Who likes or loves their job here?

[Hominid711]

....or has at least over 50% positives to say about it?For myself and a new poster who doesn't like his.

[STEM_Dad]

I like the work that I do. It's not my favorite job ever, but it's closer to it than other jobs I've had.

I work in an IT Service Desk role at a small-medium size manufacturing business. My favorite job ever was at an IT Help Desk at a university.

I get to help people (my primary motivation at work), solve problems, and work with a lot of interesting things. The novelty of it keeps me interested, and like I said, helping people keeps me motivated.

I was in my mid-30s when I finally found my way into IT, discovering that I had a knack for it. Most longtime IT workers like to specialize (servers, networks, database and development work). I am a "generalist", because I would rather work with people all day than just tech, and because I'm generally interested in practically everything IT-related.

[Hominid711 in reply to STEM_Dad]

Interesting. Thank you very much. I'd like to get more aquainted with the scope of IT. Perhaps now is the time to start. I'm UK based so am not expecting any advice but if you do have any where to start I'd gladly take it.

[STEM_Dad in reply to Hominid711]

Here's a video on "How to get started in I.T. - Information Technology", by a YouTube channel named "IT Career Questions".youtu.be/1ac_JqEBaWY(Not working as expected?)

I've watched a lot of videos on this channel, and I generally trust the content.

Many people get degrees or certification to qualify for IT jobs.

I've managed to work my way into the field without a degree or certification. But, there are more options and much more affordable options for IT certification than ever before. If I had to start over, I'd consider a Google Career Certificate in IT Support, or one of the specializations (like Cybersecurity or Data Analytics).

-----

I studied computers in college and university (though I never finished my bachelor's degree), and had customer service experience from retail jobs...so I started at an IT Help Desk, and I've been gradually working my way up from there. I haven't been very driven, and I like the generalist IT Support role, rather than being drawn to any specialization.

(Actually, I have two specializations in mind for the future: UX Design, and Data Analytics. But for now I just dabble in them.)

[Hominid711 in reply to STEM_Dad]

That's what I need. Perfect!

[STEM_Dad in reply to Hominid711]

There are a lot more work-from-home tech jobs than ever before. To test the waters, you might try doing that part-time, as a sideline income.

If you have ANY sort of experience or talent with tech (from basic word processing to project management), there is also freelance work. (However, I tried getting into freelancing for a few months last year, and I found that there's a lot of competition to get gig work like that. I got a few small gigs, but I was focused on getting a full-time job.)

[Hominid711 in reply to STEM_Dad]

Thank you very much, Dad of STEM, this is good news indeed. I can see myself more and more getting drawn to tech jobs and would obviously do the required training. Getting down to the nitty-gritty does it for me, then having some creative output based on that. I'll check it out.

[wtfadhd]

i love my job. im a social worker n currently do a crisis/ suicide prevention counseling. its all phone work. im empathetic, like the fast pace, n its something new every call so it keeps my mind engaged. particular personalities definitely grate on my nerves, but as a counselor, i know myself n why these particular personalities irritate me so i love my current occupation. very little interaction with my coworkers too and i can work remote. n so its a great fit for me.

[Hominid711 in reply to wtfadhd]

Thanks WTF. Good to hear. I agree, definitely a job with the potential to be totally amazing, rewarding, making one "grow" and on the other hand potentially really difficult for various reasons. But then it has so many applications. If one can choose that's super. I love people contact but all the PD out there still scares me. I'm not doctering currently and have signed up as a volunteer looking after an elderly person and at a big children's hospital with a very organised volunteer section. I need the feeling of contributing to people's wellbeing to feel good. I have a cousin in SC and she loves it.

[breadandcircuses]

I love my job. I'm a program manager for a large healthcare system managing programs related to improving care for the seriously ill across the continuum to end-of-life. It's meaningful, and rewarding, and I stop work every day knowing I made a difference. It took a long time to get here, but it was worth it.

[Hominid711 in reply to breadandcircuses]

Thank you so much. Wonderful! As a doc I relate to all things health care systems, medical risk, performance, obstacles, healthcare employment issues, the lot. So what's your educational path been?

[breadandcircuses in reply to Hominid711]

BA and MA in biological anthropology, MBA in Healthcare Management, The anthropology is excellent for systems thinking (among other things) and I find that to be critical to the work I do.

[Hominid711 in reply to breadandcircuses]

I bet it is ;^)

[CharacterZero]

I love my job. I recently became a special education teacher, middle school level, in an all special ed. school. (I used to be a gen. ed. teacher.) I love what I do--but it helps that my colleagues are wonderful, and that my administration is really big into supporting teacher autonomy and creativity in the classroom, and I don't feel like anyone is breathing down my neck. Every day with my students is a new adventure, and I'm able to change things around to keep my job--and my students' experiences--from becoming stagnant and boring.

[Hominid711 in reply to CharacterZero]

Hi CharacterZero, interesting name BTW. Absolutely! The support of creativity, good admin and great colleagues are so important! I can totally relate.

[CharacterZero in reply to Hominid711]

Thanks! My name is from here--enjoy!

youtube.com/watch?v=qfKhv_S...(Not working as expected?)

