Discover Your ADHD Career Strengths + 30 Great Jobs for People with ADHD

Discover your ADHD Career Strengths

Discover your ADHD Career Strengths

Having Adult ADHD means that you have different strengths than other people. Assessing your strengths is an important task when you start thinking about possible career options. As an adult with ADHD, you actually have a number of positive strengths and natural talents that many employers actively seek in new hires.  

Yes, that’s right - I said, STRENGTHS.

Too often, we focus on the weaknesses or the struggles of living with ADHD. We see it in children and teens- the fidgetiness and hyperactivity that gets them in trouble as they try to sit still in classrooms, the difficulty focusing and paying attention through lectures, the disorganization and procrastination that leads to late homework or missed assignments. Most adults with ADHD are fully aware of their weaknesses  - trouble managing time, procrastination, poor listening skills, restlessness, trouble focusing, disorganization, difficulty meeting deadlines, etc. We could all create a long list of those things that give anyone with ADHD trouble.  

But ADHD career strengths? Keep reading.

The key to professional success with ADHD is finding your own particular strengths and developing them. It really helps to find a career where those strengths are valued and even necessary.  Yes, it’s necessary to learn organizational skills and work arounds that manage the inherent difficulties of ADHD but it’s also necessary to recognize those positive traits that you can capitalize on. 

So what are those job-related ADHD strengths?

• Enhanced creativity and imagination

• Willingness to take risks

• Positive, people-oriented interpersonal skills

• Adaptability to changing situations

• High energy

• Ability to function well in a fast paced environment 

• Deep and passionate interests 

• Innovative problem-solving abilities

• The willingness to help or mentor others

• A unique capacity for team leadership

How do these ADHD strengths play out in the workplace? 

Creativity and Imagination:

People with ADHD are often creatives at heart. Those non-stop ideas of the ADHD mind often lead to out of the box creative thinking and excellent spur of the moment problem solving. Hands-on jobs are great for those who are restless or easily bored at a desk.

Creative jobs that utilize innovative problem solving and creativity include:

• Musician

• Artist

• Dancer

• Computer support technician

• Computer or IT network administrator

• Entertainer

• Inventor

• Teacher

• Hair stylist

• Construction worker or artisan builder

• Mechanic

• Private investigator

• Graphic designer

• Interior designer

• Advertising or marketing professional

Ability to function well in a fast paced environment / high energy:

Thoughts are constant and quick moving for people with ADHD. For those with hyperactivity (although that is often lessened in adulthood), that sense of restlessness and the need to be constantly on the go can be a strength in high energy, fast paced jobs. Many adults with ADHD enjoy constant change. They thrive in a stimulating environment where they have to take stock, analyze and adapt quickly. People with ADHD are also motivated by a sense of urgency, the feeling that that things have to be done NOW - and QUICKLY. That ability to work well in a fast paced environment without being rattled by the need for quick thinking and urgency can be a real asset in certain work environments. Think about a preschool classroom - where things are moving fast and always changing. Or a trauma center or emergency room - where everyday is different, everything is urgent and the pace is fast and furious. Restaurant work also shares many of these traits - you’re on your feet and moving quickly with a smile.

Fast paced, high energy jobs include:

• Trauma or emergency room doctors, nurses and technicians

• Paramedics or EMT

• Firefighters

• Police Officers

• Truck Driver

• Journalists

• Early childhood educators, preschool teachers or elementary school teachers and aides

• Restaurant owners or managers, chefs, and wait staff

• Computer support technician or computer network administrator

Positive people oriented interpersonal skills:

Many people with ADHD thrive in highly social environments and have potentially excellent communication or persuasion skills. If you’re one of them, choose a career that is based on building relationships with clients or students or working on a team. For instance, a person with a real passion for science and great interpersonal skills could make an excellent high school science teacher or educator.

