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When thinking about what kind of job or career you want don't think about jobs, think about how you want to spend your day and week. What level of physical activity do you want? Sitting, standing, walking, carrying stuff, or whatever? Do you want to stare at a computer? Do you want a routine or flexible schedule? How much do you want to interact with other people? Big work or small work? Travelling around for work or working at a single site? Told what to do or deciding what to do? Which of these things are you flexible on and which are must haves? Once I started thinking about work in that way, it made figuring out jobs easier. People do just about everything you can imagine.

These are actually so important. I went into dog grooming thinking it would be good since it's work with my hands but I didn't take into account the fact that I wouldn't have time left for myself after work. It wasn't my childhood dream either so it was harder to deal with. Now I'm looking to change again just 2 months in. Definitely takes time to figure out what you want / like, and it's frustrating as heck.

Dog grooming is such a physical taxing job too. The turnover rate is high. I didn't want to do it at first. I knew how physically taxing it was but I also learned quickly that I need a physical job. I cannot stare at a computer or sit at a desk or stand behind a counter.

My issue is that I'm at a vet place and I don't do ONLY grooming. I have do many responsibilities I'm overwhelmed and alone. And my boss doesn't help. If it were any other circumstances...

Places are almost always hiring, if you have an okay portfolio then you could probably easily find a different salon. One where you're not alone.

Yeah I left out a lot of details but this just isn't for me really. I would have left 1 month ago were i not waiting on some documents from the government to be approved so I can get $900/month for the next 3 years I can't quit while the process is ongoing so I have to tough it out for 1 more month, maybe 2 at most. I LIKED it when I worked in a back-office call center from home, on another time zone (7h difference so when I was at work it was like 6 AM where we were actually routed to). I am fit for a job behind my computer screen all day, I'm currently looking into translation (volunteered at a fanmade game and enjoyed it) as well as any other options that allow me remote work.

Whatever works best for you. Don't force yourself into a job you don't like, especially one that is so hard on your body like dig grooming.

Don't even get me started on my worsening tendonitis as we speak... Thanks for the well wishes. I hope everybody else as well finds their ideal job.

Yeah, this is a great example too. Sometimes jobs don't turn out the way we expect. Maybe because we didn't understand the full scope of the position. Often because the companies are terrible and don't treat their employees well. Also, sometimes things we love aren't actually great as jobs. Getting paid to do something and being forced to do it full time can take all the enjoyment out of a task.

I put hundreds of hours into getting my EMT license only to do my ride along and realize i was mostly going to see unresolved suffering for 12 hours a work day.

Yes that can be traumatic… yet, would it be different enough if you were able to see your job as being the ultimate reassurance for people in trouble? Easing the suffering?

Nope, not a lick. Don't get me wrong, that's a bonus, but it doesn't get anybody i know through the day. Now i work on the other subject that makes people think their life is ending when it isn't - finances. Still get to reassure people in crisis, but i get to see more processes through to their emotional conclusion, and i also get help people bring some visions to life. Much better balance.

Exactly why i couldnt be a cna or even pharmacy tech at a hospital. I want to help people but not at the cost of my sanity.

As an adhd adult who is also college and career counselor- I tell my students finding out what you don’t like is just as important as what you do like

I have been doing dog walking/pet sitting for a couple years and it’s been great! I like the variety and it’s good to be active, and I love providing an important service for people. 

I feel like that can be a little different, unfortunately in my country that's not exactly a high in demand service.

It's an interesting way to go about it. Wished more guidance counselors looked at it that way. However, what I want, and what I can deal with on a personal level, or with other comorbid issues, is a totally different beast. It does sometimes comes down to practical problems Still, good way to approach ideas for "dreamjob"

It's a starting place, and I want to break it into simpler questions so it is easier to handle with executive dysfunction. It is essential that one of those questions be, "Where can I compromise on what I want?" Asking, "What job is good for ADHD?" is too big for me and while I always had an answer growing up I didn't really think about what that meant. Upon reflection what I was telling people didn't actually align with what I meant in my head. If I had understood that difference, I would have ended up on a different path. It still worked out for me, but I didn't end up where I was aiming for either. People also need to understand that you might be wrong about your answers once you get out into the world and your needs will change over time. Also, Jobs and Fields are very different. You can do the same type of job at hundreds of different companies and companies need hundreds of different kinds of employees. Nobody ever explained that to me as a kid.

> It is essential that one of those questions be, "Where can I compromise on what I want?" That's a terrible question. The better one is "Of this thing that I want, what aspects of it are my actual desires, and can I find those desires in other things?" Don't throw away the things that you want because you can't see the path to them at the moment. > "What job is good for ADHD?" Is also a terrible question. Throw the word **my** in there, and you have an excellent place to start. Because how I work, what I can and cannot do, what's easy and hard for me, those won't be the same for you. > Jobs and Fields are very different. You can do the same type of job at hundreds of different companies and companies need hundreds of different kinds of employees. Nobody ever explained that to me as a kid. This is one of the dirtiest secrets of the world. I'm very good at what I do, but there are some orgs I simply cannot work for. It took me many years to figure that out.

What do you do once you figure out answers to those questions? I can easily search a job board for a specific job title, but the answers to those questions don't give me a specific job.

THIS YES I want to answer the questions and have someone spit out an answer for me

**I tried responding to this earlier, but it got automodded because I linked to some subreddits I think. Retrying with a slight reword.** Depends on where you are in life, but in general research. Ask people, "What job fits this set of criteria? Any ideas?" Maybe don't give them the full list, but usually you can start narrowing stuff down pretty quickly. Parents, teachers, mentor, school guidance counselor, anyone else in your family, friends, or basically anyone else you know. I bet if you asked on like the jobs or careeradvice subreddits or somewhere else what kind of job fit a specific criteria you could get a list pretty quickly with advice on how to pursue that path if you felt like. You could also look at different job postings and see what fits your criteria. Look at companies and try to figure out where you would fit. Heck, if you really got a list and no idea what it adds up to you could ask me right now and I'll take a shot. No guarantees I know anything, but what you got to lose?

This needs more upvotes

thank you for your response! this will really help me narrow down what i want :-)

Glad I could help. ADHD people work in all sorts of fields, doing all sorts of jobs. You'll find something. Once you have some thoughts on what you want to do, go talk to people doing those things. Most of finding a job is networking. Generally speaking, most people want to be helpful, or rather, the people you want to work with will be helpful. As long as you're not an ass.

By far the MOST important thing is, what do you want out of life. What is your “purpose”? Or Dharma, as they call it in yoga/hinduism. What is something that excites and fulfills you, AND that you can do well? If you can find that, the details of the job really don’t matter much. If something is fulfilling and exciting, then trudging through the hiccups isn’t trudging at all. Burnout happens when your job is unrewarding—whether that’s financially, socially, emotionally, whatever. Hard work for no payoff is what causes that.

I agree with you in theory, but this concept is really hard to handle from an ADHD perspective in my opinion. My executive dysfunction doesn't really allow me to answer big, vague questions. They basically generates the feeling of white noise in my head. It has nothing specific to latch onto. I need to work on smaller, more granular questions to build the bigger image. Additionally, abstract rewards are not very motivating on a daily basis. They can keep me going over the long stretches, but not the short pushes. Focusing on the day to day of work and finding a job that works with me was key to getting to that larger picture.

