Jobs for People with ADHD: Career Advice for Adults with ADD https://www.additudemag.com ADHD symptom tests, ADD medication & treatment, behavior & discipline, school & learning essentials, organization and more information for families and individuals living with attention deficit and comorbid conditions Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:38:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cropped-additude-favicon-512x512-1.png?w=32&crop=0%2C0px%2C100%2C32px&ssl=1 Jobs for People with ADHD: Career Advice for Adults with ADD https://www.additudemag.com 32 32 “Taking Up Space:” Illustrator Hayley Wall on Neurodivergence and the Power of Art   https://www.additudemag.com/disability-awareness-art-mental-health/ https://www.additudemag.com/disability-awareness-art-mental-health/?noamp=mobile#respond Wed, 02 Oct 2024 08:20:29 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=363076
Credit: Hayley Wall, illustrator

Art is Hayley Wall’s love language. Since Wall was a young child, she has found her footing as a communicator through drawing. Wall struggled academically as a child due to dyslexia and undiagnosed ADHD and autism, but she says, “What I did have was this gift where I could create images and I could tell stories.”

When Wall graduated from university and considered where to take her art, she was drawn to the topic of disability. “I was exploring the things I felt were important, the things that needed to be spoken about,” Wall explains. “My mom is disabled, so that’s been around me for a long, long time and it’s felt like people with disabilities are always the last to be thought of.”

Wall was asked to illustrate an article on chronic illness for the cover of Sick magazine, and then another on the same topic for It’s Nice That. These illustrations caught the attention of The New York Times, which commissioned Wall to illustrate a package celebrating the anniversary of The Americans with Disabilities Act. Her work became known for her signature bodies — large, gender-fluid forms, typically without faces, that exude strength, joy, and confidence.

As Wall’s art career gained momentum, so too did her personal journey to understand her own neurodivergence. Though Wall struggled with mental health challenges all her life, it wasn’t until she was 34 that she received a diagnosis of ADHD and autism.

Below, Wall shares her creative process, the challenges and joys of being a neurodivergent artist, and her commitment to a future that celebrates different minds and bodies.

[Read: “Happily Neurodivergent — at Last”]

Q: How did your diagnoses come about?

I’ve always wondered, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ and always struggled with my mental health. It was a feeling of being too much — too emotional, too sensitive, I always carried this feeling of, I just don’t fit in.

When I was 30, I sat down with my partner at the time, and was like, ‘I found this article about adults that have been diagnosed with ADHD and I’ve just done multiple quizzes. Can you do the quiz as well, please?’ They did, and they scored really low. I was like, ‘So you don’t do that? And that?’ It made me think, ‘OK, I think something’s going on.’ I approached my general practitioner, and from there, it took four years to get a diagnosis.

When I was 36, a year ago, I got diagnosed with autism and a mental health condition. I’m coming to terms with all these diagnoses and trying to understand how to navigate them. To me, what’s more important is not the label but just working out what I need.

Credit: Hayley Wall, illustrator

[Self-Test: Autism Test for Adults – Signs of ASD]

Q: When did your love of art begin?

I was a kid who bounced off the walls, I had so much energy. I wouldn’t shut up, and I would cry and scream. To calm me down, my parents would give me pens and paper and I would draw. It was the one time I was calm and focused.

Q: How does your ADHD inform your work?

After graduating, it took me 8 to 10 years to establish myself. I’ve done so many random jobs. I’ve worked as a nanny, in factories, in cafes. But running parallel to that was my hyperfocus, which kept me on track to pursue art. My hyperfocus is the reason I’ve been able to turn art into a career.

My work is all about bodies, usually gender ambiguous bodies. They are these big bodies that take up space — maybe because I’ve always felt really small and inferior. The bodies in my work are powerful. I can live through them.

The whole ‘taking up space’ idea is a big f&*k you to society for being like, ‘You have to be like this, or like that.’ It’s, ‘No, we can be whomever we want to be.’

Q: Can you tell us about your creative process?

A commission will come through and it’s like jumping on a roller coaster. There’s a voice that goes, ‘Here we go.’

I center myself and breathe to remove any negative voices and let the process take me.

As I read the commission, the visuals start coming, and my brain is joining dot-to-dots. I have a background in dance, and the dancing lives in my work now. Sometimes I’ll get myself or my friends into different positions and I’ll draw from that. I create loose, playful hand-rendered drawings and textures, and then I bring it onto my computer to work with.

Once I’ve got my concept down, I enter the most playful part of the process. I can enjoy coming to the end of the roller coaster nice and slowly.

Q: What’s the hardest part of your job?

The first bit of the process, mind-mapping concepts, is hard because I’ve got so many ideas, and I need to hone in. It’s the organization of thoughts that’s hard.

What crushes mind-mapping is impostor syndrome, a feeling I’ve carried of being inferior. I wish I was able to remove that saboteur voice that creeps in to say, ‘You’re not good enough,’ so I could just let my brain run free.

Q: What ADHD supports have you found helpful?

Freelance work is definitely hard because you don’t have HR, you don’t have colleagues to turn to. You are your absolute everything, and it’s really tough.
I was doing it for a long time all by myself, and I reached burnout. My mental health crashed.

In the UK, we are very lucky in terms of the benefits we get from the government. The ‘Access to Work’ program offers a sort of grant or reimbursement scheme to cover the cost of a support worker. It has been very helpful to me, and I’ve used that to have somebody support me through the admin tasks.
I never want to go back to a point where I’m trying to manage it all alone.

Q: Any advice for other artists with ADHD?

If you can tune into your voice and communicate your story, that’s when you’re going to create something nobody’s ever seen before.

Q: Where are you now on your journey of understanding your neurodivergence?

With the community I’ve found, I have a feeling of being able to unmask, to be my true self, to be able to be too much, weird, overly emotional, and sensitive.

Recently, I did a commission for a London museum and library called The Wellcome Collection. They asked me to respond to an article written by a person who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, and because this piece was so personal to my experience, I really wanted to place myself in the work. It was a three-part series: before, during and after diagnosis.

For the final image, I Photoshopped my face in quite a warped way onto the figure. I’ve hid behind my work for years, so to put my own face on this figure felt quite important. It was like, ‘I’m unmasking now. I’m showing myself. I’m allowing myself to actually come through. This is me.’

ADHD, Art, and Mental Health: Next Steps


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“How ADHD Makes Me a Better Teacher” https://www.additudemag.com/teaching-with-adhd-strengths-neurodivergence/ https://www.additudemag.com/teaching-with-adhd-strengths-neurodivergence/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:49:27 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=362875

At first glance, some of my ADHD traits make me very ill-suited to my job as a college lecturer. My slippery focus and shoddy working memory make the piles of admin work painful. Trying to map out a long course makes me want to smash my head into a smartboard.

