Unable to look past the disability
I have a college education and am having a very difficult time becoming employed. I am desperate for a job and would like nothing more than to be a contributing member of society by going to work everyday.
I currently receive assistance from an employment specialist. I thought she would be different than the previous employment specialists I've received assistance from. She is not much different unfortunately. She has no faith in my ability to work at a job that pays what I am worth. She is unable to look past my autism diagnosis and doesn't believe I have the skills I tell her I have.
I have tried looking for jobs by myself and either don't get callbacks or perform poorly during interviews. I am trying to look past my autism diagnosis and not dwell on it every time a job interview implodes.
Does anyone believe in "faking it until you make it" meaning, if I try and act as NT as possible, somehow I will eventually blend in with the rest of society and perhaps secure employment? How does one "fake it until you make it?"
> "would like nothing more than to be a contributing member of society by going to work everyday."
It sounds like you have an excellent attitude!
Can you say what general field or industry you are looking in?
(Your experience with the employment "helper" is probably common, alas.)
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There Are Four Lights!
I currently receive assistance from an employment specialist. I thought she would be different than the previous employment specialists I've received assistance from. She is not much different unfortunately. She has no faith in my ability to work at a job that pays what I am worth. She is unable to look past my autism diagnosis and doesn't believe I have the skills I tell her I have.
I have tried looking for jobs by myself and either don't get callbacks or perform poorly during interviews. I am trying to look past my autism diagnosis and not dwell on it every time a job interview implodes.
Does anyone believe in "faking it until you make it" meaning, if I try and act as NT as possible, somehow I will eventually blend in with the rest of society and perhaps secure employment? How does one "fake it until you make it?"
I have done the 'fake it till you make it' schtick. It works in some cases and not others.
It's great if I'm meeting someone over quick dinner and convince them to contract with me for a freelance gig that I'll be working on from home.
It's not as great if I talk myself into a job that ends up with me in a packed cube farm where I want to hide in the bathroom all day and scream at people who have suckers in their mouths 24/7 (seriously, you're an adult, leave the suckers at home). Hard as I tried, I couldn't fake my way through working there long.
Thankfully, most of my professional reputation is online. I've got a long-running blog with a memorable name, I've got a twitter presence when software launches, and I post a lot of jokes. That is enough to get people to like "online me". And people hire/refer jobs or contracts to/ people they like.
I have had a lot of headhunters contact me through LinkedIn, not one of them has ever gotten me a job. It has all been through people who know me (or the virtual representation of me).