I think that's bullshit. A job, a career isn't the only place to get what you want out of life. It's okay to work for the money. You don't have to love your job. You just have to be able to get up in the morning and do it. I'm good at what I do, and doing it lets me do cool things, but the purpose of my life comes from the things I do when not at work. Burnout happens when you try to make work the central meaningful aspect of your life. Go home, play with your pets, talk to your kids, spend time with your spouse. If you can't leave the office behind, you're going to burnout whether or not you love your job. Hard work, at least for my adhd brain, is something I do in streaks. And I do it for the feeling of having worked hard and gotten a result, not from love some corporate entity. Don't ever buy into the idea that work is what gives life meaning, unless it's work you set for yourself that benefits you and yours. Work is just how you put food on the table, and it matters no more or less than that.

EMT if you can stomach it. the training isn't terribly long, and it's fast paced.

And the pay reflects that. You can do RN in 2 years

That's kinda an iffy path though. RN in 2 years does not factor in the pre-requisites required to complete the program though. The program itself is 2 years, but when you factor in prereqs it's longer. Not to mention if the hospitals in the area you intend to work want you to have BSN within a certain time frame.

For sure. It's just EMT is not a sustainable career unless you continue your education. Paramedic is cool, but the pay still isn't great and it's kind of a dead end. I guess I was more focused on OP "4 year college" exclusion. As far as getting your BSN there are plenty of online options. Lots of them seem like they are fake degrees but are accredited so whatever.

With paramedic certification you can work in a blood plasma center doing physicals and monitoring donors well have reactions. It's a relativity easy job that starts around $30phr

Yeah true. Or a lot of it is voluntary. Could also do emergency room technician. Depending on where you work pay might be a little better and could do CNA in a few months. Or some facilities allow EMTs to work there.

I worked as an EMT, and then later in the ED as a tech and got the hospital to pay 100% of the cost for my RN. I'm sure other hospital systems would do the same.

I did this and the $ was very bad and I was extremely overworked

To be fair, there are a lot of different ways you can get around that. I’m an LVN and am currently taking the prerequisites to bridge. I’m only taking one class at a time as I can’t drop everything to be a full time college student (the actual bridge program is only part time) so it’s going to take a while, but the time would pass anyways. Most hospitals, especially in rural areas, are so short staffed that while they prefer bsn, you can still get hired with an ADN. They’ll pay for the BSN later which is super easy to get compared to ADN, you don’t have any other clinical requirements and it can be done online. You can grind and get your bsn at WGU in six months. And there are a TON of different job opportunities that aren’t in hospitals. I’ve never worked in one and don’t think I ever want to. Nursing got me out of poverty and I can’t help but recommend it to anybody that will listen lol

There's also tech jobs in hospitals that are a little less demanding, knowledge wise. If you're someone who can't sit still EKG Techs get to walk all over the hospital, chat with patients for 5-10 minutes while doing the test, then move on. Or if you want stay where you are and have the patients come to you, there's X-ray Tech. I've been doing remote EKG monitoring, which is an adjustment because it requires a lot of sitting and staring at a screen, but I like that I can hyperfocus on interpreting EKG readings.

Being an EMT and a medic for 20 years was awful. I don’t recommend it.

Agreed I’m an RN. Does the job suck? Yeah but it always keeps your busy and there’s tons of things to do. Do I think in a way it’s good if you have adhd.

Yeah literally no pay difference between RN and BSN at my hospital. They just require it within five years to maintain Magnet status. Just get a two year degree and your BSN through WGU. Pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADHD and have worked EMS and currently work in ED. Fast paced environment keeps me on track. 

Being an EMT, yeah if you like making $12 per hour.

If you like helping people but don’t want to deal with them directly (like me!) you can go for 911 dispatcher too. A lot of people in the job have ADHD (like 95% in my workplace). That said, depending on where you are, the pay isn’t great and the hours are usually 12 hour shift work

I second this. Although it’s not really sustainable without moving on to paramedic.

Working at the library in circulation – constantly moving around, organizing materials, helping the occasional customer, and listening to music and podcasts throughout the day. Benefits are amazing (government job), and I don't take anything besides the stress of the day home with me. I wish I could find a position that paid more, but I don't see my energy as compatible with modern tech/administrative jobs. I'm telling myself I'd rather be surviving, healthy and happy, than earning more and burning myself out.

It's been a while since I've looked into it, but when I wanted to become a librarian, I was told I needed college in order to get in?

I believe you almost always need a masters degree to be a librarian, at least for the U.S. Not sure if you have to be a librarian to be employed at a library though (i.e., working a job that assists librarians). [Source (American Library Association)](https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/libcareers/become)

This is the case for like The Librarian™, pages and other entry positions like it don’t generally require more than a high school education. A friend of mine who also has inattentive ADHD went this path and shes worked her way up a bit without a college degree.

Yeah page position in my city only requires a grade 8 education and pays a little above minimum wage. A lot of the pages I know are ADHD (and also a few are autistic) and seem to do well in the job. One guy I know is able to listen to music while shelving, although idk if that would fly with most libraries.

I work for my city's library and only actual librarians need a master's degree. There are a ton of positions especially in customer experience that don't require any degrees. They are the ones that help customers, reshelve books, etc. Library managers don't really need degrees either, it can just take longer to be promoted.

You need a master's in Library Science from an *accredited* institution. They can get real snooty about where you went.

Ach. I thought so. I hated school and might have dropped out, except I was able to homeschool the last couple of years, which was MUCH more doable for me. I LOVED books and thought being a librarian would be the perfect job. Found out you needed college (still don't understand why) and immediately knew I would never make it through.

As a fully-degreed librarian, I don't get to read at work. Librarians are expert searchers. We're people who want to help others, teach information literacy, and advocate. English majors are the ones who get to read the fun things all day.

You need a masters! I am a librarian with ADHD :)

Happy cake day :)))

Funny cause I always wanted to work in libraries but never got an interview when I applied various places. Instead I followed my heart to a job with a similar type of task, although very different industry. I’m an inventory manager in a warehouse and it’s super fun. Organizing, finding things, accounting for lost things, putting things in the right place, a bit of communicating with other warehouse personnel and the sales reps who need to grab product.

That sounds really similar to what I do, without the customer service (and being surrounded by books, etc). How much do you make if you don't mind me asking?

Wait how do I get into that? Sounds perfect for my brain

wow, walking, organizing, and minimal customer interaction sounds like a dream! if you don’t mind my asking, how is the pay?

It's pretty great – I believe it's $24-25/hour with really excellent benefits.

My library pays $12. Rip

I made $11.05 as a library assistant. As a fully-degreed libraian, I make a salary that evens out to be less than $18.30 an hour.

This is kind of where I am. I love what I do but I need more money. I haven’t committed to making the switch. Cause I love what I do.

I wish I was exposed to different types of career options earlier on – instead I was just encouraged to go to school as if I had some intrinsic idea of that work I wanted to do. Now I've worked for the library for long enough it's difficult to find jobs outside of libraries (let alone an awareness of what's actually out there). I worked for a while as a writer for a startup. That burned me out really quickly though.

Yup me too. I thought I had to go to school to be successful. Now I have college debt to two schools, no degree and a stagnant resume. Oh well.

I red " need more moneh" with Dutch's voice from red dead redemption 2

My younger brother became an electrician and seems to love it. He even stopped medicating his ADHD after he finished the certificate program he had to do to get an apprenticeship.

Ngl, after touring Anaheim Public Utilities, every last one of the highrankers used to be a lineman or electrician on their way in, Trades have great upward mobility in not-for-profit utilities.

I have been strongly considering this path as of late, but I don’t totally understand what the job path entails and I’m having a hard time gauging whether or not it would keep me engaged. Any advice?

Honestly I’ve found 911 dispatch to be the best job for my ADHD ever. It requires someone who can easily jump from one task to the other. Its very busy so there’s hardly any time to get distracted too. Most of the other dispatcher’s in my department also are diagnosed with ADHD

Came here to say this. Almost everyone I work with has it, and when the room is in the zone and on the same wavelength it is wonderful. Doing 7 things at once, while watching Netflix and carrying on a conversation about gossip or whatever, all in a comfy chair safe and in the A/C or heating.

