It’s projected that 1 in 20 people in Australia suffer from some degree of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and it tends to be more prevalent in males. The presence of ADHD can present sufferers looking for employment with some added challenges; mostly pertaining to the types of jobs they are capable of doing and actually focusing on. Individuals with ADHD process information differently from people who don’t have the disorder. Therefore, this can limit job opportunities to a degree.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at possible jobs for people with ADHD. If you are living with ADHD and are currently looking for work, you might want to consider the following suggestions and advice.
Some Key Things To Consider for ADHD Job Seekers
Some ADHD sufferers struggle to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time while others constantly feel like they want to be on the move due to hyperactivity. Determine which of these is the most dominant with your type of ADHD and you’ll gain a better understanding of where your strengths and weaknesses will lie when it comes to holding down a job.
You might want to look for work in a fast-paced environment, for example, or any type of position that doesn’t require you to sit still and remain focused on something for hours on end. You’ll also want to seek jobs that offer a lot of variety, as boredom can be a big problem for people with ADHD. Variety means you possibly get to move around and you also only have to focus on a particular task for a shorter period of time.
Having a job with structure and clear guidelines can also be a positive for someone with ADHD, as this structure helps you to maintain a better focus and increase your attention span.
The most important thing is to really know yourself and what you are capable of doing. No one is going to know this better than you.
Job Suggestions for People With ADHD
One area you might want to consider is something that’s creative. There are many job roles out there that have a creative element, so there are lots to pick from. Just some suggestions out of the many available opportunities include writing jobs, photography, architecture, graphic design, web design, video production, content creation, becoming an artist, illustrator, video game creator, sculpting, and many more job possibilities. Even things like designing and building furniture are creative. So many people with ADHD tend to be creative or pursue creative roles.
Hospitality jobs can be a great fit for people with ADHD, especially if you feel like you want to be on the move all the time. Working as the wait staff or in a busy kitchen environment can be just the ticket, as you get to be on your feet moving around and there can also be a lot of variety during a shift. Catering is another area of the hospitality industry to consider, as you’ll be attending different venues all the time.
Working in a trade has proven to be another popular choice and a good fit for people living with ADHD. Tradework generally involves a lot of variety in the work you are doing and the places you get to work. There is also a degree of creativity attached to many trades. Even a tradesperson’s assistant can work out well.
Sales is an area where there are so many different job possibilities available and salespeople are always needed all around the country. You get to meet a variety of people all throughout the day, which breaks up the monotony and keeps things interesting. People don’t enjoy being “sold to”, so if you’re one of the many people who have ADHD and you have that typical honest and genuine nature, sales could be a rewarding and lucrative career path.
Other roles to consider include:
- Education and teaching
- Jobs in the service industry
- Positions in finance
- Delivery driver roles
- Marketing
- And more…
The Takeaway
When you know yourself and have an understanding of what your strengths are when living with ADHD, you’ll discover there are loads of jobs out there that you will thrive in and possibly make some really good money as well.
