ADHD & Career Guidance
I’m often asked, “What careers or jobs are best for people with ADHD?”
Without any further context, the most honest answer I can offer is: “It depends.”
But I do know two things that help inform that conversation:
Most of us—ADHD or not—spend a lot of time at work.
ADHDers are often more sensitive to their work environments and relationships, especially when those environments don’t suit them.
Compared to a neurotypical brain, the ADHD brain often has less adaptability and resilience when operating in a poorly aligned job or career. This means there are likely fewer work environments that will genuinely suit someone with ADHD, and it also means that choosing the right kind of work becomes even more important.
It’s not surprising, then, that many of the ADHD clients I work with are experiencing a kind of career misalignment—something about their job drains their energy, scatters their focus, and flares up their ADHD symptoms.
In my experience, the most important foundation for making better career or job decisions as an ADHDer is a deep understanding of yourself and how your ADHD shows up.
That means getting clear on:
Your strengths and what you’re naturally good at.
Your interests and what keeps your attention.
Your values and what really matters to you.
Your needs—what kind of support, structure, or stimulation helps you function at your best.
The kinds of relationships that energize you or, conversely, bring out the worst in your ADHD.
And no, this isn’t about demanding a job that perfectly suits you in every way just because you have ADHD. No one—neurodivergent or not—gets life entirely on their own terms. Unrealistic expectations here can lead to frustration, entitlement, and burnout.
But if someone comes to ADHD coaching and identifies that their current career isn’t working for them, we don’t just jump on Seek or crack open a career guide. We start with you.
We ask:
What are your interests?
What are your values?
What are your strengths?
What gives you energy?
What kind of relationships support you—and what kinds don't?
How do you best learn and process information?
What can we learn from your most enjoyable jobs?
What can we learn from the jobs that left you drained or stuck?
Once you have this clarity and insight, we can explore how to:
Modify your current role—tasks, responsibilities, work relationships—to better suit your brain.
Or shift toward a new job or career path that’s a better fit, depending on how much change you’re ready to make.
Given how much of our lives we spend at work—and how sensitive ADHDers can be to misalignment—it’s easy to see how a poor career fit can impact everything else.
Often by the time someone has “gutsed” their way through work, they arrive home with nothing left in the tank. What’s left is a diluted, exhausted, and sometimes emotionally dysregulated version of themselves—the version their family, friends, and hobbies get.
Career alignment is important for everyone. But for ADHDers, the consequences of misalignment can be more pronounced and far-reaching.
In my ADHD coaching, I regularly work with people who are trying to navigate this misalignment—between how their brain naturally works and the demands of their workplace. And when that gap is closed, it doesn’t just improve work—it lifts many parts of life.
If you’d like to understand what your ADHD brain needs to function at a high level—and how you can bring more energy and satisfaction to your work—jump on gbcoach.com.au and book a Free Discovery Call.