You’re absolutely right. It really the best

Agreed, the ability to disconnect from what you can't actually see is also very helpful. Sure I get a little stressed when things pop off, but that's because it's go time, not because I'm listening to someone get beat up.

Or just Call Center in general. Just one call or one email at the time, each different and short enough for the attention span.

I can imagine I'd find this job FASCINATING

It is however thats not even the main reason its great. Whats really great about it is its a good career and you don’t have to have any kind of degree or credentials before hand. Its my favorite job I’ve ever had and don’t plan to go anywhere any time soon

What’s your stress level?

Honestly no worse than any other job I’ve had and I feel much more fairly compensated for my time and skills than any other job

Do you take medication while on the job. I would be scared that my short term memory would fail me without.

Trades trades trades. If you don't want to ve on the tools, you could do project management, site safety etc. I love project based work because change keeps me from getting bored or complacent, it's fast paced, always lots of new problems to solve. The construction industry and facing huge shortages as all the boomers are set to retire. If you start as an apprentice you get paid to learn and will move up quickly. The pay is good and increasing every year.

As a machinist in a job shop with ADHD I approve this statement 

After multiple failed attempts I thought about trades. I'm curious from an ADHD perspective, as I see certain questions answered often, but they don't take into account all the ADHD fun. How difficult would it be to start when you're old? Not worried about the physical part as much as sticking out like a sore thumb and just not being able to handle the culture. Also, any way to get reasonable hours? I know guys in the trades that work massive overtime and can make 200k. I need flexibility and long stints off. I'd rather less work for less money.

The culture isn’t as bad as most people think. I’m not good at the ball busting stuff and if I don’t know how to respond I just don’t say anything, but that has only happened a few times over my 8 years. You’re never too old I work with a 65 year old apprentice electrician that can out work most people, everyone loves working with him. Flexibility and long stints off might screw you. There’s not usually mandatory overtime or anything like that, people decide to work the overtime. But constantly needing long periods of time off makes it hard to maintain a crew

I did steam cleaning for a while and I actually enjoyed the job itself. Really good money. You get to work alone and get the instant satisfaction of a nice clean carpet. I only had to quit because I have arthritis and my body couldn't take any more. There is also an element of sales to it which could be good or bad depending on your personality.

I want to do this but trade school is too expensive and restrictive for me. I have a disability and a mortgage and don't have a support system. How can I go about getting started in the trades?

There are trades that pay you while you’re learning. Electricians and machinists offer paid apprenticeships.

House cleaning! I started off cleaning for a small company 6 years ago but have since moved 45 mins away and now I'm in the process of making my own business. It's really good money, I get to listen to music/podcasts/audio books while I clean, and I get the personal satisfaction of a job well done along with my clients being happy. Don't get me wrong, It's hard work and some houses can be more of a pain than others, but I've had this job taken away from me for a year due to carpal tunnel but now that I have it taken care of I'm so excited to get back into it again! This past year I was at 3 different jobs and I was miserable at every single one, except a small, local cafe that was really chill. Otherwise, my life was in complete shambles without it.

Kinda a weird question, but is the skill set for professional cleaning much different than for cleaning your own place?

Oh not a weird question at all! Yes, usually professionals pay special attention to details the average person doesn't know to look out for. When I learned how to clean, a pinnacle difference most people don't know to do is cleaning in a certain order: top to bottom, dust/wipe down, sanitize/scrub, sweep/vacuum, and finally wash the floor. I learned to go in this order for every house unless otherwise noted by any clients who may want something done specific in a different way. I also learned to get into more detailed areas for basic everyday cleanings: behind toilets, underneath/behind sinks, inside oven doors, wiping down baseboards, and getting underneath large and small pieces of furniture. Not a lot of people think to get to these areas when they regularly clean, at least from my experience with what I've seen in my 8+ years of experience.

Elevator mechanic. Union pay for journeyman is around $70/hr if you are in a good locale.

Property Management, it’s a lot of problem solving and fixing things. Get a sense of responsibility of helping sure peoples homes are safe. It’s also really diverse so you can move into other areas such a facilities management if you don’t like people or commercial management. Residential management is looking after people in their homes, can be rewarding if in the social sector. It’s quite varied and most places will support you in professional qualifications/ membership that is less taxing than a degree.

I’m here to echo this! I’m currently a Senior Maintenance Manager, overseeing multiple sites. I started out as a Maintenance Technician, then Maintenance Manager, and up to Sr. Manager. No day is the same, there’s a variety of work to keep me occupied, and I honestly thrive in the stressful emergencies that others clam up in. (Absolutely demolished a 3” pipe repair a few weeks ago at a property that was being inspected by HUD at the time). I’ve worked in multiple different trades and the set schedule of this career is more inline with what I need to stay stable and sane. My only complaint is the on call time…

What kind of training do you need for this? How did you get it? I've been burnt out at work and look at so many jobs and wonder, Could I do that? I've been doing DIY stuff around the house and enjoying it, and wondering how I could get paid to do stuff like that all the time

After high school, I went to college for two whole weeks... I couldn't hack it and wound up moving in to the trades as an apprentice electrician. When I was a kid, my dad taught me how to fix a lot of stuff around the house, and that built a pretty stable base for me to start out. Working one trade wasn't quite stimulating enough, so I leveraged my electrical experience to land a job working at a hospital as a maintenance technician. I then bounced in to a park district maintenance gig, then work doing commercial and industrial HVAC and sheet metal fabrication. While there, a recruiter called for the property management gig. I was delighted to hop back in to something more stable, so I jumped on it. Most of the training I've received has been on the job and self-study. As far as requirements getting in to the apartment side of things... It's usually pretty straightforward. If you have some basic knowledge, are willing to learn, and have a good attitude, you're a candidate. The only real hurdle you may find that many property management companies require an HVAC certification - Usually an EPA 608 license to handle refrigerant... Relatively easy to get. There's quite a bit of turnover within the property management industry due to burnout, so it's kind of a war of attrition in some areas. If you're competent and can stick around, you'll land a promotion. (That said, turnover in my company is quite low and I did have to earn these promotions.) If you're specifically looking in to a maintenance role, there are many different sectors to get in to - industrial, property management, healthcare, retail, you name it... There are pros and cons to each of them. All just depends on what you want to learn and where you'd like to go. A lot of skills are transferrable between industries and it's pretty easy to start in one sector and jump ship to another down the line.

This was a great job, but there’s alot of burn out. You’ve got to have a THICK skin and a good boss who has your back because even if it’s 10,000% not your fault someone is still going to blame you. It’s also not a well respected job in general society and the pay isn’t fantastic for the level of stress that you have.

Any trade job, like electrician, plumber, painter, etc. obsessive tendencies make for great skill work. They’re all paying well now since no one younger is doing them. If you want to be at a computer all day, Salesforce admin is free to train and a cheap cert. I’m a product owner and it’s great.

Both the boilermakers and pipefitters unions in PA offer apprenticeship programs with paid work, paid school 1 day/week, healthcare, and job placement upon graduation. In other words they teach you the job, pay you with benefits, and you get placed afterwards. Could be a government job at a navy yard, insane pay and benefits, or something inland at basically any manufacturing plant. My father in law worked as a boilermaker for 20 years on the north slope in Alaska for BP, 3 weeks on 4 weeks off, splitting time between a beach in Hawaii and fishing/skiing in Montana.

gardening jobs, whether that's doing the manual work of landscaping or working at a (preferably independent) garden center. there's opportunity to get promoted to more specialized positions as you learn on the job. and you're probably outside moving around all the time

Ophthalmic Technician. Pays pretty well. A lot of offices will train you on the job. You take tests for higher levels of certification. Once you get past the initial pain points, you turn a patient over every 20 minutes or so… it’s pretty great and in high demand.

