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Autistic Careers

NAS69281

Hello everyone,

I'm a 28 year old girl, well I suppose woman but I don't feel like it!

Anyway, I was diagnosed almost a year ago now and have had zero support since. I'm high functioning and graduated from university five years ago. I have worked in the past and am perfectly capable, but I just can not work out what I want/can do. I definitely don't want an office job. I'd like to do something more practical. I want a career not a job. I just can't seem to find any appropriate support, anything that's out there seems to be for people who are, without sounding rude, less high functioning than I am. When I try to research appropriate jobs for autistic people a lot of what comes up is stuff like IT and software which is not me at all. I particularly struggle with the social side of things and am far better working on my own. Another thing I struggle with is that I will get an idea in my head and obsess over it for a couple of weeks. I will do lots of research and read as much as I can about that particular career and decide yes that's what I want to do. And then after a couple of weeks the idea sort of fizzles out and then I think oh I'm glad I didn't pursue that because I'm really not sure if that is what I want to do.

It's driving me absolutely insane. To make things worse I still live at home with my mum who is struggling financially and there's nothing I can do to help. I don't think I'm ever going to find the right career and it gets me so depressed.

Has anyone had any similar experiences? Or any advice? I would so so appreciate it. I'm at my wits end.

Thank you so much!

  • Hello. Well, you've decided what you DON'T what to do. What is your degree in? What are your interests, hobbies etc. From these, you should be able to come up with a career path.

  • I was the same in my twenties and looking back it made me depressed cos I didn't know what I wanted to do. I realised I would just have to "go for it" so decided to teach English as a foreign language. I volunteered, talked to friends in the same job and did a short training course. I started doing it one day a week alongside my then current job and then after a year gave up that current job and now I do it full time. It was bloody difficult to start with and still is in some respects but I've stuck with it.

    Try some volunteering maybe. Just take a plunge because you could spend your life reading up on jobs but you'd never know till you actually tried it. My friend wanted to be an electrical engineer. She started the course then left after a few weeks cos she didn't like it. I know it's a lot to start to invest in something if you dont know whether you'll like it, but you don't know unless you try. 

    I think for me, the key to any job is satisfaction and working with decent people. My boss is really understanding. Maybe take time to think about these sorts of values as well as your skills and what you want to do.

    I wasn't aware I could be AS at the time but knew I had social difficulties. Choosing to teach EFL because it was quicker to get into (didn't need to study a pgde for two years) and any difficulties could be masked as communications between different languages and cultures. Spending my day working with the public is different to with colleagues as the interactions are different.

    Also, if you choose to do a career, it doesn't mean you're stuck with it. You might find one path leads to another. My friend has a PHD in the arts but is now an MD of a logistics company.   A lot of people have more than one career in their lifetime. 

  • in reply to Plastic

    Music is the best stress-reliever for me.

    I find meditation too agitating, while I tend to live on the edge naturally.

    A good song is my key to serenity. Musical note

  • Most of my friends are either aspie or (in my opinion) undiagnosed aspies.    We are all into engineering in one way or another.

    There's a whole range of engineering-type jobs that are not always office based ranging from project management to  installing wind farms to general maintenance engineers to building management (responsible for all the systems of office buildings and coordinating subcontractors to maintain & fix).    

    What do you like doing?   Are you an 'organiser' or a 'do-er'?    Are you practical, hands-on or more a thinker and a paper pusher?

    There's lots of niche jobs that can suit the ASD mind - as long as you are honest with yourself and how *you* function and realise what things will cause you overload and stress - and try to avoid them.

  • make something and try starting an online business ? Do you have any hobbies you can turn into stuff to sell ?

  • Lots and lots of experience of similar. Struggling to know what to do. Reading up on countless types of jobs and careers. Finding some I like whereby I'm really excited, thinking 'I can do that', then within a couple of weeks doubts take over and I'm no longer any where near as sure, and the prospect fizzles out.

    My last partner said to me 'what you're looking for is a cheerleader' (to help nudge, motivate me to apply, keep researching, dispel doubts, and keep the faith basically). I think she was right.

    [Hope this isn't too much of an annoying question] Do you have anyone (eg friend) who could play the pep talk/cheerleader role enough to help see you past the barriers/see you through?