Did ADHD Traits Shape My Career as a Sysadmin?

If you need help with IT issues, career advice, or workplace concerns, [Root] Access is ITPro Today’s dedicated advice column. Submit your questions here. Please include “Root Access” in the subject line. Note that questions may be edited for publication.

Dear [Root] Access,

I was recently diagnosed (at age 59!) with ADHD. To say I’m shaken is an understatement. I consider myself a fairly accomplished sysadmin who has made gradual career progress over the years. I’ve had steady employment without the typical “crash and burn” issues sometimes associated with ADHD. However, discovering that I have an ADA-recognized disability has left me feeling lost at sea and questioning everything about my life.

I’m now wondering if I ended up being a sysadmin because aspects of the job (like ticketing systems) align well with certain ADHD traits or if employers have perceived my hyperfocus as dedication. Am I good at multitasking because I’m smart and good at my job, or is it due to difficulties with executive function and being easily distracted?

The real question is: Do all IT people just develop ADHD, or are we attracted to the job because it takes advantage of how we think and interact with the world? 

—Multitasking Mind

Dear Multitasking Mind,

Thank you for sharing your experience with a late ADHD diagnosis. Because of increased ADHD education and a rapid shift in employees’ daily lifestyles, you’re joining millions of adults worldwide who are getting to know themselves in this new context. Epic Research reports that among adults 30-49 years old, ADHD diagnoses nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022. 

Related:ITPro Today 2024 IT Salary Survey Report

I’m interested in how you’re approaching this news. Your questions show all-or-nothing thinking: Is my life path because of my ADHD? Is IT an ADHD-prone field? Is having ADHD good or bad?

Try reframing your questions. How does an ADHD diagnosis affect your accomplishments, interests, and goals? How does this diagnosis inspire you to experiment with different supports or accommodations that can improve your quality of life? What superpowers can you unlock now that you’re aware of your neurodiversity?

These questions aren’t as clear-cut. What’s certain is that your answers will differ from those of another IT worker with ADHD, as well as from a student who hasn’t been diagnosed yet and a salesperson living with it. Because even though ADHD can unite people who share common behaviors, every person’s experience varies. Perhaps some IT professionals enter the profession because their neurodiversity supports their work goals. There are likely just as many people with ADHD who felt inspired to join other fields. 

Related:Tech Careers: Quick Reference Guide to IT Job Titles

Maybe your ADHD helped you as an accomplished sysadmin because of your ability to hyperfocus on one ticket at a time. Simultaneously, your ADHD may have made your daily life more challenging due to distractibility during less stimulating tasks. You’re a whole person, not defined by a single diagnosis.  

Here’s what I see: a passionate IT professional with a long track record of success and fulfillment in the field. The reasons behind your success, I’m sure, are multifaceted and complex. What matters is you get the support you deserve to continue that track record. You can start by exploring your employer’s benefits, like health insurance, to speak with an ADHD specialist. As you learn more about your needs, you can change your work environment or, more formally, follow an HR-led “accommodations request.” 

Diagnoses are valuable because they clarify our requirements, giving us options to support ourselves better. Hats off to you for beginning the journey!

More Resources About ADHD and Neurodiversity in Tech:

Related:Skills-Based Hiring: A Pathway to Unlocking Diverse Talent in Today's IT Workforce

[Root] Access is an advice column for IT pros. Submit questions here.