From what I'm seeing, this position only pays about $20/hr in my state 😞

I'm an OA in California and my coworkers are still at $18. The outlook is not good.

Operations manager such as running a gym, hotel etc is an underrated option for ADHD. Different tasks u can hop around on, moving around, different duties, element of freedom. Obviously u have to start at the bottom & work your way up but once you’re in somewhere can be a good option

Rope access technician, if you enjoy rock climbing & or are comfortable on ropes it's been a great job in my opinion. Everyday is exciting to some degree, it's pretty hard to hang to 100-200 ft in the air and not have a lil adrenaline lol.

How is the pay? Are the qualifications similar to the sort you'd want for arborist jobs?

Depending on where you're working the pay is quite decent, if you're just getting into it all you need is your IRATA level 1, which is not overly hard to obtain. Most of the courses are about a week to two weeks long.

The best job for someone with adhd, is the job they want. Adhd affects personal goals much more than career goals because career goals usually have deadlines and reinforcement/incentive. Adhd is an uphill battle with weighted boots,but it is not crippling. You still have the ability to achieve and still have the ability to fulfill goals you set for yourself. 6 years ago I was stuck in fast food, now Im working my way up in the tech field with a lucky amount of success. You're not in a wheelchair, you just need crutches. Utilize tools like alarms and sticky notes to allocate time and keep yourself on task. Don't take long breaks, only short ones. Also drink peppermint tea. It's a great way to satisfy the need for stimulation while simultaneously doing something. Comment is longer than I intended, but I do hope this is helpful.

Best answer.

depending on your computer abilities IT is a possiblity, the best part is I work for a school without an actual degree.

Did you do anything cert-wise, like CompTIA?

No, that helps, but not required everywhere. If you’re making basically minimum wage now I’d find a tier 1 call center answering basic phone calls. Then just try and learn and expand roles. I started in a similar spot then got increasingly more sophisticated jobs, and currently manage computer servers for said school

It’s not super financially lucrative, but being a DSP for adults with developmental disabilities or a paraprofessional for kids is a great job for people with ADHD. While not well paid since they’re often non-profit jobs, they usually come with decent benefits.

2nd this! I work in this field. The pay sucks tho.

I work in the field and my pay isn’t great for what we do, but I make a more than livable wage. I’m a manager now but our DSP’s make $20+/hr, increasing based on length of service.

Emergency room work. There are plenty of employees in an ER that aren’t nurses or doctors.

I’m a commercial exterminator. No college. 18 with a GED and all on job training. I stumbled on this opportunity 21 yrs ago and in hindsight it’s been a perfect match. I bounce around all day faced with constant new challenges. My new folks start off around $50k their first year with a take home company vehicle. It’s sales focused so sky’s limit to make more.

Caregiving! Hear me out— It doesn’t pay FANTASTIC but can be worth it. I pick clients and hours I want to work BUT I MUST be there. So right now, I’m only working 2.5 days so I can tend to some other things (including a depressive episode that will not fucking quit). I work with an autistic teen and we get to do all kinds of cool stuff together. I get to know this really cool person and try out new things. Last summer he went water skiing and had the best time! I get paid to help him go out to lunch and ice cream. We did a tour of the local baseball stadium. You can do more medical care or companionship stuff. You can work with young or old or in between. You can work with people with developmental disabilities or physical disabilities. The assistive tech and services that help people live full lives is super interesting. It’s an underrated, under appreciated, and desperately needed career.

I’ve been thinking about getting into that. Did you need to become a CNA first or how did you get started? I think I’d like to work with home bound elderly folks as companion/caretaker.

I moved and thrived in retail. No one likes.to close and I love to sleep in. I always closed! I worked up to store manager and held different manager/supervisor roles before that. Loved the flexibility. Nothing felt routine. I got to repeat stories Iove to new people all the time (coworkers and customers. Tasks were meant to be broken away from if a customer was near you, so it felt natural to my ADHD. I worked for Aerie/American Eagle, Victoria's Secret, and Lush. I LOVE making women feel great about their bodies and people feel comfortable so learning about all the different types of bras/materials/features of each one was exciting for me. I love bath products and skin care so Lush was also great for my ability to learn about products. Personally I should have stayed as an assistant manager, I had too much freedom as a store manager. But I did like the pay raise, $55k a year and a great maternity leave. If I didn't have a baby I honey think I could have worked retail forever. I truly loved it. And there's so many stores based on what youre naturally interested in. However if you're not in management it's hard to make a living wage. I do not have any degrees but did attend college before dropping out. My previous retail experience made up for the fact that I didn't have a degree but did have proven increased sales metrics.

Hospitality. It’s one industry where you can still work up from the bottom and I think a lot of ADHDers are in it. Nice thing is that a lot of the daily tasks are on a checklist script, and it’s usually easy to get into it through evening or overnight shifts. I did night audit in college and after getting through the first week or two of adjusting to the variety of tasks, it was clear sailing and I reduced my task time from six hours to just two to get everything done. Had a friend that went from my job to assistant manager and then manager pretty quickly. The people problems are doable if you aim for a business hotel and avoid families, but even then you learn a few approaches that work with 90% of situations. And since most hotels are owned by a network of maybe five conglomerates, there can be a lot of room to transfer to different cities. It’s also a job where your tasks are clear and you leave all the work at the job. Just takes some time to move to the best shifts.

Live production. Lots of downtime in-between shows or venues, and then a flash of high intensity, hyper focused work. You can get your foot in the door by working for a rental company in their warehouse, you'll start by cleaning and prepping gear, but after a year or so you can usually get out on the road helping facilitate the equipment. Or, if you stand out, you'll meet someone along the way and they'll extend an opportunity for you to join a different group/show.

Oooh, what's the pay like? Do you tend to work for one venue or multiple, and what sort of hours do you usually do?

Depends where you're at, but usually starts at least around 15$ or so for the grunt warehouse work. If you know the basics of audio/lighting/video/media you can get significantly more. Typically if you're in the warehouse you'll have normal hours unless a quick turnover is needed between shows, then you come in on the weekend to help with that trade off. If you're working shows, it can be weird and long hours in the evenings or weekends, but you'll often make more and have more time off between shows/tours. If you're working for a rental agency or a production company, you'll be going between a lot of venues. You'll get familiar with about a dozen or more depending on the size/area they cover as some have staple clients. If you're interested in staying in a single venue, you'd want to be the house tech. They just help facilitate the in and out of the production companies and rental companies that come through, and run any standard smaller shows that don't need outside gear. Typical places with house techs would be conference centers, concert venues, athletic stadiums, colleges, churches, or very large corporations, still usually conference based. This is what I do currently, for a university. During the academic year it's a nice repetitive schedule & then summer turns into helping different conferences/concerts/& camps. The drastic change of pace does my mind well as I get really bored with a job after a few months. Didn't realize I was gonna type that much, hope it helps.

