Best Jobs for people with ADHD

Finding a job can involve things that many neurotypical see as ‘normal’ but might be more difficult when you are neurodivergent

Finding the best jobs for people with ADHD will be different to other people and made a bit more difficult because of the way people with ADHD process information.

Many myths persist about the condition which makes it difficult for those that live with ADHD to seek effective support or to understand what kinds of jobs really suit them.

The following advice does not represent all that a person with ADHD can do but helps identify what might be good jobs for people with ADHD.

ADHD can affect people in different ways and depends on what type of ADHD they have. Some may experience more hyperactivity and impulsivity, while others might struggle with inattention.

Having a clear understanding of what your strengths and weaknesses are is the key to knowing what kind of work will be the right fit for you.

The following are important characteristics of work you should think about:

The pace of the job

For some people with ADHD, a fast-paced work environment is best as they can minimise the bouts of boredom and combat a reduced attention span.

Jobs with a lot of action and intensity require quick-thinking and adaptability and utilise the strengths that are common for people with ADHD.

This type of role may not suit you if you need clear instruction and processes to follow, however, as the chaotic nature of your workday could exacerbate your inattentiveness.

Variety in your day

Boredom and a short attention span are consistent challenges for those with ADHD so a job that provides a lot of variety is key to keeping focused.

This could mean every day is different in the tasks that you do, or it might mean that training and education are an integral part of your role so you are always growing.

Amount of structure in the role

Another way that people with ADHD can thrive is with structure. Whether that means a job with clear protocols and procedures, or that your daily tasks are consistent and easily measurable.

The level of structure can help minimise the effects of inattention and help with the inability to see through tasks.

Some people with ADHD might have trouble with being constrained in this way and need more freedom.

Creative jobs for people with ADHD

Creative jobs harness the deep imagination and inventiveness of people with ADHD.

• Artist: If you enjoy project work and the monotony of a regular workday don’t suit you, then a job as an artist might be for you.

  Whether you are illustrating, creating installations or using other forms to create pieces of art, there are lots of opportunities to get the creative juices flowing.

  You may also find unique applications of your art. Applying your skills in sculpture to create furniture or animation for games and TV for example.

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• Marketing: Jobs in the marketing space are great for people with ADHD that need a balance of structure and creative outlets. It can also be quite a broad industry.

  You may feel at home with data analysis and strategy, or design might be right if the path of an artist isn’t quite the right fit for you.

  Your day will be filled with tasks that keep you focussed as well as longer more creative projects to implement.

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• Journalism: Chasing down leads and finding the scoop as a journalist is a great use of your determination and curiosity.

  You might have aspirations to be in front of the camera one day or you might wish to pursue hard-hitting exposes’.

  Deadlines are great to help keep you on task and keep the focus on what needs to get done.

   

Education jobs for people with ADHD

• Teacher’s aide: Becoming a teacher’s aide is a great way to share your passion and enthusiasm with students that may not necessarily love school.

  You will have the structure of the school day to guide you but the different classes every day will keep you from being bored. Who knows you might even learn something new!

  With minimal requirements to enter the job, it would also be a great way to test the waters of working in a school before committing to a degree if you want to be a teacher.

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• High school teacher: The best teachers rely on their genuine nature to connect with a room full of hormonal teenagers. But they are also gifted with the resilience to deal with those same teenagers every day!

  Keeping focussed on a job like this is easy when you have the structure of the school year but the variety of classes and personalities to teach.

  You are also lucky to share the passion you have for your teaching subjects in imaginative and creative ways.

Technical jobs for people with ADHD

• Accountant: The deep analytical skills of a person that can hyper-focus might mean accounting or financial work is a great fit.

  Clear processes and rules to follow provide the structure you may need in your daily routine to keep on task

  The consistency of repetitive daily tasks will help in remembering information and help with mind wandering too

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• Web developer: A growing field with a balance between the hyper-focus needed to get big projects done while also allowing lots of variety with different clients.

  Once you get the hang of coding there is also the constant progression of technology for you to keep up with and stay engaged.

  For those that may struggle at the thought of university, there are many free resources to learn the skills needed to work in this field to.

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• Tradesmen: There are a lot of different fields when it comes to the trades industry. The variety of work available also means you can work in massive construction projects to maintaining or renovating homes.

  With the scope of jobs available you can find something that works for your personality whether it be more delicate electrical work or more physical work like bricklaying. Not to mention the industry is crying out for workers and there are plenty of financial benefits to being a tradesperson.

Service jobs for people with ADHD

• Hairdresser: If you want a job that blends technical proficiency with a creative flair and meeting and talking to a lot of people hairdressing could be a great choice.

  The variety of people you meet means you don’t have a chance to get bored and you very rarely have much time to spare so you don’t have time for the mind to wander.

  Another job that is in demand so finding one might be easier than you think.

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• Chef: If you work better with a clear chain of progression in your tasks yet you want a little bit of creative flair too, why not be a chef

  Being a chef could take you all over the world and cooking all kinds of cuisines keeping you interested and enthused.

  One thing about being a chef though, service time is service time so sticking to that routine for preparing meals is a must if you want to succeed

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• Sales: The routine of each day is broken apart by every new customers unique problem.

  You can use your curious nature and outside of the box thinking to come up with the right solution for your customers using the products you sell.

  The honest and genuine nature of many people with ADHD is also a surprisingly good trait for a salesperson. Many people appreciate not being ‘sold’ to.

High-intensity jobs for people with ADHD

While there is lots of downtime this is generally filled with study training and physical exercise to prepare you for emergencies.

Once there is a fire of course it’s all action and you will rely on your resilience and determination to ensure everyone comes home safe and danger is averted.

• Nurse: If you are passionate about caring for people but need a high-pressure job to keep you motivated nursing could be the right fit.

  The structure provided by how health procedures must be performed can keep you on task and focused. The high stakes of the job keep you engaged however, and you will rarely be bored.

• Firefighter: If only the most adventurous of jobs can keep you engaged then being a firefighter could be a great job for people with ADHD.

  While there is lots of downtime this is generally filled with study training and physical exercise to prepare you for emergencies.

  Once there is a fire of course it’s all action and you will rely on your resilience and determination to ensure everyone comes home safe and danger is averted.

What is “Neurodiversity”

Neurodiverse is a broad term that encompasses people with a variety of mental health conditions and disabilities. Neurodiversity is about celebrating the differences within each of us and how our minds all work in unique ways. These differences can result in unique strengths which can benefit the right work environments.

Benefits of diversity

There are many benefits to hiring a diverse team including greater job satisfaction, and a stronger, more connected team. A workforce that includes those with neurodiversity can also lead to significant improvement in creativity, innovation, and problem-solving within teams.

Financially it makes sense too. People with a disability tend to stay with the same company for longer and take fewer days of absence than their peers^[1]

References:

[1].Disability statistics - Australian Network on Disability (and.org.au)