Few of my colleagues loathe the bits I hate with quite the passion that I do, so I beat myself up for making a meal of the stuff that’s meant to be simple.

But there’s a flip side, too. The more I talk to colleagues about my fresh diagnosis (ADHD, inattentive type), the more I see that others grapple daily with different demons. And some of the things that frighten or frustrate them about teaching come as naturally to me as breathing.

Teaching with ADHD: The Traits That Make Me a Better Educator

1. Improvisation

Like many with ADHD, I work well under pressure. I struggle to focus without it, in fact, so I’ve had a lifetime of practice.

The upshot is that I’m never knocked off balance by last-minute changes or questions I didn’t see coming. I love taking detours in lessons or going deeper to clear up confusion.

[Get This Free Download: Need Help Finding Your Passion? Use This ADHD “Brain Blueprint”]

Learning is a two-way conversation for me. Being happy to improvise helps me keep everyone in it.

2. A Sense of Humor

I try to make people laugh all the time. I think I learned young that it won me approval, preempted mockery, and defused the tension I would otherwise sponge up myself.

And my always-on Default Mode Network loves whispering jokes in my ear. I find it hard not to speak them out loud.

As compulsions go, it’s a lucky one. A sense of humor is a powerful tool in the classroom. It’s so much easier to build rapport, nip conflicts in the bud, and make lessons engaging and productive when you can see the funny side and share it. People learn better when they’re feeling good, too.

[Read: The ADHD Traits I Would Never Trade Away]

I’m also a closet show-off, so making an audience laugh (even if it’s captive) lifts my own mood and keeps my stress levels in check.

3. The Ability to Plan Under Pressure

Long-term projects are my nemesis. Chipping away at a faraway goal deprives me of the hit I need right now, this minute.

Weirdly, that’s where teaching works for me. I don’t sit down on a Sunday to plan. (I can’t. I’ve tried. It’s fruitless.) But the very tight deadline of an imminent lesson gives my distractible brain no choice but to snap into action. When it does, it’s with supercharged clarity and speed.

A sea of expectant faces is a sufficiently scary prospect to kickstart my concentration and wrestle floating, fragmented ideas into an anchored, coherent whole. The last half-hour before a lesson starts is when my plan comes together. Even if I’m still on the bus.

Because I work best this way, weekends are mainly my own.

4. Creativity and Competitiveness

‘Teacher talk time’ is part of my job. Some things just need explaining. But I drift off when I’m talked at for too long myself and I don’t want my learners to check out because I’ve bored them.

So I break up exposition with chats, games, and quizzes to give them chance to think and engage.

Competition cranks my focus up, too, so I use it with students as well. They sit up and dig deeper when victory’s at stake. A lively 10-minute grammar-off can save a lesson from sinking.

5. Deep Empathy

As a super-sensitive person with ADHD, I know first-hand how negative emotions can torpedo efforts to learn.

That awareness is useful because lots of my students have big stresses that mess with their concentration. They come from all over the world and have issues ranging from PTSD and homelessness to fears for family in war zones. Things I cannot imagine.

I can never solve their problems. What I can provide, thanks to empathy, is a warm, inclusive environment where people feel safe and valued.

I can also lend my ear after class where that’s what a person wants. Because of the way I’m built, it never feels like a chore.

Teaching with ADHD: Shedding Shame and Cultivating Gratitude

There will probably always be bits of my job I find hard because they’re dull. I’ve felt shame about that at times and suspected I’m lazy or weak. Now that I’m certain I’m neither, I can be more patient with myself and calmer when I’m tackling the tough stuff. And I can see much more clearly the many upsides of ADHD.

Being up front with others and listening to their own unique challenges has opened my eyes to how well my brain serves me at work. It has taught me to put much more store in the strengths I have — creativity, compassion and last-minute focus, for example —that some others don’t, and which are very likely down to the way I’m wired.

Teaching with ADHD: Next Steps


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“From Bowling-Alley Bartender to Cleopatra Waitress: My Story of ADHD Job Hopping” https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-and-job-hopping/ https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-and-job-hopping/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:22:39 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=362147

I am wildly creative, surprisingly good with a paintbrush, and skilled with words. I know how to make jewelry, soap, candles, and pretty paper. I know how to put together elaborate floral displays and decorate cakes. I can research like an analyst and draft essays like an academic.

I know how to make proper barista coffee, complete with foamy milk hearts, and I can pour a mean tap beer. I can change brake pads on Volvos, paint houses perfectly, as well as clean them like I have OCD. (I can totally say that because I do have OCD.) I have some fun unpolished vocals recorded on a retro pop album floating around cyberspace along with some long forgotten “crazy cat lady” improv clips with five views total (probably all due to me).

I am good at a lot of things, but, by the world’s standards of success, I am a failure. And a big one at that.

No five-year plan here. (Time blindness will do that to you.) I have no idea what I am doing in the next five minutes, let alone in the next five years. And I certainly have not been commended in any field or selected as employee of the month. Let’s just say that if holding the record for shortest time employed were a thing, then my 15-minute stint as a bartender at a bowling alley would win the title.

I have studied acting but I am not an actor. I am a qualified English teacher, but I do not teach. I write poetry, but few read my work. I sometimes author stories or articles, which some people read, for which I’m eternally grateful. People often see how capable and organized I can be and think I must slay at life, but often, life slays me. This is the nature of the brain beast that is ADHD.

Where Is My Mind?

One of the many bosses I have had over my multi-faceted career once said of my job performance, “When you’re on, you’re brilliant, creative, unstoppable. But when you’re off, it’s hard to remember how good you are.”

[Get This Free Download: What to Ask Yourself to Find the Perfect Job]

Harsh, but fair. This was the story of my life — bosses wondering if I was intentionally not doing what they said, why I did things the complete opposite way I had been shown, or if I really was just that confused and forgetful. Most did not have the time or resources to spare on figuring me out, so I would end up fired over and over.

Some bosses asked where my mind went during meetings. Others would scratch their heads, puzzled that I’d be on fire one day, and frazzled, late, and disoriented the next. (It wasn’t uncommon for me to forget my lunch or even the name of the store where I worked.)

Once I even walked into the wrong workplace to clock in. I had previously worked in a jewelry store a few doors down from my new workplace, a skincare store. Easy mistake to make, right?

And don’t get me started on my wonderful, spontaneous, but often inappropriate workplace banter. Time and time again, I would blurt out a thought that would offend others – for its tone, timing, or crudeness. Sometimes, though, people would laugh or even join in with my shenanigans.

[Read: “Did I Overshare by Telling My New Co-Workers That I Habitually Overshare?”]

When I think I am being honest or funny, most people think I am being rude. When I am good at something, I do not know how to pace myself or set boundaries, so I burn out quickly and become incredibly bad at the thing I was good at. When I witness injustice, I am compelled to speak up (thanks, RSD and justice sensitivity), which has seen me in all kinds of deep water in the workplace.

