Is ADHD affecting your career?

"I've got ADD." It seems that I hear that more and more from people who are looking for career assistance. "Are there certain jobs for people like me?" is the other thing they ask. So I decided to write about the issue in my weekly, syndicated column. Bottom line, no there are not certain jobs and careers that are better than others for people with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The same variables that make for career satisfaction apply to someone with ADHD. Although, there are certain strategies to help you compensate--such as using technology, executive assistants, coaching, personal organizers, organizing software and timers. Since the condition causes problems with attention, being impulsive and hyperactive, it can affect careers dramatically. At work, my clients find themselves being late, missing deadlines and having trouble making decisions. They have trouble dealing with bosses and co-workers. The psychologist I interviewed agrees--labeling one career or another "ADHD-friendly" is inaccurate. First, focus on what matters most--discovering work you'd enjoy. And find ways to compensate for the problems ADHD might create--including an environment that is more flexible schedule and project-wise.

Comments

[Jen]

I agree with the idea that any career is ADD-friendly if you enjoy the work you do. However, sometimes job environments are not ADD-friendly, and this is what an adult with ADD will want to pay attention to when job hunting.

[CS Tan]

This talk about ADHD/ADD-friendly careers is interesting and should be discussed further. I have a question: If Mr X has ADHD/ADD, is it wise to reveal that piece of information during a job interview? My personal opinion is that Mr X should reveal it so that when behavioural problems runs amok in future, the employer would be more understanding and not simply fire him for being a "trouble maker" etc. But then again, by revealed that one has ADHD may not get Mr X the job he so wanted as the potential employer may not want to deal with "possible problems" later on. What do you guys think about such a situation?