Career Advice for Professionals With ADHD From a Former Chef

Most common question about ADHD and work from Quora: “How do other people with ADHD cope with a 9/5 routine? It’s never ending.” My answer, a very intense one: A few years ago, I was told “no” during an interview. Yes, during the actual interview. For months I felt like a fool. For years I felt hopeless. Mood stuff + ADHD = difficult time… I wouldn’t get call backs, no emails, not even a glimpse at some sort of feedback. Clearly I was doing something wrong. I thought it was normal for a guy like me to struggle so much with career options anyway. • I had difficulty with time • I struggled with follow through • I felt very very sensitive to criticism But I had something else these employers didn’t get to see: • I’m hyper creative • I have unlimited energy • I have leadership qualities • I am reliable when I’m focused Didn’t really know I had these qualities until I put in the work with jobs that fit how I functioned. That fit my brain. Now I work in a space where I feel nurtured with each of these qualities that I know I can bring to the table. (And feel respected) You can fit too and expand your career options. Hear me when I say… Find work in positions that maximize your ADHD. (If you want) Here are a few things I wish someone had told me: • Work where breaks are used • Work in physical demanding jobs • Work for employers that are flexible • Work in positions that require new ideas • Work in establishments that have actual HR • Work in spaces that allow you freedom and challenges • Work where you can move around a lot Finding the perfect job can feel like a stretch sometimes. But going in with a strategy and purpose doesn’t hurt. This is how you find a career that fits how you think and function. And there’s one more thing I want to share with you: ADHD accommodations is a game changer. But professionals don’t know how to start. Here are four things you need to know: 1) Check your HR Human Resources is a confidential process. Some companies have an EAP offered via HR That stats for Employment Assistance Program Many EAPs support ADHD accommodations 2) Check your union You may be in a union that has key benefits. One of which could be ADHD supports. Contact your union rep to find out more info. Don’t got a union, look into one if curious. 3) Check your laws In my country, we have ADA laws for ADHD help. Stands for Americans with Disabilities Act. Helps fight discrimination for employees who struggle. This is a civil right, please check your laws. 4) Check your management If HR fails, the union fails, and legal fails… Get yourself in front of a supportive manager. Leadership matters just as much as your job. And great leaders want to provide psychological safety And accommodations is all about that. Hope this helps. What’s helped you with work? #adhd #work #accommodations

Not all career advice is good advice. Some of it is downright harmful. Especially if you have ADHD. Take the "just push through it" mindset. It's plastered everywhere: — "Don't overthink it." — "Action beats inaction." — "Just take that first step." Sounds great in theory, right? But here's the problem: that kind of advice is a recipe for disaster for someone with ADHD. When you're already stuck in overwhelm or spiraling into overthinking, "just push through" doesn't help. It pushes you deeper. — Deeper into shame. — Deeper into uncertainty. — Deeper into catastrophizing. I know because I've been there. Every career decision felt life-or-death. — What if I'm not good enough? — Should I apply to this job? — Am I even qualified? The pressure to make the "perfect" move kept me stuck in place for months. And all the standard advice—"Stop overthinking!"—made me feel worse. The truth is that an ADHD brain doesn't need vague advice like "take action." It needs structure. And that's not all. It needs tools, systems, and clear steps to break out of the overwhelm and move forward with momentum. For me, that looked like: — Setting timers to focus for just 10 minutes. — Making a 'master resume' to avoid overthinking. — Breaking tasks down into the tiniest steps possible. (seriously, "open laptop" was one of them) These methods weren't glamorous, but they worked. They helped me focus. They helped me act. And they helped me stop beating myself up for not being able to "just push through." — Not all advice is one-size-fits-all. — Especially if you're struggling with ADHD. — Especially if overwhelm is your biggest obstacle. So if you're struggling to move forward, don't fall for the "just do it" mantra. — Find systems that meet your brain where it is. — Look for tools that offer clarity and direction. — And if someone says to stop overthinking? Smile, nod, and find advice that actually helps. ——— ✍️ How do you navigate overwhelm in your search? ♻️ Consider reposting to help others find their flow.

