5 Ways ADD or ADHD Impacts A Job Seeker's Networking Strategy
We always talk about ADD and ADHD in the context of children, but these conditions don’t simply disappear when we reach adulthood. Around 4% of adults, 8 million people, in the U.S. have ADHD.
Networking can be difficult, and having ADHD/ADD doesn’t make it any easier. Like most conditions, ADHD/ADD does not present the same way or pose the exact same problems for everyone. Some, none, or all of these listed below may be a part of any person with ADHD’s experience. Whether someone is struggling with any of these may not be obvious because many adults have learned how to ‘mask’ or hide the symptoms and struggles. Regardless of the potential lack of visibility, these struggles may still be there.
Social Anxiety
The relationship between ADHD and anxiety can be somewhat muddled. ADHD and anxiety disorders have overlapping symptoms. Distraction or inattention could be the result of anxiety or ADHD, or a combination of the two. Anxiety disorders can also develop as a result of ADHD.
The symptoms of ADHD, inattentiveness and impulsivity, can often result in social difficulties and these difficulties can then contribute to the development of anxiety and mood disorders. 50% of adults with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder.
Social situations are prime places for anxiety to manifest for those of us with ADHD. Networking conversations can be overstimulating, which can lead to feeling overwhelmed or anxious. In general, anxiety has a bad habit of exacerbating other symptoms or conditions which can lead to further problems in social situations.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity is one of the defining characteristics of ADHD/ADD. This impulsivity can present itself in how quickly we make decisions, but also in functions of self-regulation such as speaking out of turn. For those of us who struggle with certain social rules related to our impulsivity/struggle with self-regulation, we can come across as rude or inconsiderate which is not a good first impression.
Personally, it takes a lot of self awareness to prevent myself from accidentally interrupting someone during a conversation. It is one of my more prominent ADHD manifestations and becomes more difficult to control when I am excited or nervous.
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Difficulty Concentrating
Job seekers or students with ADD or ADHD may struggle to stay focused during networking conversations, due to our difficulty concentrating. This can lead to conversations that don’t stay on track, or which may be difficult for the other person to follow.
A related issue is that we may find ourselves over-preparing for networking conversations, which can cause them to become too focused on the details and not able to have a natural conversation.
Disorganization
Difficulty staying organized and managing our time is another common problem for those of us with ADHD. When networking this can lead to missed opportunities, lack of follow-up, or difficulty finding the right resources.
Not Following Up
Forgetfulness, disorganization, and anxiety can lead to those with ADHD not following up with networking opportunities and contacts. Forgetfulness and disorganization may lead to unintentional lack of follow up, while anxiety can lead to intentional lack of follow up due to a fear of rejection or of committing unintentional inappropriate responses.
How can someone with ADD/ADHD strengthen their networking strategy?
Try virtual networking events or messaging.
Take notes while networking.
If possible, take breaks during busy events.
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Meet The Writer!
Hi! I’m Madeline Jefferson. I am a freelance writer, editor, and designer who has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge on many subjects including: fiction writing, religion, law, politics, history, literature, chronic illness, and mental health. I have a B.A. in Religion and Middle Eastern Studies from Washington and Lee University. As a freelancer I offer services such as: blog writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, manuscript editing, and print and digital design. You can find me on: LinkedIn; Twitter, Instagram; and on my website: https://www.madelinejefferson.com/.
