45, ADD and totally in the wrong job, I feel suck and screwed

10 jobs and 3 careers, not one to advise on your job, but I”ll put it this way….. every single job is important in some way.

I feel stuck myself – and am constantly “looking around”, but then I realize, at my age, it’s gonna be really really tough, esp with AD/HD.

Then I think again – hey, I AM employed, I’m not starving, things could be much worse, and even though I’m not “happy” I am quite good at what I’m doing, and they’d really (honestly, no kidding) be lost when/if I leave.

Even the folks cleaning the halls are important – what if they all stop doing it??

I “look down” at no one’s job. The fellow or lady cleaning the hospital is as important as the doctor doing the surgery.

Ever watch “Undercover Boss” ?? HA, those CEOs can’t even make a good sandwich, and mess up half the time at almost anything they try.

How about a job at a school or college teaching what you know?

Waiting tables might be a good fit. The money is great but the benefits are not. I have been in the business for the last 30 years. I have always thought this would be a great job for anyone with ADD, since it’s worked for me. I’ve joked many times about having ADD, and after looking at this sight, I see, I do.

Security of the existing job and a fixed reward of a pay check are enough for some. The idea of giving up that security is a big risk and requires a lot of confidence and self-esteem to make a change some times. We AD/HD folks are great at self-doubt because we never really understood the constraints we have to put on ourselves which creates doubt in your abilities and self-confidence. So what do you do? Plan it out. It might require a plan that takes a few moths or a year to realize but figuring out what makes you happy and finding a way to do that every day is a blessing. Of course I’m writing this from my cubical, while resisting the urge to stare out the window, and doing everything I can to keep busy while things are quiet here so I don’t go stir crazy.

I have a plan in place, but it is scary when you start thinking about ending the income and security that you are accustom to having in exchange for something that offers a better life balance. Animals, Dogs in particular ground me and force me to be aware of my mood, energy and focus. Last year I signed up for a Dog Training & Animal Behavior Modification program that runs one year part time and will allow me to work as an Animal Trainer and work with people and their Dogs. Because of the type of work I can fit it in with the comfortable paying job until I figure out how to make it a career. Ironically it was the research required for an assignment in to behavior, how we learn, cognitive behavior therapy and motivation that lead me to look at AD/HD.

Things happen for a reason in my world, having the patients to wait out an answer for the reason is a little harder. LOL

Talking about security why don’t you try that. Do you have an airport by you, the job changes constantly, there are not a lot of learning requirements, few written reports (unless there is a problem and you can always give your report orally to the supervisor or coworker to write) and it is fun to boot. Most of the time you will be given a route in the airport (and if you are like me you can use it to “watch” the people in the airport) and you are constantly on the move. These jobs are usually longer then your average office job so you get more days off to do other things, the airport usually pays well and it is a clean bright environment. And the personnel is constantly turning over so you get a new playmate quite frequently. There is also hospitals. They also require security guards, constant change and challenge and good pay.

I have had dozens and dozens of jobs. I liked doing pre-board screening at the airport because it was an ever evolving environment. You got to “watch” the passengers, got paid to poke around in their luggage and were constantly meeting and finding new co-workers. My problem is that this type of environment had a lot of rules and they were constantly coming up with new ones. But security at the airport doesn’t have the same rules and regulations as the screeners who vet you for the plane.

An office job is fine as long as you are in an ever changing environment. But once the rut rides in there is not a lot to make it fun. And if you are like me then you always find a petty co-worker who makes your life a living nightmare where you start to dread work. I love the challenge of a new place so that is probably why after about 9 or 10 months I start getting itchy feet and start looking for something new in an office. I also like to do the job fast and then I am bored when I run out of things to do. I come in an hour or two early if I know I am having a busy day and will stay until the job is done. Then the next day the day drags because there is nothing to do.

When I was in the Reserves as an Administrative Clerk I would come in, race through the work by just after lunch and then go home early instead of playing computer games with the rest of them. Probably why I never advanced in 5 years. Because they look at your hours not your accomplishments. My brain requires that I be busy, not necessarily by body. A challenge is like cat-nip and I am compelled to finish. I took my Life Insurance License. Got fantastic marks in class, did really well in the provincial exam and I have been a licensed agent for 5 months and have never been on an appointment. I hate trying to convince people to buy something that they don’t think they need. Everyone complained about how hard it was, I found it really easy in the areas that you could study. But I took the course through the company I joined not the College that teaches the course. So half of what was on the provincial exam was not covered in our course. That I find frustrating.

