Which job sectors do people work in ?

@seekeraftertruth

Sounds like you have a job that suits you well. I experienced a sense of calm whilst reading the description of your team and environment set-up !

seekeraftertruth said:

we're also encouraged to work from home a few days a week because there's not enough office space for all of us, so chatting via Skype messaging is how we communicate when we need info from other members of the team for the task that you're doing. It does all work very well, for everyone.

I wish I could work from home a few days a week.

My employer is not autism friendly and does not want to hear about working from home at all.

The working environment in the workplace makes me really depressive and hopeless. I am so desperate to escape and I find a better place but I do not know how as I do not have time really for countless job interviews and the job interviews make me extremely anxious.

I work in I.T. Able to think in purely logical terms really helps when working with computers. I do support, since I like helping people who don't understand things as well as I do, and I also do clever technical stuff with programming, specialising in automation and optimisation through artificial intelligence. I'm good at heuristics, which means understanding what expert decisions people make when they do tasks, and then turning that into code so that I can automate their expertise.

Luckily I work in a large company that really values my abilities, so the fact that I have autism is really here nor there. I am in a team, but I generally work on my own, and this isn't an issue. The nature of our work means we're all specialists in our own fields, so working on your own as part of a team is the norm - the team collectively gets all the tasks done and improvements made, so everyone is happy. I can go days without actually speaking to anyone, since we're also encouraged to work from home a few days a week because there's not enough office space for all of us, so chatting via Skype messaging is how we communicate when we need info from other members of the team for the task that you're doing. It does all work very well, for everyone. Only my manager knows I have autism, the rest of the team doesn't know, so I'm lucky in the fact that the way we work happens to be incredibly autism-friendly.

This was lovely to read. It's great when you find your niche, are valued for it, and enjoy doing what you do.

There are a lot of specialist skills here, even in this small sample of people who have responded on the thread. 

Some of my friends have started to experience ageism whilst switching jobs in their 50's, so Pirate Santa your comment does not surprise me. From what I've observed, it may take longer to find a role but it is still do-able. 

Please be gentle with yourself and try not to become too disheartened. If you enjoy IT and want to continue working as a contractor or employee do persevere. 

Wishing you well in your search. 

Working in a supermarket sounds like it could be fun. I love looking at what people buy and did apply for a job in a supermarket once so I could indulge in my interest in what people buy but I didn’t get the job so hopefully you’ll have more luck than me. 

I wasn't diagnosed until last year, but I studied Computer Science at University in the early 1980s, then spent the next 30 years working in programming & data analysis as I seemed to have a natural aptitude for it.

As I got older, the recommended career path was to move into management, but that never really appealed to me & companies I worked for thought I was too useful doing the data work, as I have a very good eye for fine detail & could handle problems in client data very quickly.

That strategy is fine as long as you stay working for the same company, but at least in my experience, the IT industry is horribly ageist & if you haven't made the move to management before you turn 40, it becomes increasingly harder to find another job if you get made redundant. Employers assume older programmers are 'past it' & usually prefer younger ones, even when they have far less experience.

I am now in my mid 50s & have been suffering from severe depression for several years. Until earlier this year, I had been working from home doing part-time programming & analysis work for a previous employer, but that has now finished & I am unemployed.

I am currently living off my savings until I feel well enough to go back to work, but have pretty much given up the thought of being able to get back into programming professionally. Not sure what I will end up doing next, probably working in a supermarket I guess.

I currently don't have a diagnosis (hence my forum name) and it's only since the start of May that I've seriously considered that I may be on the spectrum. Information gathering at this point and considering self funding a private assessment. I think that I fit a more subtle presentation of ASC and as a woman (from what I've read in this forum) it sounds as though I'd need to strongly argue my case to be referred on the NHS, let alone be assessed by someone experienced and sensitive enough to detect a more subtle (and female) presentation. 

A quick Google of the local authority uncovers no clear diagnostic pathway for (non-learning disabled) adults with suspected ASC, only a document dated 2011 stating that there is a clear need for one (!). 

I've had my current job for over 8 years and it's been the best one I've had to date. I've had quite a few 'false starts' career-wise, and a lot of time spent feeling lost. I've been bullied in previous jobs and a little bit at the start of this one too, but have found my (skillset) niche which makes me valuable (ha, ha!). 

I don't interview well and experience high levels of performance anxiety. This is an area I need to work on. A disastrous interview at the start of May actually triggered me to join this forum and start info gathering for a referral. 

There's a lot of social contact in my current role, noise & it's a busy environment. Lots of interruptions, loud conversations and complaining - much of it from other staff. All of this is very tiring. I've worked out that if I spend a bit of time chatting with service users (adults with learning disabilities) I can re-energise a bit. They tend to be more transparent and direct in their communication, more present in the moment than other staff so I think this may be why. Listening to music and spending lunch by myself also helps.

The job is very interesting and I've never been bored. My self-esteem and sense of capability have developed a lot in the past 8 years and I have a sense of purpose and direction. This compensates for the other bits, though I wish I had more energy for myself in the evenings and didn't use the majority of my weekend to recuperate. 

