Since I’m unemployed and in a field that is currently severely depressed, computer programming. I need to start analyzing where I should go from here.
I have a bachelors degree in Psychology:Family Studies, in which I ignored the ADD materials (what a mistake). I had other interests I was focusing on at the time. So I am now thinking about getting into some form of social services. The problem, I can’t handle multiple distractions and demands on my attention, I melt down (ring of fire?). So case work is definetly out. I’ve been told I would be a good teacher of adults but I don’t have the academic background to get hired locally in conventional schools.
Can anyone refer me to any online tools that will help me sort out some options? Or any books, I do have What Color Is My Parachute 2002. Any experience with anything ADD specific?
I love to help people. I actually like to do public speaking and presentations (which I’m told is an odd trait for an ADD person). I love to write although I have to discipline myself to stay on topic. If I had better follow through I would be good at sales. My ADD is the innatentive type, which can cause some problems in sales and working with people.
Do any of you know someone with ADD in technical or grant writing? I can see strengths and weaknesses of pursuing jobs in these fields. How are they doing?
Your ideas are appreciated.
Mark
Re: hmmm
She tends to “overdo” detail on projects which I guess would be a hyperfocus situation???? Takes more time than others feel it should. Goes off on tangents not applicable to the stuff at hand. She works with engineers and this just doesnt go over too well :)
Let’s see as a programmer I routinely encountered a thing called scope creap. Put in it’s simplest form that is building into the program features that were not part of the initial specification. Definetly a result of going off on tangents! I also tended to overdocument my programs. Your friend sounds a lot like me.
I did finally learn how to conquer the scope creap. Simple discipline, make sure the specification is clear before beginning and don’t leave it unless my surpervisor and the customer approve it. The problem for me is I have to be very rigid about this rule or all hell breaks loose. For me it is a lot like an alcoholic in recovery being offered a drink.
I definetly take more time than projects should, both at home and at work. It’s part of what cost me my job and it looks like it’s going to tank the marriage too. For me that seems to be the result of tangent chasing and spending too much time thinking about what I’m doing, as oppossed to doing it.
As far as teaching and working with ADD kids. It’s appealing in one respect, but I have an issue. I don’t handle the stress of kids out of control very well. I would have to become better at keeping kids under control before I could seriously explore that. Otherwise a great idea. I’ll have to think about other aspects of that.
~Mark
Re: hmmm
Mark, I am also a programmer, and also deal with program creep on a daily basis!
I just changed jobs a few months ago and started working in my home for a consulting company as a database programmer and analyst.
It is weird — some distractions at home are non-existant that I was expecting to find, and it is the LACK of distractions at home that has actually increased the problem of program creep for me since there is nothing to stop me from hyperfocusing on something and start building a ton of details on side-tangents that do not need addressing right now, but before I know it I’ve spent 2 - 3 hours in getting a pretty interface to work right, or reading and testing a routine that should have only taken me about 30 minutes!
Overdocument???? Personally I don’t think that it is possible to do such a thing, but other’s I’ve worked with have thought differently (then again, they didn’t ever want to document anything!)
Re: hmmm
Mark, It seems like some of the replies to your post have been the victim of scope creep.
With your particular interests, it sounds like volunteering would be a great way to scope your career and find contacts and mentors in the fields you are interested in. You’ll already have your foot in the door plus your mentors can give you a better idea of if you need any additional training.
Your “What Color is Your Parachute?” idea is great. I listened to it on tape from the library and then bought the most recent version for reference. My best use of it is to sort out my interests. When I interview for an internal position soon, I’ll be able to legitimately say that I formulated the job description for that internal position after doing the parachute thing. We’ll see how that goes down.
Here’s an out of the blue idea that may fit into your skills and it is a good “Parachute” example of creating your own job. There are many social service agencies out there that have aging or terribly inadequate computer systems. You could go in (making contacts), assess the situation (using your computer skills), specify exactly what needs to be done for improvement (technical writing), and pitch to the community to get the funds (presenting). I find that identifying the problem yourself helps prevent scope creep. If you run out of money by that time, you could apply for the job you just created, which will be temporary so it wouldn’t get you stuck in programming again.
I’m just trying to get you pumped up into a parachute mood. You’ll come up with your own plan after doing the parachute thing.
It is not that strange for ADD people to be very good at presentations. I’m that way and I’ve read other posts that suggest this. You hyperfocus & you have a captive audience.
Let me explain why I am so gung ho to hear a person with ADD is interested in using his talents to help people. Most ADD’ers are turned off to social work because of their foreknowledge of the beaurocracy. Because of this, the social services don’t often get to benefit from the energy and beaurocracy bull-dozing attitude of an ADD’er and the problem snowballs.
My mom is in vocational rehabilitation and she says the number one barrier to people getting community help for any issue (rehabilitation, hunger, etc.) is not the amount of resources available, but the slow and cumbersome process of distributing help & then even knowing where to start looking. The chronically poor may have already done the paperwork not to be hungry next week, but the family who’s budget gets caught off guard on Monday will have a hard time even knowing where to go for help. A local food bank only mans its phones on Mondays and Thursdays and can only pick up on a certain percentage of calls in those hours.
When the need for help has its roots in a mental illness or inadequate education, the help seeker really needs an advocate to wade through the beaurocracy. Then, how do you get an advocate in the first place?
There is a lot of need out there and an ADD’er would be a great addition to the cause of identifying how to address it. ADD’ers are great at coming up with solutions, but not so great at implementing them. That’s why God made non-ADD’ers. You could do so much at the front end of strategizing and communicating how to address social problems and have an army of non-ADD’ers ready to implement.
I only know one adult w/add(and its not me-Im just browsing for my son)
She tends to “overdo” detail on projects which I guess would be a hyperfocus situation???? Takes more time than others feel it should. Goes off on tangents not applicable to the stuff at hand. She works with engineers and this just doesnt go over too well :)
I think a profession where creativity and tangent visiting are encouraged would be a good choice-advertising? Grant writing seems to me to be more of a find the current ‘tag lines’ and string them together-Im not sure creativity would fit in. Lots of quick certification programs for education out there right now-type it in a search engine and think about it! Youd be a blessing to LD and ADD kids!