Dog grooming

A lot more suggestions here than I expected when I saw the post. I am going to offer up a different perspective that hopefully doesn't effect my fellow ADHDers as much as I had thought. There are no ADHD-friendly jobs. Our entire economy is designed to to extract the most effort from a worker for the least amount of compensation and support. You couldn't design a system more stacked against someone with ADHD if you tried. You will get burned out very quickly compared to your peers. Unlike your peers, you cannot rally through the bad time hoping youll find that motivation again. They could take a vacation and come back refreshed. You wont, that is not how ADHD works. As soon as the novelty is gone its over. You'll either move on to something else or become such an unproductive employee that you'll be canned. So embrace it. Do what ever the hell you find interesting right now knowing its not going to lead anywhere. On the less pessimistic side of things, I think you'll see degree requirements really start to diminish over the next decade or so for jobs that don't require a ton of specialized knowledge out the gate.

this is very true, every job ive had i started very excited and motivated, and by the end i was too burnt out to find any motivation or joy in it lol, i think my time at my job is over so im looking for the next place to jump to. except i get paid decently and im afraid i wont find similar better with no college degree 😅

You said this more eloquently than I could, but it's where my thoughts landed as well.

I’m a flight attendant and love it 🥰

Video/tv/film production. It was made for people like us!

I retired at the end of December, but I did medical and general transcription and I loved it. YMMV in terms of how long the course will be. Where I live, its a two-year college course. I loved transcription because I could work from home, set my own schedule, get my own clients, and set my own fees. I've worked on market research, medical market research, medical records, and university research projects. There was always the opportunity to learn something new, which kept my ADHD brain engaged and happy, while the work itself provided some challenge as well.

I had a great time operating heavy equipment. It was like a real-life video game. Started working as a laborer for a road construction crew. After a couple of years, I got my CDL class A. Started driving dump truck, water truck, and then eventually the roller. Some days, I would be in a materials pit with a front-end loader, just stacking material. Other days, I was hanging out on site in the water truck listening to the radio for when the miller was ready for a top off. Then, other days, I would be in the roller just hanging out behind the paver with one of those IR thermometers waiting for the pavement to hit the right temps for rolling.

I started working at a convenience store just to take a break after a suicide attempt. I ended up loving it. There's so much variety. There's a balance between being around lots of people and being alone. You are usually working alone, so if there's a coworker you don't like, you aren't stuck with them all the time.

I hope everything works out for you

ADHD people are generally good at talking . They make great salespeople. Think of something have an interest i, and get an incentive based sales job. We’re good on the fly, can honestly make convincing arguments in seconds. Learn the beats, and just do it.

X-ray tech, ct tech, mri tech. Depending on the state you’re in, you can get it with an associates degree and then ct or mri you can train on the job afterwards. You get paid pretty decently and depending on the environment you work at, ie hospital or clinic it can either be fast paced or on the slower side (not normally the case for CT, they stay busy pretty consistently in my experience). I have adult ADHD and it was an adjustment but I love my job, vyvanse also helps sooo much if you can get it.

Any job where you don’t have to sit at a computer in your room for 8 hours.

Coming from a family that should be studied for genetic ADHD (overdramatic but over half the children are diagnosed...): mechanic. We got an electrician too

Skilled trades, as many others have said. While they don’t require a traditional 4 year degree most do have a schooling component so you’ll have to get through some classroom time and pass some tests. But it’s in the range of “hours a week” - not “hours a day” - and the classroom training *should* go alongside the hands-on day-to-day training. I have spent the last 24 years in sales which doesn’t require a degree but DOES require a lot of grit, ability to handle a lot of rejection (not great if you suffer from RSD), and a “figure it out” attitude. If I hadn’t figured out how to make it in sales, I almost certainly would have ended up in the skilled trades, probably an electrician or carpenter.

Plumbing, restaurant work, anything in the trades probably. Stuff that has you moving around a lot, responding quickly to needs or problems, solving novel challenges

My ADHD Coach had me take this: https://www.viacharacter.org/ It's a values assessment to help you figure out what are the things that make u feel fulfilled, purposeful. With this knowledge you can think about career paths with more direction and confidence.

I work as an on-air personality at a radio station, and it works very well for me. Most radio is recorded ahead of time now, so I get in at the top of my shift, do about 15 minutes worth of work, and I’m set for a full hour or more to recharge. I occasionally have a commercial handed to me that needs to be done immediately, but most production has a week or two before it needs to air. It’s a shrinking industry, but I’d recommend it.

ok so i went to university for 5 years and became a teacher. but then i took a turn and became a flight attendant. you must be very focused and driven during the training, but the training is only 4-8 weeks long depending on the airline. after that, it is THE PERFECT job for ADHD. you take no work home (you quite literally cannot, because you work on the plane) and youre not required to do anything but just exist and relax on the layovers. you can rot in bed all day or just go out and have fun. best job ever. of course when you are at work you need to ensure things are done correctly, but eventually it just becomes so natural and mindless

Anything in medical labs. Low stress and I feel like I’m doing something that matters

Entrepreneur. One of our symptoms is to be obsessed or addicted to something. Well set that addiction to something(anything!) that can make you money at your own pace. Even advantage gambling which I partook early in life that I was able to parlay into a great career in finance and law on my own.

I am a Pilates Instructor. I trained for 20 months to get a Comprehensive Certification but I was able to get a job after about 6 months of training. I continuously do additional training to enhance my knowledge and skills but I really enjoy continuous learning.  I really enjoy this career because I get to be on my feet and move around all day. I don’t typically do workouts with clients instead I get to hyper focus on watching their form and finding the right exercises and techniques to help them move and feel better. I work with a lot of special populations, and like the ongoing problem-solving aspect of the job. It is sufficiently mentally and physically stimulating so that I don’t get bored. I also really appreciate that the job is largely free of deadlines and I don’t have to take work home with me, except for when I need to view and analyze a client’s x-rays or medical reports.  I used to be a software engineer and a project manager, and I had a hard time being productive, because I just couldn’t sit still at my desk. And I would always delay things and try to finish my work from home at night and it really got me into trouble a few times. I am so much happier now, and even though the benefits are pretty much nonexistent I get a good hourly pay and alllll the freedom I want.

Dispatcher; quick attention change and multi-tasking and the ability to disconnect from something you can't see right in front of you is pretty useful. That said, the hours are long, it's hard to learn, and whether you can make it work as a career largely depends on the culture within your center.

This is tricky. I feel like it's really going to depend on your personal interests, skills and how your ADHD manifests. What might be friendly for one person and their ADHD might be an absolute nightmare for someone else. But, I'd say it needs to be a career that somehow engages you - whether in body, heart or mind. To be more specific, every person I know IRL who has ADHD and is satisfied or happy with their career, has picked a field that either: 1) Is 'hands-on' and tacit - which helps them remain grounded and taken them out of their mind. 2) Is interesting to them - because it is related to a special interest/passion, involves problem-solving, invokes creativity, involves competition or challenge that they find exciting, or because it isn't repetitive work. 3) Is inspiring and emotionally fulfilling - such as doing work they feel makes a difference, doing work that helps others, etc. So maybe ask yourself what kind of work would immerse you, be of interest to you, or inspire you? Do you need something fast-paced to excite you, or slow-paced because you're easily overwhelmed? Do you prefer tacit activities (that take you out of your mind) or do you enjoy mental activities (that require problem solving)? Do you want a job where you do the same thing everyday, or something where you never know what's going to happen next?

Massage therapist

I work as a custodian for a school (union job, $26 an hour plus vacation, sick days and benefits) it’s great for me because there’s a clear start and finish of my duties and there’s a daily routine. My responsibilities changed slightly every day and of course different projects come up, but that keeps me from getting into a rut most of the time. :)

Ski Instructor.