Yup, definitely Autistic! said:

‘***On a related theme... I plan to ask the HR department at my work to insert a phrase into our job/person specs saying something along the lines of:

 '...we welcome and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply including those who identify as neurodiverse/ on the autistic spectrum'

to ensure that we don't miss out on attracting good candidates who are loyal, skilled and compassionate.’

My current employer uses these phrases when hiring:

‘’A’ will make every endeavour to make any reasonable adjustments for applicants who require assistance in carrying out their duties due to a disability.

‘A’ welcomes applications from all sections of the community.’

They also ensure that all disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria (there are always essential and desirable criteria listed) in the person specification for a job are shortlisted.

That’s a pretty disability friendly employer I’d say, which made me feel comfortable enough to disclose my Asperger’s on the application form, and the application/interview/hiring process was certainly made as easy for me as possible by them. If only more employers were like this...

Misheard Lyrics

Short answer:

• Being on the spectrum shouldn't prevent you from working in social care and /or with people with disabilities. 
• Autism has some advantages in the workplace and can give you insight that NT's lack. 
• Disclosure is a personal decision and can be done at any point. 
• Don't be put off from applying for roles by recruitment jargon or qualities you feel you currently lack 
• Study social skill areas that would be useful to develop to gain an understanding of how they work and why they may be important. 
• Team working tends to share some common skills and have additional specialisation. Teams are 'more than the sum of their parts'.
• Specialise where possible especially in future demand skill areas.  

FYI. - Longer 'waffly' answer further down(!). 

Yes, I agree. The people and environment have been the consistent challenges for me too. 

It's very interesting to hear about the sectors and roles people have tried, the ones they have enjoyed, Why? and the aspects that have been difficult. 

I would encourage anyone who's found a role that's been stimulating or with a progressive employer to seek out similar roles or even revisit the same employer if you left on good terms. I can see from the autistic tendency to (self) isolate, whether out of an energetic need or lack of social interest, it's very easy to maintain negative beliefs about oneself in the absence of opportunities to discuss and compare these with others. This is clearly why online forums such as this have real power and potential for autistic people. 

As companies become aware of the strengths of a neurodiverse workforce good opportunities should increase with a bit of guidance and direction from autistic people. 

Good employers welcome people who value honesty, commitment, integrity and possess a desire to hone their skills. If you can demonstrate that your values, commitment and willingness are present, then you are in a good position even if you lack some of the required experience or skills (people can learn when motivated). I'd encourage people to apply for job roles when this is the case.

I'm sometimes involved in shortlisting applications and interviews as part of my role. It's very clear from the thorough approach and depth of answer those candidates who are genuinely interested in and motivated by a role compared to those who are just looking for a (any) job. Recruitment is expensive and wise companies are the ones that wish to retain and develop their staff.

I imagine a tendency to struggle with general open-ended questions means that people with ASC may often exclude relevant information from their CV's unless they are specifically asked. Neuro-diverse job seekers could benefit from asking a job coach or trusted friend to talk through their application with them and draw out more of this lost detail.

Misheard Lyrics Out of curiosity, what do you think prospective employers mean when they ask for 'good communication skills and teamwork'? 

What would this 'look' like?

How would a person behave if they possess strong skills in these areas?

***On a related theme... I plan to ask the HR department at my work to insert a phrase into our job/person specs saying something along the lines of:

 '...we welcome and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply including those who identify as neurodiverse/ on the autistic spectrum'

to ensure that we don't miss out on attracting good candidates who are loyal, skilled and compassionate.

I have worked in a few due to not really being suited to the role/sector as you mentioned in your post

• Lab technician
• Physiologist specialising in Cardiology (gutted this one didn't work out, but bullying was awful!)
• Courier
• Call centre work (I agree on the yuck for this one!)
• Fitness instructor
• Self-employed doing bits and bobs

I now work in Marketing specilaising in technical products and manufacturing.  Every job I have done and sector I have worked in has had challenges usually from the people or environment - the job itself is normally not an issue except for call centre work!

Teacher of Geekery ... not a nerd, a geek is a nerd with personality 

I thankfully failed in all job sectors that I have tried and I have tried several, so now I work for myself, coaching people to live their lives according to their desires. 

ditto Trogluddite, my working history is similar to yours and now I refuse to get a job. At my first appointment at the job centre they had to bring the manager over to calm me down when I thought they were telling me I had to look for a job!!! I’m now working on looking after myself and learning all about me, post recent diagnosis, while slowly building my own business because it’s simply not possible for me to fit happily into any working environment/situation other than working for myself and even with that, I’m heading more and more to less and less contact with people as part of it. 

Hi OrinocoFlo, the question of whether I would tell potential employers about my autism or not, is kind of taken out of my hands, because I seem to have developed an almost Tourette’s type syndrome, whenever I come into contact with somebody ~ it just comes out, without warning, I tell everybody I’m autistic! 

