ADHD Friendly Jobs And Work Strategies
Topic: ADHD at work. ADHD strengths and challenges, ADHD friendly and ADHD hostile jobs, ADHD challenges at work, and identifying your strengths. See the other Adult ADHD Issues.
Facilitator: Pete Quily
Thanks to Gina for the notes from last night’s meeting.
September 26, 2006 Meeting Notes for the Vancouver Adult ADD Support Group
Group warm up exercise
What’s one job you have done that you really like? Why did you like it?
What’s another job you really didn’t like and why?
Remember: There are different types of ADD and personalities, so not all ADDers will prefer the same job or environment. A person with the hyperactive impulsive form of attention deficit disorder may want a fast paced job with a lot of multitasking but someone with the inattentive form of attention deficit disorder may not.
Eg: Person A likes working with people, person B likes working with information, person C likes working with things. Extroverts vs introverts, working in teams vs. working solo, etc.
We ADDers are not clones.
Many people ask me, what’s the best job for an ADHD adult?
I point them to my list of careers of ADHD adults I’ve coached since 2003.
202 different ones so far and that list needs updating:) You might be surprised by the first one on the list. There is no right job for all ADDers, there is the right job for you.
Aspects of ADD friendly jobs:
ADHD accommodations, the employer is willing to offer them
Allow input
Appropriate managerial style (nonauthoritarian)
Appropriate structure
Atmosphere conducive to risk taking/originality
Autonomy
Bitesize projects
Clearly defined expectations
Compatible with your value system
Employee appreciation
Employee input is sought and valued
Fast paced environment
Fosters/allows creativity
Incorporate interests and hobbies (passion)
Intermediate milestones for projects
Job with an admin assistant (to do the boring stuff, i.e., paperwork)
Management engagement
Open lines of communication
Some passion
Team approach
ADHD Specific Books:
ADHD Secrets of Success: Coaching Yourself to Fulfillment in the Business World.
ADD in the Workplace: Choices, Changes, and Challenges
ADD on the Job
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Updated 2015
What Does Everybody Else Know That I Don’t?: Social Skills Help for Adults with ADD
Other Books
Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t by Jim Collins
Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin Seligman
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It by Barbara Sher
The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling by James Hillman
Read the toxic job article
Characteristics of ADD Unfriendly Jobs:
Boring
Close minded colleagues or boss
Incompetent boss/coworkers
Lack of breaks or rest periods
Long drawn out tasks
Meaningless
Mentally calcified boss or coworkers
Overly structured
Repetitive
Toxic work environment
Tyrannical boss or coworkers
Unclear expectations
Uptight work environment (too formal)
Examples of ADD Friendly Jobs
Air traffic controller
Athlete
Coach/therapist
Counselor
Creative arts
Drivers
Emergency type jobs (ER, paramedic etc)
Entertainment/performance (standup comedian)
Entrepreneurial jobs
Hair stylists
Inventor
Media
Police officer
Postsecondary instructor
‘Rock star’
Sales/marketing
Trades
Writer
How to identify your strengths (handouts and websites)
Ask others “What are my skills and strengths?” “What do you think my competitive edge is?”
Do a web search for ADHD and work
Get an ADHD coach (we know what we should do, they will help us do what we know)
Note what others compliment you on
See a career counselor or go to your alma mater’s career center (the services may be free of charge for alumni)
Self reflection
Try to find a job where you can utilize as many of your strengths as possible
Online Articles
151 Positive Characteristics of people with ADD
Top 10 Advantages of ADD in a High Tech Career
Posts on the strengths of ADHD
Positives of ADHD that ADHD adults often ignore
Some ADD challenges at work:
Boredom
Constantly being late and getting fired for it
Constraints
Dealing with unyielding people
Forgetting things
Impulsivity in actions and words
Low energy
Missing information
Organization/time/space/energy
Physical constraints
Taking on too much at once
Too many details
We also got into small groups and brainstormed some ideas on how to deal with our own individual ADD challenges at work.
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