I feel like 90% of the comments here are going to be IT related.

Less because of Autism/ADHD, more just because this is Lemmy and 99% of users here are just hardcore Linux nerds.

Also IT.

IT systems engineer and software developer

I started working as a stock-boy in the grocery section of a certain chain of supermarkets that archers love, and I woke up every day absolutely dreading it. Nothing but the Musak blasting in an empty store, and my thoughts. Half the lights were off since my shift started at 5am, and you can usually find the place where something goes by sight. Absolutely hated it! And the worst part, no headphones. Ever. Even if the store isn’t open, it’s a safety thing…

Anyway, I started getting called over to the online ordering side to help them catch up with the order online, drive up and we’ll run out with your order. So far, I’ve only done the pulls; going out and grabbing products, bagging and storing them in the appropriate temperature, do another run. It keeps my mind occupied, and I’m not alone in an aisle for hours on end.

Time flys, I basically shop for things from a list, and at the end I get a fun “Job Completed” chime that releases juuust enough dopamine to make hours feel like minutes.

Work in IT for the government. Pays well, is unionized, good benefits. Work is sometimes frustrating but that’s true in any job

DevOps Architect - Was born for it. So many details. So many different technologies. I’ve been in IT for 25 years. I learn constantly. Keeps it fresh. And when I can’t focus I just spin around and play Gran Turismo until I can concentrate.

I work at a newspaper and over the years we’ve had quite a few people with autism and some with ADHD on our writing staff. Like, a really disproportionate number to what you’d expect based on the general population.

It’s practically one of the things we look for in new hires. It seems to work, though I couldn’t really tell you why.

We tend to work with a fairly set routine with clearly defined deadlines. Our office environment isn’t too crowded or loud generally. We also write about a lot of different topics, and give people creative freedom to write about things they find interesting or enjoy. And in general, we are very welcoming to people with autism and/or ADHD. We embrace the things you’re good at and see if we can work around some of the things that might not be your thing. Making newspapers is a team effort, so there’s no real shame in having an off day - others can pick up that slack if need be. Our boss also has a daughter with autism, so he understands that it can come with challenges.

So yeah, at least from my perspective… writing for a newspaper seems to be a good fit for the people with autism / ADHD that I’ve encountered in this field.

Systems Administrator

Another IT guy here. Not sure how to describe the role… data compliance management and troubleshooting? I dunno, it’s a mix of troubleshooting k8s and charts, log reviewing, and so on, along with some proprietary application stuff.

Previously was an automation and virtualization support engineer, this recent role has been weirdly chill so far by comparison. Feels odd to not be constantly putting out fires. Weird but… kinda nice.

I’ve worked in kitchens my whole life. It’s a love hate relationship. When it’s going good it’s great. When it’s bad it can be the literal worst.

Tutor, surprisingly. Definitely didn’t expect to end up in such a people-facing job when I was younger. But like, I get to tutor a lot of subjects and I like talking about math and science.

I do CNC machining. A trade job but I really enjoy it. All things considered my workplace is pretty good. I’ve been enamored with the big ol machines since I first saw em.

I make enough to live for now and the daily stresses rarely come home with me. OT can be an option sometimes too. A perk is the ability to socialize at my desired amount

Principal Cloud Architect…i.e Terraform, DevOps strategies, enterprise stuff, etc. It’s like agile scrum was invented by and for ADHD. Hyperfocus + Pomodoro works nicely.

Unemployed geologist. Unemployed by choice because instead of taking a job that would murder me I’m waiting for one that I know works with my limitations to open again. The jobs I take are usually project-based and start in the summer.

I am not the only ND person in the office and it’s quite refreshing.

Lol, yes, it’s been a fucking journey though. I didn’t realize I was abused by my family so I spent the better part of two decades being depressed, self-destructive, and suicidal. I also participated in the genocide in Iraq and tried to bury that away too. Therapy has been recent but life changing. I’d tried it before but I didn’t know that everyone wasn’t like me so I always came off as indifferent, insensitive, or unmotivated. I spoke to a VA counselor once, about a traumatic experience, and all he wrote in his notes were, “patient states”, then a very truncated summary of what I had said. Then he diagnosed me with halitosis. What an absolute fuck head. I wrote off therapy for 10 years after that. Finally met someone who was blown away that I had never been treated for ADD/ASD and she tested me. Then the therapy advanced and she was able to communicate with me. Realized the PTSD, child abuse, and toxic behaviors that I was newly habituating. Who knows if growing up in a healthy/safe environment or being tested would have changed any of these failed prospects. But if you have trouble getting along in a team environment (I massively do) then you can look for work in remote or secure locations, look for vocations that revolve around data collection and travel, or look into govt jobs. I’ve worked a few govt jobs (not infrequently unionized so 👍) and everyone there is either a 5th dimensional chess level wackadoo or they expect everyone else to be. They embrace weird, they just don’t pay shit. So here is my vocational history:

Medic - in emergency response/combat, no problem. But on the civilian side there were too many… civilians. May lean heavily on communication, but nearly all of it can be done free of niceties, body language, idioms, or banter.

Then a phleb/lab tech while I changed vocations. May require interaction with patients. So if that’s a problem then stick to lab tech work. Also, seek night shift positions if you want to take isolation to the next level.

Electrical engineer until I realized I had to work in a team of dumb people, and no matter how many companies I changed to the teams just got dumber. If you are more perceptive than you let on, and you expect people in high functioning/accountable roles to be demonstrably intelligent, then maybe steer clear of these team based fields of work. I switched to trades where I (admittedly, rudely) expect everyone to be a drooling lepton and am always impressed at their ingenuity.

So field engineering inspections for a while. That didn’t work out eventually, and after leaving this vocation I was diagnosed and mental health began to improve. This was travel based, and very solitary. I had to be self motivated but the work was enjoyable so that helped. Time management and resource allocation were always difficult so routines and checklists were leaned on heavily.

Then electrician, equipment fabrication, and control design (again, yes, but part time). Trades tend to work in teams at lower levels of experience so if you are willing to grit your teeth through the monotony of other people’s opinions, there are specializations that can alleviate the surplus extraversion. Custom work keeps things fresh. But if you have to do something repetitive, then maybe find a pastime that keeps your lizard brain occupied (I love podcasts, Behind the Bastards, Knowledge Fight, The Dollop - I listen to these and the day is over in a blink).

This job ends in a few years, and I do have a master’s in software engineering, but the SO wants to be the bread winner so I’m preparing to do law school because why not.

I’d be happy to respond to any questions if you think I can help. Good luck!

Lawyer. Self employed. Subject matter is challenging and constantly changing.