Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Careers for a quirky boy who always wins board games

47 replies

Biscuitsneeded · 13/02/2023 22:27

I don't know what to do with my DS2. He's just 16, supposedly able to get 7s and 8s at GCSE but is going to get 4s and 5s if he's lucky. He definitely has a degree of ADHD and finds concentrating in lessons very hard. Claims to like history, biology, maths etc but doesn't understand how to revise or what exam papers want from him. He's always been just a little off-beam. However, the boy can beat anyone at Chess. Even the absolute boffins who are going to get all 9s at GCSE can't beat him. He has never lost a game of Monopoly, always wins Catan, and only my brother can beat him at poker. He can also remember random sequences of numbers, lyrics from songs he's only heard once, and can quote entire films verbatim. He's also very, very sharp in his humour. As I said, he is going to get very average GCSEs, but he has a quirky intelligence and I wonder what sort of careers might be good for a slightly left-field, strategic mind like his that won't require amazing GCSEs/A levels. All thoughts gratefully received.

OP posts:

Original poster

Biscuitsneeded · 13/02/2023 23:35

I am loving these ideas (apart from the Boris Johnson bit!) Thank you. A GCHQ apprenticeship could be amazing!

OP posts:

stevalnamechanger · 13/02/2023 23:36

AffIt · 13/02/2023 22:57

GCHQ are crying out for people like him: pattern analysis, gamification, puzzle-solving. Code-cracking isn't just about IT skills.

I think the first step is getting through the civil service entrance exam, then getting on the GCHQ fast-track.

Was coming to say this

GoldenCupidon · 14/02/2023 08:12

Is he at all creative? No one cares if creatives in music or film say have their tops on back to front.

more importantly what does he love doing?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

16 year olds General education

Original poster

Biscuitsneeded · 14/02/2023 09:50

Loves: playing chess and board games, but refuses to enter any chess clubs or tournaments as that requires effort/commitment! So no, I don't think he could be a Grand master. He's just not good at organising himself and gets bored with structure ie having to turn up every week to something.
Also loves: computer gaming, watching silly videos, Star Wars, lego etc. His father works in TV. It might be something he could find interesting.
Likes; basketball, korfball etc. But again won't join any teams. He's a very sweet, clever, funny, goofy, kind, lovable boy but he is very passive and laid back. I'm not allowed to say he is lazy as he has a condition which can affect energy levels, but even taking that into consideration he's not exactly Mr Dynamic! However, he does have loads of friends as he is easy-going, funny and harmless!

OP posts:

WinterFoxes · 14/02/2023 09:53

AffIt · 13/02/2023 22:57

GCHQ are crying out for people like him: pattern analysis, gamification, puzzle-solving. Code-cracking isn't just about IT skills.

I think the first step is getting through the civil service entrance exam, then getting on the GCHQ fast-track.

Yes This. They even had adverts specifically requesting this sort of brain.

HeyMicky · 14/02/2023 09:55

Strategy/planning at an ad agency.

DH has dyslexia which manifests as odd processing and poor exec function in some circumstances and he's a CSO. It's a great role for pulling together creative and insight.

He could do life sciences at uni then a grad scheme, or even look for apprenticeships

You can also wear jeans to work - that's the exact reason DH took his first agency role

WinterFoxes · 14/02/2023 09:58

Also, what you are describing fits the profile of many entrepreneurs. They employ other peope to do the sensible tick-box stuff while they dream up the far fetched ideas that just happen to work.

Icedlatteplease · 14/02/2023 10:00

Not what you were asking but he needs an educational psychologist assessment urgently

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 14/02/2023 10:07

GCHQ.

GoldenCupidon · 14/02/2023 11:00

Is he any good at things like public speaking, chatting to people?

ifonly4 · 14/02/2023 11:01

Yes, GCHQ definitely do apprenticeships. If that appeals to him, it'd be good to concentrate (as well as he is able) on any STEM subjects he's studying. Obviously needs to be clean, but ok to wear casual clothes at GCHQ unless you're in the sort of position where you visit other organisations. Keep an eye out for them at careers fairs.

If he's determined to do his best (and I don't mean constantly revising if that isn't him), even at this stage close to taking exams, teachers will happily help him if he approaches them.