Jack of All Trades, Master of Some

I have had some interesting jobs. I remember riding my motorbike to a fancy mansion dressed as Cleopatra when I worked for a catering company that specialized in themed events. I’ve worked in delis, clothing boutiques, florist shops, fast food joints, call centers, hardware stores, and markets. I’ve worked in education, childcare, and cleaning services. I’ve designed logos, posters, and t-shirts. I’ve directed musicals, weeded gardens, washed cars, and mowed lawns.

I did all this unmedicated, so I want to congratulate myself on making it through. After my ADHD diagnosis at age 38, I went on medication and saw significant changes in my time management, organization, memory retention, and emotional regulation skills. Today, I am finally doing something that I am good at and really enjoy. (Not to brag, but I am kind of my boss’s favorite.) I am kicking ass at the most important job I’ve ever had: being a mama.

My neurodivergent brain makes everything a lot harder, but I have accepted that I’ll just have to work with it and learn on the job. I try to see mistakes as opportunities to improve. I am not perfect at anything because that is the stuff of mythology. But I am brilliant at many things, and I aim for good enough where I can. I have learned not to overthink opinions about my performance on any job, sometimes not even my own. I am a lifelong work in progress – I have my work cut out for me, and if life has taught me anything, it is that I can do hard things.

ADHD and Job Hopping: Next Steps


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“Women with ADHD Prefer Silence Over Disclosure. This Needs to Change.” https://www.additudemag.com/inclusive-culture-workplace-women-with-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/inclusive-culture-workplace-women-with-adhd/?noamp=mobile#respond Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:18:07 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=360704 More than half of adults with ADHD prefer to keep their diagnosis to themselves, according to a recent Understood.org survey of 2,100 adults conducted online by The Harris Poll. However, an even more concerning pattern emerges when we break down the results by gender: 66% of young women (ages 18–34) prefer to stay silent compared to 42% of young men with ADHD.

Why Women with ADHD Don’t Disclose Their Diagnosis

In part, the survey results suggest that women with ADHD are perceived differently than are men with ADHD — a finding that more than half of survey respondents (three-quarters of whom were women) agree to be true.

We know that self-stigma is a key barrier to seeking professional support.1While the survey’s findings relate to ADHD specifically, they speak to a larger societal phenomenon: Individuals internalize public stigma, e.g., stereotypes, prejudice, and discriminatory attitudes endorsed by the public. We see examples of internalized public stigma across women’s mental and general health, including their ADHD diagnosis.

Although men and women are just as likely to have learning and thinking differences, girls with ADHD are diagnosed one-third as often as boys2 Many women receive their ADHD diagnoses in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. When a woman is diagnosed with ADHD later in life, she’s likely spent decades struggling without understanding why. A late-in-life diagnosis may be the route of frustration, self-doubt, and anxiety.

Researchers have primarily based assessment tools on studies of boys and they do not norm for female populations. Gender bias built into testing instruments is one of the biggest reasons women and girls with ADHD may go undiagnosed, something 87% of survey respondents acknowledged, the survey revealed.

[Free Resource: What to Ask Yourself to Find the Perfect Job]

Women diagnosed with ADHD later in life often express how they made efforts and investments to get answers, but providers routinely dismissed their concerns as “hormones,” “mom brain,” or “lack of self-care.” Many received diagnoses of depression or anxiety instead of ADHD.

They finally got an accurate diagnosis after enduring years of unsuccessful treatments — along with blame for non-compliance. The experience of having their providers meet their initial concerns with disbelief, in a sense, trained women not to disclose.

Many women develop the core belief that “there’s something wrong with me.” And this doesn’t change overnight. Often, women need time, support, and community to learn how to voice their newly learned diagnosis in a way that feels right to them.

Choosing not to disclose an ADHD diagnosis is a logical response to stigma, bias, and backlash. Half of the adults surveyed believe that the negative stigma surrounding neurodiversity is stronger now than ever before. Among respondents with learning and thinking differences, 59% worry that disclosing their diagnosis would negatively impact their careers. Nearly 1 in 4 respondents who requested workplace accommodations said they lost their jobs or got demoted after asking. In that kind of workplace culture, it’s no surprise that people stay silent.

[Take the ADHD Self-Test for Women]

How to Create an Inclusive Culture

The culture that too often makes silence the best option for women must shift. The solution to silence is not as simple as telling women to “speak up” at work. We need to create a culture that places women’s voices and needs at the core. We need to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around neurodivergence (particularly ADHD and dyslexia) for women. We need better resources, awareness, and action, to start the shift toward progress.

Here are a few steps individuals, providers, and employers can take to create a more inclusive culture:

  • Learn: Patients, employers, and providers need to let go of old assumptions and dial up their curiosity because the information about ADHD has historically been based on homogeneous, primarily male experiences. Even among the most knowledgeable, there’s still much to learn and unlearn.
  • Embrace the gray: Disclosure isn’t “on” or “off.” You don’t need to share your diagnosis with everyone. You get to choose who, when, and how much you share.
  • Listen: Often people don’t speak up because when they do, they aren’t heard or understood. For providers, this means actively listening to clients and patients. Employers need to actively listen to employees and take their concerns and requests seriously. Individuals need to listen to their inner voice without judgment.

Inclusive Culture: Next Steps


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Sources

1 Lannin, D.G., Bible, J. (2022). Self-Stigma of Seeking Help: A Meta-Analysis. The Cambridge Handbook of Stigma and Mental Health. Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology. Cambridge University Press; 111-142.

2 Young, S., Adamo, N., Ásgeirsdóttir, B.B. et al. (2020). Females with ADHD: An Expert Consensus Statement Taking a Lifespan Approach Providing Guidance for the Identification and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Girls and Women. BMC Psychiatry. 20, 404. https://doi.org/0.1186/s12888-020-02707-9

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“Workplace Accommodations That Actually Work” https://www.additudemag.com/inclusion-workplace-accommodations-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/inclusion-workplace-accommodations-adhd/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:15:44 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=360162 I’ve held roughly 30 jobs in my lifetime — most of them before I discovered my ADHD at age 30. I’ve been in my current role for two and a half years. While my ADHD symptoms have caused difficulties at work, my organization openly discusses how to make improvements and what resources are needed to work through them.

I am grateful that my company takes a “bring your whole self to work” approach. That attitude has encouraged me to discuss my experience as an adult living with ADHD and it has taught me the importance of creating an inclusive, supportive workplace for colleagues with neurodiverse conditions. I realize that many people with ADHD are not so fortunate.

People with ADHD are chronically unemployed or underemployed. This doesn’t affect their ability to succeed at work, but it may hinder their chances of getting past the hiring stage.

Once hired, many people with ADHD wrestle with whether to reveal their diagnosis in the workplace. Understandably, many feel that disclosing their disability could attract stigma and discrimination. But if no one discloses their ADHD, how can an organization ensure that it is being inclusive?

