I’m in tech and working with a guy on a very small project, but I’m definitely not able to make ends meet (thankfully family & friends have pulled me out several months lately). I’ve also been looking for a stop-gap job until I find a tech company that actually knows how to hire. But even that seems to be really difficult.

Like most ADHDers, I have a processing disorder. Grocery stores trigger panic attacks. Monotony also triggers it. I’m also not good with detail-oriented tasks (so that leaves something like electronics manufacturing off the table).

But I am a hard worker. No matter the pay, I will go above and beyond for my team to get a job done.

I’m scouring indeed and Craigslist trying to find something I can get in the interim.

For other ADHDers, what has your experience been doing a receptionist job? Is it ADHD hell? Or am I over-blowing the mistakes I’d probably make into major catastrophes? I realize it all depends on the employer. But what stories do people have (positive or negative) who have been receptionists?

  • ChexMax@lemmy.worldEnglish
    17·
    9 months ago

    I’ve been a receptionist, and I’ve been an office manager - if you have the choice, go for office manager! Depending on the size of the office you basically still are the receptionist you just have a lot more responsibility. For me, the hardest part of being a receptionist were the days where I had basically nothing to do but still had to sit there and look pleasant. If you work in an office where you can wear a Bluetooth piece in your ear, you can listen to podcasts which takes care of the monotony aspect.

    The other hardest hurdle for me is not letting details fall through the cracks. I have come up with some checks and balances systems to make sure nothing gets forgotten, and obviously I write every single thing down as it’s asked of me. I cannot rely on my brain to just remember a task someone asked me to do. I make a lot of lists.

    You can also fill downtime with stuff like an online typing class which just looks like you’re sending emails or whatever from the outside. Sitting and doing nothing is just too hard.

    For what it’s worth, I know they’re the same in the DSM now, but I’m not hyperactive. If you are, being a receptionist might not be for you.

    • PlanetOfOrd@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      9 months ago

      Thanks! Valuable insight.

      I’m definitely a proponent of using my downtime to find ways of making the job better, but I realize I need to be careful. During a fulfillment job I had during quiet times I usually cracked open the Windows PowerShell to see if I could improve processes with any programming scripts. Not sure if it’s what got me fired, but I’d imagine it didn’t help things. 😆

  • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    9 months ago

    Not technically a receptionist, but the phone rings, and someone’s I answer it.

    My biggest issue is:

    Julie called while you were out.

    What’d she want?

    Just wanted to let you know that John picked up our package.

    All of the packages? If not, which one? Is it John G, or John Q? Is he dropping it off? Do we need to get it?

    I never thought to ask any of those questions, and if Julie did give me more details, I didn’t think I’d need to remember them.

  • randomdeadguy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    51·
    9 months ago
     Don't let your internal persona of a hard worker allow you to compromise your needs, or your health. When the shit inevitably hits the fan, it is natural to blame yourself in order to improve on the the situation in the future. However, most catastrophes that happen near your will be completely out of your control.
 I still blame myself, I worked at a "walk-in" ambulatory clinic and there was a lady about the age of my mother, who sought our facility for help. She should have gone to the hospital. She had a cardiac event and died as she stumbled through the front door. I did everything I could have done, it wasn't enough.
 My best has never been enough for any major corporation, but I can rely on my self to protect my self. To the corporation, I will always be expendable.
 I love your courage but we must maintain the vessel that houses this courage.