My reading and comprehension are great, I have a great difficulty in math and languages. The only math I excel at is money. So I can do anything as long as it will end up in dollars and cents. My brother is the exact opposite. He can do anything with numbers but has a really difficult time reading. He went and got his truck driving license and became a long haul trucker. Not great if you need a lot of physical activity but always a different place you are heading. Horrible for a person with a young family. He worked for a while as a garbage man (waste engineer) and now he drives a tow truck. Always something different, and your work determines your pay. And you are a hero to a lot of people so instead of negative comments a lot of the time they are flattering.

Hubby is also ADHD and he has a degree and graduate courses but now works as a construction labourer. He works in an ever changing environment, and he gets paid an incredible amount of money, with time and a half or double time after 40 hours. There is a great benefit package, but there can be a lot of lay off times during slow periods, there is no sick time and he is outside all day. He also worked as a taxi driver when he couldn’t stand being cooped up in an office all day. Again lots of different situations, new people and you set your own schedule. I also had my own company for 2 years in Ontario. Lots of work, but I couldn’t find anyone else to take up the slack and I was working 19 hours a day with the paperwork.

If none of these things appeal to you you can also go to the Canada Employment Agency. They have a Choices test that they can administer that will help you determine exactly where your interest lies. Good Luck. I am still trying to determine what I want to do when I grow up and I am 42.

Louie007 I am in a very similar boat. I live in Florida, and got fired last week from my most recent office drone job. Just like all ADHDers, I can’t concentrate, pay attention or follow instructions well, which mean that I have been less than the ideal employee.

Now the thought of going back to clicking buttons for some evil corporation 55 hours a week, sickens me.

Making much worse is the fact that I have no medical insurance, nor prescription coverage.

I am 36 years old and still wondering what to do with my life.

Please let me know what you end up doing, just might copy you!

Do you like people? How about bartending? Lots of variety, lots of interesting conversation, good tips…

I’m sort of in your boat, Louie. I’m 35 and realizing that I haven’t really done much career-wise. I should’ve been well on my way doing my dream job, but I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. No idea what one career path will allow me to feel like I’m fulfilling that great “potential” that I apparently have. I’m starting to think that maybe there isn’t one single career for me. My attention span is so short, and my desire for breadth of scope is so strong that I’m probably better off doing several things at once. I have the perfect office job: flexible hours, GREAT pay, excellent benefits, my own office with THE best view, nearby parking, awesome boss and coworkers, easy work… But I’m on my arse for 8 hours a day, and I’m feeling my brain turning to mush. I am literally losing IQ points here, people. My hours were cut back last spring and so I started working one day every other week cleaning houses. I’m tired and aching tonight because that’s what I did today. But you know what? I actually enjoy it. It’s the change of pace. It feels good to walk away from a sparkling clean house and not have to see it get dirty. It feels good to know that the homeowners will come home order and beauty, and to know how much they appreciate it. And they do. It feels good to help out seniors who are unable to clean their houses like they used to. And it feels good to get paid well for it! It actually pays better than my office job.

This is a really cool web page: http://www.audiotranscription.org/how-to-make-money/

Well at 56 with a 12th grade education I went back to college after a 38 year hiatus; in 2002 I had a “nervous breakdown” became homeless and was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder; have been on Social Security Disability ever since. The “kicker” is I was never treated for ADHD until now despite the fact that, it was known about since I was 7 (so much for “growing out of it”).

Before I went back to school I went to see a psychollogist via my Vocational Rehabilitation counselor and was advised not to go back to school because of my ADHD and was offered counseling for six months the “upshot” is I just completed my first semester and can proudly say I had stright A’s. (Not bad for someone who was told he “couldn’t make it in college.”) My dream is to be a psychologist a “social scientist” specializing in ADD/ADHD. I figure if Albert Einstein can do it… I can… hey! why not right?

Louie, don’t be afraid to be a “risk taker” that is to say, allow yourself to dream; do it for your family and yourself; from personal experience “self-doubt” has been a defense mechinism I used to sheild myself from failure or should I say success which often preceeds failure.You know it’s true; a person will fail many times before they succeed; failure usually is not the issue, learning from it often is. Living is a “journey” not a destination as an ADDer I am reminded about this lesson daily.

As far as not knowing what you want to do is concerned; you need to DECIDE what you WANT to do then figure out HOW you can do it; then and only then will you be able to overcome the “trapped” feeling. Take the time to “brainstorm” possible career options and don’t limit yourself to working for someone else perhaps you are better off working for yourself. Maybe, going back to school may be an option; Don’t let your age or ADD be a deterent you never know what you can do until you try… Good Luck