Senior leaders and decision-makers must foster a sense of openness by actively promoting an inclusive culture. I view inclusivity as a net; the wider it is, the greater the population caught. Some tools are created for specific reasons, such as an automatic door to assist someone using a mobility device. However, this adjustment also helps someone with arthritis or a new parent pushing a stroller. In other words, the benefits of accommodations are often wider and deeper than we first imagine.

[Get This Free Download: What to Ask Yourself to Find the Perfect Job]

7 ADHD Accommodations at Work

Here are more ways to create a more inclusive workplace for individuals with ADHD.

1. Job Application Accommodations

A supportive workplace culture takes root during the hiring process. Employers must value individuals beyond their CVs and resumes, and prioritize the person ahead of the qualifications. A small change that can significantly impact the inclusivity of your hiring process is providing job applicants with materials in different formats and offering alternatives to submitting traditional CVs or resumes, such as creating video applications.

2. Targeted Training

Because ADHD affects individuals differently, employers and colleagues must understand the symptoms of inattentive, hyperactive, and combined-type ADHD — and how each one manifests. They can do this by collaborating with an ADHD expert with lived experience, seeking tailored training programs, or simply listening to colleagues with ADHD.

3. Clear Communication

To help people with ADHD stay focused and reduce overwhelm, simplify communication by summarizing key points and action items in emails. Use bullet points and highlight important information to make it quick and easy to access.

4. Visible Meeting Notes

During meetings, provide written notes or prompts. If the meeting takes place virtually, use the chat box function. This helps team members who might get flustered or need to refer to the discussion points.

[Read: DIY ADHD Accommodations for Your 9 to 5 Job]

5. Recording and Transcription Services

Recordings and transcripts of meetings can be invaluable for those with working memory challenges, allowing them to revisit the information as needed.

6. Flexible Working Hours

Some people with ADHD find they are more productive outside traditional work hours. Allowing flexible work times can maximize productivity and reduce mistakes.

7. A Balanced Perspective

When ADHD is called a “superpower,” I hear toxic positivity. Perceived strengths like creativity or resilience do not overshadow the real challenges that individuals with ADHD face; it’s important to acknowledge that it is a disabling condition with some inherently beneficial traits as well. A balanced perspective is essential for genuine inclusivity.

Supporting colleagues with ADHD in the workplace requires understanding and practical adjustments. Organizations can create a workplace where all employees thrive by promoting open communication, providing targeted training, and avoiding toxic positivity. The goal is to ensure everyone on the team feels valued and supported to do their best work.

Inclusion in the Workplace for ADHD: Next Steps


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“ADHD Helps Me Stand Out as a Stand-Up Comedian” https://www.additudemag.com/stand-up-comedy-adhd-humor/ https://www.additudemag.com/stand-up-comedy-adhd-humor/?noamp=mobile#comments Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:24:13 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=348303 I’ve never been one to shy away from the spotlight. As a child, I was known to “sermonize” from the pulpit in church, and I’d always volunteer to read out loud in class. I relished every opportunity to say something funny or personally meaningful in front of a crowd. In high school, my outgoing nature, ease in front of large crowds, and quick thinking under pressure helped me become captain of my school’s debate team. I even got to present arguments to my state’s school board.

Once I left my tiny hometown and moved to the city, I found myself gravitating toward comedy clubs. I very quickly began performing, oftentimes impromptu style, and, less than a year later, I was signed on to a local, all-female comedy show.

I’ve never considered my ADHD brain to be a hindrance in the comedy world. If anything, it’s more like a secret weapon that gives me the upper hand on stage, that magical place where bouncing, bubbling, free-thinking maniacs like us take charge and absolutely shine.

How to Do Stand-Up Comedy with ADHD: Quick Thinking to the Test

The pressure of performing to hundreds of scrutinizing ears under bright lights is not for the faint of heart. Anything can happen. Yes, anything, like forgetting your own jokes, scrambling up lines, dealing with hecklers, doing some crowd work, and stumbling onto topics that weren’t part of the set at all, which often happens for me.

While a large part of stand-up comedy is rehearsing – practicing a set over and over until you’re well-versed enough to deliver your lines, completely memorized (but not showing it) and at just the right timing – rolling with the punches is where your mastery in this craft comes through. Because, as a performer, there are no second chances; you must always be ready to roll with the punches of a one-time-take during a live set.

[Read: LOL! Humor Therapy for ADHD]

Somehow, every time I’m on stage, I manage to fool the audience into thinking that I have my crap together. (Joke’s on them!) How do I do it? With the help of a bulleted list that I keep on stage and occasionally glance at while performing. If I’ve forgotten a joke or scrambled up my lines, potentially disrupting the flow and organization of my set, I look at the next bullet point and find a way, on the spot, to connect the random topic I’ve stumbled upon to the next joke. The list also helps me smoothly skip to the next bit in my set if a joke doesn’t seem to land with the crowd.

It’s in these moments that my ADHD brain actually works best. When I allow myself to shift around freely and think quickly on my feet, my sets tend to feel more authentic, lucid, fluid, and complete.

It’s a big reason I enjoy crowd work. There’s a new crowd to weave through every time, meaning endless possibilities for teasing. Shall I focus on the size of an audience member’s shoes? On the choice of words they used to answer my question? On their unfortunate choice to wear a scarf during the summer or shorts during the winter? Or should I jump through all these choices?

And how about those hecklers? I try my hardest not to “punch-down” as a comedian, but, hey, no one’s perfect! The best thing to do in this scenario is to keep the show light and quickly find a distraction that will satiate the heckler until security can escort them out. No problem for me!

[Read: ADHD Humor Is My Gift and My Curse]

Getting the Last Laugh

Perhaps another reason I gravitate toward a live audience is because performing offers the opportunity to express who I really am and to be truly seen. Sometimes I even feel more like myself when I am presenting or performing on the stage. Because it’s where my brain, funny enough, is free to behave in a way that isn’t always appreciated away from the spotlight.

Stand-Up Comedy and ADHD: Next Steps


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I Have ADHD. Is the Military Right for Me? https://www.additudemag.com/joining-the-military-with-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/joining-the-military-with-adhd/?noamp=mobile#respond Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:36:41 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=345020 Thinking of joining the military? Wondering if an ADHD diagnosis will affect your enlistment and/or your success in the armed forces?

ADHD alone won’t necessarily disqualify you from enlistment. But whether the military is the right environment for you is another question. You’ll have to be honest with yourself about your strengths, challenges, and how well you cope with ADHD, especially without medication. The first step is to conduct lots of research, including learning as much as you can about the military, its enlistment procedures, the service branches and roles within them that appeal to you, and the pros and cons of military life. Even if you’re set on joining, it’s a great idea to set the foundations for success well before applying.