Stop blending in. Start standing out. Here’s what worked for me: Stop competing where everyone else is fighting. I know that might sound strange. But hear me out: For years, I thought success meant proving I could keep up with traditional paths - working harder, doing more, and "fixing" the ways I naturally work. Then I realized something: The problem wasn’t me. The problem was the path. Here’s what I avoided: - Chasing the same skills as everyone else. - Masking or trying to “fix” how I work. - Losing myself in endless productivity hacks. Here’s what I focused on instead: - Using my natural creativity to solve problems in ways others didn’t see. - Spotting opportunities where others saw chaos. - Communicating honestly about my approach and what I bring to the table. - Leaning into what makes me different, instead of hiding it. The result? - A career path that aligns with my strengths. - Opportunities where I don’t need to mask or conform. - A network that values my unique perspective. - More confidence and growth without constant competition. Here’s the truth: The best opportunities don’t come from trying to fit into someone else’s mold. They come from showing the world what makes you different. Remember: You don’t have to fight battles that don’t serve you. Success is about thriving in the ways that work for you. ________________________ Personal Note: It took me a long time to see that the fight I was in wasn’t mine to win. I found out in my 40s I have ADHD. My strengths weren’t flaws, they just didn’t fit the spaces I was trying to force them into. When I stopped swimming upstream and chose a different stream, everything changed. If you’re stuck in a fight that feels unwinnable, maybe it’s time to rethink the battle. ♻️ Know someone who needs to hear this? Share this post as a reminder that success doesn’t mean fitting in. It means finding where you stand out.

I’ve gotten a sense of control back for my client Daniel (not his real name). Here are my top tips for senior leaders with ADHD who feel out of control at work. Daniel is doing well at work, or in his words, "appearing to be." He was recently promoted, his boss liked him, and he is delivering. But just barely. Behind the facade was a chaotic schedule, frequent anxiety about missing out something, and a constant struggle to keep himself on track. We worked together to help him regain his sense of control about work. This is what we did: 1. Understand your core difficulties Every ADHD person experiences ADHD differently. What is an issue to one may not be to another. So what exactly is it that you find difficult? For Daniel, it was keeping track of his commitments. Even writing them down did not mean that he would keep them because he seldom checked what he'd written down. So we simply outsourced it to his phone. Every commitment he made would be immediately put in a phone reminder tied to either time or place. Which brings me to the second tip. 2. Bring in external forces Know that you will not be able to rely on your own innate ability to manage many of the things neurotypical people find easy. Organisation, time management, or even getting started on things (procrastination anyone?). Thus, you need something external to you to help you manage. This can be someone. Many of us grew up with nagging mothers who helped manage us. Or it can be something. Most of us who outgrew nagging mothers choose this. 3. Set up something to manage for you What's something you can do? Think SET - structure, environment, technology. Structure is the set up of your life. Having your own house is a structure. Having a full time job is a structure. By changing the structures of your life, you can make it easier or harder for yourself. For instance, if getting started is hard for you, being in a team can make it easier. Your strong sense of responsibility as a leader will make it so that you would do for the team what you won't do for yourself. You won't want the team affected by your procrastination. Environment is what you surround yourself with. Working in a cafe sounds amazing, but it is a nightmare for ADHD people. The number of distractions from sight, sound, smell, and movement will make it impossible for you to focus. Instead, work somewhere quiet and isolated if possible, like a cubicle. Focus will be easier. Technology is simply using tech to manage for you, like what Daniel did. There are many apps and tools that can manage different things you find difficult. From calmness tools to manage emotional instability, to reminder apps to get you to refocus. Try out different ones to see what works for you. Daniel hasn't solved all his problems, but he now has a system that he can rely on which works for him. If like him, you need help with managing your #ADHD, DM me and let's talk. #leadership #neurodiverse #neurodiversity