Jobs that involve a high level of interpersonal skills include:

• Sales representative

• Teacher or college/ university professor

• Cosmetology/ Hair stylist

• Public relations professional

• Advertising or marketing professional.

Adaptability and flexibility:

With ADHD, you often want to work on your own schedule, not on a schedule dictated by someone else. Jobs that allow for flexibility and freedom can create greater job satisfaction for those with ADHD when well managed and with a clear system for organization and follow through. These jobs can be found in a variety of fields, most often in sales or business.

Conversely, some individuals with ADHD find that they thrive in a very structured, organized setting where they have clear instructions and work directives. A structured job is one where there’s a specific workflow and clearly defined tasks. There’s no grey area and expectations are clearly stated. Some individuals often find success in a job where that clear structure helps them manage their ADHD and succeed with out the need to work out their own system for organization and deadlines. These jobs can be found in most fields and industries. Look for jobs with clearly defined duties such as data processing, quality control, or engineering.

Willingness to take risks

It takes the willingness to take risks and some innovative thinking to start and succeed in your own business. Owning your business plays to the risk-taking spirit of the person with ADHD. You have to wear different hats on different days - working in sales, product development, marketing, etc. Owning your own business requires innovative thinking - another strength of the ADHD mind. It also offers freedom of schedule and flexibility which, when well managed, can create increased job satisfaction for the ADHD spirit.

While owning your own business does require attention to details such as accounting, inventory management, etc, it is possible to hire employees who can handle those boring tasks.

• There’s not really a job list for entrepreneurs but what is key for success for those with ADHD is finding a business they are passionate about. People with ADHD have deep interests and tend to get less distracted and off track when they are working in a field they are intensely interested in.

Interest/ Passion

And that leads to the real key - finding a job that is more than just a job. This can be any field you have a deep interest in. A career that allows you to focus on what you enjoy is is extremely important for anyone with ADHD. Career testing can help you identify key areas of interest that will put you on a path to a successful career you love.

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Summary of Best Work Environments for People with ADHD

In general, the best work environments for people with ADHD tend to:

• Be fast-paced and action oriented

• Have a high level of people interaction

• Have built in deadlines or a sense of urgency

• Offer variety in daily routines

• Have ample problem-solving opportunities

• Encourage creativity and innovative thinking

Summary of over 30 Great Jobs for People with ADHD

Here’s the list of 30 great job possibilities that value the career strengths of people with ADHD. Remember these are only 30 possibilities. With the right work environment and the development of strategic organizational skills, you can succeed in almost any profession you choose.

• Musician

• Artist

• Dancer

• Entertainer

• Inventor

• Hair stylist/ cosmetologist

• Construction worker or artisan builder

• Mechanic

• Private investigator

• Graphic designer

• Interior designer

• Advertising Professional

• Marketing manager or professional

• Paramedics or EMT

• Firefighters

• Police Officers

• Journalist 

• Early childhood educator or preschool teacher or

• Elementary or high school teachers and aides

• College professor

• Restaurant owner or manager, chefs, and wait staff

• Sales representative

• Public relations professional

• Advertising or marketing professional.

• Data processing

• Quality control technician or engineer

• Civil Engineer

• Entrepreneur

• Business manager or team leader

• Computer support technician

• IT Network Administrator

Career testing can help you identify key areas of interest that will put you on a path to a successful career you love. Take some time to identify your interests and passions and you are on your way to success in your career and in your life.

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Anita Flowers, M.A, BCC, Blue Sage Life and Career Strategies

Anita Flowers is a Board Certified career and life coach at Blue Sage Career Strategies. A little different than most life coaches, Anita’s background in clinical psychology and years of experience as a counselor gives her a rich understanding of human development and family dynamics. Her work history includes 13 years working with an international business company and 12 years doing individual and family counseling as well as career counseling. This blend of counseling and business experience gives Anita a unique perspective on the world of work and life. Anita works with people literally all over the world to help them discover a life and career they love.   Contact Anita here to get started on your new career and life!