Can You Join the Military If You Have ADHD?

In the Department of Defense’s (DoD) current guidelines, ADHD disqualifies an applicant from military enlistment if they meet any of the following conditions:

  • A recommended or prescribed IEP, 504 Plan, or work accommodations after age 14
  • A a history of comorbid mental disorders
  • Use of prescribed ADHD medication in the previous 24 months
  • Documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance due to ADHD

Applicants with ADHD who meet any of the conditions listed above need a medical waiver to be able to join the military. That being said, DoD guidelines are just that — guidelines — and each branch of service (and even some divisions within them) has its own policies, processes, and approaches (formal and informal) for managing medical waivers and enlistment. Successfully obtaining a waiver, therefore, is not exactly a clear-cut process.

[Learn More About the Military Medical Waiver Process for ADHD Here]

DOD guidelines should not discourage anyone from trying to enlist. Changing perceptions and recruitment challenges, for one, appear to be driving the military to revisit guidelines around mental health conditions like ADHD and to potentially loosen restrictions around enlistment. That may explain why, in 2022, at least 1 in every 6 military recruits was granted a waiver to enter service — the highest percentage in at least 10 years — according to a report by Military Times.

Benefits of Joining the Military: Pros, Cons, and Other Considerations with ADHD

ADHD is probably more prevalent in the military than you realize. In 2018, more than 41,000 active service members had an ADHD diagnosis, according to a study that looked at medical data among service members in a five-year period.1

Be sure that you understand the pros and cons of joining the military in relation to your personal preferences and from an ADHD perspective.

[Read: Uncle Sam Wants You! (Maybe)]

  • Military benefits: From educational benefits and home loans to job skills training and salary stability, the military helps many people stabilize in early adulthood and prepare for the future. But there are penalties for irresponsibly handling these benefits. You’ll have to pay back granted educational funds if you don’t complete or pass a course, and homes can be repossessed if loan payments aren’t managed, for example.
  • Travel: A career in the military can take you around the country and the world. But that doesn’t mean you get to choose where to go or when.
  • Specialized opportunities: The military offers training in unique and exciting fields like intelligence, linguistics, airborne operations, and more. Some of these fields provide a healthy outlet for thrill-seeking, high-energy risk takers. Another ADHD pro: If you find a field you love, you can pour yourself into it completely. Trainings and jobs, of course, may be rigorous and stressful, especially if you struggle with focusing and concentrating. Being in a stressful environment for too long can also cause chronic stress and impact mental health.
  • A structured environment: A disciplined, predictable environment may help you thrive. Then again, it may be difficult for you to adjust to an environment that offers little flexibility regarding when and how things happen.
  • Opportunities to develop life skills. You can gain and sharpen organization, problem-solving, leadership, and time-management skills in the military. If you’re a creative, out-of-the-box thinker, this trait will come in handy here and in other aspects of military life.
  • Working with people: Speaking of life skills, the military is unparalleled in its success training individuals to work in a team and be part of a close-knit group. But positive social encounters may not be a universal experience, especially for individuals who struggle socially due to ADHD and emotional dysregulation.

So, Should I Join the Military? Questions to Ask Yourself & How to Prepare

The main question you should ask yourself is, “Is the military an environment in which I could thrive?” If you see more cons than pros in the list above, the military may not be a good fit for you. But there are other questions to consider:

1. Am I able to function without medication? Enlisting in any military branch while actively taking ADHD medication is not possible. That’s why many individuals stop taking medication at least 24 months before attempting to enlist. (Again, not all branches have the same approaches; the Air Force, for example, has been known to consider waivers for applicants who have been off medication for at least 15 months.) Take an honest look at your symptoms and how you currently manage ADHD. Military attrition rates may help you understand what’s at stake, as service members with ADHD have higher drop-off rates than do members without ADHD.2

A note on ADHD treatment during active service: As a clinical psychologist in the Army, I can only speak to procedures in this branch. That said, in the Army, it’s possible to receive an ADHD diagnosis and treatment during active service. Commencing treatment, especially stimulant use, may require other role-, training-, and/or division-specific considerations. An Army service member who is treating ADHD with stimulants, for example, may need a waiver to continue to perform certain functions.

2. If I meet any of the disqualifying criteria, what is my plan to demonstrate readiness and improve my chances of obtaining a waiver? If you’re set on stopping medication leading up to enlistment, do so in consultation with your doctor. At the same time, seek out non-pharmacological ways to manage your ADHD (and other conditions, if applicable), like therapy, coaching, and support groups. As you wait to be off medication for the recommended time, consider taking classes, developing technical skills, and taking on or continuing a job. Take the appropriate time — even if that means years (check your preferred branch to see age limits to enlist in active duty) — to demonstrate stability and make a strong case for yourself.

3. How can I set myself up for success in the military?

  • What kinds of jobs would be a good fit for me? Do your research and talk to recruiters about the jobs best suited to your strengths and interests. Look into the job environment, too — would you prefer a sedentary job, or something that allows you to be more active?
  • How well do I cope with stress, and what strategies can help me? Given ADHD’s overlap with stress, anxiety, and depression, it’s absolutely critical to develop coping skills, especially before entering a stressful environment. From deep-breathing exercises and positive self-talk to journaling and engaging in hobbies, there are many effective ways for dealing with frustration and overwhelm. Be sure to pay attention to your nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits, too. Foster resilience: adopt a problem-solving, growth mindset; practice asking for help; express gratitude and compassion; actualize your dreams by committing to your goals.
  • How can I enhance executive functioning? ADHD impacts executive functions — the mental processes that allow us to plan, organize, focus, prioritize, and achieve our goals. You can support EFs in key ways, like breaking large tasks into smaller steps, using visual aids to jog memory, setting reminders, using checklists, having dedicated spaces for items, creating routines, and other methods that will be useful during service.

Remember: You Have Options

With the right planning and preparation, thriving in the military with ADHD is absolutely possible. But if you determine that joining the military isn’t the right path for you, there are other careers that may still allow you to be involved in the military. The DoD employs 950,000 civilians across its many agencies in multiple disciplines and around the world. Click here to learn more about DOD careers for civilians.

Joining the Military with ADHD: Next Steps

The content for this article was derived, in part, from the ADDitude webinar titled, “Can You Join the Military with ADHD? What Hopeful Service Members Need to Know” [Video Replay & Podcast #457] with Brandi Walker, Ph.D., which was broadcast on June 1, 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.