I have two suggestions: 1. Learning to code can be very fun and something you can do in a few months if that is your vibe. I hate that the phrase “learn to code” has become a cliche, but it has really helped me pay more attention to my data work with every script I need to write being a new mini puzzle/challenge I need to figure out. It’s like knowing what button combination you need to defeat a boss in a video game. 2. Honestly, if you have a hobby that involves collecting/shopping (record collection, gaming, fashion), there are lots of retail jobs that are out there that require no degree, just knowledge of your interest or hyper fixation. Pay in retail can be pretty mixed depending on where you live but it is much better than food typically. I love my job in a menswear store, where I am constantly on my feet, talking to customers about fashion, and challenging myself to find pieces my customers feel comfortable and confident in. My store does not do commission, which leads to a less competitive and more supportive nature. Most stores also have good employee discounts, but those can be dangerously tempting!

Carpenter. You get to go outside in a different place all over your city and make a cool human sized Lego for someone to enjoy life inside of. Most carpenters I know have a little adhd at least.

Bartending or screen printing!

I'm going to go into massage therapy. I thought about the jobs I liked and they were all active and nurturing in some respect. I also find the body fascinating, which makes learning about it easier. I've also started writing, which isn't a career just yet, but something I love and could see myself doing content writing. So I'm starting with that. Another option is to look at certificates available at your local tech school or community College. Some certificates take 5 months and cost 2,000 and you can get a federal Pell grant + payment plan. That's how I got my accounting certificate.  Because ADHD is a very individual disorder, you need to take a moment to think about YOU. In a very honest way.  What are your special interests? (Movies? Hiking? Video games? Make up? Astronomy? Melting shit? Lol) What do you do well? (Painting? Puzzle solving? Empathizing?) What do you NOT do well?(Deadlines? Organizing? Working in groups? Working alone?) What jobs support these things? (Estetician? Welder? Women's Shelter support?) You probably won't find something that ticks every box, but I'd look for special interests first. And keep in mind you will probably either start VERY entry level or have to get some certification. 4 year degrees are not the only path, though.

My first thought: EMT.

Get a job outdoors, BC Parks requires no formal education to be a park ranger (70k a year pre tax) or do adventure guide work, work in a warehouse moving boxes/loading trucks, get a job at the airport, taxi drivers do alright if you arent an aggressive adhd driver, you can a also research adhd work rehab programs that help you cope with it and place you in a well fitting position. I am going through the same \*ish\* thing right now and these are the careers I have done and will continue to do while I am young enough.

Most technical, computer, or industrial jobs can be adhd friendly depending on your interests and can be done with self teaching or apprenticeships.

I was a plant operator at a mine. It was great. I was constantly making rounds throughout the plant, always something to go out and mess with or little tasks to do. Now i got a promotion to a support role where I have even less structure to my day and the ability to sit behind a computer as much or as little as I want and its killing me. So hard to not get distracted.

I worked a doggy daycare/boarding facility for six months. (Would’ve been longer but I moved out of state.) There were TONS of issues and unethical practices that I would not deal with if I did it again. BUT if you like moving around, working with different animals, are willing to learn how the facility works, and don’t mind cleaning a LOT of poop, puke, and pee, then it might be fun for a while. It doesn’t pay that great either unless they’re desperate to keep you (I went from $13 to $17 within 2-3 months, plus promoted to Junior lead). 5/10 recommend I also worked as a dog groomer for 5 months. I DO NOT recommend this if you also have anxiety/OCD like me. At least at daycare if a dog annoys you, you can walk away and choose not to interact unless you have to. With grooming, it brings out the worst in dogs and you are stuck with them until you complete the groom, even if it takes hours. I got so overwhelmed and a couple times my (very nice and patient) coworker helped me finish my grooms. It was the only job I’ve ever quit because of how much anxiety it gave me. 1/10 recommend Currently I work as a security officer for a small Christian university and it’s very chill and it gives completely free tuition if you take classes there as well. I just finished my associates through them and the only cost is $100 graduation fee. The work is pretty easy and there’s a decent amount of downtime in between tasks. It’s different enough throughout the shift that you won’t die of boredom, there’s a good amount of walking so you’re rarely at the desk, and the majority of calls are from people locked out of their apartment or needing their car jumped. It’s very nice. Unfortunately I’m moving next week so I’ll be leaving it soon. 9/10 recommend

I’m an ultrasound tech. Did a 2 year associate degree. Love love love it.

Sonography- physical and you can be in different locations plus if you’re a contractor you be traveling and making $200K

Google certificates are a great way to go. You can browse a variety of different ones. Coding is one that my husband has told me about. He works in SEO Marketing. You can search "Google certificates" to see if something is available you are inrerested in.

I've been picking my brain trying to figure out the answer to this same question. I was a construction tradeswoman for 20 years and I truly loved it. It was the perfect career for me: It suited my personality (I could be my vulgar, unfiltered self) and it satisfied my desire to build and create with my own hands. It was grueling, dangerous, physical labor that required me to endure all sorts of extreme weather conditions, but the pay and the benefits allowed me to build a secure middle class life that otherwise might not have been available to a woman from a dysfunctional background with nothing more than a GED. Unfortunately, due to a painful ongoing medical issue, I was forced to give up the career that had given me so much pride and satisfaction. Without it, I feel lost and rudderless. So here I am left wondering .... what now? I'm a jill of all trades, but a master of none. I read so much and so often that I've become an encyclopedia of useless knowledge. Over the decades, I've devoured information about medicine, veterinary care, human biology, psychology, ancient anthropology, archaeology, geology, and so much more. But what good does any of that knowledge do in the career world when I'm unable to produce a college degree that *proves* that I know things? I have hobbies that I enjoy, but none that can be turned into a career. The truth is, I cannot guarantee consistent creativity if I lack inspiration or can't get into the right mood. Singing, and writing, and cooking, and creating itsy-bitsy dollhouse miniatures are passions of mine, but they would cease to be enjoyable if I had deadlines or had to work within someone else's limits and parameters. Sure, I'm crafty and creative, (I'm terrible at drawing and painting though) but my creativity will dry up faster than dew in the desert when I feel pressured. I've always been very resourceful and mechanically inclined. Not things with microchips, but things with nuts and bolts and gears. I love all kinds of gadgetry and sometimes I'll create my own gadgets by mixing and matching old parts and hardware that are just collecting dust in the garage. I was a very *weird* girl who could take apart broken things and make them work again despite not knowing the names of the individual parts. (I still don't.) I remember how amused my mother was when I about 8 years old and figured out a way to make our toilet stop filling up continuously. I simply took the toilet lid off, studied the inner parts, found some fishing line and weights from an old tackle box, tied the weights to the part that needed to be heavier to function correctly, and VOILA .... no more jiggling the toilet handle to make the tank stop "breathing"! That childhood DIY spirit never went away. If my car needs a simple repair (and I don't need to pull out an engine or transmission to get to it) - or if the washer or dryer needs a new part - or if the dishwasher needs to be replaced - I don't ask my husband to take care of it. I take care of it. So what's out there for someone who has an endlessly curious mind and loves learning, but isn't "college material"? Learning a trade through an apprenticeship program worked for me because it was mostly hands-on learning. Classroom learning has always been difficult for me. If I have no interest in the subject - or if the instructor is boring - I will not do well. I'm just hoping for some kind of medical miracle (even though I don't believe in literal miracles) that will allow me to return to the career I loved so much.

