Volume 32 Issue 18 23 Jun 2023 4 Tammuz 5783

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

A student’s learning profile can have a huge influence. A topic that comes up very regularly, at least once a week in my office, is how ADHD can affect learning, school, interests, motivation and future careers. This is an area I have been interested in for a few decades now, as I see its impact on students’ lives and careers.

I studied a interesting online course with Kings College, London, called Understanding ADHD: Current Research and Practice. I would recommend it to any student/parent/teacher keen to find out more – in particular the latest evidence-based research. Companies are embracing neurodiversity, like never before, as they are aware that a diverse workforce is what makes an organisation vibrant. Our current statistics are 20% of the population with a neurodivergent make-up, with about 5% of that being for an ADHD diagnosis.

Here is an edited article that I wrote previously for ADHD Support  that may be of help for any students/parents who are career planning and how parents can be the best support:

Practical tips to support teens with ADHD embarking on their careers
How can you help your teenager with ADHD navigate the career world, especially if it is causing issues at school?

Teenagers with ADHD can sometimes struggle in the area of career planning as it involves the executive functioning skill – which is not as developed in the ADHD brain. Over the years I have identified some areas where parents can support their teens. We should remember that everybody, including parents, teens, and students, regardless of their brain make-up, can find this an anxious and confusing time.

1. Start with the right path – evaluate subject choices
I spend a lot of my time looking at students’ subject choices, especially in Year 10, and connecting them with their future interests. One of the things to consider is the best way students learn and their academic aptitudes.

2. Utilise the school services that support their career journey
This can be working with Specialist Learning Teachers or Diverse Needs Teachers. I suggest getting in touch with the Careers Advisor early, so they’re aware of your teen’s interests and how to best support career choices.

3. Research future options best suited for your teen
Researching the possible options for your teen’s future gives you plenty of time to evaluate your choices. Here are some potential choices you can choose from:

  • TAFE – for practical vocational courses
  • University – for more theoretical courses and professionally linked courses
  • Apprenticeships – for on-the-job learning
  • Work opportunities – such as work shadowing, work experiences, and/or introductions to contacts you may have
  • Defence Force – such as Navy, Army, Air force and Reserves
  • Resources – such as the myfuture website with great videos outlining a huge array of jobs and career bullseye posters to get some ideas for jobs, based on subject enjoyment.

4. Associate positive ADHD traits to future work areas
Associating your teen’s positive ADHD traits with future career areas will help him/her acquire positive affirmations. It can boost their self-esteem and can lead them to see ADHD as a superpower.

5. Keep the vocabulary around ADHD positive
Although living with ADHD can challenging for some, I highly recommend keeping the language around it positive.

6. Assist with their organisation skills
Whether it’s applying to universities or jobs, getting resume’s ready, practising for interviews or turning up on time for interviews … all of this takes a lot of planning, preparation, and organisation – which can be tricky if you have ADHD. I often use check-in sessions with students, shared documents and timelines, or I get students to use reminders, calendars, and deadline countdowns to manage the large arrangement of deadlines and applications.

7. Praise positive career behaviours
Just like the old parenting tagline “praise the behaviour, not the child” – the same goes for work-related behaviours. If your teen contacts an employer on their own, seeks out some work opportunities, navigates some tricky job applications or administration – compliment them on this.

Praising these behaviours, such as getting to the interview, prepping for the interview, getting themselves ready, looking smart, being on time and sorting out transport in advance, can be a great boost. The end result of getting the job should not be the focus.

8. Stay calm
Launching a career can be stressful for some students and parents, more so if the school years are causing stress for both students and parents. Keeping calm will help the whole process.

For more on this area, here is another article I wrote, published by StudyWorkGrow “The Role ADHD can play in Career Planning and Progression”.

Notices

Here is a list of Sydney University webinars coming up in June and July:

Year 12s

UTS came to our campus to chat with Year 12 students this week. I encourage Year 12s to apply for any early entry processes during this next holiday break to tick it off their list, in particular UTS and Macquarie University.