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Sources

1 Sayers, D., Hu, Z., & Clark, L. L. (2021). The Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and ADHD Medication Treatment in Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2014-2018. MSMR, 28(1), 9–14. https://health.mil/News/Articles/2021/01/01/Prevalence-of-Att-MSMR-Jan-2021

2 Sayers, D., Hu, Z., & Clark, L. L. (2021). Attrition Rates and Incidence of Mental Health Disorders in an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Cohort, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2014-2018. MSMR, 28(1), 2–8. https://health.mil/News/Articles/2021/01/01/Attrition-MSMR-Jan-2021

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25 Essential ADHD Articles for Adults https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/adult-adhd-articles-sleep-focus-marriage-diet/ https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/adult-adhd-articles-sleep-focus-marriage-diet/?noamp=mobile#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:54:26 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?post_type=slideshow&p=340914 https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/adult-adhd-articles-sleep-focus-marriage-diet/feed/ 0 “Employer Branding Is Catnip (and Kryptonite) When Job Hunting” https://www.additudemag.com/employer-branding-is-catnip-and-kryptonite-when-job-hunting/ https://www.additudemag.com/employer-branding-is-catnip-and-kryptonite-when-job-hunting/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:18:15 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=340364 A nagging, life-long question resurfaced as I began exploring career options again: Where do I fit? And how and where am I meant to find a role that leads to a life I can be proud of?

I recently researched employer branding to better understand employer and corporate perspectives. However, it also gave me valuable insights into why the quest for the perfect job seems so elusive for people with ADHD.

Employer branding is essentially a corporation’s dating profile: It makes the company as appealing as possible for the talent it wants to attract and hire. It works like a magnet in traditional haystack recruiting, effectively pulling the needle to the recruiter, saving them time and resources searching through the rest of the hay to find it. This streamlines their hiring process as strong candidates who are also a good cultural fit are already interested and engaged with the brand. It’s the business version of a low-cut top and great hair, promoting an appealing image of the company and its culture, or “personality,” and what your work life could be like if you join them.

Chasing Another Dream Job with ADHD

Employer branding is both catnip and kryptonite for people with ADHD.

We can’t help but chase the dream job and career. We are eager to buy into the company’s brand image and idealize belonging there; to be happy in our work, with a good wage and benefits package to do something we love in a place where we feel wanted, respected, understood, and financially and socially secure. It doesn’t matter if we’ve never heard of the company or if the industry’s tanking; we view our jobs as a new adventure packed with potential, and we’re excited to make a difference. Once we’re in, we’re all in — until it starts to go wrong.

One minute, we’re super happy to finally find a ‘work home,’ and the next, we’re left feeling like something’s a bit off. People with ADHD are genuine, loyal, hard-working, open, adaptable, (far too) honest, and often socially dependent yet oblivious creatives who think differently from our non-ADHD peers. We’re genuine gold dust but with a slight catch. We make mistakes that look careless but aren’t, do things a peculiar way, and miss details (like the boring bits of the job description!). Sometimes we miss deadlines and details others deem obvious and communicate in a funny way, especially when we feel overwhelmed and don’t realize it.

[Free Download: 8 Dream Jobs For Adults with ADHD]

We make these little ADHD mistakes early on, and then we overthink every single one of them because we really care about doing good work and take great pride in it. The shame is a big blow, and we care so much that sometimes it can drive us mad. We lose sleep, and our ADHD symptoms spike, especially over unavoidable critical feedback, which we don’t always know how to react to or process in the moment. So, we do our best to adapt, or we overcompensate.

Ultimately, we get hurt — a lot — during our careers, especially when our ADHD mistakes add up. We have a higher rate of getting fired than people without ADHD. Sometimes, we’re just the wrong fit for a job, but our brains, which are primed on strong emotions like pain, rejection, and joy, blame ourselves for the mismatch. This forces us into a constant internal feedback loop fraught with negative thinking.

Debunking Employer Branding

Like most images of pretty people on social media and dating profiles, employer branding doesn’t tell the whole truth. It’s the image that the corporation genuinely aspires to and wants us to see in an attempt to build a relationship that creates loyalty and excitement even before the first interview.

The truth is that large organizations are run by a mixture of people with different attitudes, agendas, backgrounds, and images of what makes a respectable professional or a creative. Trying to meet that ambiguity can make us feel like we’re a bogart from Harry Potter, whirling and morphing every time we receive feedback until we finally turn into a balloon, whiz around the room, and retreat to the safety of our dark little cupboard. It’s exhausting, as is the unrealistic pressure we put on ourselves to be ‘perfect’.

[Free Download: How to Figure Out Your Career Calling]

So, when we encounter this seductive employer branding, with its beautiful blonde hair and gorgeous smile, we must understand that it’s as genuine as any other social media post or dating profile. But it’s also written by a good person genuinely trying to give us what they think we want too.

Of course, after the toil of job hunting, it’s natural to feel enamored by a new position. But just as we need to manage our expectations in any new relationship, we need to take a step back during the first few months, stay neutral, remember ourselves, acclimate to the job, and understand that the people we work with and for are only human. They, too, have flaws.

But don’t give up hope.

There’s a real person behind every job advertisement who is probably confused about what they want, just like you. Ultimately, they only want what’s best for their team, to hire someone they can rely on and work with, who makes a better future for them and the company. Someone they can be proud of. We have to trust that they see us for who we are, and until then, we have no choice but to get up and try again until we find that perfect fit.

Good luck.

Navigating Employer Branding: Next Steps


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“How I’m Improving the Workplace for Adults with Autism” https://www.additudemag.com/jobs-for-people-with-autism-organizational-psychologist/ https://www.additudemag.com/jobs-for-people-with-autism-organizational-psychologist/?noamp=mobile#respond Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:54:11 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=337559 As a child, I was described as talkative, nosy, and bossy. I remember trying to make friends and then hearing those “friends” whisper to others that I was weird. Growing up, I often heard that I was resilient for enduring my outcast label and treatment.

These struggles continued into adulthood. At work, I was often reprimanded for spending too much time on one task and ignoring others. The first time I heard about autism or ADHD was in a college psychology course. I was a mother of a two-year-old and realized that the indications seemed to describe my child. Through his diagnosis of autism, I learned of my own.

An Unforgiving Workplace

I continued to learn about my diagnosis of autism after experiencing an unforgiving workplace that both shunned and exploited my differences. In one job, I was tasked with identifying stored materials and keeping correct records. My attention to detail found mistakes in others’ record keeping. Instead of being praised for this, I was written up for taking too much time in my section and purposely looking for colleagues’ errors.

[Watch: An Open Conversation with Temple Grandin – Autism Expert, Author, and Scientist]

At another job, my peers and I were asked during meetings to bring up ideas for improvements. After suggesting a few ideas, I was later pulled aside by my manager and told I needed to know my job better before speaking up.

Making a Difference

I’ve talked with other neurodivergent workers who had experienced similar issues in their organizations. I did not want my own children or others to endure this, so I asked: How can I make a difference?

I studied and became an industrial organizational psychologist and just finished my dissertation for a Ph.D. This career field helps organizations learn to improve the people component of the workplace and celebrate the strengths of employees with ADHD, autism, and more.