Either way, he needs to get through his exams and whatever he goes for has to be something that appeals to him.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/02/2023 11:06

I wonder if it might help to get his ability properly assessed ? Have a look at Potential Plus, they would do a full assessment of his abilities. He may be brilliant and simply be bored at school, or he may have high ability in one area and a lot lower in another.
He sounds great !

BreviloquentBastard · 14/02/2023 11:07

Sounds just like my brother in law. He works for Lego, building their large models and dioramas for displays and events. It's an absolute dream job for him and he's wonderful at it. Bonus is we all get Lego at Christmas from him.

He also hosts livestream D&D and tabletop games on Twitch (I think!), for which I believe he earns a small side income. He ALSO does custom painted miniatures for tabletop games which he sells on Etsy. He's basically just turned his various hobbies into income. He's not loaded but has a nice flat, an equally quirky girlfriend, cute dogs. He's doing ok.

This is quite outing but I don't think he'd mind. We're all proud of him honestly.

Original poster

Biscuitsneeded · 14/02/2023 22:42

Thank you for all thoughts - lots to consider.

Yes, he could do with seeing an ed psych but we're all fairly sure what they would say, and he gets extra time in exams anyway.

Sadly I don't think he's in the brilliant but bored by school category. He's got a quick brain but he struggles to engage it usefully. The only area in which he really is impressive is in chess and board games. But you've given us some things to think about, which is great.

OP posts:

Oioicaptain · 14/02/2023 23:14

Software engineer and computer coding! My son loves Catan, Chess, Speedcubing, pattern spotting. He can beat us all hands down. He's doing really well at computer coding at school.

PermanentTemporary · 15/02/2023 06:53

I'm wondering about stuff that is all 'in the minute' - not the sort of job where you grind away at long projects, but the sort that requires you to be fully in it each day. Eg auctioneer, paramedic, physician's assistant in surgery, nurse, chef.

Switchwitch · 15/02/2023 07:07

I'd say coding too. Places like gchq deliberately hire neurodiverse people because they are so good at thinking differently and spotting strategy and patterns.

BoxOfCats · 15/02/2023 07:10

He is good at abstract reasoning and problem solving- I would say market research or data scientist.

ittakes2 · 15/02/2023 07:42

If you an afford it I suggest you pay for a private referral; and have him diagnosed so he can try ADHD meds. Have you spoken to his school? Some schools are great when a child has exec function issues can help them set up a study programme and give him a study mentor who is usually an older child.
I would focus on what he wants to do at A levels and see if he can focus on the GCSE grades he needs to get him into this or another programme. A lot of posters are suggesting things that need UNI degrees and he does not sound like he is going to get the GCSE grades to do A levels which he'll need for uni.

ittakes2 · 15/02/2023 07:47

Myself and my children have ADHD and you don't just get extra time in your exams for having ADHD - I think you might have missed out some other SEN need especially since you have said he doesn't have an ADHD diagnosis.
Sadly, if he is going to get 4s, and 5s...those are not average grades. A 4 is a pass, a 5 is a below age appropriate grade. A 6 is an age appropriate 'average' grade. Its not impossible he repeats some subjects so he can go to A levels - but if thinks are looking like going in that direction may I suggest you concentrate on maths and english and its important to have as good as possible grades in these subjects.
Break up his study - rather than doing a past paper just do questions of past papers, If he has ADHD he can hyper focus and hopefully focus better in his exams.
How did his mocks go?

GoldenGorilla · 15/02/2023 07:59

I used to know somebody with similar skills/gaps and he became an emergency scenario planner - like he’d look at concert venues, imagine different dangerous scenarios (fire, bomb threat, too many ticket holders etc) and then work out the emergency evacuation plans.

MadMadamMim123 · 15/02/2023 09:29

You could be describing my DS - except for the laid back part... he does have a diagnosis of ADHD and Autism. I got him an appointment with the careers adviser in Y8 to try and show him life beyond school so that he could get the "point" of what he was doing... but it kind of backfired as he said he wanted to serve his country but not kill people, and he liked food tech. So she pointed him at chef in the navy and so he's been set on that since he was 13, which given his interest in food at home extends to making a pot noodle and having a dessert of Doritos, seems odd.

To be fair he is definitely applying himself more at his college catering course (he decided to postpone joining the navy till he's 18) than he did at school. But I do wish he'd consider something strategy like as his analytical brain, fact recall etc is absolutely amazing

Flip

1 2