Jobs for BPD: 92 Career Ideas

Disclaimer: Before we dive in, I want to say that there are really no “best jobs for BPD” because we are all so vastly different. What one person may love and enjoy, another may hate. Just because we share a diagnosis does not mean we’re the same people. That’s why under the “Best Jobs for BPD” section of this post, we go over 4 generalized factors that make a good job – those factors would need to be catered to and adjusted to you as an individual. Keep in mind, while there are people with BPD who can work in whatever field they want, there are also others with BPD who are unable to work in certain environments or who are unable to work at all. We should make an effort to validate every experience.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Work

Maintaining a job and having a stable career can be difficult for people with BPD. Because let’s just be honest, borderline personality disorder and work aren’t always the best fit for each other. At least that’s the case for a lot of people I’ve met online in the BPD community. And that’s why I’ve put together this list of jobs for BPD.

I have borderline personality disorder too, so I can relate to the struggle of mixing BPD and work. Five years ago…before I was self employed and diagnosed, my BPD intensified feelings were hard to manage during the work day.

Everyday, all day, was a constant battle. I was constantly trying to hide how I felt in front of coworkers, directors or customers. I had classic bpd traits that made it hard to function at work and form healthy work relationships. As I got ready and drove to office, I’d go into a raging fit at the drop of a hat. If my rage was set off, I’d either spend the rest of my work day with a chip on my shoulder or I’d wallow in shame over my actions from that morning.

On the outside—I was pessimistic, moody, overly serious and at times, uncooperative. On the inside, I was anxious sick and resentful over my intense feelings; which I then took out on others (if I couldn’t tell a coworker off, I’d be in a texting war with my then boyfriend at my desk).

As unreasonable and unrealistic as it is—having to be somewhere by a certain time and being controlled in any way has always been a huge trigger of anxiety for me. I grew up in a chaotic, unpredictable, emotional cluster of a home and I’m sure a lot of my anxiety stems from that. My panic attacks would also occur due to an illogical (but uncontrollably intense) fear of missing out on things going on at home while I was at work. 

On top of that, having my work or time supervised felt demeaning and demoralizing—even positive reinforcement had the ability to tailspin me. I habitually resisted authority because being criticized or managed in any way felt more like an attack on the deep parts of my character, rather than an opportunity to learn and grow or just a time to follow orders. I was too sensitive. I was out of control. 

It took 12 years for me to figure out the type of work I was built for and wired to do well in. I made lots of mistakes and failed more times than I can count, but with therapy, DBT and a gradual increase in habitual self-reflection, I was able to find a career path that helps me thrive. 

Why BPD and Work Can Be Hard

The reason some people with BPD struggle with work is because their BPD symptoms make it hard to focus and stay committed. When you’re constantly dealing with intense, quick to fluctuate emotions in response to interpersonal conflict or misinterpretations – it can be harder to concentrate on the normal happenings of daily life. Add BPD splitting to the mix, and you have someone who struggles to remain focused on their long term goals or someone who regularly changes them. A “perfect” job can suddenly become a “nightmare” when your coworker says something short & to the point that a person with BPD may take as an insult, or when your boss dismisses their ideas or suggestions.
(Read ‘Working with Borderline Personality Disorder: An Inside Look‘)

I’ve personally always had a hard time balancing BPD and work. Between my fear of abandonment distracting me at the office (I was hyper focused on the fight I was having with my favorite person) and the BPD splitting (everything was either amazing or awful) – my concentration on my workload was dodgy to say the least. The longest I’ve stuck with a job is 4 years. That might seem on the longer end to some, but I spent half the time miserable and the other half looking for a way out.

Best Jobs for BPD

If you’re trying to figure out how to cope with borderline personality disorder by looking for the best jobs for bpd, you’ve come to the right place. The following jobs for BPD were provided by people with BPD. These people are currently working in these positions and are both happy and able to manage their bpd symptoms during the work day. 

Before we go into the list of jobs for bpd, let’s first go over 4 factors that make a good job. Think about how each point relates to you.

A good job for you will…

1. include or pertain to tasks, hobbies or topics you have consistently been interested in or have enjoyed doing over a very long period of time. i.e. animals, planes, a healthy lifestyle, planning events, driving, helping others, math, reading, writing, plants, etc.
   
