High-functioning, yet unfit for work

Post Reply New Topic

I am unfit for work. I've tried different things, and found I'm unfit for all of them.

Obviously can't do retail because I am too quiet and timid to interact formally with customers
After a trial at a cleaning job apparently I now can't do cleaning because I am too slow
Can't do delivery jobs because it involves driving a vehicle and I am too nervous on the roads (got to have driving experience anyway)
Can't work in a factory because most factory work involves measurements and I'm no good with maths
Can't work in a restaurant because involves too much multitasking and apparently I can't do that
Can't work on the computer because every administrator job advertisement says ''excellent communication skills is essencial, must be able to use the telephone''
Don't even mention work that involves specific high intelligence like science

''Practice makes perfect'' doesn't work with me. I've had plenty of experience and the outcome has always been ''nope, found I won't be able to get on with that'', and that's not my own opinion, it's also from the employer.

I think I will be best off doing the most basic work like packing boxes. Even then there's probably a skill they want that I haven't got. This means I must be so stupid.
A person with no arms and legs has less barriers than me.
And they say I'm NOT entitled to disability living allowance????

*HUG*

I've been there too, love. Took me 11 years to find my current job. The government says they're non-discriminatory towards the disabled, but I wonder if it isn't being taken to a more subtle level by private firms - yes, you've disclosed you're disabled, and we'll give you an interview... but you still won't get the job, regardless of intelligence.

I can only say what everyone else does - keep trying. Someone, somewhere is a human being.

How about gardening? Or taking care of animals?

Is there much demand in the UK for independent contractors to do this kind of work?

((((Joe90))))

I feel the same way. Can't work a trade due to dyspraxia. Can't do office work due to not being able to negotiate office politics. Too HF for menial work, so the private corporation that contracts with Vocational Rehab won't consider me. I tried several businesses, and working as a teacher's aide. I can't do anything. America has been de-industrialized, so there are very few jobs, and 7 seekers for every opening. I don't stand a chance.

I seem to let my fears get in the way too. Well, some fears are more tolerable than others, like I fear crowds and horrible screaming toddlers, but I can still work in a supermarket stacking shelves (that is, if there isn't some other barrier that gets in the way of a simple job like that). But I cannot work in a school cleaning or other part time jobs like that because I absolutely loathe bells. I hate them. They make me completely anxious. Yes I could take earplugs but I don't really want to be caught wearing earplugs because (I can't help it) I'm sensitive to judgement and not all Aspies like being judged. And I can't work at a nursery (as much as I would love to) because small children pick up tummy bugs a lot, and I am absolutely terrified of being sick, and working in an environment with a lot of small children, one of them is bound to have a tummy bug, especially around the winter, and being trapped in somewhere with a tummy bug going around cannot be avoided, especially that horrible norovirus. I know it sounds terrible but I just cannot risk catching that.

Everyone has fears, I'm sure everybody has a type of job they will always avoid because it involves a fear that they have. So I don't think it's me being silly.

A lot of what Joe90 says in her opening post sounds familiar. I currently volunteer in a charity shop. I hate working with the customers and am now trying to find an alternative due to my disabilities.

I don't think you're unfit for work Joe90 - you are intelligent, sensitive, keen to work. I think you just haven't found the right job yet.

I've often thought about quitting my job to get a job like shelf stacker, box packer, data entry etc because the repetitiveness and lack of interaction really seems like it would make it stress free. Haven't done it because it would plunge us into financial difficulty and we would lose our house.

Have you thought of becoming an IRC operator or network security man, OP? These are two things I wish to do.

I'm in a similar spot. I'm too high functioning to qualify for services, but at the same time I can't talk an employer into keeping me around.

I think your biggest barrier is your confidence.

There's loads of things in my job descriptions I'm not very good at. I interact with people all day. Lots of elements of my job require me to me empathetic..I'm not but I get by and my strengths are in the organisational side of the job. Just because you've seen some jobs which require certain things, doesn't mean you won't be able to do ANY of those jobs.

I would look for a job that is "behind the scenes". Maybe back-office file clerk in an educational institution. I believe places like colleges and universities would be more tolerant and understanding of disabled employees. I would LOVE to be a computer repair tech or analyst at a university.