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superboyian
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01 Sep 2010, 2:55 pm

I haven't had a job yet but from what I have heard, it seems that most people with aspergers/autism seem to have a difficult time with getting a job along with some disadvantages they may experience and myself.

But from what I was told, I could have a very difficult time getting myself a job and coping with life.

I'm wondering, has anyone ever had or currently in a job, if so, how did you manage to get in and was it difficult?


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Pistonhead
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01 Sep 2010, 3:08 pm

I have worked for my dad, my grandparents, and my high school hospital homebound teacher.

Wasn't hard to get these jobs, they were more or less handed to me and my job performance was commendable.


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petitesouris
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01 Sep 2010, 3:15 pm

our performance varies, in any area, according what skills you are talking about.

some jobs require spontaneous responses to unexpected situations, without any time to think them through, and i would not recommend most of those to anyone here. imagine an aspie with high anxiety working as an e.m.t.

i have worked in the summer as a secretary, a grant researcher, and an employee at a garden, fortunately none of which require long conversations or constant chatting.

the most effective solution is to make lists of procedures, strategies, things to expect, and things you notice, while you are still learning about the work, so that you can do the job in your sleep once you have to complete tasks perfectly.



Last edited by petitesouris on 01 Sep 2010, 3:29 pm, edited 3 times in total.

MrXxx
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01 Sep 2010, 3:17 pm

If you can pick up good interview skills, getting a job isn't all that hard. Plenty of good books. I can ace an interview.

Keeping a job for any length of time (max three years for me), is another story. We aren't all incapable of doing it, and there are some who manage to keep one for a long time. It's damned hard though.


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Dnuos
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01 Sep 2010, 4:40 pm

Just possibly, I think that the job-search is tougher than the job itself.

Especially with no past work experience. It's like if you didn't start off with experience somehow, you're doomed to never get a job... >.> Or... at least in my unlucky case.

Either way, it seems like certain jobs like being a Cashier, or other positions with a lot of socializing, would be tougher for someone with AS, but like in many other symptoms, there's always adaptation.



CockneyRebel
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01 Sep 2010, 5:10 pm

I have a job placement specialist, who works at my clubhouse.


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Logan5
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01 Sep 2010, 5:12 pm

There are several charitable organisations in the UK that help people with "disabilities" (including autism/ Asperger's syndrome) find and keep employment. There is also the employment services agency "Remploy" < http://www.remploy.co.uk/ >, which has branches in many of the major cities. (I have never dealt with them, but I know that several of my co-workers originally obtained their jobs via Remploy.) Your local JobCentre may be able to provide you with a list of organisations.

Check your PM for some additional information.



DW_a_mom
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01 Sep 2010, 5:21 pm

Be prepared to think outside of the box for typical "entry" level jobs; too many of them require skills that are easy for NT's, but difficult for someone with AS. McDonalds would be a horrible place for you to work, for example. Too fast, too social, too noisy.

Common problem areas can be sensory, getting along with other employees, and the stress of trying to prioritize/meet deadlines. Identity which areas are likely to be issues for you, and avoid applying for jobs that involve too much of them.

You may find that the more you can work independently without a deadline, and control your own world, the more successful you might be. If that feels right, seek out careers and jobs that will give them to you.

Be wary of common misconceptions, however, such as the idea that being an accountant is a nice backroom job. While sometimes it still is, the days of adding quietly by oneself have long passed, and it is actually very client centered. And client centered means - social. Getting ahead requires social skills. So, an accurate knowledge of how people in a job actually spend their days is important, before targeting a certain job area.

That is my 5 second summary. Lots of holes in it, but hopefully it will help point you in the right direction.


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ksuther09
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01 Sep 2010, 5:58 pm

I'd also recommend getting a counselor (if you can find/afford one) and do mock interviews & mock conversations with employees & have him/her give you feedback. It's helped me :) Also read lots of books on resumes, interviews etc.



Todesking
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01 Sep 2010, 6:45 pm

superboyian wrote:
I'm wondering, has anyone ever had or currently in a job, if so, how did you manage to get in and was it difficult?


I had several jobs where I lasted a month or two. Then In 1991 my friend Tom got me a job in a resteraunt I worked there for 9 years. It was the worst job ever. It seemed the harder I tried to get another job while working there the worst my chances finding one became. The place was filled with people who were the biggest loosers at life who all wanted someone to kick around to make themselves feel better about themselves. In 2000 I quit the resteraunt job then I got a job with a temp service who sent me to some of the lowest paying, dirtiest, and dangerous jobs I have ever had the misfortune of working on. One of the temp jobs they sent me on was working for a machine shop where they had me running these loud cnc lathe machines that I was a nervous wreck while working. Then one day the metal finisher quit without warning so on my last day working there they gave me a chance to try metal finishing. I knocked it out of the park on my first try doing better than the original metal finisher. I stayed there for nine years until they lost all the contracts that had metal finishing jobs involved and the only jobs they had left for me were the machine operation jobs that I first failed at when I started there. So now I rocking the unemployment and every resume I put out is ignored. I am thinking about going on disability.


