Hey everyone,
I am currently unemployed and have been diagnosed with ADD.
I am trying to think of types of jobs that would be a good fit for someone with attention problems. I quit my last job because it was so monotonous and I dreaded getting up everyday.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!!

[Perna]

Anything you'd like to do? There's got to be something in a field that would interest you, not be boring and monotonous. What do you like, what "hobbies" or interests do you have?

Work for a plant nursery or landscaping firm (if you like outside work)? I always wanted to work at a farm stand selling fruit in the summer :-)

Another job I think would be neat is to work for a large "fleet" (cars) rental company taking the cars to have their inspections or emissions checked with the state. I saw that when I got my own car emissions checkup and it had never occurred to me that there are "driver" jobs like that.

Or, I guess I'd try to find a driver job delivering packages for a private company (rather than for a delivery company -- I think that would be too stressful having so many places to go to and from and time being a really big issue, etc.) But large professional firms -- law, engineering, architecture, etc. often have their own delivery people to take things to/pick up from their own clients.

Library clerk job would be interesting to me too. There's lots of different smaller jobs within that one, don't know if there'd be too many details but each job would be easy enough and the variety would keep it all from getting boring. Shelving books and that sort of thing would be very calming and relaxing for me.

I've always wanted to go to yard sales and buy things and then resell them at flea markets for a profit or, buy things at second hand and thrift stores and sell them weekends at flea markets; that way you could collect each week to sell on Saturday mornings at a "regular" booth. Maybe another idea, start a little business helping people set up yard/garage sales for a fee?

[InACorner]

sounds really strange...but a certified nursing assistant....ill tell you what..you gotta love being around people and taking care of people...but its not monotous...i work in a nursing home....lol i went 5/6 hours without sitting down...and i was all over...you have to get people this..and that...and do this and do that...you have to be on your toes and a quick thinker.....just dont forget...i have that problem lol

I'd like to be a mattress tester

I actually have an interview Friday for a weight loss counselor position. The pay is not as high as my previous jobs but I really don't care. I am just trying to find a job with personal satisfaction. I like helping others.

[Obsessed]

<font color="purple"> </font> <font color="blue"> </font> <font color="purple"> </font> Hi. I have ADD and it seems I'm having more trouble dealing with it. Working is getting so scarey for me. I'm now un employed and 50. I don't remember things well, am un organized, lousey time management and can not count money right as well as being very slow. I just don't know where to go to try to work. It's not like I have much experience. Now I also have a bad knee and some shoulder and neck trouble so I can't stand or sit for a full 8 hours. Any suggestions other than testing mattresses?

[Juliana]

I haven't been diagnosed with ADD, but I'm pretty sure I have it. My sister just got diagnosed and I'm waiting for an appointment with a therapist... I'm like you. I'm finding it harder to deal with as I get older. It seems to be getting worse.

Anyway, I find I do best in jobs that require lots of multi-tasking and tight deadlines. I need to be busy, busy, busy all the time. If I'm left with too much time to work on a project, my mind wanders, I can't concentrate and I end up getting extremely frustrated. My procrastination gets out of control and I don't get anything done until the last minute.

Previous jobs in which I've been very successful -- writer and photographer for a daily newspaper; art director, senior designer and project manager in an ad agency; designer and editor for an educational institution, and right now I'm the communications coordinator for a university.

They're all the sorts of jobs that never get boring; no two days are the same, there are lots of tight deadlines, lots of crises (I work best under pressure) and I'm not left with any free time on my hands... time which I would inevitably waste. They're also jobs that include things I enjoy -- creative things. I become hyper-focused when doing creative things like designing or writing.

My biggest obstacle is organization... so I rely heavily on lists and my Palm Pilot to remind me of where I need to be and what I need to be doing.

Is there anything creative that you enjoy doing? If you can dig deep and identify the things you really like doing, you might be able to find a job where you use those skills. There's no point fighting against who you are and how your mind works. Maybe there's a way to take what seems like a disadvantage and use it to your advantage.

I'm convinced the only successful job is to be self employed, as it's too difficult to follow the rules...you must make the rules.

[Luthien]

I'm a computer programmer and that works fine as long as they don't bother me with meetings :P. Programming works great because I can hyperfocus on that really well - but getting pulled out of it is physically painful. So my reviews are mixed ... I seem to deliver a good job but distract others by fidgeting, wobbling my legs or singing, suddenly laughing as I think of something silly and am grumpy when ppl distract me. In some work places it worked, in others it did not. It really depends if people are willing to put up with your ADD traits and value the strong points like creativity, being a problem solver, an idea generator and whatnot.

And like gtrplayer says, it is essential that you have some sort of autonomy. Could be self-employed, although the idea of having to do the financial administration of even a 1 person company completely terrifies me

Peace
Luthien