Hey everyone,

I'm a 23 year old going back to school in Fall 2008--was supposed to be going back this fall but for various reasons beyond my control am having to wait. So in the meantime, I'm working fulltime as a secretary--I've had a lot of experience in this, however those were all temp jobs, except the last one I had where I was working in England and the work I was doing was extremely easy--my favourite being using a dichtophone where I could plug myself into the earphones and not have to worry about the phone ringing and other annoyances--and there was the novelty of it all, not to mention having a boss I really admired, who I didn't want to let down.

Now, moving back to canada, I've had to take a job through a temp agency with an insurance brokerage--I'm a receptionist and also the only admin in the office. This has been a huge challenge, for one thing not having had any insurance experience (even in the real world--my parents used to always take care of it for me) and having to be the backbone of the office.

At first it was at least a challenge... now I just find it, and the idea of being in the insurance industry at all, a big, fat bore. And also so stressful. I get praised for picking up on things quickly and being good with computers, but when it comes to the little things--keeping a tidy desk, always having a cheerful demeanour when answering the phone, remembering to bring the newspaper in from outside first thing in the morning, tidying up dishes, and all the little mistakes I invariably make--even though I take a very heavy dose of Dexedrine (the only reason I can keep this job at all)... .well I'm afraid my dirty little secret is slowly leaking out. I'm a disorganizational disaster. And my mostly female office just love to pick up on each and every little error they can find, and then whisper gossip about it in their offices.

Next year I'm majoring in English Lit. and getting my Bachelor of Arts... There's only two good things that've come out of my current job: health insurance and an appreciation for higher education that will last me through the hard times in university. I am never, ever going back to this crap. At 23, I get away with lacking in enthusiasm, but at 53, well I don't think it would go down as well.

It's not that I think I'm above it all or anything, but it's just so toxic to my personality. Everyone wants to talk about chit-chat or office gossip, that's all right with me (well not so much gossip which just makes me even more uneasy) but I mostly like to sit those conversations out and just listen--but that's given me a reputation for being a bit "surly". When I try to make an effort to be the fantastic, cheerful "first-impression" they want me to be, I end up coming off as more vapid than charming.

Anyone else have/had similar jobs? I would love to commiserate with other surly secretaries (or anyone else in a similar position), and especially to hear ways to cope!!!

I hate *****y female work environments. Sorry to hear you are going thru this.

Poor munky_do I feel for you! I wish I could offer you good advice, but I consistently sucked at every secretary-type job I ever had (and that was before broadband internet access...). What can I say? Try to be on time, never neglect dishwasher duty (there must be a chart somewhere) and think about fall 2008 a lot. Sometimes it helps to set yourself a time challenge, especially with really repetitive tasks, such as putting 10000 letters into envelopes. But most of the work is a horrible drag.

Frankly, if I were you I'd look for another job. Office environments can make you utterly miserable, especially if there's a lot of gossiping going on. Let me guess: people also talk about their weight a lot? Aargh, flashbacks... :faint: There's no winning this one, but maybe you can stick it out. Always remember: it's only for a year, there are 128 more hours in a week, and as soon as you start college again you really won't care if anybody at the office liked you or not
:)

Hang in there!

Munky do....
I can definately relate!
I feel for you....here is my story.
Was working as a fulltime Firefighter/Paramedic (no problems with stimulation there:D )....got preggo with baby #2....left the job (schedule too crazy---especially since hubby still does it--yep some jealousy there,:( but thats another post!) then I tried to stay at home...needed more money and now I sit behind a desk by myself for 12 hours a day (only 3 days a week) and am BORED stiff! And it recently got harder....the company took away all streaming capabilities (no more video/music :faint: ) and now I have to find new ways to keep me busy...
PS...did I tell you my office is about the size of a cubicle with no windows????
Yep...this is the job that pointed me to Ritalin! LOL!