However, here are my thoughts. I think we should be telling people, every step of the way, of our diagnosis. For many reasons. One, is that society needs to know that we’re here and the more voices we have, the stronger our voice becomes. 

However, we are all individuals and we are all at different stages in life and I would never advice anyone to tell their potential employers that they are autistic. It’s totally individual and of course, it can have consequences. However, I would strongly advice that if a person is unsure, they ask other people what they think, then get some support to weigh up the information before they act. Support is out there and sometimes we need to reach out and try it. 

In the type of role you’re considering, your communication style would be considered an advantage, in an open and supportive environment  and there are many reasons why we make good team players. We don’t gossip, we tend to be naturally non judgemental, we want the best for others and we are often loyal, committed, honest and diligent  workers. Getting support from an organisation such as Autism Plus or NAS can be a great benefit to help us get the right jobs with the right support while putting our gifts and skills to good use. You don’t have to ‘manage’, you’re worth far more than that. If you fancy getting a job that you enjoy, in a place where you feel supported, where it doesn’t feel like a chore, I would strongly suggest getting some support where you can discuss all this and get some support to achieve your goals. 

Also, would you want to work at a place where an autism diagnosis would go against you? My metaphysics tutor was running a great program last year but when I told her my diagnosis, she said she was ‘sorry’ to hear that! I said it was nice talking to her (because it was), and got off the phone, knowing that deep down, despite her great program, I knew she wasn’t the person for me to work with anymore, if I could avoid it, because I’m not sure that saying sorry, to anybody in that way, is very metaphysical! I say we stand strong and proud - when we have the strength or inclination to do that. 

Not many for me to list here as I’m only in my early 20s - my main career has been in accountancy, but I’ve done youth sports coaching and private tutoring also.

My natural talents lead me towards the technical and information technology, but I have never had what might be called a "career". Holding down a job long term has so far proved impossible - I have always been floored by severe burn-outs eventually. Since entering the job market, I've worked as...

• Store assistant in a DIY/Gardening store. I find being in a store overwhelming enough when shopping there, so eight hours straight of it was totally overwhelming and exhausting! Thankfully, it was only for one summer while waiting to go to University.
• Drawing schematic diagrams for microchip designs. I absolutely loved doing this, but it was only a temporary summer job. The work I was doing has long been superceded by software that can generate the diagrams more or less automatically.
• Customer service and clerical work in, of all places, the local Job Centre. This was utter hell. Customer service work is hard enough for me, but as you can imagine, it was extremely confrontational at times, and I had several melt-downs on the shop floor. The kafkaesque bureaucracy drove me nuts, too. I was made redundant after a few years on health grounds (their occupational health consultant made the bizarre psuedo-diagnosis of "Jesus Syndrome"!)
• Working as a lab technician in an upper school. I really enjoyed this; there were loads of cool gadgets to play with, and I generally found teachers to be easy colleagues to work with. Unfortunately for me, I was covering maternity leave, so was only there for one school year.
• Electronic and mechanical assembly and machine operator. I really liked this too, and had a line manager who just had an instinctive feel for how to get the best out of me. This led onto...
• Computer Aided Design, machine tool programming, some other software programming. My first ever promotion! My IT and design skills had been noted while I was working as an assembly technician, and I was promoted to the research and design department. It was a disaster! The work itself, I loved, but I couldn't handle juggling multiple projects, constant interruptions for meetings, negotiating project priorities, and team dynamics. Severe burnout eventually led to abysmal performance and resignation.

I didn't have any idea that I was autistic during any of these jobs - I was referred and diagnosed shortly after the last one of them ended. If I had known earlier what I know now, I would have politely refused the promotion at the electronics company and carried on the assembly and machine operating work. I always enjoyed that work, and the "sausage machine" linear way that jobs were done suited my hyper-focus and poor multi-tasking very well. I also had colleagues there that I got on with easily, and the work required too much concentration for there to be much chatting and gossiping. The company was actually pretty forward thinking in terms of staff care and open minded about staff with disabilities, of which there were a few. But I had no idea what my disability was, and little idea what kind of adjustments might have helped . Unfortunately, my diagnosis came a few years too late to save what has definitely been my best chance of stable, long-term employment.

I've previously worked as a laboratory assistant (enjoyed it, but was only for maternity leave cover for 3 months), then as a medical technician, but since starting a family have only managed shift work. I've been a bakers assistant, school dinner lady, and was a night carer in a care home for people with dementia, but am now a domestic.I don't like where I am all that much, morale is generally low and staff turnover high, but I'm managing.

I've thought of looking for work caring for people with disabilities, but ironically now I am self diagnosed with Asperger's I'm more worried about job interviews than I used to be when I was living in ignorance. Everything I look at expects good communication skills and teamwork.

Would it be worth mentioning at interview, especially as it isn't official, or would it count against me? If you don't mind me asking, did you find it challenging to get the job you have now, and do you find autism to be a plus or a minus? (Not just at interview, but in the job itself.)