Job Hunting with ADHD? Jobs To Avoid When You Have ADHD

Getting a job you like is a challenge in itself but when you add ADHD to the mix, job hunting can become a task too challenging to be successful. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder also known as ADHD is a neurological disorder that brings with it a unique set of strengths as well as challenges. Finding a job or a career that aligns with your needs and talents is important to feel stimulated and successful. 

To find the perfect job when you have ADHD might be a challenge but it’s not impossible. All you have to do is find the right fit and avoid jobs that might make it harder for you to manage your ADHD symptoms such as staying focused, managing time, and controlling impulses. 

While being diagnosed with ADHD doesn’t affect your potential, it does, however, mean that certain work environments and job roles can be more challenging, demanding, and even frustrating. 

So, if you’re on the hunt for the perfect job but can’t find “The One” then I have a list of worst jobs for ADHD that you should avoid. Take this list with you when you go job hunting! 

Challenges Faced by ADHD People at the Workplace

Before I get to the jobs to avoid when you have ADHD, I want to explore with you the most common workplace challenges that you might face when managing your symptoms. Some common challenges faced at the workplace when you have ADHD can include attention difficulties, time management, and more. 

Staying focused on your tasks, especially repetitive ones, can become too challenging when you have ADHD. Distractions in your workplace can also make it hard for you to pay attention to your responsibilities. 

ADHD can also make managing time and deadlines difficult. You may underestimate the time you need to complete your task and when that happens, you may feel stressed and even leave the work or task unfinished, making it problematic at your workplace. 

One of the challenges that ADHD people face in general is staying organized. At your workplace, you may find it difficult to maintain an organized desk or manage multiple tasks at the same time. This can lead to missed deadlines, opportunities for better work, losing documents, and overall disorganization. 

Another symptom of ADHD that can cause challenges in the workplace can be impulsivity. Poor impulse control can cause hasty and poor-thought-out decisions, causing problems in roles and careers where careful planning and analysis are required.

Many people with ADHD also struggle with rejection sensitivity and criticism sensitivity, so in jobs and careers where there’s a high risk of rejection and criticism is present, it can cause poor relationships with coworkers and supervisors. 

Jobs to Avoid When You Have ADHD

Now that you’re aware of the challenges faced in the workplace when you have ADHD, let’s take a look at the jobs to avoid when you have ADHD. Keep in mind that certain professions can be more challenging if you have ADHD because of the nature of the role and responsibilities. Here are the worst jobs for ADHD that you should avoid; 

1. Accountant or Auditor

Being an accountant or an auditor requires dealing with numbers and analysis regularly. The attention to detail and the repetitive nature of these roles can become too taxing when you have ADHD, making them the worst careers for ADHD. 

2. Surgeons or Medical Professionals 

While there’s nothing wrong with being a surgeon or a medical professional if you have ADHD, you should know that these are high-pressure jobs and you are required to work in high-pressure environments, give long hours, and keep an intense focus. Many ADHD symptoms can make these professions a challenging fit. 

3. Air-Traffic Controller 

This role demands constant vigilance and quick thinking as well as fast decision-making, making the job of an air traffic controller a high-stress job that might not be a good fit for you if you have ADHD. 

4. Stockbroker or Market Trader 

Again, these job roles require fast thinking and the high-stress nature of these job roles makes them an uncomfortable fit for people with ADHD. If you do enter these job roles, then you may find yourself becoming overwhelmed easily or frustrated because of the high-pressure and fast-paced nature of the job. 

5. Archivist or Librarian 

Being an archivist or a librarian entails a detail-oriented focus. These roles also include a lot of repetitive tasks that might not always align with your strengths. For ADHD people, active roles where they feel stimulated can be a good fit so being an archivist might not suit them. 

Job Aspects to Avoid When You have ADHD

Moreover, if we talk about jobs to avoid, there are certain aspects of a job that might also feel challenging when you have ADHD. So, here are the job aspects to avoid when you have ADHD; 

1. High-pressured environments:

Working in a job or choosing a career where structure is required or working in high-pressure environments might stifle the creative side of ADHD and cause restlessness. 