[STEM_Dad]

I think this has brought up a great discussion.

So, what makes for qualities in a good job for someone with ADHD?

It seems to me that some key takeaways are that we do well in work and work environments that are:

• INTERESTING

• SUPPORTIVE

• FLEXIBLE

• REWARDING

What else have you noticed makes for a good career fit for people with ADHD?

Hominid711 breadandcircuses CharacterZero wtfadhd

[CharacterZero in reply to STEM_Dad]

Definitely add in some degree of autonomy and creativity.

I'm also a writer and a hiker--so definitely a career that allows time to explore and engage in other activities outside of work.

I also read somewhere (years ago) that we have to stop defining ourselves by our careers, and define ourselves by the things that our careers enable us to do. Of course, life is much smoother when we are happy in our jobs/careers.

[STEM_Dad in reply to CharacterZero]

I was thinking of "autonomy" under the umbrella of "flexibility", but I realize that's too vague. Thanks for mentioning it, because I definitely think that autonomy is hugely important to work satisfaction.

Freedom to be creative at work definitely is a plus, too!

"...we have to stop defining ourselves by our careers, and define ourselves by the things that our careers enable us to do." That's so right! That's going to stick with me. 🙂

[Hominid711]

Upwards development. And yes flexibility is a bit to broad. I'd need it for time management, some others for working from home vs office, most of us for breaks I guess. Little to no distraction and interruption and respect for such bounderies as having to knock before entering!! I don't know what words to use to encompass what I mean. Dignity and respect. Willingness for leadership, managers, coworkers to be trained in subjects like the neurodiverse colleague. Ideally a monthly chat with line management or flexibility there as well. Open door. Policy adaptation. Complaints, grievance, whistleblowing, zero tolerance/V&A, E&D, neurodiversity, mental health and stress policies in place. Opportunities to bring ideas and creativity in/brain storming.

[Bbloehr]

hello,

I absolutely love my job! I am a RN. My hospital has many educational opportunities, my manager is flexible, and there are many areas I can transfer to if I get bored. It is fast paced and I get to work nights. I have always been a night owl so this is great for me. There are many opportunities for advancement and I don’t feel like any one judges me for my shortcomings.

[Hominid711 in reply to Bbloehr]

Same here. GP in Urgent Care right next to A&E with overlap. Only work night shifts!

[FloFO]

I love my job!

I teach science at secondary school level, which means that I have a structured day, which I love as without structure I have a tendency to drift or procrastinate… I have, as you can imagine, lots of planning and resourcing to do, which fulfills any creative drive I may have and since there’s variety in teaching and learning styles, I can use any hyper-focus with a purposeful outcome.

It is relentless in terms of movement - literally bouncing from one child to the next, helping out, checking work, setting up equipment, going off on a tangent, singing or dancing if I choose to and of course, managing behaviour.

The 2 best bits are that there are people, everywhere, so I get to talk non-stop without destroying anyone’s will to live as I can move on to the next person and teens love a story as much as little kids AND I get to be as eccentric as I like without judgement which actually helps to keep the class focused and motivated as they feel more relaxed and engaged, and I love to see the most angry, most anxious, least engaged of teens smiling and laughing - with me or at me, it doesn’t matter, because I just walked like an Egyptian around the lab out of boredom.

Oh, and I forgot to mention August. A whole month off. What’s not to love 💕

And I also forgot the people pleasing bit - apparently a common ADHD trait, and so easy as even an 18 year old loves a smiley face, a sticker or a reward point and you can’t go wrong with a packet of Maoam (apologies to any health care workers or dentists reading this)

[Hominid711 in reply to FloFO]

FloFO, that's an amazing description. I can totally relate. I had it very similar with the doctoring, lots of laughs with patients, even occasionally a group of them (those that aren't uncomfortable obviously), during the explanation/treatment part after history taking and examination are done, when addressing a full waiting room, sometimes throughout. Then bye-bye, out, next. And in A&E where I got to wander over from Urgent Care frequently to deliver patients who would wait there to be seen by other specialities. Honestly, a lot of us must have ADHD or are just easily entertained. I almost got drunk on it. It was rogue and rough, loud, disinhibited, violent, damp with smells, so our thirst for fun was never-ending.Strangely, teacher was what I instinctively felt I'd be incapable of, learning all that stuff and then the responsibility of passing it to the young ones! I was thinking about it a lot during my last year of school. Ultimately it was Medicine I took but that I had decided at 8 years old and it was always there. The fall-back option. The ultimate knowledge in the 8y old brain. I never strayed from it.

Like the unfaithful husband who sticks with wifey (sorry gents. Vv as well. ADHD association).

I must say I toyed with teaching biology for a while nurturing a naive image of bringing chicks into class or incubate eggs and have them hatch and who knows what else.

I love we still have Ma-o-am Ma-o-am Ma-o-am! Did you know they were made in Germany in the early 30ies?

This old TV ad accompanied my childhood. The Mini was everywhere, including on the pitch:

youtu.be/aL5JPSp7arw(Not working as expected?)

[Hominid711 in reply to FloFO]

How does one become a part time auxiliary or "proper" teacher in the UK?