15 Best Jobs For People With Depression: Advice from a Therapist

Working With Depression

Individuals with depression experience greater uncertainty about their careers.² Depression symptoms include feelings of sadness and hopelessness that make it hard to seek out a satisfying job or give your all to a job you have; a sense of pessimism that can lead you to feel that any career efforts would only fail; physical symptoms that may lead to absences including persistent fatigue, trouble sleeping, poor diet, stomach problems, and aches and pains.³

Depression can generate both psychological and physical symptoms that can get in the way of career planning and career success. Some people with depression are eligible for disability. The symptoms of depression are such that maintaining focus on daily routines of living can be as challenging as focusing on a 10-year life plan.

15 Best Jobs for People With Depression

Due to how depression manifests, there are certain work environments and jobs for depressed people that can be more conducive to career satisfaction. The best jobs for people with depression often have flexible work arrangements, work-life balance, job security, high social support, and a predictable environment.⁴ While those qualities are important, personal choice may dictate the best job for a particular individual.

Due to the benefits of time in nature, working outside might benefit some. For others, working with animals is a good choice. Working indoors in quiet, predictable positions helps support the overall psychological well-being of others. There is not just one “best job” for everyone with depression.

Here are 15 of the best jobs for depressed people:

1. Librarian

Librarians are a diverse group of people who have chosen a job that allows them to work in a place that is known for its tranquility, focus on helping others, and positive purpose. Work schedules are often part-time, the pace of traffic is generally predictable, and peace and quiet and potentially children’s laughter at story time create a pleasant environment.

2. Computer Programmer/Data Analyst

For individuals who are technically minded, pursuing a career in computer science can be especially rewarding for those diagnosed with depression. These positions allow you to choose between solo freelance work or to work as part of a larger team. This flexibility and the focus on design can be ideal for those who are working to improve concentration and gain a sense of accomplishment as tasks are completed.

3. Park Ranger

There are multiple benefits to spending time outside if you’re suffering from depression. Sunlight and exposure to nature positively influence mood. If your job gives you a reason to move around, that’s even better. Physical activity decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety. Interactions with others can be few or many, and you will feel a sense of pride as you care for “your” park.

4. Postal Worker

Working at the post office can be an appropriate choice for some individuals with depression. If you work in the sorting facility of the post office, there will be a set schedule, clear duty assignments, and a comfortable routine to your days. If you deliver mail, you are outside, engaging with others in limited doses, and enjoy the benefits of nature, movement, and autonomy.

5. Artist

If you have a talent for the arts, whether it is painting, sculpting, crafting, or jewelry making, these are excellent paths for those diagnosed with depression. The job allows you to work at your own pace, as a rule, to work the hours that work for you, and to have a means of expressing yourself in a creative manner.

6. Gardener/Horticulturist

If you have a knack for growing things, and deal with depressive symptoms, finding a job in gardening or horticulture can be good. Gardening keeps you connected to nature, and it can be satisfying to see the results of your work. You can spend time outside, working with others or alone, and the physical nature of gardening helps reduce depressive symptoms.

7. Pet Sitter

Spending time with animals, whether they are your own or belong to someone else, can be emotionally stabilizing and fulfilling. Animal companionship and pet ownership have been found to reduce symptoms of depression.⁵ If you’re unable to own a pet, being employed part-time or full-time as a pet sitter for others can supply some of the same benefits.

8. Farm Worker

Physical work can help manage symptoms of depression and anxiety and when you are working outside. Whether caring for livestock or helping with the crops, there are great benefits to psychological well-being.⁶ Working with farm animals also helps increase self-efficacy, which can help alleviate self-denigrating thoughts.

9. Writer

Writing for pay can come in many different forms – including writing novels, newspaper stories, advertising copy, online blogs, poetry, press releases among others. Writing is a “go-at-your-own-pace” job that allows you freedom to schedule your days, so long as potential deadlines are met. You can work in comfortable clothing in comfortable surroundings and feel a sense of control over your schedule and life.

10. Fitness Trainers

Working in the fitness or recreational field can help diminish and prevent symptoms of depression. In fact, people in these positions tend to be less depressed than those in other industries.⁷ Positive social interaction and participating in regular physical activities support mental well-being. In many cases, you can set your own hours and choose your clients.

11. Repair Person

Another job that posts lower levels of depression is that of repair person.⁸ Repair people tend to set their own schedules, determine their availability and their fees, and have limited social interactions with others. They tend to work alone, which keeps them from having to express false feelings to others, and the nature of their job is one to find solutions, which can be intrinsically satisfying.

12. Entrepreneur/Business Owner

When a person owns their business or is promoting their own products or ideas, it can be a positive experience. They create their own work environment, have final say over business decisions, and they can hire the people they feel best fit the culture they’ve created. Between the autonomy and the sense of satisfaction from watching a business grow, this position supplies opportunities to combat negative thinking that can be part of depression.

13. Data Entry Operator

Data entry may sound like a boring career for some, but it ranks as one of the best jobs for someone with anxiety and depression. It uses a highly specific skill set and can provide a feeling of relief from the restlessness and loose ends that depression sometimes generates. There is a specific set of data to process, deadlines to meet, and a feeling of accomplishment when a task is complete..

