ADD friendly jobs

[Anonymous]

I have a dual career path. I’m in IT, which provides some interest, but is waning as I am losing the thrill in it. IT is fun for a visit, but… I don’t like living here. I’m also a personal trainer… in training. haha! I find that when I’m bored, or require a distraction I spend a little time reading about one of my chosen career paths. Productive!

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[billd]

>>What I believe WGreen was referring to was that most ADHD sufferers would have wanted to study for their Bar exams, but hyperfocused their time away on things that would not lead them to this goal, e.g. spending all-nighters playing Madden instead of studying as you wanted and were supposed to have done<<

Yeah – that’s me.

I “got through” school because I was so smart (sorry, it’s not a brag, that’s a report from a psychologist back then) that I didn’t have to study hard, I “just got it”.

I got through survey of american lit without reading a single book cover to cover, but passed the tests. ( I could skim and glance and get what they were trying to say, read into it)

This video REALLY hit home for me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF1YRE8ff1g&feature=related

WOW – it explains me to a T I’m at the very top edge of ADHD, not “just barely” but tend to pass every ADHD test with flying colors. If I needed 26 points to make it, I got over 60. So keeping out of trouble at ANY job is a real effort for me.

Anyway – asking about jobs that are ADD friendly won’t get any good answers IMO. Why? Depends on the boss, the company, YOUR flavor of ADD, and your personality and skills.

I suspect this is why there are ADD tests then there are PERSONALITY tests.

If you put 20 moderate ADD folks into a room and gave them a personality test – there would be 20 different job preferences and at least that many personality types.

Sales? Forget it – my personality is SO “introvert” I’m afraid of making phone calls. HOWEVER, it might be perfect for you.

IMO – there is no best list…….. unless you also consider personalities.

krazykat (not so krazy really) there’s some good points. I used to farm – was SUCCESSFUL as I’m VERY detail oriented and PICKY (ok, anal)

I bought a business with my wife, in a year we upped the gross nearly double – went from 200,000 gross of prior owners to nearly 500,000 in two years.

But alas, after 5 years, I was burnt out, bored, wanted to move on, so we sold it. (and the next owner ran it into the ground and had to close the doors after a couple of years)

I’ve had my own auto repair shop a couple of times. Lasts a couple of years, then I’m bored, or get distracted or can’t keep motivated, start falling behind, etc. and move on.

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[Anonymous]

I’m the same way with being all about something and excelling in it, then getting bored and just saying “eff it what’s next”. I totally agree with the above post, in that you’re not going to get a list of ADD friendly jobs, rather a list of what this person or that person liked and did well in. In the end, you’re just going to have to figure it out on your own and adapt to what you can, and compromise to what you can’t.

I was in naval intelligence with a top secret clearance, and got bored within a year and self destructed my way out of the military. The self destructing, I gotta say, was the most fun and memorable part.

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[Anonymous]

I have a MA in the History of Terrorism, Crime Scene Forensics Certified, Search and Rescue Management Certified and am and Archaeologist. I’ve been out of work for a year and when I send my resume in I’ve actually had HR departments think that it is a joke and someone sent them in Indian Jones’ resume. People often think that I am lieing and can’t believe someone could have done what I have.

It’s easy when you have ADD to do several jobs at the same time, but, people without ADD don’t understand. I need a job and I’m tired of being called a liar!

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[caper]

I’ve been frequently confused by the “I’m a X (insert job here)”, as if someone’s current job defines them. I’ve always thought what I’m doing now has little to do with who I am as a person. It even caused problems in my marriage; I remember my wife saying, “How can you build our house addition – you aren’t a carpenter”.

Like some others here, I find it easy to focus on challenges. That means I tend to spend a lot more time analyzing than doing. I still usually do things (eventually) to find out if my ideas work.

I’ve done a lot of work in IT. I enjoy system optimization (mental challenge) and bug fixing (modest mental challenge with quick feedback by testing).

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[billd]

braiddda – multitasking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWV0pAm43j4&feature=related

I’m wth the doc on this one.I can do multiple tasks – but most won’t be done well, and won’t be remembered, or they will be incomplete.

I’m an auto tech, a mechanic, a “can repair almost anything mechanical person”, but work in IT as I can solve problems and am highly technical and detail oriented. That is in spite of, not because of ADHD…. because a lot of this is in my genes – family history of such things.

I’d be the same as far as technical abilities, etc. without ADHD – but be much more able to put it to great use.

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[Anonymous]

My colleagues and I have always joked that we are ADD, but I really am! Sometimes I think it helps me because I am quick to think on my feet and I am extremely creative. My problem is that menopause is rearing its ugly head along with ADD. I’ve been aware that I had it since I was young. I must have excellent coping mechanisms, but now at 46, I admit that I just can’t do it that way anymore. I feel as if I’m going abolutely bonkers! I finally talked to my physician. It’s difficult to talk with my mom because she says you’re not a hyper person. She doesn’t get that you don’t have to be hyper to be ADD. Something’s got to happen to calm down my racing mind and inability to complete anything or getting sidetracked at every turn. For goodness sake, I am a teacher!

