“Oh, the Places I’ve Been (Fired From)!”
“I don’t know where my journey will take me, but I have brains in my head, feet in my shoes, and I’m armed with my ADHD diagnosis. Despite the bang-ups and hang-ups, I know one thing for certain: I’m going to continue to work hard and put my best foot forward. My mountain is waiting.”
At nearly 30 years old, I have been fired twice from roles in my chosen career of public relations. It’s true that I have sent emails five minutes too late and missed a few typos, but I enjoy the field, even if I don’t love every aspect of it. And being fired – more than once – hurts deeply. I have been effectively told that I am not fit for the career on which I have set my sights, which has left me confused and anxious.
The ordeal hurts much more knowing that I have exclusively worked for places that center on addressing health disparities. While I never disclosed my ADHD diagnosis, I believe I still would have been met with discontent if I had, as my attempts to adjust processes and procedures to work with my brain were often met with annoyance. (Either way, it shouldn’t matter whether my disability was known; everyone works differently.)
Left in a Lurch
The more recent role placed me on a performance improvement plan just one month after I started. I was let go six months after my start date. I imagine that many neurodivergent individuals like myself know what it’s like to be on a PIP, and it’s not for a lack of skill or trying. If you ask us, these “plans” aren’t plans at all. Often missing from PIPs are tangible instructions and guidelines for helping us improve our skills.
[Get This Free Download: What to Ask Yourself to Find the Perfect Job]
One overarching thought I’ve had through all this is: How could my employers, who purport to pursue and create change to improve the lives of marginalized individuals, be so resistant to altering the way things are done? How could they be so intolerant of differences?
While these rejections have left me riddled with self-doubt and shame, I’ve been trying to reframe my experiences as opportunities to find a better fit. For now, I have found a new, part-time role in a different but adjacent field, though I’m not quite sure I’ve found my passion.
You’re Off to Great Places!
I’ve loved to write ever since childhood. I enjoy connecting with and helping others. Public relations seemed like a practical way to funnel these desires into a career.
I don’t know where my journey will take me, but I have brains in my head, feet in my shoes, and I’m armed with my ADHD diagnosis. Despite the bang-ups and hang-ups, I know one thing for certain: I’m going to continue to work hard and put my best foot forward. My mountain is waiting.
How to Get Over Being Fired for ADHD: Next Steps
- Free Download: Need Help Finding Your Passion? Use This ADHD “Brain Blueprint”
- Read: Surviving Performance Evaluations
- Read: “I Was So Worried About Getting Fired That My Anxiety Took Over… and I Got Fired for It”
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