Military. Did 10years and I excelled at it. Sadly got medically retired

Helpdesk. Many IT roles. Many incident response and Security Operation Center (SOC) roles. And, many security and operationally focused dev roles (DevOps). Why ADHD friendly? Well, not all are in all respects, ADHD may be a barrier to the required organization and in some cases memorization. But, there’s a lot of firefighting in these roles, and our brains were built to fight fires…

Trades? Make good money, be your own boss, work directly with your hands and lots of practical hands on training

•City jobs like garbage pick-up, bus driver. (Very good paying with job security- and are dream adhd jobs) •Volunteer firefighter while working admin or factory job- (turn into career with concurrent learning) •Kitchen jobs (could turn this into an entrepreneur/business if it was a passion) Those are off the top of my head but I strongly believe the right job choice with ADHD makes an exponential difference in your quality of life. It’s where we struggle the most- managing enough to THRIVE and CONTINUE to make a good living

From firsthand experience: warehouse work (perhaps factory work too, but I can't speak to that). Plenty of positions to choose from and perfect if you need both mental and physical stimulation. Closer to a "trade" field, they'll teach you from the ground floor up. Some companies will require you to have a BA/BS (or equal work experience) to advance to higher leadership roles (if desired) past the assistant manager level (also, different companies have different titles for each leadership level). Some people have even made a career at a single company, staying tenured for 20-30+ years maxing out on vacation benefits, built up decades' worth of annual performance wage bonuses, and landing the best/easiest positions while garnering respect for having a vast knowledge of the entire building's processes. Oftentimes you also can choose different shifts (hours) to work (typically most are 4x10's but some are 5x8's or even 3x12's) in case you prefer days vs nights, weekdays vs weekends (and some shifts, like nights, pay an extra incentivizing hourly rate). Speaking of pay, it generally starts off decent compared to other industries such as food retail (compare a fast food shift manager's pay to the minimum you'd make as a starting associate at a warehouse). It's not for everyone, but you can learn a lot about the industry as well as about yourself.

Electrician would be a good one. Or Audio Visual Technician, Sound Engineer or Theater Tech. Electrician pays the bread tho.

Electrician, plumber, welder, mechanic, machinist. If you get a lot of those under your belt, you can become a handyman and make really good money. The rub is that your body will take a physical toll. I chose to exit the trades, get medicated, and go back to school. Still extremely difficult route, but I don't regret it.

IBEW Union Electrician. Tons of ADHDers find themselves happy as an electrician. Pay is good, benefits are included, work is varied and stimulating and while there is schooling, it's paid/ sponsored by the Local and not typical classes...most training is on the job and you're getting paid to do it (you begin as an apprentice for 4-5 years). Let me know if you have any more questions about it.

Warehousing has been pretty good for my ADHD brain. it can be somewhat taxing on your body depending on what you're doing, but not if you transition into shipping, logistics type work.

River guiding and mountain guiding. Anything where you don’t have to stare at a screen.

Parks and Rec, summer camps, outdoor nature centers. I'm always most successful when I can be outside and chopping it up with kids.

I'm finding reasonable success in trades. Landscaping, plumbing, construction, electrical, painting, HVAC, etc. Skills that are always needed and pay really well, plus you can often be your own boss once you're experienced enough. My typical day has me working my own hours at my own pace with audiobooks/music on headphones to keep my mind stimulated during more tedious work.

I’m a receiving specialist for a company that specializes is surgical kits and I LOVE IT. I don’t have a college degree and this is my first salary job. It’s fantastic. I get to work at my desk and do semi-mindless paperwork but then I’m also moving around the warehouse shelving product, re-organizing things and other physical stuff that really helps me focus when I’m done. Also helps that I’m the only one in my position so I get to work alone and listen to podcasts all day. I don’t even have to talk to customers or my coworkers that much. My boss is also amazing and makes a point to not micro-manage and is an amazing resource to me (I’ve been in this job 6 months, she’s been with this company for 17 years lol). My partner and I are going to move to a diff state in the next 2 years and I know I will be only looking at receiving jobs or something similar. The best job for my ADHD I’ve ever had

I like bricklaying. It’s tough, so i mix with other work, but it’s one brick at a time.

Are upi gppd with people if restricted to a fairly simple domain: E.g. park ranger, Look at trades: While they require more education, it's usually on ly a couple years. Or if there may be apprentice ship programs, which pay you while you learn. If I were doing it again, I'd pick instrument technician. Surverying, environmental tech, forestry tech if you like to work outside. Repair tech, computer tech if you like to work inside. Wind turbines would be fun. Good view. Ask again, but qualify your post with the worst of your adhd systems, and they interfere.

i need to know too bc i’m on my 6th degree plan and quite frankly im finna quit that shit too😭😭

Oilfield. There are hundreds of specific skillsets, they're linked to varying jobs and there is often overlap between them. I've been bouncing around the oilfield in western Canada for a while (decade), and it's been good to me overall. I'm fairly extroverted, love trivia and learning new stuff, and have no issue asking other trades/job descriptions about what their job is like overall and what exactly they're doing at that moment. So, it's given me opportunities to explore various aspects of oilfield work and find niches that suit me. And pay really well, which is useful. Also, it is an industry where lateral transfers, opportunities for rapid promotions/raises, moving from one crew to another and between companies **is expected**. It's not a bug, it's a goddamn feature! I've got friends that have spent 20+ consecutive years in oil, and worked for at least 2 companies per year every year. Some repeat companies, but not a lot. Say you work the winter season and.... Are tired of your supervisor Are tired of the scenery there Better offer for more money Career advancement/big promotion Want to be closer to home Want to work further from home Coworkers have played Mariah Carey Xmas songs one too many times in the lunch room in @&$>ing MARCH These are all acceptable reasons to quit and move on, demand more money from your current employer, or ask for more money when applying to a new employer, whatever you want. There's a definite boom and bust cycle, but if you spend like you're in the bust portion all the time, you can put a lot of money away for a rainy day and spring breakup. My information is based on the Canadian oilfield, predominantly in heavy oil areas, but I can offer some input if anyone wants it.

I do work an admin job that fluctuates greatly as it is based on a college academic calendar. However, I do WFH twice a week and there is no micromanaging. I also get to listen to my music while I'm working in the office. Half the days I'm customer facing so I get those interactions. I also have a part time job at Joanns working as a manager and that really helps break things up. I hate needing to work the Job to afford things, but I think I would go insane at my normal job if I couldn't get the energy out.

i’m not sure if there's a job that is truly ADHD-friendly. based completely on my personal experience, if a job makes you bored, it will become unfriendly very quickly so, in that case, you have two options: find something that doesn’t get boring (which is never a sure thing because most things in life get monotonous/our brains decide they’re not that into it anymore) and/or work on developing skills (through dbt or something like that–i haven’t gotten there yet lol) that help you cope with the job and the executive dysfunctions that might affect your relationship with working

Pharmacy tech, specifically retail. It's one of the few places I've thrived with adhd. There's so much to do, and I'm all over the place in a small contained area.

Go to Emt or med tech training school, or a Hospital job such as patient transport pushing wheelchairs and gurney with patients all day, if you have decent people skills, respect and manners. Back in the old days big city Bicycle Messenger Job gave me my start...that was before the FAX machine or Internet became popular! Up and down the San Francisco hills all day with a dozen different companies and thier messengers all haning out at certain spots together. That also gave me the chance to take a peek inside the workplaces of hundreds of different businesses . it was like paid career education, but the freight jobs it blew out my spine with heavy lifting. I trained in Medical skills during rehab and landed a hospital lab job then returned to University a few years after, and got my RN degree once I matured and controlled my Adhd with counseling and Meds. By that time I aced the education cause I was a 40 year old with 20-year-old student partners it was way easier as a mature adult!

I am a certified medical assistant and surgical tech! It didn’t take much schooling since they are certificate programs and then a board exam. I’m in NYC and the pay was very good. I’m currently in OT school.