2. utilize your personal strengths. i.e. good with numbers, storytelling, excellent verbal communication, organization, budgeting, problem solving, strategizing, cleaning, working quickly, etc.
   
3. provide an environment that works best for you most of the time. i.e. do you need regular heavy doses of peace and quiet or would a busier workplace feel better overall? are you most comfortable working alongside a large team where you could easily blend in with the crowd or would you prefer a small, close knit group of people? would you be better off working completely alone? 
   
4. give you the best possible schedule for your symptoms, personality & unique traits. i.e. do you need two consecutive days off to recharge? would you prefer a Monday to Friday work week, a rotating shift or a split shift? Would you enjoy working late at night or waking up early in the morning? how much flexibility do you need?

I hope the factors and questions above can help you self reflect and figure out a good career path for yourself. Keep in mind, figuring the above out can take time. Be patient with yourself.

Without further ado, here are 92 best jobs for BPD (updated from the original post, which included only 71 jobs for BPD). I’ve categorized them into Health & Fitness, Education & Childcare, Fast Paced, Set Your Own Hours, Repetitive & Meticulous, Creative and Low Human Interaction.

Health & Fitness

Registered Nurse
Certified Nurse Assistant
Medical Assistant
Personal Care Aid
Phlebotomist
Pharmacist
Doctor
Dental Hygienist
Behavioral Health Technician
Licensed Social Worker
Direct Support Worker
Cannabis Dispensary Worker
Vet Tech / Vet Assistant
Massage Therapist
Nutritionist
Dietitian
Physical Therapist
Yoga Teacher
Personal Trainer
Health Coach
Life Coach
EMT
Hypnotherapist

Education & Childcare

School Teacher 
College Professor
Teacher’s Assistant
Swimming Teacher
Daycare Worker
Nanny
PE Teacher
Tutor
Music Teacher
Dance Teacher

Fast Paced

Salesperson
Restaurant Server
Cook
Bartender
Advertising Manager
Air Traffic Controller

Set Your Own Hours

Instacart Shopper
Shipt Shopper
Uber Driver
Lyft Driver
Doordash Driver
Amazon Flex Driver
Real Estate Agent
Marketing Consultant
Business Owner
Virtual Assistant
Pet Sitting (click become a sitter at the top!)
Dog Walking (click become a sitter at the top!)

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Repetitive & Meticulous 

Accountant
Administration
Auto Mechanic
Automotive Detailer
Bookkeeper
Call Center
Data Entry
Emergency Dispatcher
Forklift Operator
Janitor
Landscaper
Librarian
Lifeguard
Warehouse Associate
Job Recruiter

Creative 

Cosmetologist
Hairstylist
Nail Tech
Makeup Artist
Digital Marketer
Content Creator
Content Writer
Graphic Designer
Web Designer
Web Developer 
Photographer
Pastry Chef
Fashion Designer
Software Engineer

Low Human Interaction

Dog Trainer
Pet Groomer
Kennel Assistant 
Gardener
Housekeeper
Truck Driver
Overnight Security Guard
Beekeeper
House Sitter
Medical Coder
Surveyor
Affiliate Marketer

What People with BPD Say About BPD and Work

Not sure what kind of job would work best for you, your unique personality and your BPD symptoms? Here are some comments from others with borderline personality disorder about their jobs, needs and preferences. Of course, we’re all different (even if we share a diagnosis), but maybe one of these comments will inspire you or help you self-reflect! 

“I love to work with others doing something rewarding. I’ve worked in customer service for 12 years and am currently booking appointments. Downside of my job now is working from home (due to covid) and mentally, for me, being at home working isn’t healthy…especially with BPD. I need a job where I get out the house and see faces sometimes, rather than a screen.” —Laura

“I’m a 911 operator. It’s perfect because I don’t have to see anyone face to face and I still get to help people.”
—Alicia

“I work as a beautician. It’s helped a lot with my self esteem. It makes me feel good being able to help someone else feel beautiful in their own skin.” —Jessica