I found where my difference could make a difference!

Autism in the Workplace: Next Steps


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“It Took a Long Time, But He Finally Found a Role.” https://www.additudemag.com/jobs-for-autistic-adults-career-finder-advice/ https://www.additudemag.com/jobs-for-autistic-adults-career-finder-advice/?noamp=mobile#respond Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:24:31 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=337338 Anne Duncan experienced high, persistent anxieties and social difficulties during her 12 years as a teacher. Discouraged, she left teaching and spent three years searching for a different occupation, eventually turning to administrative work. She connected with Crossroads, a disability employment group in Sacramento, and volunteered in several clerical roles before accepting a position with the California Department of Corrections, which has proved to be a better fit over the last nine years.

Paul Nussbaum held and lost a series of jobs in his 20s and 30s. Over the past 15 years, he has settled into a combination of a handyman business and seasonal employment with Ascendigo, the sports program based in Colorado for children and adults with autism.

Both Anne and Paul were diagnosed with autism in adulthood. “Being diagnosed at age 40 with autism after a long, hard struggle with employment, academics, and major communication and social issues, the light bulb went on,” Paul said. “I learned about autism and found there is a huge population, just like me, with the same struggles.”

[Get This Free Resource: Autism Evaluation Checklist]

In Northern California, the Autism Job Club has begun to chronicle and detail the professional journeys of its members over 40, including their experiences and advice for younger workers. And though many members experienced multiple job losses in the first decade or two of working, that’s rarely the full story. Over time, many have found their niche in the job market — thanks, in large part, to maturity, an acceptance of workplace protocols, and finally finding a skill fit.

For most, finding that fit takes patience and persistence. After decades in food service (including five years of making lunches in a children’s autism program), Sarah Howard, 51, earned a degree from Cal State University, Stanislaus, in geography in 2020. The following year, she obtained a remote work position as an Apple Junior GIS technician, but within four months she and her employer decided “it wasn’t a good fit.”

“It was a very dry job, and I am way too extroverted for a remote work like that,” she said. Currently she is volunteering at Learning Quest, an adult literacy program, and pursuing a Master’s degree in non-profit management.

Mark Romoser, in his late 50s, has a degree from Yale. He held jobs with disability advocacy groups for 15 years, before being laid off in 2016. He currently works 10 hours a week at a high school for neurodivergent students and hopes to get back into the advocacy field.

[Read: How to Gauge Diversity, Equity & Inclusion — Key Questions to Ask in an Interview]

These stories echoed true for members of the Autism Job Club during a recent virtual meeting. An older parent spoke of her son, 47, and his job journey: “When he was in his 20s he wanted to be an animator, and but was not able to get a job at that. He then tried other fields, such as auto mechanic and assembler in a motorcycle dealership, and was not able to hold a steady job, mainly due to social and performance pressures. He does drive, and about 10 years ago began volunteering with a paratransit service and Meals on Wheels. He subsequently obtained his Class B license and secured full-time employment driving a paratransit bus. He has been employed there for more than 7 years. He enjoys the job and is good at it, and the riders like him. It took a long time, but he finally found a role.”

It’s never too late for adults with ADHD, autism, or other learning differences to find their perfect career fit — regardless of discouraging earlier job disappointments. The strategies for job placement later in life include the following:

  • Utilize the free resources available through the vocational rehabilitation and disability services agencies in most states. Most states have two separate agencies of vocational rehabilitation and developmental disabilities, and many neurodiverse adults take advantage of resources available through both. As a job seeker, you cannot leave your job search to these agencies, but you should utilize their resources in a partnership effort.
  • Utilize the business networks of family and friends, and networks of the extra-governmental neurodiversity groups. Don’t ignore the online job listings, but these are usually very competitive. Personal contacts and referrals still are the best lead into a company.
  • It’s a numbers game; plan to apply for 40 to 50 jobs, not 4 or 5. When I started in the employment field in the late 1970s, I would recommend applying for at least 4 to 5 jobs. Now I recommend applying to 10 times that number. The competition for nearly all jobs has gotten much higher over the years.

Most of all, don’t try to do it alone. There is an infrastructure of governmental and extra-governmental resources to which you are entitled to and should draw on.

Career Advice for Autistic Adults: Next Steps


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Nail Your Job Interview: 3 Strategies for Neurodivergent Applicants https://www.additudemag.com/neurodivergent-job-interview-confidence-boost-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/neurodivergent-job-interview-confidence-boost-adhd/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:55:38 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=337104 Few job seekers relish the interview process. There is nothing comfortable about opening up to hiring managers who are effectively sizing you up, and this may be especially true for neurodivergent workers who feel uneasy with one-on-one communication. So how can you help your interviewer understand the value you would bring to the job without rambling or succumbing to anxiety?

Here are three novel strategies to help applicants with ADHD nail any job interview:

Job Interview Strategies

Connect with stories.

When you’re asked, “Tell me about yourself,” engage the interviewer with a story about how the trends in your life relate to your career. For example, you might say, “I am a voracious reader. I love to learn, whether it’s about volcanoes in Hawaii or economic liabilities in Spain. This has served me well in work because I learn new things quickly, thanks to my insatiable curiosity.” Other areas of focus could include your lifelong commitment to community service and how that is reflected in your service leadership, or how being well-traveled has given you a unique perspective of different cultures in multinational organizations.

[Read: Great Job! A Career Happiness Formula for Adults with ADHD]

Even the answer to, “Walk me through your résumé,” can be told in a story, focusing on why you moved to a job, what skills you gained from that job, and how you moved to the next job. For example, “I started my career at Company A as a copywriter, where I honed my skills of informative writing and learned how to turn complex concepts into simplified narratives. After three years, I wanted to move into the tech space. A former colleague who moved to Company B recommended me for a more senior position. There, I was able to expand my scope to video scripts, emails, case studies, social media, and sales collateral. I’m talking with you because I’ve always been a fan of [name of company] and I am interested in moving into a leadership role. I was intrigued when you reached out about/posted a job that would allow me to manage and lead a team.”

Showcase Skills with CARL.

Highlight your skills and show how they can transfer from one job to another. Write down five accomplishments that are relevant to the new job using the CARL method, which stands for:

  • Context: What was the business issue?
  • Action: What action did you take and how did you align stakeholders?
  • Result: What was the result of your action?
  • Learning: What did you learn? What went perfectly and what would you do better next time?

[Read: 16 Good Jobs for People with ADHD]

Consider writing stories about solving a problem, aligning stakeholders, influencing someone to think differently, working with difficult personalities, and helping other employees.

Get a Confidence Boost by Rehearsing.

Interviewers’ attention spans are short; therefore, keep all stories under two minutes. Practicing out loud will help you feel confident that you can answer questions succinctly while conveying how you will bring value to the company.

