Unemployment nightmare

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I am on the road to being assessed for Asperger's to see if I have the condition. The reason I'm looking into it is one of my family thought it might be affecting me and it is something I had also considered in the past. My main problem seems to be that I struggle to get and keep a job. One of my main issues seems to be a lack of speed when doing tasks or failure to meet targets. I've also been told that my telephone manner is not good and I find it difficult to build a rapport with colleagues. Sometimes I find it very hard to motivate myself to fill in forms or apply for jobs as I find it very boring and worry that my work history will put off most people.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm lazy and unethusiastic or whether there is something wrong with me. I have put quite a lot of effort into other things in the past so I find it hard to believe that I am completely work shy. For example I have a list of qualifications as long as my arm including a BA Hons Degree Postgrad Diploma and ECDL computing. I even did a graduate futures career development course to try to increase my chances of employment. I also put quite a bit of effort into my hobbies as I enjoy collecting and researching rare pop culture objects. I recently went to a museum in London and found that they had four of the items in my collection on display! I'm wondering if this could possibly be my particular specialised area of interest as people with Asperger's normally have one.

Most of the jobs I've had are through agencies perhaps because this way you avoid the dreaded interview. Unfortunately though agency positions also make you easily disposable. I have done a couple of jobs which I wasn't bad at which I had to leave due to work moving to another location or funding running out for my position. I know employment is an issue for everyone at the mo but this has been an issue for me for a number of years. I would like to be able to do something so I can move out and get my own home. I have also suffered in personal relationships due to my lack of independence and have spent incredibly little time in relationships compared to most people. I find it pretty difficult to find a guy I like that has an interest in me. Just wondered has anyone else had these issues with employment and could these be symptoms of Asperger's?

Unemployment is a huge issue among the Autism/Asperger population. I have seen statistics on the internet that indicate the unemployment rate among this group is 90%!

I have really had quite an ongoing nightmare since I have started to get jobs.
The normal way things seem to work is that I get the job. People are normally sort of friendly and I do not know how to do the same back, I have tried and still do but something doesn't happen and the situation just get uncomfortable. I then bury my head in my work but tend to get bored or restricted by the repetition and lack of overall progression. People start to get grumpy with me for not doing things properly or quick enough (I find it impossible to concentrate with any sort of noise) and in the end I just don't go to work one day and don't go back. It is labeled as lazy etc but it is far from that. I just find repetition without personal progress pointless. It is like riding on a roundabout for eight hours a day.

My education is not too great which is the cause of most of my problems I suspect. I am not stupid but I have a huge problem with any sort of noise so most of my studying has been out of a classroom and in my bedroom. That sadly doesn't get me any qualifications. Open University is an expensive option.

But yes, the last 10 years have been hell for keeping jobs... I find work interaction so hard and stressful. People always think I am rude so they chip away at me or think I am quiet so they try and involve me and bring me out of myself until they give up and assume I am just rude also.

I know what you mean about those application forms too! So tiresome!

This is very interesting, I would be curious where you saw this.

As far as the OP, getting an AS diagnosis can cause you problems. I recommend that you get a private one (pay cash no insurance) and use a fake name. That way it doesn't get shared with health insurance companies (who will use it to deny coverage) or your employers (who will conveniently misplace your application) or social services (who will take away your children if any).

But in general, the US national unemployment rate is around 10% (actually the true rate is higher - something like 18% according to the BLS) so its hard for everyone. I have worked in high tech software development and its only natural that those jobs are very transient. The longest one on record for me is about 2 years. Most are less than 6 months. Its just that once the project is done, they have no need for me.

I'm another who's had similar issues with finding employment. It's demoralising when you know that you're not stupid and you have the right qualifications for a job, yet the job doesn't turn out the way you want.

Interpersonal skills are another issue with me, I also have problems with building rapport with people and have problems with my telephone manner as well. I've been told that I can be cold, or brusque towards people [not exactly sure how] and my job history is also rather spotty.

Hopefully the ASD assessment will shed some light into your behaviours and can help you progress. Maybe you need a modified workplace which you can probably get if you have an official ASD DX under your belt.

Even thought we do have some inherent challenges, I think an equal or even greater problem stems from a transient mindset growing throughout today's work environments. In my own experience, employers of the past were in for the long haul and were offering security for committed workers, but today's owners, executives and managers are now continually looking on ahead for newer or better opportunities and security for themselves.

Some people used to call me "a job hopper", and I was once turned away when a potential employer surmised I must be "a perpetual malcontent". But in reality, and with at least part of this on me, I was always just looking for a place where I "fit" and could feel secure.