If you’re an adult or student with ADHD looking for an internship, a first-job, or considering a career change, I believe developing relationships is KEY. I encourage my clients to find a mentor or volunteer in a field that interests them. Companies are eager to take on folks who are already excited about their organization, and shadowing others helps you to see first-hand what a job entails.

Many times adults diagnosed with ADHD miss the process of slowing down to look at important components of a career that initially seem appealing. Perhaps the job pays well or has great benefits, but it may be a job that will be a sinking ship because a key factor or detail is very mismatched.

The traditional idea of career development runs along the lines of getting an education in a particular field or certification in a specialized field. If this path is taken prior to fully evaluating what’s ahead, an ADHD adult can easily get off track, lose interest and momentum, and often give up.

If you have ADHD, find the “shiny object” that will keep you motivated because you need to engage in an action-oriented approach to move forward. ADHD adults think well on their feet and relate well to others with their high energy. So, talk to others and network every day because you may stumble upon connections you weren’t aware of that can lead to other connections.

A great way to do this is by “informational interviewing” ~ as simple as asking someone in your field of interest to have lunch or coffee with you to talk about their job. People love to talk about themselves and feel they are helping others – this is when you need to be a keen listener and observer so you can follow up with them.

This is also a time you can ask for a reference for someone else in their field that would be willing to talk to you. Be prepared to engage in stimulating conversation by doing your research ahead of time and have some bullet points prepared to speak from.

Customizing your interests and passions into a career that best fits your way of thinking is vital to being successful. If, conservatively 3-5 % of the population is diagnosed with ADHD, then adults diagnosed with it are going to think different than 95-97% of the population. So why go the traditional route of preparing a standardized resume, interviewing with a ton of companies, and being frustrated throughout the process?

Over the course of my career, 95% of my jobs came as a result of developing relationships and being a curious observer. I would hear someone speak about something interesting, approach them afterwards, and invite them to dinner or lunch and get to know more about them. This works!

Another idea regarding career development is to focus on the longevity of a position and where job satisfaction comes from. When to leave a job, not to leave and what motivates and brings satisfaction will be addressed in a subsequent blog.

If you are an ADHD adult or student, contact me and let me know what’s worked for you.