Hi everyone. I hope this is not a duplicate thread but I was wondering what are the generally accepted employment/careers for adults with ADD? I have been at the recieving end of much ADD discrimination over the years and getting tired of the knockbacks. I also note that there isn't a whole lot of research on this and most of what's there states that ADHD adults typically drift into blue collar jobs with the odd successful business person. I do not accept this. I myself tried a criminal justice career and discovered they don't like people with ADHD although this is not what is said publicly. See my post "peace officer employment".

I'm now doing a law track but was wondering what occupations you've all managed to find in the end? Anyone else had similar knockbacks because of ADHD? Any comment?

WINDUP,

For the past 35 years I've worked for the meanest, slave-driving, son-a-gun employer imaginable. The only redeemable thing bout that b******* is he is as ADHD as me. Then again, he is me.

Had my ups and downs, but (don't mind saying so myself) the SOB paid more than the competition.

If you have the balls, there is nothing like running your own business. The glory of the successes are all yours and so are the ignominious defeats. Justice at its best.

Try it. You'll like it.

Bob - the odd sometimes successful always ADHD bis-man

SURGERY RESIDENT

j/k. but i can only hope.

Thanks for replying Bob. I have a friend who's ADHD and that's exactly what he is doing. I just don't think of myself as a 'leader' that's all. Always had the interest in administrative work and being a productive member of the community.

As for dwightbean... why not as a surgery resident? Why is that a joke? Do you honestly think you would be the first surgeon in the world with a history of ADHD? If you find the work stimulating and are therefore very interested then will this not drive you and keep you motivated?

I have always found that I could manage without meds just as long as I was doing something inherrantly stimulating. If there's no interest then I will probably need a crutch.

I am also self employed and I love it. I do my thing, get paid for it, end of story. No bosses or subordinates.

I love working for myself, and I really couldn't imagine working for someone else at this point. Getting paid for my work instead of getting paid to take up space in some cubicle is great. As is setting my own schedule, deciding myself what work I accept, etc.

However, without a boss to crack the whip, motivation and procrastination are huge issues for me. Just getting paid lots of money isn't enough, because after a while even that gets old (I know, whooda thunk?).

I'm also self employed, and love the work I do, but due to other problems (not ADD related or my fault) I pretty much hate my job at the moment. And because of that my tendencies are kicking my butt at work. Nothing like forgetting to ring customers.

Isn't the best job for someone with ADD a job doing whatever they love, regardless of whether it's sweeping floors or working the floor of a stock market.

Best job I had-personal assistant for a Congresswoman. That was in my home country and since she had a very small office i did a little bit of everything-administrative,PR, typing, research, translation, Christmas Cards..it was very stressful but I never got bored with it. I also loved the flexible schedule...

Important thread.
It seems difficult to anwer thou since ADD can mean so extremely different things e.g. some have restlesness and a drive and some have the opposite. But I will give you my thougts for what it´s worth.

Some place where you can organize your time and efforts by yourself seems to be a good choice, some have suggested working for oneself, but why not a researcher? That has been on my mind for future occupation. But then the energy part is my weakness.

A working-therapist told me that I, considering my diagnosis, would not suit to work in a office landscape, I guess because of the constant impressions from everywhere to sort.
All close collaboratin tasks seems to be difficult for ADD-people of different reasons for different symtoms. I suspect some might not agree with me and I hope I am wrong but...

I found a link to books categorized as "ADD and work": http://www.livingwithadd.com/bookswork.shtml

I think self-employment and ADD go very well together. I also think jobs with lots of variety, for example, freelance work. Law interested me for awhile, and maybe could long term, but I need to find a way to avoid doing the same types of cases more than once.

Wow this is really interesting reading responses. Thanks everyone! It's interesting how many people go into self employment! Danne - I did try a job as an office admin assistant at one time but it was too routine. The data entry, answering phones and filing - really found it boring. I tended to make routine errors and waste constantly trying to cover up my ADHD. Don't get me wrong I was competant at the job I just found it a 'chore'.

The only office jobs I have done well in are the senior ones where you can have control over your own work environment - the rest are all difficult. Talk about trial and error!

I am a delivery person for a small company, I don't have a certain time I have to leave my house, as long as I make my stops my boss is good with it. My customes love me because they get the very best of me for the few minutes I am with them. Alot of freedom. I can't work for myself because I do need some structure.

I'm in lean manufacturing. The best thing about this job is that I basically find better ways to accomplish tasks. ADHD really helps with this because I can imagine how I could lock this procedure down for me. If it's me-proof, then, for the most part, it's fool-proof.

Hey, I'm an Assistant General Manager for a restaurant. I've always found that I work better under high stress situations. Although this wears me out and I've had my "off" nights...lol, an understatement! but I love what I do. I love the pace and the fact that no day is ever the same. I will have my own restaurant one day, but I have two small kids now, and it's not the time. Always thought it would be nice to have a regular 9-5 with nights and weekends off... acutally taught school for a year working with an autistic child, but couldn't seem to get anything else done will all that free time. My best friend finally told me her thoughts, she said I was bored... lol... she was right. After my divorce I went back to what I know....and got a lucky with a pretty good company.
I've also done drilling and blasting... talk about a rush! Wouldn't mind doing that again!