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BTDT
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01 Sep 2010, 6:47 pm

I think it helped that my first "real" job was delivering newspapers in a very small town for a few years--got a chance to pick up some social skills in the art of collecting money!



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01 Sep 2010, 6:59 pm

I'm crap at getting to interviews, but if I get to an interview I usually make an impression in person.

I can't keep a job except by extreme power of will, and that can only last so long. Bye bye job.

I hope one day to make a career doing something friendly to myself and to others.


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01 Sep 2010, 7:14 pm

The best job I had was outdoor research. I was given paperwork of what to be done, then when that was done, I got to decide what other things needed to be looked at. Almost no human interaction.

The worst job I had was indeed Mcdonald's. I had a psychotic break during that job.

Oh, and another horrible job was the job that had the AS employee guy that was picked on by the manager. The manager didn't think I had AS though, but now my shrink does (I probably won't get diagnosed though, I dunno) I had a psychotic break and lost Mcdonald's job and that job at the same time.


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TPE2
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01 Sep 2010, 7:32 pm

MrXxx wrote:
If you can pick up good interview skills, getting a job isn't all that hard.


That was my biggest problem - I spent 4 years going to interviews and being rejected.



sunshower
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01 Sep 2010, 7:56 pm

DW_a_mom wrote:
Be prepared to think outside of the box for typical "entry" level jobs; too many of them require skills that are easy for NT's, but difficult for someone with AS. McDonalds would be a horrible place for you to work, for example. Too fast, too social, too noisy.


I've worked many different jobs (albeit for brief periods of time - I usually work over holiday breaks between uni semester, and before that school holidays) and I agree with this 100%. The cashier type super social mainstream bottom level jobs are deadly to Aspies. Those jobs have sent me into massive breakdowns, even after only a few months of casual hours.

I think as an aspie thinking outside of the box when it comes to work is essential. Plus the most important thing is to look at your skill-set. Obviously not everyone is going to have any special skills or talents, but if you do, exploit them!

An example: I'm a singer, been singing in choirs since I was four, and also have been writing original music for voice and piano on and off for years. About a year and a half ago I saw advertised a position for a church scholar singer; basically the church was looking for one highly skilled singer per part to pay to sing at that church every week. At the time I didn't have huge experience in sight singing classical music, but I went for the audition.

Initially they told me I wasn't quite up to the standard they required, but the offered me a trial period of two months in the general choir (at a lower pay rate) and said at the end of that time they would decide whether to put me on the scholarship or not. I tried really hard, and learned as fast as I could over that time, and so I got the scholarship! :)

I've been singing with them for a year and a half now and I couldn't be happier - it's a quiet and calming environment, extremely routine and predictable, you work with the same small select group of people each week, and the job itself doesn't require people skills or socializing - just singing, blending, and other choir things.

This was earning me enough to get by on top of my youth allowance (which I am on as I am studying full time uni), and after a time of this I started thinking and wondering if I could use my skill set in this area to find more employment and increase my income in a type of job that wouldn't send me into a meltdown. I decided to increase and polish my repertoire of original music and go out and start performing at open mic nights. The first (and only so far) one I performed at has now gained me paid singing slots two nights a week, for one hour each night. Because pay is very high per hour for music performance if you are a solo artist (and don't have to split costs between band members), I figure that if my uni degree doesn't work out, and I don't end up finding employment as a psychologist - or I can't cope with being a psychologist, I would be able to survive on live singing performances if I found places to perform at every night, even if I only performed two or three hours a day. Plus it's creative and I love doing it.

But yes, mainstream jobs aren't always the go for aspies, but if you search hard enough and are proactive about it there's other jobs out there.

Another example is berry picking - I've done that before and thoroughly enjoyed it, it's a solo job, it's outdoors, energetic, and non-stressful. Lots of farm work and outdoor physical type jobs can be a good alternative to super social cashier type jobs.

Basically, thinking outside the box is essential, and constantly being on the lookout for job opportunities - read the advertisements in the paper every day, use job search websites etc, and keep an eye out for those "alternative" style jobs.


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Obgeektor
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01 Sep 2010, 8:32 pm

Geezer, I'm also in the UK if that makes any specialist difference to the job market (not much).
Try to get a job by playing to your strengths, doing what you find easiest and most productive, like everyone else says.

Whilst you're waiting to get a job, get a free or paid qualification, or some experience. The last job I got, I wasn't very experienced, but the boss was impressed that whilst I was unemployed I kept myself busy and tried to be positive.
I casually happened to mention that I had given up smoking last year (strength of character, discipline).
These are qualities that employers love, whether you're Aspie or NT or a... trained monkey (like I'm tempted to call certain companies' employees, in fact). :lol:

If you read a lot, for example, then this would make you quick at learning the training manual. There's many ways to sell yourself to a boss, in a logical way. It's not all about social skills. Appeal to their business sense.

If you're the kind of person who likes learning new things and being active instead of sitting around skinning up, then you'll be employable.

In short, try to think like a boss wants - efficient and hard-working employees. Then give your best examples, of yourself and also perhaps of what you respect and aspire to in general.

You'll be fine.


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