I am never, ever going back to this crap.I have had many many jobs and I have found that there is always some kind of office politics going on and that cant be avoided. it just seems that someplaces are worse than others.
my mostly female office just love to pick up on each and every little error they can find, and then whisper gossip about it in their offices.
now a place that has this going on tells me that there is not good job secerity going on and that the only way to feel like they are going to stay is to make each other look bad. thats too bad. this is often fostered by bad management, keep the people underthem upset and at eachothers throats and they feel they can control them better. what they fail to see is that with great team work there is so much more that can be accomplished. this is not the place to work.
It's not that I think I'm above it all or anything, but it's just so toxic to my personality. Its like being at a work place where all the people whine about what is wrong, and in a way that is what they are doing when they gossip. so I understand what you are going thru, it is nice to hear something about solutions.
my best advice is to bide your time, do your best and then when you can move on and up. the gossipers will still be clawing and scratching at one another and you will be in a better place.

yeh i agree, any office type job not only is terribly boring but its deadly for ADD people.

A few years ago i had to go back to germany to do my millitary service even though i had never lived there or wasnt born there (my parents are german). I decided to do it even though i had the chance to opt. out and it turned out to be the best experience ever. I learned so much about myself and it built my character. The whole military thing was very ADD friendly.

When i left i tried to stay on but there are no vacancies available as Germany is currently undergoing a crisis believe it or not. Both places i was stationed do not exist anymore and everyone decides to stay on because its easy money and little risk. In other countries theyre desperately seeking recruitment.

What im trying to show is my experience and how desk-bound jobs are bad for ADD people. Im currently working behind a desk in some stupid little shop in my hometown serving customers. Although i dont do much half of the time it bores the hell out of me and any paper work just drives me up the wall because i get it all wrong and im drifting in my ADD fog most of the time. I cant stand the moaning customers as i have a short fuse and hate unimportant things. We had a female secretary who was pretty false and get catty sometimes but fortunately she left.
Im currently serving part-time as a volunteer fireman which gives me some fulfilment and break from the bulls**t.

For years im trying to find my pathand a way out but i feel like im always going round in circles. I seem to hear the same story from ADD people... avoid office type jobs!!

I am more of a listener too. I like to see what people are about before I put my two cents in. I am thought to be stuck up or shy until you get to know me.

what are good jobs for adhd ers??

I could have written what you did. I've been looking for a new job for months. In the meantime, things have fallen apart to the extent that I've had to disclose or get fired.

I'm totally unsuited for my job. You have my sympathy. Luckily a year goes quickly.

I now work with all men and love it

what are good jobs for adhd ers??
I think good jobs vary between different personalities, and also the level of treatment people are taking for their ADD, or whether they decide to use treatment at all, but I think for ADD-ers the one thing that is a must is that there needs to be some kind of novelty or passion in it somewhere and, most importantly, FLEXIBILITY and being allowed to make a few messes here and there!

I can't believe you have even been able to stick with a difficult job like that, I work as a stylist just cutting hair mainly and love it but the pay is not great. I started this at 30, and before that i was an exotic dancer for like 10 years. had very low self-esteem due to undiagnosed add and bipolar, and felt that dancing allowed me freedom, decent money, and i wouldnt have to be treated like crap in a low wage add unfriendly job. now that i know wish i could take back all those lost years i could have maybe avoided dancing. it was so hard to get out. anyway sorry talkin bout myself too much. bottom line if u really want to get out of that job, make baby steps toward something else. take aptitude tests, what do u enjoy the most in your private life, hobbies, values, something u would do for free. try not to worry about the money cause it wont bring u satisfaction if u hate what u do everyday and watch the clock till u can leave. good luck, monica:)

To the OP...blergh, totally hear you on the frustrations. You've probably already done this, but there are plenty of articles posted in the stickies here on ADHD/ADD in the workplace, and plenty more resources online - if you haven't already, there might be some tips and tricks that you'd find helpful.

The one thing that keeps me sane when I've done "desk jobs" is making endless lists of thing to do...even keeping a daily "to do" list on my desk so I know I'm doing everything I'm supposed to and suchlike - at least for me, having a daily to do list has helped cut down on the stress of keeping so many tasks going at once.


Anyhoo, good luck and best wishes, and congrats on your return to school - so sorry to hear it had to be postponed - I can also relate to that, it's been two years since I finished undergrad and for various reasons I'm finnnnalllly going back to school this fall...and let me tell you, I will NEVER complain about writing papers in the same way I once did!