Job Interview Strategies: Next Steps

Marlo Lyons is a certified career coach and strategist and the award-winning author of Wanted—A New Career: The Definitive Playbook for Transitioning to a New Career or Finding Your Dream Job.


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“I Love What I Do:” Jobs That Reward People with ADHD https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/what-job-should-i-have-career-advice-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/what-job-should-i-have-career-advice-adhd/?noamp=mobile#respond Sun, 30 Jul 2023 08:56:49 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?post_type=slideshow&p=336479 https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/what-job-should-i-have-career-advice-adhd/feed/ 0 How to Gauge Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Key Questions to Ask in an Interview https://www.additudemag.com/questions-to-ask-in-an-interview-diversity-equity-inclusion-neurodiversity/ https://www.additudemag.com/questions-to-ask-in-an-interview-diversity-equity-inclusion-neurodiversity/?noamp=mobile#respond Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:20:12 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?p=332518 What matters most in a job? For neurodivergent individuals, especially, a workplace that includes and celebrates employees who think differently is often (and rightfully) a foremost priority.

But how do you truly and fairly gauge a company’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Your interview with a prospective employer can reveal important information about the company’s climate, culture, and attitudes toward neurodivergent talent and inclusion in the workplace. If you’re interviewing for a new job, be sure to ask the following key questions to understand if the company welcomes and harnesses the strengths of all kinds of people.

1. What types of training does this organization complete, and how often?

Does the company participate in workplace neurodiversity training and other diversity, equity, and inclusion programs? Does it have diversity and inclusion teams? The company’s mission and/or vision statements on its web site may also offer insight into its attitudes and efforts around hiring and nurturing neurodivergent talent.

You can also ask how the company gauges its culture and climate (including stigma) around invisible disabilities. Ultimately, organizations need hard data to truly uncover strengths and weaknesses in their policies, and to be kept accountable on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. There is a dearth of tools available to help organizations gather empirical data on this front, though researchers are working to fill the gap.

2. How does this company support personal differences?

It’s a good sign if a company understands that no two employees are the same — in personality, workflow, point of view, and other ways including and outside of neurodivergence. This attitude is often reflected in the workplace’s policies and priorities around employee wellbeing, work-life balance, flexibility, and other aspects of company culture. (Be sure to ask about all of these during the interview.)

[Read: Fostering Neurodiversity in the Workplace — Strategies for Employers and Employees]

3. How receptive is the company to new ideas, different perspectives, and change?

Seek out neurodivergent employees who perceive the world differently and ask them if the company is stuck in its ways or truly interested in evolving.

4. What kind of flexible working environments does the company support?

If the position you’re applying for requires you to be in an office, get a sense of the physical work environment. Will you have your own office or space? Or will you work in an open-plan office? Are there spaces you can use if you need more or less stimulation? How does the company respond to requests for adjustments and modifications to the working environment, like an employee’s use of headphones to block noise? You know yourself best, so be sure that the work environment is one that enhances productivity or can be adapted to suit your needs.

While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, this question will also help you understand how open and proactive the company is in ensuring that employees feel comfortable and productive at work.

5. Are employees required to attend workplace gatherings?

Workplace events can be uncomfortable for many neurodivergent employees, especially for autistic individuals. This is often because of masking — the exhausting act of hiding identifiers of one’s condition to appear neurotypical. Even if workplace events aren’t mandatory, ask how the company feels about employees who do not attend these social events.

[Read: Is ADHD a Disability? Your Legal Rights at Work]

Additional Interviewing Tips

  • Read the interviewer’s facial expressions, if possible, as you ask these questions to see signs of bias. Do they seem confused, bothered, uncomfortable, or annoyed by your line of questioning?
  • Is the interviewer unable to provide answers to most of your questions? Do they seem to deflect, or are they too quick to suggest that you talk to your local office of equal employment opportunity (EEO)?
  • While the ADA protects qualified individuals with disabilities from employment discrimination, it is widely known that workplace discrimination persists (albeit in subtler ways) against disabled and/or neurodivergent individuals. If you are not open to disclosing any condition you may have and are concerned that these questions will “give you away” and possibly interfere with the interviewing process, consider prioritizing only critical questions and/or asking them once you’ve been hired.
  • Remember that, in a job interview, you get to interview the company, too. Ultimately, you should think to yourself: “Would I really want to work for an organization that isn’t going to fully accept me as I am?”

Questions to Ask in an Interview: Next Steps

The content for this article was derived, in part, from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “‘Invisible’ Disabilities at Work: How to Foster Neurodivergent Advocacy and Acceptance” [Video Replay & Podcast #443] with Jessica Hicksted, which was broadcast on February 23, 2023.


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“Can You Join the Military with ADHD? What Hopeful Service Members Need to Know” [Video Replay & Podcast #457] https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/can-you-join-the-military-with-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/can-you-join-the-military-with-adhd/?noamp=mobile#comments Fri, 31 Mar 2023 17:48:34 +0000 https://www.additudemag.com/?post_type=webinar&p=326150 Episode Description

Can you join the military with ADHD? The answer is not always clear. ADHD has been considered a risky diagnosis for military recruits due to its symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, all of which could prove dangerous in military operations. Some individuals diagnosed with ADHD have successfully obtained waivers, allowing them to serve in the military, but only if they discontinued stimulant medication use for 24 months in advance.

Dr. Brandi Walker, clinical Army psychologist, will explain current recruitment requirements for people with ADHD, how a military environment can affect ADHD brains, and what aspects of the military’s mission (i.e., occupational, tactical, academic, and social) should be considered by hopeful service members who are also neurodivergent.

In this webinar, you will learn:

  • About recruitment practices as they relate to people with ADHD
  • About military policies regarding ADHD medication restrictions and treatment interventions
  • How a military lifestyle can affect people with ADHD and co-occurring conditions, including anxiety and depression
  • How a structured military environment can lean into the strengths of a recruit with ADHD, enhancing military effectiveness

Watch the Video Replay

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More on Joining the Military with ADHD

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Meet the Expert Speaker

Brandi Walker, Ph.D., is a Howard University and University of Maryland alumni. She is an Army Clinical Psychologist and faculty member at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C. Dr. Walker is an active-duty Major who works directly with service members and their families.


Listener Testimonials

“Excellent presenter and great content.”

“I really enjoyed this speaker. I now have some closure to my unsolved mysteries in the Army.”

“Dr. Walker covered a great amount of information in a short time. I am not in the military but have family and friends who are. This helps me understand my challenges in interacting with them. Thank you and God Bless America and our service members.”


Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is….

Accentrate110® is a dietary supplement formulated to address nutritional deficiencies known to be associated with ADHD. It contains omega-3 fatty acids in phospholipid form (the form already in the brain). This Brain Ready™ Nutrition helps manage inattention, lack of focus, emotional dysregulation, and hyperactivity without drug-like side effects. | fenixhealthscience.com

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.


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