2. Low-stimulation jobs:

Job roles and careers that lack excitement and variety can also be job aspects you need to avoid. Jobs without excitement might cause boredom and decrease focus. 

3. Administrative work:

Jobs where administrative work such as paperwork and record-keeping are required should be avoided. These activities as job prospects can be too daunting for people living with ADHD. 

4. Tight deadlines:

Roles with tight and strict deadlines should also be avoided as they can cause unnecessary stress and poor productivity and performance when you’re living and managing ADHD symptoms. 

5. Long-term projects:

If you are in a job role where long-term projects are handled then you should avoid taking them without any assistance. ADHD symptoms such as executive dysfunction can make it harder for you to manage long-term projects alone. 

6. Too many distractions:

Job aspects where distractions are common should also be avoided such as having a shared workspace, working in an emergency room, or roles where meetings happen frequently interrupting your focus. 

7. Low reward jobs:

When you have ADHD, dopamine – the chemical that motivates you – is needed to keep you stimulated. Roles where dopamine is not fed should be avoided such as low-reward jobs. 

Best Careers for People with ADHD

While certain professions might be a poor choice when you have ADHD, some can utilize your ADHD strengths, making them the best jobs for ADHD. Here are some career options you can explore if you have ADHD;

1. Be an Entrepreneur 

Starting your own business or an entrepreneurial venture can offer flexibility and the ability to tailor your tasks and work environment to better align with your strengths. 

2. Pick a Creative Career 

Jobs and careers where you can work using your creativity can be good. Career fields such as graphic design, writing, and composing music can encourage creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, making them a good career choice. 

3. Try Your Hand at Sales and Marketing 

The dynamic nature of sales and marketing fields can also make them an interesting career choice for ADHD people. These roles are mentally engaging and stimulating, making them fulfilling roles for people living with ADHD. 

4. Work in IT

Tech-related or IT jobs can also be good opportunities for problem-solving, creativity, and innovation, making them good choices for careers as they align with the strengths and symptoms of many people living with ADHD. 

5. Be an Educator 

You can also try your hand at being an educator if you have ADHD. I know; these career choices don’t truly seem like a good choice but trust me, teaching can be highly rewarding, offering you the opportunity to share your knowledge and enthusiasm with others. 

Resources for ADHD…

If you’re facing challenges in your current job roles or if you don’t want to shift your careers, then you can seek professional support. A professional can help you find healthy coping strategies that you can use in your workspace. Here are some things you can do if you don’t want to shift your career;

1. Join support groups for ADHD:

ADHD support groups can give you a sense of community and you can also seek advice from others facing similar issues at their workplace. 

2. Talk to your HR:

You can also speak to your HR or your supervisor about the challenges you are facing in your workplace and if they can make some accommodations to make it easier for you to work. You can ask for flexible hours or use noise-canceling headphones while at work. 

3. Psychotherapy:

You can always seek professional help and support from your therapist and try psychotherapy. Psychotherapy approaches and techniques can help you manage your ADHD symptoms so that they don’t make it harder for you while you’re working. 

4. Medications:

Medication management can also help you manage your ADHD symptoms at work and the impact they can have on your job aspects. Talk to your physician for the right medication as many medications might have side effects that may worsen your symptoms. 

Wrapping Up… 

While ADHD presents its unique strengths, it can have certain challenges in the workplace as well. Living with ADHD should not deter you from finding the right, stimulating, and fulfilling careers. You can start looking for the right job by identifying your strengths, seeking the right support, and exploring professions that meet your interests. 

ADHD doesn’t have to define you. It’s just one part of the puzzle that makes you…YOU. So, embrace your strengths, adapt where you can, and thrive in the career you choose for yourself. 

I hope this article helped you explore the best careers for ADHD and the worst careers for ADHD that you should avoid. Let me know what you think about this article and the jobs listed in the comments below. 

Happy Job Hunting!