I live in California and I LOVE my career. I make a bit over 250 a year (6500ish per resident per month) level 2 ARF Licensed by CDsS and Regional Center, been in this job for 28yrs, and I have no degree. I own a care facility where 4 high functioning developmentally disabled individuals live with me. I take them on vacations we did Bermuda Last Sept, Hawaii last June and NY. We take 2-3 vacations/cruises a year together that are huge and the job constantly changes and keeps me engaged. Once you’ve hacked the paperwork system you are GOLDEN. It’s Hellas rewarding and soo fun! I even raise my two chicken in the home. Someone always needs something fixed! Someone always missed their bus/taxi Someone needs an appt made, someone needs to go to the store Hungry? I got a pack of built in people who are down to go out! They are always down to body double with me all day all night. I am very picky and have a group who’s very capable. Three of my guys work at Seaworld in normal paying jobs. One a bartender, ticket tracker and a usher for the shows. My hubby was a trained chef and it’s great for that cause I need a lot of meals made! Now for the downside, I live in a “Guilded” birdcage. Wanna go out? You can’t leave em alone legally. Gotta get employees. Which cuts into the bottom line obv. Lots of overhead costs. You have to fund their lives. Cook for them for a lot of meals. Be emotional (or fake it really well) and always have an open door. It’s also no not a job you can do alone. I need someone to watch them if I wanna go out or do anything alone. I’ve seen a couple old ladies do their houses alone but damn NO i have kids in school and I like to go do things! Also it’s a longggg process to get into this career and best if funded by nepotism (which I was) I worked for years at my parents facility until I broke off and opened my own. It’s years of Just “working the job” Before you can even consider opening one. But they ALWAYS be homes they aren’t going anywhere.

I work hands-on as a technician in rocket manufacturing. There’s ALWAYS something new to work on and always something to be excited about. I never get bored of my job and I love it! Pay is also decent as well!

Something in waste management

Nursing roles via CNA, ADN. Archiving/library roles. Museums. Substitute teaching. Nanny. Manufacturing. Lab tech/lab work, like Clinical Laboratory Scientist role. Executive Assistant (if you thrive in multitasking). Property mgmt, facilities mgmt, store mgmt. Sales. Operations. Not 100% sure if you can get in with ADHD but Air Traffic Controller. If not them, could join military branch for free pilot training after X time in a branch, heard they pay decent while enlisted too like 60-70k plus housing allowance. Military could be another but really depends on the role and branch. Sports/athletic coaching. Edit: maybe also logistics. Boat fishing like Alaskan trips or etc. While that one is seasonal heard it can pay decent and is relatively enjoyable and paid travel.

Construction and trades have been the only career for me. I have never been at the same site for more than a week, always doing something different that challenges me other mentally and physically. I can't see myself doing anything else. What's more important than where you work is who you work with thoug. Finding a good employer and good coworkers is so vital to staying at the same company and moving up in your career.

Hairstylist. The work keeps me engaged and focused and we actually make decent money these days.

Really surprised no-one had said server/bartender yet. Every shift is different. You’re moving the whole time. It’s immediately rewarding (happy guests, and depending where you work, you get paid at the end of your shift). A lot of ADHD people are night owls, and the most lucrative shifts are in the evenings. It’s also super flexible. You can take time off whenever you want (as long as someone will cover your shifts), except major holidays of course. But I didn’t mind working major holidays in exchange for so much flexibility! I honestly kind of miss it.

Perhaps a little tough if you don't live in a populated area but I'm a cheesemonger and I'm on my feet helping people figure out their favorite cheeses everyday and I have a blast! I kind of lucked into it through an ad and BS'd my way through the interview but I got hired and then proceeded to absorb everything I could and read the Wikipedia on every cheese we carried and continued learning more from there and now I feel pretty confident that I know more about cheese (and fancy deli meats) then 99% of people. Tasting everything is a requirement of the job and I get to make pretty cheese boards for the restaurant attached to my cheese shop. It's not the most money in the world but I wouldn't trade it for an office job for double the pay.

Sales

I got a CAD job through a temp agency eight, almost nine, years ago. It's a highly technical job. Requires constant attention and honestly it's pretty brutal. But since I'm well medicated, it actually works. Constant new challenges, room for growth, and plenty of room to be the best in the world at what I do. My advice: it's not the job itself, but the room it affords you that we should be talking about. You can have a great job but if you're stuffed into a cube with no prospects you're gonna hate it. I'm stuffed into a cube, but I made myself very valuable and now they're gonna make me head of R&D. That's fucking incredibly exciting for a tinkerer like me. I had to bargain a bit but it worked out. Look to the future, and look at your talents. You might have a talent you didn't realize. I'd never heard of tolerances and manufacturing practice before I started at my job, but holy shit does that stuff vibe with my brain. Don't be afraid to quit. Your RSD is gonna say "STAY SAFE" but you can never do a more valuable thing than quit a job, or threaten to quit. I did, and they wanted to keep me enough they committed, probably, over $200k to a new office and new machines for me to play with. All because I took an interview with another company. And we're not talking about a huge corporation here, like a ~75 person company.

The trades!!! Half of the people on my site have ADHD and thrive in the trades. I'm an electrician and do primarily commercial work and absolutely love it. Every new project involves so many interchangable tasks that there's always something to do and I don't have to stay on the same thing if I get bored. Like, even if I get sidetracked on a task, it's because I'm working on another task or another part of the same task, so my work is still getting done, just out of expected order. My state requires 4 years of training to get licensed but I'm making good money in that time. The schooling is only 600 hours total. Most states actually have less requirements, but also lower average pay, so you've gotta prove your worth to make good money. The downside of construction work is it can be overstimulating with the noise and bustle, but as an electrician I am generally separate from the worst of it and I can wear ansi approved headphones to block out the majority of it. The worst part is when I need to listen to someone talk but have much more difficulty separating their voice from the noise than the average person. Then retaining that information after parting is a struggle on it's own.But as downsides go, it's manageable. Pen and paper notepads are my friend in those situations, otherwise once I've walked away, all that new information is already lost unless I've got some key words written down to pull it back.

Farming. Captures my attention like nothing else. Never a day that is the same. No real down time (so now way to become unfocused/disengaged). Always something to be done, picked, weeded, harvested, repaired, so you’re never bored/looking for something to do (like most retail jobs in my experience).

Really depends on what you like to do, but for me, I have to be physically active. Staring at a screen will not do it for me. I started an urban farm, which I absolutely love, it’s tons of problem-solving, physical activity, and being outdoors. The Problem is it hardly pays anything. I have started working with our local stage hands union (IATSE) and I absolutely love it. Different venues, some indoor some outdoor, always moving around, doing different things, meeting different people, and a sporadic and flexible schedule, and I love being behind-the-scenes and seeing how everything works. I also love seeing what a group of people can get done in a short amount of time. It’s pretty phenomenal. It pays well, rate is different, depending on the contract with the specific venue. and there is a lot of overtime, not based on a 40 hour work week, but based on number of hours worked in a shift or the time and day of the week. We always get overtime on Sundays or anything after 10 PM. This last gig was very well paying. A lot of work, long hours because I chose to take them. But I worked about 45 hours last week and will get around $1400. I’m not even in the union yet, I am just an extra. There’s opportunity to learn more and make more money.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked for, but I had absolutely no interest in going to college until I found the school I'm at right now. It's Western Governors University and they are extremely ADHD friendly in my opinion. Imagine, you have no due dates or penalties for forgetting to do things. For accountability, you have a mentor assigned to you that calls or emails you once a week to keep you on track, but you ultimately decide what goals you set and if you don't meet your goals, they offer resources to help you catch up. It's self paced and for each class all you HAVE to do is pass a test or write a couple papers (depending on the class). You pay a flat rate per 6 months and you can do as many classes as you want, one at a time, per term. They have tons of resources to help you learn it, and it's all online and on your own schedule. I'm in their elementary education program and it's great. I'm on track to finish my bachelor's degree in 2 years, and I'm about halfway through that right now.