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[Wgreen]

How about human cannonball?

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[Anonymous]

@pete-puma I would love to talk to you more. I’m a corporate paralegal.

I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. They started me on Vyvanse. It worked great for about a week and a half. Then I started coming off of it and turning into Godzilla. I was horribly angry and just wanted to be alone. I knew I had to hurry and change meds. Now I’m on Concerta. I miss the “happiness” that I had with Vyvanse, but I don’t miss the mood swings. I do feel like I concentrated better with Vyvanse, but I still do “ok” with the Concerta.

I’m curious how you handle your day to day activities at work. There are some days where I do great and knock out a ton of stuff. Then there are other days where I struggle to get anything meaningful done.

Can we send direct messages in this forum? I couldn’t find it as I’m still new here. Anyway, I’d love to hear more from anyone in the legal field.

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[Anonymous]

I work for security at the airport. It’s good for me because I’m able to hyperfocus on the xray when I’m in that position, and every day is different when you work with the public. The ADD hampers me in the many tests we have in this job. I get test anxiety and don’t test to my ability at all, especially in practical tests. It also hampers my ability to remain focused in long detailed briefings. I’m hoping that I’ll be better at these skills now that I’ve started taking Adderal.

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[Anonymous]

I don’t like fast paced jobs. I need time to concentrate what I’m doing. I want to look for a job when we move into our house. Any ideas, working from home ideas welcome. I don’t like front end kinds of jobs either.

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[Anonymous]

I’ve been a good student but somehow that hasn’t translated into a job yet. Or maybe I need a new path?

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[billd]

I prefer being the fellow in the background – that’s why I’ve ended up being a designer, or an archetect of systems, and let others deal with the public. In one job I was SO good at their antivirus and security, and had so many ideas, they put me into the role of the designer and archetect of their antivirus systems for the whole corporation world-wide. When there was a “disaster”, I was so focused and in control. One time we got hit hard with something brand new – and I worked a 21 hour shift….. about 2 AM one of the company officers came into my office and asked what direction to go next, and she looked at me and said “you are really enjoying this, aren’t you”? Uh, yes! It was as bad and deep as it could get, things were crashing left and right, and they were trying to regain control, and I was in total control of the situation, giving advice and orders even to those above me. Loved it!

I love restoration work – people assume it’s going to take time and cost big bucks. So with luck, I’ll have some business built up so I can retire some day and do what I WANT to do, instead of what I HAVE to do. I restore parts and systems for classic cars. Love it. I even restored a 1919 Singer sewing machine and wood cabinet. Like new now – sews great, looks great.

I’ve been told I’d be good at security or law enforcement because of my personality – not sure if that’s really ADD related or not…..

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[Anonymous]

I am a prepress specialist. But my bully boss makes everyone do a million things at the same time. As a matter of fact, I can handle it very, very well with the help of 27mg of Concerto everyday. While I do the most work on each day, my boss never stop piling up for me. Which is also NOT an issue. Noone on this planet can beat my speed. However, how much is enough until I will make an error? How am I supposed to meet his expectation when I never set boundaries for myself? No matter how frequent I make an error. He never looked into my work load and make the same comment about me… The problem is, I can see myself improve!! How am I supposed to feel guilty when I don’t even blame myself when I make an error?

Do you think this job fits me or do you think that it is my boss’s problem? … Yeah, I am stressed and I feel so helpless…

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[Anonymous]

Hmm beg to differ. Driving is prob the one thing i CAN do…i know its not safe but im one of those ppl who can eat drink txt adjust the radio and ac look at a map while driving with my knee or ankle and STILL see a potential accident before it has a chance to happen. Im trying to get away from those unsafe practices just to avoid an “i told u so moment” but i attribute my ability to do that to my ADD actually. Driving is severely boring. If i just watch the road i can zone outsometimes n reach my destination without realising it (or worse, reach a diff destination than planned n not realise thats not where i was headed til i get there). When i doball these diff tasks while driving, the road, is my main focus but just enough of my attention is pulled in diff directions to keep me from spacing out. This heightens my focus on the road somehow…idk..its weird. Id NEVER suggest anyone try it but ive never even been in a fender bender. It works for me.

ANYWAY:

The problem is, i pursued a career in something i am absoulutely in love with and is NEVER boring…but is probably the WORST career for ADD ever. Surgical technology. My jobdepends heavily on organization, attention to detail, neatness, multitasking, and basically knowing exacttly where each one of my handreds of instruments/sponges etc are at all times. I cant think of anything id rather do than work in surgery. This drives me to try my hardest but i still am the worst candidate for the job. I suck. Dont get me wrong, i am a brilliant ST. The first kidney trands plant i ever did was by myself and i did it perfectly. But then i can royally screw up a wart removal. Sometimes vice versa. Id do the procedure just fine but id forget to get the dr his gloves or id have everything ready for the procedure but forget ti have a knife for him to start the procedure. Im thinking i need to go back to school n become a surgical PA but ive calculated that unless im in the clinical setting school can keep my attention for a max of 3.5 months before i lose complete control over my piles of messy work and basically give up. What can i do to stay in surgery with add?

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