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Abstract
Career decision-making is a key element to successful career development, and can be particularly challenging for individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many career practitioners are not specifically trained to work with ADHD clients, and may find their typical career decision-making methods ineffective. This article provides six general techniques the author has found particularly helpful with individuals with ADHD, and presents instructions to complete a "Possible Lives Map," a creative visual-thinking exercise that can help break through the cycle of career indecision.
Introduction
Deciding what career to pursue is one of the most important tasks in the career development process (Gati & Asher, 2001). Traditional methods of assisting individuals with the decisionmaking process generally involve helping them build knowledge of their skills and values, and matching those traits in a logical fashion to opportunities in the workforce (Parsons, 1909; Holland, 1973).
Career decision-making can be enhanced through career assessments and experiential activities (such as shadowing professionals in the field of interest, completing internships, summer jobs, or volunteer activities), which help clients acquire real world knowledge and experience. These approaches all rely on a belief that increasing knowledge of one's self and the marketplace, logically assessing those factors, and weighing the options and consequences of different choices will result in a clear career direction.
Career decision-making skills are regarded as crucial to an individual's career success, and career indecision is often associated with low self-efficacy and emotional instability (DiFabio, Palazzeschi, Asulin-Peretz & Gati, 2013). Individuals with ADHD often experience difficulty with career decision-making. Norwalk, Norvilitus, & MacLean (2009) found a significant negative relationship between the presence of ADHD and career decision-making self-efficacy, and cited studies (Wasserstein, 2005; Weyandt & DuPaul, 2006) demonstrating that this could be due to deficits in planning skills (executive functioning) and attention. Individuals with ADHD often also experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health issues (Heiligenstein & Keeling, 1995) which could further impair their career decision-making ability. In a comprehensive article outlining career development issues for college students with ADHD, Dipeolu (2011) noted that most ADHD college students find career planning "to be boring, time- consuming, and therefore, avoid it" (p.418). She further noted that ADHD clients need "particular assistance" (p.418) with decision-making due to issues...