14. A Workspace With a Window

While many people have to work the jobs they can get, people with depression will fare better emotionally if they are able to work in a building which allows views of the outside. Having access to views of the outside can provide a respite during the workday as well help manage stress, anxiety, and even physical health concerns.⁸

15. Personal Services – Hairdresser, Massage Therapist, etc.

The benefits of providing personal services to others for individuals diagnosed with depression include the opportunity to set your own schedule, choose your own clients, and engage in an occupation that brings pleasure to others. Recognizing that depression can minimize your motivation, having a commitment to show up for others can help keep you on track. You can also determine your work hours and place of business.

Jobs to Avoid for People With Depression

Not every job can be tailored to fit the needs of every person. Some industries have been found to be especially difficult to manage if you deal with depression. When there is excessive pressure to perform, rigid work hours, and lack of support on the job, signs of work depression can worsen, and absenteeism may become a problem.

Job environments that people with depression should avoid include:

High-Stress Jobs

In high stress jobs, pressure to perform can be outwardly and inwardly applied which can worsen feelings of hopelessness and low self-worth. While some people thrive in high stress jobs, they are not right for everyone. These jobs include front-line workers.

Highly Detailed Jobs

Depression can negatively affect a person’s memory, and when steps are missed or key pieces of information are unable to be recalled, performance can suffer. These jobs include jobs in the financial arena or even airline pilot.

Jobs With Low Control

When a person is placed into a position with no real control, such as a line worker, symptoms of depression can worsen. This can include feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness as there is no control over the work assignment pace and little variety.

Jobs With Little Security

Depression can lead people to extreme feelings of self-doubt, pessimism about the future, and low self-esteem. Working in an environment where a job’s future is precarious, or a manager threatens job loss if performance isn’t improved can exacerbate depressive symptoms.

Low Social Support

While some individuals with depression desire to keep to themselves, social interaction and social support on the job are key factors in job satisfaction. If a person with depressive symptoms is left without support, depressive symptoms can increase.

Unmoderated High Interpersonal Conflict

Work environments in which bullying or in-fighting are allowed to occur with no interference from the management can worsen mental health. If a person with depression experiences bullying or is ostracized by the larger group, it can lead to withdrawal from others, isolation, and worsening symptoms of depression.

How to Cope With Depression While Applying for Jobs

For people dealing with depression, the job search process may be too daunting even to begin. It requires seeking out job openings, following through on the application process, patiently waiting to hear back about an interview, and then actually showing up for the interview. It helps to break the task into smaller chunks, use positive self-talk, and ask someone to hold you accountable.

Here are some strategies on how to cope with depression while applying for jobs:

• Have someone hold you accountable: When we promise someone else that we’ll complete a task, we are more likely to follow through.
• Break everything down into small chunks: The process of finding a new job can be overwhelming, but by breaking down large tasks into smaller pieces, tasks begin to feel more doable.
• Build in rewards for completing each part of a task: In job hunts, there is much that is beyond the control of the job seeker, so build in rewards when each chunk of the task is completed.
• Use positive self-talk to keep you motivated: When rumination gets in the way of task completion, intentionally remind yourself to replace the negative head-tape with a positive one. Remind yourself, “I’ve gotten jobs in the past and I can get a new one,” or “There’s often a “no” before there’s a “yes” and that’s okay.”
• Create a “chore chart” for each position you apply to: Finding a new job requires completing multiple associate “chores,” from finding the job ad, writing a resume, submitting an application, etc. Create a “chore chart” or flowchart for each job to keep you on track.
• Use visualization to imagine getting the dream job: Just like athletes visualize winning their games, visualize receiving the job offer or walking into the job on your first day full of confidence and energy.
• Start each day with exercise: A quick walk around the block or a few miles on a stationary bike or playing with your dog in the backyard will minimize feelings of depression and get you energized for the challenges of the day.

How to Determine Whether a Work Environment Is Right For You

If a person isn’t satisfied with their job, their personal life will likely be less than satisfying as well due to the inter-relationship between work and personal identities. Before taking a new job, make sure you understand the type of job and work environment you feel would fit your needs best. Then confirm that the new position offers what you need.

Here are a few questions to ask during an interview to help determine whether the environment will be right for you:

• What would a typical day look like for someone in this position?
• When conflict between employees occurs, what is the most frequent cause and how does it get resolved?
• What are the most significant stressors faced by people in this position?
• What are the expectations about productivity here?
• How do employees receive supervisor feedback and how often is it received?
• What does this organization values most in its employees? What traits do you feel are most important to employee success?
• Are there opportunities for flexible work hours, if needs arise?
• What is valued most in employees by their supervisors?

Should I Admit to Having Depression in the Interview?

If your diagnosis is not likely to create issues related to job performance or attendance, there may be no need to disclose your diagnosis up front. However, if you feel that it would be dishonest not to disclose it or if you feel that you will need to ask for special accommodations, it may be beneficial to share information early into the relationship with the employer.

Sometimes a person may feel the urge to address their depression during an interview, while others keep it private. The choice you make can influence your future with an employer.

When to Seek Professional Support for Depression

Depression can show up as a bout of sadness, a change in energy level, or a loss of interest in the things you once enjoyed. If these symptoms increase in frequency, duration, or impact, it may be time to take them seriously. If symptoms of depression interfere with your daily routine, it is time to seek professional help. You may want to consult an online therapist directory to locate an appropriate helper who specializes in depression. You may also explore therapy via an online therapy for depression platform to facilitate the keeping of appointments.

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