“I have my own business online and it’s perfect for me. My schedule, my rules, not much contact with people. I’m an extreme introvert. When I’m having a bad episode, I can just work from bed.” —Stella

“I work overnights at a hotel, I’m alone and don’t have to deal with too many people, it’s peaceful and I don’t get overwhelmed.” —Stephen

“It can either be really healthy for somebody with BPD or it can be really toxic, but bartending is what I do and it’s done wonders for my mental health. The job is fun, but if you have any issues being around alcohol definitely do nottt work at a bar.” —Courtney

“Call centers are perfect (for me). Some offer remote jobs, good benefits, wellness days for mental health and they offer scripts so you can just read them out loud and feel more in control.” —Monica

“An ideal job for BPD differs from person to person. I’ve done jobs in so many different lines of work. At the end of the day, even when I LOVE my job, working full time 5 days a week can be debilitating.” —Jade

“Realign your priorities for a job that works with whether you’re a day or night person. I’ve struggled bad trying to keep a job and I’ve found I think it simply boils down to the inability to form healthy social relationships. Also, I only ever worked 1st shift jobs and seemed to struggled with being at work while it was sunny.” —Raven

“Honestly. I started driving for Amazon. I have enough people interaction to keep me sane but alone enough I don’t get anxious or overwhelmed.” —Shelby

“Early childhood education really seemed to help me work on the hurt kid inside me. I was able to play and get creative in a safe space like a kid. If that helps. Kids give so much perspective. Personally, I’m cool with the 0-6 age group. Beyond there and they start getting brutal.” —Dani

“For me, any job with kids is way too harsh for my sensitivity. I can’t handle seeing kids upset or looking like they’re growing up through trauma. Even hearing a kid scream in a store gives me crazy anxiety.“ —Amber

“I’m a server until I’m done with college. I can have any personality I want with costumers. It’s a fun break from reality. Some customers will test your BPD. LOL. You just have to be strong minded enough to deal with it, which is why I like serving because it challenges my weaknesses. Plus, I make great money!” —Katie

“Be a direct support worker! Literally the best job I’ve had. With BPD, I never know how to not rage quit or keep a job. But helping others changed the game. They need me, I need them.”  —Kim

“I work in an assisted living facility taking care of the mentally disabled. And it honestly keeps my moods in line. It forces me to focus on them needing me vs my thoughts.” —Ryan

“I don’t think there is a ‘best’ career. Your life career isn’t determined by your diagnosis.” —Matt

You can do anything you want, you can choose any career you want. Don’t let a diagnosis hold you back. If you go to therapy and are self aware etc… if you are well, you can do anything.” —Rose

Jobs for BPD: What Others Have to Say

“Since people with BPD are living on an emotional rollercoaster, they tend to lash out and say things they don’t mean, but afterward, they almost always feel guilty and ashamed,” says Jonas on Mental Curve. Because of this, there is tension in the workplace when emotions get involved for someone with BPD. They are extremely sensitive, and the tiniest things can trigger intense reactions. Once they hit the point of an emotional breakdown, it is difficult to calm them down again, and it could take a while before they can let it go and breathe again.”

Stacy on Quora says, “Our work relationships are really not that much different than our personal relationships – in some cases we spend more waking hours with our coworkers than we do with our families and certainly our non-work friends. People who love us have a vested interest in dealing with our mood swings, employers do not.”

“A lot of people with BPD have issues with authority figures that you can trace back to their caregivers’ failure to provide appropriate modeling, guidance, and support and often a person suffering from BPD will end up acting out their childhood issues with their parent in a similar fashion with their boss,” says Jason.

All of the above quotes about BPD and work rang true for me. This is why I was self employed for so long, although that brought up a whole other set of problems.

BPD Resources

Read the synopsis for Sadie’s Favorite – BPD Beautiful creator Sarah Rose’s upcoming novel featuring a main character with borderline personality disorder. Manage your BPD symptoms with a printable workbook. See our recommended list of books about BPD. Get 20% off your first month of online therapy with code THERAPY20 (financial aid options now available at checkout!).

Start a Discussion

Do you have a job you’re happy with? Do you have other ideas of jobs for BPD? Share your experience with borderline personality disorder and work in the comments below. Know a good job for BPD? Tell us!

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