If you are working, what careers are you in?

I'd like to find a job that doesn't make me constantly overstimulated, overwhelmed and fatigued, but is also intellectually challenging. I absolutely love learning. Has anyone found a role that works for them?

  • Dropped out off college as was home less at the time , had a couple of low paid jobs in the late 80s , just could not cope with the pressure of routine and mixing with people , so have worked for myself , Good at see opportunity ,started importing niche furniture from india ,them bought and sold land ,If you get over 12 acres you get permitted planning to build barn ,then can live on land for 5 years to build it ,so just put up log cabin and sold on ,then did again and again, Then built a farm on 30 acres ,then started on houses.  It is nice helping make peoples dreams come true , eg living in a log cabin in the middle of 6 acres surrounded by orchards and  flower meadows . 

    Sort of lost now would like to do something new ?

  • I did well with the structure of School. However, I had little capability of thinking outside the box. I was overdependent on notes. Research wasn't in my zeitgeist until Google came along.

  • I feel that way, myself.

    Austerity for those who want work, but Audis for those who want Benefits.

    Now, I've declared myself unfit for work. Just in time for my next PIP form.

  • Sounds like a pleasant job.  Just an aside, I knew someone who gave up being a postman because he had been bitten by dogs numerous times while delivering mail. Just out of interest, are dogs a problem for you or your collegues?

  • Yes, I work as a company director.

    Like everyone I'm good at some bits and got blind spots on others. AS gives me long term thinking, joining up the dots intuitively, curiosity and constant thirst to learn and improve, zero interest in power or status, and other things. My codirector really appreciates my AS traits, and we complement each other.  She's very NT but introverted, so does lots of the people work, though i do some too, esp analysing NTs motivations and firing the difficult ones.

  • I'm an early years SENCO

  • so true,

    "dont use autism as an exuse"    (Temple Grandin ) 

  • Thanks , that is something I really needed to hear and my takeaway for today. Relaxed

  • Don't let your autism define your career prospects. 

    Society tends to pigeon hole people with autism and maintaining very low expectations for us. 

    I've worked as a company director and senior management for many years. Some aspects really suit me, others take a bit more effort and support from colleagues.  I know other people with autism who have been at the top of their organisations. Like every job I've ever had there are good things and bad things about this area. 

    Never use your autism as a starting point to close down ambition and aspiration. 

  • Oh what a tradgegy, and such a tradgic end to what sounds like a marvellous year attending to the children and helping them flourish.I always do great with kids which I've found odd cos i,m the least interested in them, but i see them as people rather than objects so treat them with respect and curiosity and i think this is what they respond to. I hope your dream cones true for a jewellery shop.

  • Oh gosh, that's me. I see nothing until they make their killer move. And even then I'm all forgiveness, tolerance and indulgence. I don't get angry though I may get upset and disappointed.

    I wonder what goes on in their heads, if they get conscious satisfaction, if it's a thing they feel in their body, what the emotions are, desire, pride, satisfaction, ... .

  • <span;>I like to study more than work. school was hell, college was better, but the university would be great if there were no other students or if they were engaged in their studies, and not in the popularity rating. If they paid for my studies, I would have taken this job. In any case, I tried to choose a profession based on my interests, and this is the line that runs between psychology, philosophy, physics, human relations and spirituality. It is this line that connects it all. So I learned all this and made a single "map". Now I know a lot, I notice a lot, I can even sometimes explain to neurotypics what is happening with their lives, feelings and relationships, it also helped me to meet the person with whom I have been for 8 years, but I could not find a suitable job. While I was at the university, I was persuaded to go to work as a teacher, but it was too much for me. I thought I'd be able to work as a psychologist, as knowledge and education enough and have an understanding of what happens to a person (usually I'm not mistaken and saw almost the whole situation),
    <span;>but it turned out that people need something else. It turned out that no matter how great a specialist I was, my inappropriate facial expression, lack of eye contact, excessive chesnost and speech sometimes similar to a scream and sometimes to a patter, but always monotonous spoil everything, and rocking on a chair does not cause people to trust. In general, it did not work. Then I tried to disguise myself and was able to work with a group of children for a whole year, the results were very good, the children became calm, could solve problems through conversation, reflect on their states, those who had previously stood aside were able to join the general games, but then there was a breakdown right at work, it was terrible, I scared the children, parents, one child began to stutter well, and other problems were. I scared everyone and hid in the toilet, and when everyone left, I forgot to turn off the water in the taps and there was a flood. I had to make repairs, as hot water flooded 2 floors. I didn't work at that place anymore, and I wasn't able to work with people full-time anymore. Then there was a lot of things and now I can't do much, probably burnout. I receive a minimum disability pension and hope that someday I will be able to open my own small online shop with jewelry made with my own hands.

  • Welcome to this forum since u are new. Are u autistic ?  I work with software engineers every day Slight smile

  • Hey, Wave

    I am a software engineer, it works quite well for me because I can work with computers which is what I am good at and I can work very focused for longer periods of time. 

  • nothing beats a positive postie

  • I am a postie. It’s a great job for me and is the longest job I have ever had without either getting fired or quitting after a year. I have done this for about 8 years, and although I have aspirations of moving away from this work I do like my job.

    it’s repetitive and as I have a set round I have built up a good rapport with people and am very capable of masking when needed for small talk and such NT bullcrap. Some of my customers also know I am autistic and have asked about work and if I am ok; they seem to appreciate I am diligent and apply common sense - I feel lucky because I have had chance to show my best aspects in this role.

    Other jobs I had may have been more demanding academically (I have a degree and several post grad quals) but I hated all the politics and social expectations and crap that frankly I do not get nor care to. I can be a bloody good postie by being organised and structured. The independence of the role is also a big draw.

    In summer I get paid to walk in the sunshine listening to podcasts or music and get paid for it! Brilliant!

  • What I struggle with is knowing or noticing the political and social skills they're using

    Me too - and they're doing it so naturally - all the time - to everyone they know so were being continually outmanoeuvred and outflanked and we're completely oblivious to it until they make their kill moves against us.     It's like being in a jungle with the predators all around........watching for their opportunity. to pounce.

    I always thought the point of going to work was to do a good job so the company makes money and I get a pay rise and keep my job - and being the best would lead to promotion.    I really was very, very naive.

  • Yeah, that's kinda what I think. What I struggle with is knowing or noticing the political and social skills they're using, when they're monkeying their way up, orunderstanding the impulse.

    Most NT things there's at least a slither in me of it so I can relate to it and make instinctive sense or figure it out. The power and staus thing I just can't relate to any impulse or thought in me.

    I've just lost someone from my team and have realised that his pride and staus had been wounded too often (for his own fault), but it's just invisible to me why he made so many status and power bids.

  • give yourself a name, fill out your profile and start your own discussions  and gain some friends in here Slight smile

  • I’m undiagnosed, but have had tons of jobs that I haven’t been able to keep due to overwhelm- apart from my current one, a remote freelance writer! It’s lonely at times but pays the bills and I enjoy writing and being able to move around.

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