a medical doctor, but I think medicine is a great fit for someone who is neurodiverse generally b/c after med school, they get to pick what specialty they like, and the specialties have vastly different personalities and demands. So the nerdy, cerebral types go into pathology, which is an easy field to go into after medical school b/c you don't generally make a lot of money as compared to other doctors; the action-oriented folks who have alpha personalities and want to make $$$ do orthopedic stuff; the ones with tippy-top grades who want a lifestyle go into derm/radiology/anesthesia; the ones who don't care about money and want to serve the people (and like kids) do pediatrics or family medicine. But the first two years of medical school involve a lot of rote memorization; like 4-5 hours of studying per day where you are reading and learning factual info in copious amounts. So that is not great for ADHD. The next two years are better b/c I think you are on rotations where you spend 2-3 months, largely in specialties that you choose/and are available. I also think medicine is a good career for women. I know 4 separate moms: an ER doctor, a radiologist, pediatrician, and a family medicine doctor who works with homeless patients. They all have shifts of 2-3 days a week and aren't looked down upon for doing so. They have worked and have been able to have lifelong careers. Not the same phenomonen in law or business, although there are "unicorn" jobs in those fields. I don't want my DD with ADHD to happen upon a unicorn job; I want the field she chooses to have ample opportuities that would be suitable. I also have a family member with undiagnosed ADHD who went into a trades-based, blue-collar job in a major city after graduating from college. She is constantly facing challenges/frustation b/c she works with nearly all men with no advanced education who are local to the area and homegrown. This is also not a job that she can likely sustain past her early 60s b/c there is a physical component. She has gotten decent govt jobs with benefits but does face a ceiling in promotions b/c it's mostly men promoting other men. |
Anonymous
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I’m 50 and currently doing consulting work, mostly management, but over the last five years, I’ve grown into more of a tech-focused role. I have ADHD, and so does my household, so structure and focus are ongoing challenges.
About a year and a half ago, I dove into AI, and I haven’t looked back. I’m automating everything I can and learning concepts I never imagined I’d understand. AI has been a game-changer for my executive function. Because it’s a field I genuinely enjoy, I stay engaged and productive in ways that used to feel out of reach. I’m now pursuing several certifications, and while there have been moments when I was nearly laid off as I work for a government contractor, my growing technical skills have kept me in high demand. So, to anyone with ADHD: don’t shy away from AI. It’s been a lifesaver for me, and it might just open up a whole new path for you, too. |
Anonymous
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I work in special education (students with severe behavioral support needs) and was diagnosed in adulthood. I also have auditory processing difficulties.
Some ADHDers find that they are calm in times of crisis. My entire workday has me hopping from one crisis to another with intermissions for meetings, documentation, and assessments. It comes naturally to me. I have been in this career for decades and am still not bored because every day is different and every student is different. There is always something new to learn via professional development or daily interactions. It is also incredibly fulfilling because many of my students also have ADHD. I have been able to help them get through situations that I wish I had help with when I was their age. It is very special to be able to bond with my students and earn their trust. I do benefit from ADA accommodations such as flexible arrival time and all communications in writing. |
Anonymous
Using a wheelchair is just a different way of getting around. Sign language is just a different way of communicating. It's not just a different way of thinking. That some people with ADHD have superior intelligence and hyper-focus superpowers, does not mean ADHD is not also disabling in a way that can affect day to day living. |